Buying an old (1987 W124) Mercedes and need some advice
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Joined: Nov 2023
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E-Class 2017
Buying an old (1987 W124) Mercedes and need some advice
Posting here because it's a question about corosion MOT advisories and not specific to the W124.
I have always wanted a 1980s W124. I've saved for months, and I'm finally in a position to buy one.
I've found one that I have fell in love with. 90k miles. Great condition. But I wanted to get everyone's advice on some potential issues specific to the car.
I have looked up the car's MOT history. It has passed all of its MOTs, but in the advisories section it noted some corrosion
- Oil leak, but not excessive
- Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule all pipes front and rear
- Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides
- Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides
- Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced
- Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides
- Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides
- Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect all round
- Front Coil spring corroded both sides
- Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
- Central Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively
Does anyone know how serious these problems are? Is some underside corrosion to be expected given the car was produced in 1987? I am guessing things like coil spring and brake pipe corrosion would not be that expensive to fix if they did develop into a problem, but 'vehicle structure corroded' and 'suspension arm corroded' scare me.
Any advice about all this would be hugely appreciated -- especially from mechanics, DIY mechanics, and W124 owners. Thank you!
I have always wanted a 1980s W124. I've saved for months, and I'm finally in a position to buy one.
I've found one that I have fell in love with. 90k miles. Great condition. But I wanted to get everyone's advice on some potential issues specific to the car.
I have looked up the car's MOT history. It has passed all of its MOTs, but in the advisories section it noted some corrosion
- Oil leak, but not excessive
- Brake hose has slight corrosion to ferrule all pipes front and rear
- Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides
- Rear Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both sides
- Vehicle structure is corroded but structural rigidity is not significantly reduced
- Front Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides
- Rear Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened both sides
- Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect all round
- Front Coil spring corroded both sides
- Nearside Front Outer Anti-roll bar pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement
- Central Prop shaft joint worn, but not excessively
Does anyone know how serious these problems are? Is some underside corrosion to be expected given the car was produced in 1987? I am guessing things like coil spring and brake pipe corrosion would not be that expensive to fix if they did develop into a problem, but 'vehicle structure corroded' and 'suspension arm corroded' scare me.
Any advice about all this would be hugely appreciated -- especially from mechanics, DIY mechanics, and W124 owners. Thank you!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 11,954
Likes: 6,796
From: Silicon Valley
W212 MY'14 M276-3.5NA @75kMi
don't do it!
this beautiful chassis will bankrupt you if you let it.
All 100% of your brakes A to Z need to replaced down to the metal conduits.
Never mind the engine or the transmission: all rubber seals are beyond chewing-gum soft...
The inspection report reads like congestive heart failure + cholesterol + stroke.... this relationship won't go down right.
Look in dry states for better buys.
🤞
All 100% of your brakes A to Z need to replaced down to the metal conduits.
Never mind the engine or the transmission: all rubber seals are beyond chewing-gum soft...
The inspection report reads like congestive heart failure + cholesterol + stroke.... this relationship won't go down right.
Look in dry states for better buys.
🤞
Last edited by CaliBenzDriver; Nov 25, 2023 at 04:56 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 3,243
Likes: 933
From: New Orleans Area
2015 E400 Sedan
got pics of actual rust? might just be minor surface rust that can easily be cleaned and underlying material protected with paint or something.
Without seeing anything it is impossible to give advice.
Without seeing anything it is impossible to give advice.
