Carefully detailed for sale including Stage 3 machine polish
1991 facelift car with ‘Sacco planks’ on doors
Dry stored from 2013 to 2022
The Appeal
In the 1980s if you wanted a car that would last, really last, you bought a Mercedes. Engineered to perfection and built to exacting standards, putting the car with the three-pointed star on your drive really said you’d arrived.
The W124 Mercedes is, for many, the last Mercedes that was fully developed to Mercedes’ no-compromise principles. Designed to replace the boxy W123, the more daringly designed W124 was exactly what buyers of big, upmarket saloons wanted. Conservative, solid, durable and available in a bewildering variety of specifications and body styles, it was beloved of managing directors and taxi drivers.
Today the W124 is popular among enthusiasts as a design classic that can easily be pushed into daily driver duties. Many have survived but it is rare to find one like this, a low owner, very low mileage car where somebody else has done all the hard work. It’s also a particularly nice specification, a 230E with attractive paintwork and desirable Gullideckel alloys. The Seller has extensively recommissioned it over the last year. There are a few minor cosmetic areas a buyer might wish to further improve but as the photographs show, it is ready to be shown and enjoyed. cuAOtGKlbA6PGA4k788fj7iz3PAC79OnZVQptxI8.jpg1.7 MB
The History And Paperwork
Collection of old tax discs
Lots of old MOTs
2 keys with immobiliser fobs
Original handbook pack
Receipts for the Seller’s list of extensive Mercedes Benz replacement parts
12 months MOT to November 2023 with advisories sorted
Original light grey patterned cloth interior in excellent condition
Optional rear headrests, reading lights and air conditioning
Period correct Blaupunkt radio
Clean carpets and correct overmats
The functional simplicity of the W124’s design carries through into the interior, which has an air of fuss-free, no-nonsense about it from the firm seats to the clearly laid out instrumentation.
The W124 model range was huge and complex, ranging from very basic models right up to luxury limousines. This one fits neatly somewhere in the middle, its distinctive cloth seats and door trims giving the car a light and airy feel enhanced by the big steel sunroof.
The condition of the interior reflects the car’s low owners and low mileage. The seats are in very good, virtually unmarked condition: the seller tells us that there are two small holes, one on the rear seat and one on the driver’s seat. Both have been repaired well because they are very difficult to spot in the photographs.
The general condition of the rest of the interior reflects the low mileage. The only deterioration is to the wood veneer on the lower centre console, which has begun to crack.
Otherwise the boot carpet is clean but has some light staining. The factory toolkit and first aid are complete and with the car. It also has a period correct Blaupunkt stereo.
Dark blue paintwork recently machine polished and detailed
Gullideckel 15inch alloy wheels recently dipped and powder coated
Front and rear bumpers and side cladding in very good condition
Original Mercedes Benz mud flaps
Quality Goodyear tyres all around (including spare wheel)
Refurbished spare wheel
Electric steel sunroof with new seal
This car seems to have been nicely specified by the original owner, the combination of dark blue paintwork suiting the bold lines and offset by those lovely alloy wheels. A big electric sunroof completes the package.
This car was off the road in dry storage from 2013 until mid-2022 when the Seller bought it. Alongside an extensive mechanical recommissioning the paintwork has been attended to. The front wings were repainted to address corrosion and the rest of the paintwork recovered through a Stage 3 machine polish.
The photographs suggest that the rear quarter panels and offside rear door have been repainted at some point, although this appears to be to a good standard and paint match.
There are a couple of patches of faded paint on the roof, light scratches and chips noticeable elsewhere and – for complete transparency - both rear mudflaps have scuffs on them.
The radiator grille has a chip out of one of the vanes on the left hand side.
Overall this car does not appear to suffer from the rust issues that can afflict W124s and which can make buying a cheap one an expensive labour of love.
Extensive mechanical recommissioning by Seller using only Mercedes parts
New fuel tank, filters, level sender, pump and pump relay
Fully serviced late 2022 including fluids, plugs, filter, V-belt, distributor cap, rotor arm & HT leads
New front and rear brake discs and pads with hoses
New wiper motor
New temperature sensor, thermostat and thermostat housing
New camshaft cover seal and oil breather hoses
New rear springs
Air filter and camshaft cover repainted
The W124’s durability means that 2023 survivors have often covered intergalactic mileages, a fact that doesn’t put off buyers precisely because these cars are so enduring. So it is surprising to discover a car like this that has covered a mere 72,307 miles, including less than 2,000 in the last 10 years. For its ultra-reliable 2.3litre engine, that’s barely run in.
The car was dry stored from 2013 to 2022 when the Seller bought it and recommissioned it. Judging by the list of parts above, that work was clearly very extensive. Everything was done using only Mercedes Benz parts and the Seller describes the mechanical condition as now being ‘excellent.’ The last MOT in November 2022 included a few advisories – the Seller tells us that these have also been addressed.
The Seller has used the car to bed in and test the recommissioning. He states that it starts perfectly and the engine runs very smoothly.
The history file includes receipts for all those parts plus the original handbooks, two keys with immobiliser fobs, a stack of old MOTs to verify the mileage and a nice collection of old tax discs. 9aEzFbqhHztCVJAxvWVPx6jzS43JLkQ4RahoFOvW.jpg1.46 MB
Summary
The W124 is one of those enduring cars that still feels like a modern classic even though the oldest ones are nudging 40 years old. This pretty blue facelift car, with its lovely ‘Sacco Planks’ on the lower doors and beautiful refurbished Gullideckel alloys, looks every inch a classic Benz.
The low mileage and low owners suggest that it has been cared for and the Seller’s vast list of parts and careful valeting have clearly carried on this tradition. This is an attractive W124 where somebody else has done all the hard work. It’s ready for some serious summer wafting and showing.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
