Highlights

Japanese-market import in extremely good condition
Evidence of wiring loom replacement addressing the W124's well-known weakness
Highly specified with electric front seats, cruise control, a/c and new high end audio
Full service and health check recently completed by a Mercedes-Benz specialist
Irish registered with NCT valid until 2028

The Appeal

The W124 range is one of those happy results that occur when engineers quite simply don’t stop engineering. Its hewn-from-stone aura explains why good examples are joining the collectors of marque enthusiasts.

This car is likely to be one of them. It is one of the best S124s we’ve seen in a long while and justifies its vendor’s description of ‘collector grade’. He imported it from Japan last year, where it had clearly led a cossetted life on the nation’s famously salt-free roads. It is a very high specification S124 with the 2.8L straight six engine and options like electric front seats, high end audio and cruise control.

There is evidence of replacement of the wiring loom, one of the W124 range’s only weaknesses, and a full health check and service by a Mercedes-Benz specialist. It carries Irish NCT to June 2028.

Whether you’re here for the collector potential, or you just want the best classic daily, this highly presented car should be on your shopping list.

The vendor says:

“This S124 is ready to be enjoyed and cherished, and I'm sure it's one that we will regret letting go of in time, I can’t imagine finding another like it.”

History and Paperwork

Built approximately February 1994
Originally supplied to the Japanese market
Imported from Japan to Ireland in 2025 with all VAT and duties paid
Irish registered as 94 D 120366
Documents confirm recorded mileage of 173,470 km is correct we are told
No accident damage and no reported faults according to seller
Accident and fault free status confirmed by clean Japanese service history report that also confirms mileage
All original books present in the original Mercedes-Benz wallet
Sticker evidence of interim services between 84,501 km and the present day
Wheel alignment documented at 142,452 km (October 2012) and 150,827 km (May 2014)
Full service and health check completed at 173,470 km
NCT (National Car Test) valid until 2028
Eligible for €56 per year road tax and classic insurance in Ireland we are told
Vendor notes the car may be eligible for 5% VAT on entry and registration in the UK as a collector-quality vehicle in original specification
Located in Waterford, approximately 90 minutes from Dublin and Cork airports and one hour from Rosslare ferry

Factory ordered extras including:

Electrically adjustable front seats (code 221/222)
Front passenger Airbag (code 290)
Tempomat Cruise control (code 443)
Electrically adjustable steering column (code 443)
Behr Air conditioning (code 586)
Active Bass Speaker system upgrade (code 814)

Mercedes-Benz Datacard:

FIN WDB1240882F286737
Model E280T
Engine 104942 22 036928
Transmission 722433 03 482100
Order Number 0 4 839 50515
Order Location JAPAN
Interior FABRIC - BLACK (001)
Paint 1 BRILLIANT SILVER METALLIC (744U)
Approx. Build Date 1994-02

Full extra order list:

221 Left Front Seat, Electrically Adjustable
222 Right Front Seat, Electrically Adjustable
240 Outside Temperature Indicator
253 Radio Mb - Exquisit - Japan
280 Leather Steering Wheel And Leather Gear Shift Knob
291 Airbag For Front Passenger
300 Storage Box In Front Tray
341 Additional Blinker Lamps
420 Automatic Transmission 4-Gear
443 Tempomat (Cruise Control), And Steering Column, Elctrically Adjustable
498 Version For Japan
547 Double Roller Blind And Sun Visors With Vanity Mirrors On The Left And Right, Illuminated
570 Folding Armrest, Front
586 Behr Air Conditioner, And Electric Window Regulators Front And Rear Doors
593 Heat-Insulating Glass, All-Around, Heated Rear Window Pane (Single-Sheet Safety Glass), Band Filter
615 Lamp Unit, Asymmetrical L.H. Traffic, And Front And Rear Door Courtesy Lamps
652 8-Hole Light Alloy Rims
668 Mode Of Packing Ve Iii With Styropor Bumper Rails
804 Change Of Model Year, The Last Figure Showing The New Model Year
814 Active Bass Loudspeaker System
844 Folding Seat Bench In Loading Compartment, Reverse To Direction Of Travel
916 Vehicles For Hot Countries

Summary of servicing:

19,765km
27,586km
36,880km
48,948km
58,386km
74,734km
84,501km
Wheel alignment at 142,452km on 29th October 2012
Wheel alignment at 150,827km on 2nd May 2014.
Full service and health check just been completed at 173,470km.
Engine bay stickers indicate servicing from 84,000km to present day we are told (with service book up to 84,0000km)

The vendor says:

“This is our sixth Mercedes-Benz 124, and our fifth S124. We were lucky enough to own the terrific E500 a while back. I drive an S124 as a daily, and have so done for the last number of years. I find that they are an incredible classic, and I think people are just waking up to how good they actually are. They really can do it all, 5 adults in comfort, a van-sized rear when the seats are down, and all done with an effortless style and grace. The Estates seem to be much more desirable than the Saloon, and from a looks point of view, to me, they are much more attractive. Even people much younger than I seem to love them.

