I'm considering buying a 1994 or 1995 W124 for my wife to use as daily driver to work and around town. She currently has a BMW E36 convertible but wants something a little larger. We already have a 1999 W210 with 150,000 miles. Except for the window regulator it has been a very reliable car and consistently gets 30 mpg. As a DIY guy I like to know what I am getting into before I buy. Is there anyplace I can find a list of known issues/problems with the 124 that are predictable or things to check before buying? Thanks.

 

1. Cruise control AMP
2. Odometer
3. Neutral safety switch
4. Poorly lighted instrument cluster
That's enough to get you started. All of these will be a problem.
Others will chime in.

 

Just remember...the car would be 12 or 13 years old...obviously little things like LED's will fade, and whatnot. But it all depends on who you get the car from, how it was driven, and how well it was maintained.

 

not too sure about some of the other stuff mentioned as I have had no issues with many of them. I do agree that the dash lighting is a bit dim, but that is subjective at best I suppose.

In terms of mechanical issues, you will want to pay close attention to the following:

1) wiring harnesses (upper and lower)

2) radiator (depending on mileage, the plastic neck WILL crack)

3) rotors and caps (again, mileage dependent)

I purchased my '95 over a year ago, and it has largely been a very reliable car to own. I bought mine with 143K miles, and it now has 157k miles. My car runs superb...very strong and smooth. I have spent approximately $1700 on needed maintenance issues (rad, heater core hoses, rad hoses, various air filters). I investing another $2K at the moment for some upgraded brakes, suspension and tires. I too am a DIY'r, and did the rad and rad hoses swap myself. The rest was all done by an indy shop and at one time.

Hope this helps.

 

a lot of it depends on the previous owner

get the service records

i have a 95 E300D, it has 306K, i bought it in june of 06 at 277K

for example, i just changed the tank screen and IT WAS CLEAN, i am amazed at what my previous owner did to keep the car up

buy from a loyal mercedes lover, they will have cared for the car as you would have

 

You guys forgot Headgasket, and timing cover seals

 

The biggies are headgasket, wiring harnesses and a/c evap.

 

of course, some of these are specific to V-8 cars and others to I-6 cars...except wiring harnesses, which is an issue for the whole MB line for that time period.

 

Flex Discs, Fuel Pump Relay, Front to Rear speaker fader control...

 

Don´t forget one thing..
-Once a w124 owner, you won´t ever want anyting else again.

Cheers,

 

^ You may not ever WANT anything else, but you may not be able to afford to keep it.

Also the transmission ($1200). Beware if it is slow to engage reverse. And what everyone else said, especially the head gasket ($1200) and engine wiring harness ($800 DIY).

 

you will likely not be getting 30mpg.

 

shdoug

True those are costly repairs, but heck even a Honda today is expensive to repair! I get more satisfaction per mile with my MB's than any other cars I've owned... 8>)

 

i dont know where u got 1200 to rebuild a transmission mine was closer to 2 gs

 

That's very true, except that I can drive an unsatisfying Honda 100,000 miles in 12 years and not NEED to do any significant repairs. But that subject has been thouroughly discussed previously.

 

I've seen that number floating around here but it does sound a bit low.

So let's say $1200-$2000 for a tranny rebuild.

 

True... but after 100K a Honda is totally toast... How many 25 year old Hondas are out there that look and drive as well as a 25 year old 124 series?

 

-Love those wheels of yours.. And a nice looking car also.

 

They didn't quite make the W124 25 years ago.

But I would have to say that if they did, and you treated a Honda Accord the same the appearance would be comparable. You can find some very clean Hondas outside of the rust belt. Driving satisfaction? The Honda has very little. But having owned 3 of them and having a father who is on his fourth, I can say that outside of the inevitable rust due to road salt, they will last basically forever with almost no repairs or failures. (In 250,000 miles my dad replaced a radiator, a fan switch, and a fuel pump on his '86 Accord.)

If Honda designed and built a W124 on the Benz platform it would be simply the best car ever made and it would be the only sedan necessary for anyone to ever buy.

But like I said,

 

even the venerable Honda's need timing belts, waterpumps and CV boots in something more like 90K-120K...not 250K. Still your point is valid in that Honda's are well engineered, comparatively inexpensive to maintain when compared to the W124, and last a very long time if maintened well. BUT, as you also pointed out....they are stupid-boring cars ( I have owned no less than five of them) that always left me wanting more personally....more power, more class and usually more style. All things a good, clean and equally well maintained W124 will have regardless it's age...which could be as much as 22 years!

 

We are not comparing apples to apples....let's compare my 1986 300e to a 1986 honda accord. Just on the design my car with some updates won't look that old in 2007 but try doing that to a 1986 honda accord??...

are you going to compare this to a w124?

 

Boys.., - Let´s not compare a Honda to a Mercedes..
It´s like comparing Coke to beer. - It doesn´t have the ingredients..

Cheers,

 

LOL!!! Exactly!!!

 

Depends on which COKE you are referring to? ;>)

 

I purchased my benz to replace my accord with almost 200,000 miles.While the benz only had 122,000 the honda proved to be the more reliable car so I had to sell the benz.I really think Im gonna get 300 out of the honda it purrs like the engine is new.The only thing I miss about the benz is the character and the comfy seats.