Germancar1

Well that about the Japanese making Benz improve their quality is only partially true. Prior to Lexus arriving Mercedes already built the best cars you could buy, but somewhere in the mid 90's Mercedes changed course and started building to a price, a response to the market and Lexus which gave us heaps like the first ML and others. So that Lexus reference isn't completely accurate. The W221 has been the most trouble free new Benz in like 20 years or more so this about them always breaking is borderline nonsense. Compared to the W220, the W221 is Toyota/Lexus-like in its reliability. Seems like to me you want a car to be perfect and no car is. All those surveys that people love to point to put the W221 and W211 over the Lexus LS and GS from an initial reliability standpoint. Just reading the boards doesn't give you the full picture because people come to a mesg board to complain more often than they do to praise, as we've witnessed here.

Oh Mercedes changing bodystyles more often is a mixed bag because now they're just like all those souless, styless Japanese cars, changing every 7 years instead of 10. Part of the lure of a Mercedes was the fact that they body stayed current and looked the part for many years. Japanese cars look like crap when introduced and don't hold up so they'd done in 5-6 years. No thanks.


M

appatula

Thats respectable, however W124's aren't "new" or even near new. I think another forum would have been better suited to your complaint. Maybe the W221, W211 or W204 forums? I think this is why all the W124 guys (enthusiasts) got pissed, and feel like instead of going there you slid your way into here knowing that the W124 is known for its superior quality. Either way these subjects are touchy, the members here put sweat and blood into their W124's and enjoy it, learn from it, and best of all PAY for it. If thats what this car is worth to them they will continue to carry on the prestigious W124 for years to come, if not then we move on and say farewell. Good luck with your purchase and dont hesitate to come back and help build and add to this forum. (Just stay away from controversial BMW Vs. Mercedes subjects)

Cheers

neanderthal

benz had to build to a price point because the japanese cars were offering much of the same for substantially less. an LS 400 was less than a E320, with a V8, more power, electrically controlled transmission, bigger, better fuel economy, etc. it competed with teh S class (although lexus was intially hesitant about saying so) at one point, 94 i think, mercedes cut ten grand off the price of its cars in an effort to stem the bleeding (sales were taking a dump) and its next car the 210 looked and felt cheap. but it had to be built to a price as lexus was handing it to mercedes, with fewer problems, better jdpower poll results, and still less money out the door.

so they did have to increase quality because of lexus.

Bigpete123

So in a way, you can blame Lexus for Mercedes' initial drop in quality (w210), but you can also credit Lexus for Mercedes' alleged uptick in quality as of late.

And if that's true (that quality is improving), maybe we can just chalk up the last 12 years of MB quality woes to a growth period for MB.

Either way, I don't see myself as wealthy enough to buy a new MB for another 20 years +, so I don't really care all that much about whats going on with the current models.

I will say this. My dad just bought a 2004 CL600 a few months ago with 12k miles. He made a quick purchase and didn't consult me- he doesn't read up on cars as much as I do and I DEFINITELY would've pleaded with him to buy something else since I know they have so many problems. I'm not sure how much this car cost brand new, but I'm going to guess it was around $130k or so. He bought it for ~$50k. Can you beleive that depreciation curve?

The car has spent half of its life under my dad's ownership in the shop with a long long list of problems. Luckily my dad did purchase an aftermarket warranty... so the repairs didn't cost him anything.

But as somebody said earlier, the car definitely gives me a hard-on and is by far the fastest car I've ever driven (or ridden in for that matter).

carlson03

The way I see it, if you maintain a w124....its a great car, one of the best. No one can argue that point....if you think that you can, your not properly maintaining the car....atleast I think

ZorroAMG

My next car is going to be a douche.

This thread now sucks.

Bigpete123

Wait, what?

vili1982

Most people today think that when buying an MB you are just buying the name. Maby true in some way, but when my W124 gets to that 500 k mark, any toyota or lexus from year 95 is right now or will be at some point turned into pop can's and picture frames.

DCarrera

I'm on my 5th Benz. 3 of them were W124's. All three of them were rock solid form the 260E all the way to the grand-daddy uber 124 the 500E I sold to buy my CLK (it simply came down to having something newer).

2 of the three 124's needed radiators around the 100,000 mark. About $300 a shot.. whoopee. My Jeep's Radiator also crapped out around the same milage and it cost me more.

Had to do a left front balljoint in the 300 around the 198,000 mile mark.

None of them had oil problems.
None of them had leaking head gaskets.
Only one of them every broke down (our 260 popped it's fiber radiator on a trip)
The 500E's trans was a little mushy and was starting to loose 3rd gear. I had it rebuilt for $1100 (yes.. that's parts and labor) and it was a champ ever since.

