Highlights

Cherished, used and improved with many thousands recently spent
Beautifully presented inside and out
Excellent bodywork, paint and interior

The Appeal

The W124 was an incredibly popular model, with an 11-year production life from 1985-1995. People appreciated the modern yet understated styling, the advanced safety features (including standard-fit ABS), the ground-breaking rear multi-link suspension system and, of course, the rock-solid build quality inside and out. These qualities mean that well preserved and maintained W124s have a cult following, with many cars reaching 250,000 miles or more with barely a squeak or rattle.

In the early ‘90s the model received a revised bonnet with integrated radiator grille, new bootlid, body-colour bumpers, and the M111 four valve per cylinder engines with electronic fuel injection and distributor-less ignition. The car also received driver and passenger airbags and electrically operated wing mirrors. Offered for sale here is one of these sought-after models from the final build year of 1995.

The History and Paperwork

MOT valid until March 2024
No MOT advisories
Extensive invoices on file for parts and servicing
Ordered new by Mr. Brooks of Ashton-Under-Lyme in November 1994 from Huddersfield Garages, and delivered in June 1995.
The list price for the car was £24,995, over £50,000 at today’s prices
Mr. Brooks kept the car for two years, selling the car to Mr. Birchall of Wigan who kept the car for 21 years
In 2018 it was sold to a motor trader in Crewe, who kept the car for a year and then sold it to the current owner’s brother
The current owner — a Mercedes-Benz Club member — acquired the car in June 2019, to improve to a high standard
This car has reportedly had regular usage on fair weather days, covering over 20,000 completely reliable miles over the last three years on trips around the UK, Germany, France and Belgium, with the car being regularly garaged when not in use
The odometer is currently showing 139,000 miles
Current V5
Mercedes document wallet with owner’s manual, build sheet print out from Mercedes with option codes, and original sales brochures from 1995
Unfortunately the original service book was mislaid by the car-dealer in Crewe, but according to that dealer the car was maintained initially by Mercedes main dealers and then local garages
Since acquiring the car the current owner has kept a meticulous history file, reportedly spending in excess of £10,000 in the last three years to get the car to its current standard
Three keys, which all operate the doors, boot and ignition

The Interior

Black Aspen cloth interior in excellent condition
Leather steering wheel and outside temperature gauge fitted
Front windscreen replaced

The interior of the car presents extremely well, with attractive and comfortable black Aspen cloth (code 001) reportedly showing no rips, holes or stains, and importantly absolutely no wear to the driver’s seat bolster.

The carpets are all in excellent condition, the headlining is clean, the dashboard is free from cracks. Zebrano wood trim on the dashboard and doors has a deep shine and is free from lacquer cracking. The sun visors are firm, and the door cards are in excellent condition.

All four electric windows and both electric heated mirrors work as they should, the thermostatic heating system with individual driver and passenger settings is said to hold the correct temperature, and the central locking works on all doors, bootlid and fuel filler flap.

The sunroof opens and closes enthusiastically with a replacement motor, but currently the tilt function does not operate. Interestingly, the rear headrests drop at the touch of a button when required for reversing manoeuvres.

The owner has fitted an original leather steering wheel, gear shifter and outside temperature gauge, using all original Mercedes parts and wiring loom.

A retro-style Blaupunkt stereo has been fitted, and has Bluetooth connectivity and high quality speakers all round. The car has a new electric aerial which works as it should.

A new front windscreen has been fitted, as the original had become scored; all the other glass is reportedly in good condition. The original tool roll, jack, warning triangle and first-aid kit are all present and correct.

The Exterior

Bornite Metallic paint (code 481)
Partially resprayed for the current owner
Refurbished alloy wheels

The car looks most attractive in its Bornite metallic paint, with lower “Sacco” panels finished in the correct Violet-grey semi-matt finish.

The current owner reportedly commissioned a partial bodywork restoration, with a professional respray on the entire driver’s side, rear panel, passenger side rear wing and passenger rear door. The bootlid was replaced with a quality used part and also re-sprayed. All the lower panels and both bumpers were also repainted at that time. So the car now presents with no visible corrosion on the bodywork.

The rear jacking points, front inner wings, rear inner wings, boot floor and spare wheel well have all reportedly been repaired, many being panels shipped from Germany.

The car sits on four refurbished eight-hole Mercedes alloy wheels, with a matching spare. All have quality Goodyear Efficientgrip tyres fitted with almost full tread remaining.

We’re told that the only area for further improvement is the bonnet, where some micro-blistering is visible in certain lighting conditions if you look extremely closely, but this has proved impossible to photograph.

The Mechanics

16V four-cylinder engine
4G-Tronic automatic transmission.
Extensive recent servicing

The 16v 150bhp engine is said to have seen a full top end rebuild, with new timing chain and guides. The serviced gearbox reportedly changes smoothly with kickdown operational. With new engine and gearbox mounts, new propshaft support bearing and flexidisks, the driveline is quiet and a new exhaust system with a new catalyst has been fitted.

An engine-bay refresh is said to have included a complete new cooling system — all hoses, radiator, thermostat, water pump and expansion tank — front engine main seal and transmission cooler hoses, so the car presents with no leaks or drips, including from the rear differential which also had all seals replaced.

The vendor informs us that the car rides beautifully as a result of a comprehensive suspension refresh with new lower control arms, springs, bushes and top mounts at the front, with new Sachs dampers all round.

Recent servicing work has all been carried out at Nair Autos in Harrow, with the car sailing through the last three MOTs with no advisories and the current MOT expiring in March 2024.

The only mechanical issue the owner reports is an occasional knock at full right lock when the car is on uneven ground, which he understands is when the steering arm makes contact with the exhaust downpipe to the replacement catalytic converter.

Summary

With low ownership, relatively low miles and an extensive mechanical and cosmetic refresh costing over £10,000, this is a car that would fare well either as a daily driver, or as a car to be garaged, cherished and brought out on sunny days only.

Notice to bidders

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