“This was originally sourced in Japan and bought as an investment to tuck away. We've been watching with interest as prices of these rise, and have noticed dealers in the UK recently asking £30,000 for the E320 and £25,000 for this model. Then, as often happens, something else came along and was bought during the long, slow wait for this to arrive from Japan, hence the sale.

“It really is as close as you can get to walking into a Mercedes dealership in the mid-nineties and buying a demo model. It obviously was really cherished and loved. When you think about how difficult it was to import a car into Japan in the 1990’s and all the additional levies and costs that one had to pay. The Japanese government would have preferred to just sell Japanese, so levies and taxes were piled on. ‘Pricing to market’ meant Mercedes actually set premium prices in markets where they knew they could get it, often much higher than in the European market. Yanase, as the primary European car importer to Japan, dominated the market, and hence set heavy fees to import also. All this meant the customer for a Mercedes was very well-heeled and in a position to totally pamper their car. And they must have been fanatical about the brand in the first place to justify the cost. All of this, coupled with the kind climate, and a culture where cleanliness and respect reigns, means that in some cases, you can literally end up with a time warp example, like this one.”

The Condition

Brilliant Silver Metallic (744U) paintwork in very good order
Black fabric interior (001) reported to be in original condition throughout
The vendor states the headlining is in very good condition
The vendor reports zero corrosion anywhere on the car, including the underside
Mirror gators reported to be fresh
Inner rear window metal reported to be in good condition with no leaks or moisture
Some minor marks on the lower Sacco panels noted by the vendor
Period-correct Momo steering wheel fitted
Full set of rare Mercedes-Benz original floor mats (no longer available)
Full original Mercedes-Benz tool-kit with canvas cover
Original Mercedes-Benz jack (appears unused) and full-size alloy spare wheel
Original Mercedes-Benz first aid kit in original packaging
8-hole light alloy wheels
New Bridgestone Turanza T005 tyres fitted (195/65 R15)
New Blaupunkt Stockholm 400 DAB head unit fitted, with Bluetooth, DAB+, CD, USB, and audio streaming
New OEM Stabilus boot hydraulic rams fitted
New OEM bonnet lining sourced in Germany and fitted
Stored in a temperature-controlled garage

The vendor says:

“There is absolutely zero corrosion. The underside of this car is magnificent. I'm happy to supply additional photos and videos and would encourage anyone interested in buying to come and arrange a lift inspection. It really defies belief; it's almost as if the car has never seen dirt, let alone any of the other things we have to deal with in our climates, in Western Europe.

“All the usual weak spots on these cars seem to be excellent on this example. Mirror gators are fresh. The inner rear window metal is perfect; there are no leaks, no moisture. There are some minor marks on the lower Sacco panels, but nothing that needs attention in my view, and I am pretty critical! For the photos, I didn't fully clean underneath, but if you did, you could bring this to a concours show and flip it upside down.”

The Mechanics

2.8-litre M104 inline-six producing over 200 bhp
Four-speed automatic transmission
Evidence of wiring loom replacement completed to a high standard
Recent full service and health check by a Mercedes-Benz specialist at 173,470 km
New Platinum Prestige battery fitted
New ball joints fitted to both front sides
The vendor reports that engine internals appear clean when viewed from the oil filler opening
Oil removed during the recent service reported to be clear
Behr air conditioning with electric windows front and rear
Tempomat cruise control and electrically adjustable steering column
Electrically adjustable front seats
The vendor reports everything is in full working order with no warning lights

The vendor says:

“It drives like a dream. Comfortable and smooth. The engine is surprisingly economical, as I always find with these. Power is fantastic at over 200bhp. No warning lights, new tyres, everything is just as it should be.

“The M104 engine that sits in this car is a masterpiece of engineering. Its evolution went into so many cars, including the C36 AMG, which puts out 280bhp. Legend has it that Mercedes stopped producing it because service departments at main dealers were suffering from a lack of business due to its reliability. Perhaps it is more accurate to say that it was replaced by the M112, as the new engine was cheaper and easier to produce. Either way, we will never see this level of quality in a car again.

“These do suffer from ‘wiring loom doom’, due to the biodegradable, sustainable plastics used in the original wiring looms Mercedes fitted. This was a nod to the environment at the time, and possibly Mercedes didn’t really realise that the car they were producing was so exceptional that they would still be going strong 30 to 40 years later. This has pushed prices down far below where they should have been for many years. Interestingly, these looms were actually produced at the Kromberg and Schubert plant in our city of Waterford. This was a contract for Mercedes and completed looms were then sent to the 124 factory in Sindelfingen, Germany. This car seems to have had its loom replaced, giving the new owner great comfort. As my specialist said to me when he fitted a loom to another 124 I owned.. “you’re good for another 40 years now”.

“Our mechanic has commented that the engine internals, when viewed from the oil filler opening, appear gleaming and as new. The oil he removed for the service was also still clear.”

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