Were the perfect? No. I've had something like 20 odd cars. None of them were perfect. Worst one ever was a the ONLY new car I ever bought (A Ford live and learn).

I've also had a number of Japanese cars in my life. Other than the Miata, they were all as boring to drive as a watching stones grow. I'm a driver. I love the drive. The Miata lasted a year.. it still a cheeply made Japanese car.. just lever every one other one I've owned. I even quit buying Japanese motorcycles.. they just feel so cheap and fragile.

Enjoy your Lexus.... or whatever you want to buy.. I personally don't care. I've been happy with 4 of the 5 MBZ's I've owned (that damn ML320 was a real turkey though... by 69,000 miles it was starting to **** me off... probably because it was built in the US -- It's a rare day I consider and American car either).

Don't let the door hit your tail lights on the way out.

Germancar1

Never said that they didn't. I said that they change their course in part because of Lexus, but my point was that it wasn't a great thing for us to be "thankful" about. It was a mess, but now they're doing things somewhat the old way, but with a closer eye on costs in other areas that aren't immediate apparent when you open the door on a new Benz, like it was a few years and a generation of cars ago. The new S and CL couldn't care less about Lexus and their pricing. Mercedes is done with penny pinching and it seems they made the right decision with the S/CL.

M

RBYCC

What flavor ????

ZorroAMG

Vajay -jay flavored. LMAO...

Simply put, Japanese cars don't have the soul, the "it" factor that a Mercedes does and they never will.

shdoug

I'VE GOT IT! Build a W124 Kit Car that uses an '83 Toyota Supra drive train and a '97 Accord electrical system.

Saijin_Naib

Screw it , just give me a Supra TT or a Skyline. I can deal without the soul of the w124 if I have the go of a track star like those two.

vili1982

if you want speed, you are driving the wrong car bud.

YNVDIZW124

Lexus is a fancy toyota and will never have the image of a high end luxury car. I don't know many people who can be impressed by someone saying well i drive a lexus. The class factor that a mercedes has can never be replaced! With the new c-class and the newer better mercedes coming back im sure the reputation will not die anytime soon.

I drive a 1986 300e in 2008...most 86 toyotas, hondas, and nissans are in the the junk yard right now and look ugly as hell too....

Benz260Benz

I agree, I went from a 89' Nissan Pulsar (the tranny went bad after 145,000 miles!) to my 88' 260e and was blown away. I wasn't sure about getting another 80's car even if it was a Mercedes, but now I’d take my Mercedes over my moms '02 Subaru Outback any day (except when it snows). My dad just bought a 95' 300ZX N/A and has been looking for excuses to trade cars with me ever since I let him take the Benz to work. I don't think I could go back to a Japanese car as my primary vehicle.

Saijin_Naib

Oh, I know this all too well. However, the CE was given to me to drive by my father, and I cant afford another car. I love the smooth and confident ride the CE has, it really is like no other car. But, I am also young, and I like driving my friends GTI because its fast as ***** (chipped/tuned) and handles like a go-kart on crack. I know my CE will never do that, but thats not going to stop me from wanting a car that can do that.

ZorroAMG

I've had loads of other cars (including an '06 911 Carrera 4) and while they are fast, they don't roll like the W124. I LOVE the way this car feels and drives.

YNVDIZW124

I've had and built several mustangs that are either trailer queens or just race cars. I don't think it's a good idea to drive a race car to work everyday or f@ck up a new paint job. My 300e is the best daily drive I've ever had and I rather spend money on fixing it than make a car payment. It's a solid chassis to start with and can only be improved. Serisously, do you guys really need 400hp? My benz is to cruise and lean back driving down the street not go 90mph everywhere...

appatula

Last time I checked, mine topped out at 136mph

ZedStyle

for sure... i usually max out at 80! gives them a little longer to check out your ride as you drive by, right?

E320A

Wow!! I have three W124's right now and have never had any major problems with them. 95 E320 Cab with 59K and no head gasket or wiring harness or rust, same thing for my 94 E420 130K and 94 E320 148K. Maybe it's the cold up here in Canada but the harnesses do not seem to be a problem. Only had a blower regulator and a broken front spring on the 1994 E320. Regular maintenance, keep them clean, and they have not let me down.
Had lots of other cars, 37 in fact, and while all have been decent, none have been as nice as the 12 mercedes. Maybe i'm just old and drive them too slow!
BTW my wife drives a new Camry and even the kids don't want to drive it.

Just thought I'd add my 2 cents.

ZedStyle

add some pics of your cars to the picture thread while you're at it!

neanderthal

there's definitely a heft and substance in 124s that is lacking in japanese cars.

but they are not paragons of reliability and dependability. unless you spend the money to keep the car maintained. i'm just glad i haven't had to as of yet.

my next car is going to be a 124.
or and alfa romeo GTV. 1750 or 2000cc, i dont care.