The transition from the W123 Mercedes to the W124 was huge, in just about every way possible. The W124 was a clean sheet car, and its chrome-less soap-bar styling was the biggest break from MBZ tradition ever. But there was one exception: the tail end of the T model the station wagons was surprisingly similar.
Stephanie has suddenly been infected with a lust for an old Benz wagon; she thinks she’d like a W123 300TD; I think she’d be infinitely happier in a 300TE. I know I would.
A friend of mine just bought a W123 300TD wagon. They are surprisingly (to me anyway) expensive compared to the sedans. It will be interesting to see how it goes as his wife is going from a modern minivan to the 300TD.
Its too bad she prefers a wagon. We just got a 1988 300 se with 106k miles on the clock that runs like a champ (after replacing the fuel pump). The chocolate brown leather/mb tex is like new with only a slight scuff on the drivers seat bolster. The old fella (as I have taken to calling him) is eager to go and kinda floats down the road. The car is clean and the only rust is a spot right in the middle of the drivers quarter panel. Im gonna get some shots of the old fella today and post them to the cohort.
Would a gas-powered engine be within your consideration? As you well know, there’s a considerable price premium for any W123/W124 diesel — and if it’s a wagon, wow…sticker shock! I’m not sure the price premium makes it worth it, especially since the straight-six is such a great motor (I’m referring from personal experience to the M103).
Then there’s the W123 vs W124 conundrum. The W123 undoubtedly has that classic Mercedes look, but the W124 is an amazingly modern machine, especially for its time. (Disclaimer: I own a 1989 300E in wonderful condition.) It’s pretty cool to drive a 25-year-old car that has ABS, an airbag, memory power seats…
Gas: Yes, and preferred. I’ve been hinting around at a W124 wagon for years, but never got her attention. All of a sudden… it may be a passing fancy.
My concern would be in finding a nice one. They are getting a bit old, and scarce. I’m seeing more tired ones around.
A buddy of mine has an ’85 W123 wagon, the 300TD as you show here, but in beige/tan, and was originally a SoCal car when he bought it about a decade or so ago.
It’s been a great car, some minor issues still, even though mechanically, it’s been rebuilt, both the motor and automatic transmission.
Now he’s looking to sell it as he is realizing he doesn’t drive much anymore as he needs the truck, and just doesn’t drive around as much period these days. His daily driver now is a 2001 Ford F150 4×4 crew with canopy he bought used as it comes in handy when keeping up with the maintenance at the family beach cabin that they’ve owned and built since the late 60’s.
I’ve ridden in it and it’s quite nice, though a bit sunbaked and the AC vents sunken in, but hey, it works still!
So the compromise is either a 280 TE or a 300 TD (W124). Isn’t that what marriage is all about?
The transition from W124 to W210 was even more huge.
I like the W123 and W124 sedans most. T-models, well, too much “commercial vehicle”, and that includes hearses. And the coupe is not a coupe, it’s just a 2 door.
But I want to make an exception for the W124 E36 AMG T-model. Now that’s a German Transporter that can reach the top of ANY hill, with passengers AND cargo. 12,700 euro and this one is yours:
http://www.klaasdepoel.com/verkoop/w124-e36-amg-t-model/
I drove a relative’s W124 diesel wagon in the early 90s and it was a revelation — so smooth and quiet, only a little sluggish, just a tiny bit of clatter at hard throttle.
After the nasty coffee-can-full-of-coins-all-the-time noisy, dirty and stinky diesels of the 70s I was amazed.
My folks picked up an 86 300e sedan for $2500. It has been pretty good to them other than the usual tires breaks and a tune up. The only problem I have with it is after I occasionally borrow it I realize what a piece of junk my jetta is by comparison and it is a 1/2 a decade newer…
Ooh, two of my favourite cars of all time side-by-side! Grandpa had a string of 123s and ended with a 124 230E; all were white, too, but they were all sedans. An uncle who worked in MB management had several 124 wagons as company cars though, all of them tricked-out six-cylinder models (that’s still special in Germany); back in the day, the gadgets on those were very, very cool, and the cars just looked wonderfully sleek. The firm, smooth feel of those machines on the Autobahn was pretty impressive too. I vividly remember one trip my family took with him and his wife in about 1995; the E 320 T was loaded down with six people (fold-out third row!) and lots of luggage in two cargo boxes on the roof, but still zoomed over the Autobahn at speeds north of 200 km/h. Calm, composed, seemingly effortless. Ever since that experience, I’ve always wanted to get one for myself. Hasn’t happened yet though…
Interestingly, the price of both 123 and 124 wagons seems to be rising, at least where well-preserved examples are concerned. I guess both are right in the middle of the transition from used car to collectible.
Just for once the torrent of used imports here has done some good very used Benzs are very cheap but of course you still pay a premium for new parts and service should you be crazy enough to enter a dealers. A good one seems to be a good car a bad one rolling scrap choose carefully some of these cars have led very hard lives especially diesels as they were favourites of the horse type of people.
Either way, you win 🙂