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1985 W124 200

4K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  zerosentiment 
#1 ·
Hi,

I'm planning on purchasing a 1985 W124 200, can anyone tell me what to look out for when buying this model? and any know issues related to this model.

Help is much appreciated.
 
#5 ·
Hi!

The only 'problem' I can foresee is that it might be a bit more difficult to find someone who's handy with the carburettor (or is it a 200E?). Solution: buy a good repair manual and become your own specialist ;)

The carburetted M102 in the W124 allready has the duplex-timing chain & hydraulic lifters, it's only the M102 engines from '80 to '85 in the W123 chassis that had the simplex chain... However, there's still a problem with the hardening of the camshafts up untill '87 or '89 as far as I can remember. Regular oil changes, good oil and maintainance however will counter the hardening issue! The problem gets only evident when maintainance is neglected. On the other hand, it's not terribly expensive or difficult to replace the camshaft...

I realy like the carburetted M102 engine - it's SO much more responsive and SMOOTH than any KE-fueld M102 I know :) And it's realy quiet. Of course it's the only gas engine that makes a 300D appear fast, and has the thirst of a 230E - but it's totaly adequate to get you from A to B with comfort and withoput stress. I realy, realy enjoyed that engine! Even better was the lack of a rev counter in that particular car. Knowing you can't go fast makes you relaxed, slows down time and rids you of the rule of the clock. Awesome!
 
#6 ·
Knowing you can't go fast makes you relaxed, slows down time and rids you of the rule of the clock. Awesome!
Yeah. I remember that from driving 1980 VW diesel. The gas pedal had only 2 usable positions and for better acceleration I was turning AC off.
No cruise control - no problem. A piece of lumber jammed between the gas pedal and driver seat did the job just fine.
 
#7 ·
I find the early low-spec 4 cylinder 124's really interesting as there are so few left in reasonable condition - they sold in big numbers, but it's the expensive 6-cylinder cars that obviously had the wealthier owners and therefore had much more spent on them over the years.

I think that you should concentrate on the bodywork - rust will kill the car, whereas gradual mechanical improvement to a sound example will always be possible depending on your budget and DIY skills. Check sills, jacking points, front floor under the carpets, inner wings, battery tray, trunk floor etc. Of course, no idea about mileage, records or price, so it's hard to be specific. I assume, due to age, that even a well-preserved example is going to need a steady stream of replacement parts to keep it road-worthy through your ownership...

I hope you can save the car, there are relatively few people now who will consider running one as everyday transport.
 
#12 ·
1988 - has it got Zebrano wood trim, steel wheels, manual windows and checked cloth seats?

I like the low-spec cars, there's something admirable about MB putting the 124 in reach of customers who'd never have been able to afford a straight six, leather and AC. You get all the inherent luxury of the model as standard but without the show-off status symbols. It's a people's car!

Post some pictures when you can, be good to hear how 124 ownership is going for you.
 
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