What should I look out for buy a 20yr old merc

[Ricebandit]

I have a friend who has a W123 limo W124 saloon, and W126 coupe. He assures me that parts are cheap and easy to get. I have another friend who had 2 W124s 8V and 16V, and he shares the same sentiments. So far I've been sourcing some bits and pieces for mine, and parts are remarkably cheap compared to my previous car.

Between the 8V and the 16V, I have driven both, and in terms of pick-up the 16V is much better. The 8V is a little anemic even by 1990s standards. However, from the mid 90s, MB was taken over by accountants, and my friend who had both W124s from new said there was a noticable difference in build quality especially in some of the plastic trim. I borrowed an 8V for 2 months and I got about 8-9km/l, and I do about 85% expressway driving. If economy is an issue, just need to factor annual depreciation into your sums, at 3+k for a 8V, there's not much out there that is cheaper. Just get one that has been cared for properly!

[audiobean]

Thanks for all the informative replies. Looks like the cost of fuel is something I need to convince myself further, in return with a better ride maybe. But it's good to know the parts are affordable.

Regarding airbags, as I'd certainly want to have both driver and passenger airbags, but saw that some of the older models i.e. 200E era doesn't have it as standards (correct me if I'm wrong). Do you think both the driver and passenger airbags can be installed in this case, through buying new parts and ask the mechanics? Can it be easily done here or need to import parts?

[Ricebandit]

Driver side for the steering wheel is not uncommon, but you need to make sure that it is an original fit, as some people buy airbag steering wheels to replace their old non-airbag ones. Don't think they can retrofit airbags into these things unless you can find a whole dash assembly and all the sensors. I found a couple of resources online that may be helpful for you to do some research.

First get the VIN (easy to check off one-motoring once you have the licence plate number) then go to this website and it will tell you for that particular car, what options were fitted.

then go to Automobile Catalog which I found really helpful as you can get a good overview about the specs of the car you are looking at, and for old mercs they have a database by year of manufacture to see what mechanical differences there are.

[audiobean]

@Ricebandit: Thanks for the info, I don't see the number plates in sgcarmart thus couldn't do the check yet, will try out the links once I manage to get the numbers. You mentioned airbags aren't able to be installed if it wasn't already there at the first place. Thus if the W124 is produced in 1990 and I don't see the steering wheel being the airbag ones, does it mean I can't just buy a new steering wheel + control box and ask some experience mechanics to install it? Same goes for the passenger airbag, I see the parts available for sale at overseas site and it's for W124, not sure if it can be installed on a non-airbag W124..

@keltanky: Am actually quite keen on W202 (still deciding between W124 and W202), reason being again, ha I see them having standard airbags for both passenger and driver (just have to have the bags..). And it's a newer car, thus assumption is that the cost of repair could be lower. But I'm keen to understand why is it that you would pick W124-16V over W202-16V given the choice?

Closing in for either cars. Cheers.

[g8crasher]

@Ricebandit: Thanks for the info, I don't see the number plates in sgcarmart thus couldn't do the check yet, will try out the links once I manage to get the numbers. You mentioned airbags aren't able to be installed if it wasn't already there at the first place. Thus if the W124 is produced in 1990 and I don't see the steering wheel being the airbag ones, does it mean I can't just buy a new steering wheel + control box and ask some experience mechanics to install it? Same goes for the passenger airbag, I see the parts available for sale at overseas site and it's for W124, not sure if it can be installed on a non-airbag W124..

@keltanky: Am actually quite keen on W202 (still deciding between W124 and W202), reason being again, ha I see them having standard airbags for both passenger and driver (just have to have the bags..). And it's a newer car, thus assumption is that the cost of repair could be lower. But I'm keen to understand why is it that you would pick W124-16V over W202-16V given the choice?

Closing in for either cars. Cheers.

Hi there, just a note on airbags. The ones in the cars mentioned above are fast approaching or have already exceeded 20 years in age. Alot of older cars usually have their warning lights in the dashboard removed when mechanics are not able to solve outstanding issues.

Although there is little to no evidence to support the fact that airbags last as long as the lifespan of the car, I would err on the safe side and have the airbag units mounted in their stock locations checked that they have not been deployed and the sensors still linked.

[Ricebandit]

Thus if the W124 is produced in 1990 and I don't see the steering wheel being the airbag ones, does it mean I can't just buy a new steering wheel + control box and ask some experience mechanics to install it? Same goes for the passenger airbag, I see the parts available for sale at overseas site and it's for W124, not sure if it can be installed on a non-airbag W124..

Well, it depends. some people replace steering wheels once they get worn and ratty, and not everyone replaces them with the original part. With the VIN decoder, it should tell you if airbags were standard fitment on the car, which would take out most of the guesswork, and make retrofitting of the airbags a possibility.

Hi there, just a note on airbags. The ones in the cars mentioned above are fast approaching or have already exceeded 20 years in age. Alot of older cars usually have their warning lights in the dashboard removed when mechanics are not able to solve outstanding issues.

Although there is little to no evidence to support the fact that airbags last as long as the lifespan of the car, I would err on the safe side and have the airbag units mounted in their stock locations checked that they have not been deployed and the sensors still linked.

Yup. That and don't do it yourself unless you are familiar with the procedure. Airbags can seriously injure or even kill if you accidentally set them off.

[keltanky]

@keltanky: Am actually quite keen on W202 (still deciding between W124 and W202), reason being again, ha I see them having standard airbags for both passenger and driver (just have to have the bags..). And it's a newer car, thus assumption is that the cost of repair could be lower. But I'm keen to understand why is it that you would pick W124-16V over W202-16V given the choice?

easy, dun quite like too much electronics especially from w202/210 era. those times are DC timings, cost cutting la. W124 was the last of the NO EXPENSES SPARED POLICY . but so far its seems from W204, MB seems to be going back to basic old policy . which is good . MB Cars are to be built to last.

[audiobean]

Thanks again for all for the great info and I did learn a lot on W124 in the past few days through this forum and also online. Hopefully will be able to find a good condition W124 soon (and hopefully a good one is not that hard to come by!).

Regarding the airbags, I did a search using several VIN numbers (some 1989, 1991, and 1996 Merc) through the website from Ricebandit, there seems to be no information listed about airbags in the component lists (did see aircon, head-rest, etc.), although for the newer Merc I am sure airbags are already standard. Did anyone manage to see airbag information for any Merc when searching using VIN in the above site? Or am I doing it wrongly?

[Ricebandit]

Thanks again for all for the great info and I did learn a lot on W124 in the past few days through this forum and also online. Hopefully will be able to find a good condition W124 soon (and hopefully a good one is not that hard to come by!).

Regarding the airbags, I did a search using several VIN numbers (some 1989, 1991, and 1996 Merc) through the website from Ricebandit, there seems to be no information listed about airbags in the component lists (did see aircon, head-rest, etc.), although for the newer Merc I am sure airbags are already standard. Did anyone manage to see airbag information for any Merc when searching using VIN in the above site? Or am I doing it wrongly?

Whoopsie you're right! I must be imagining things again.. This site may yield a little more details.. it has all the technical drawings for the car and you can also do a search based on VIN here. the decoder didn't specify anything about airbags.. maybe Mercedes might be able to help?

I saw this on benzworld though, so it is possible to do what you wanted, all you'll need is time and $$$

[audiobean]

Whoopsie you're right! I must be imagining things again.. This site may yield a little more details.. it has all the technical drawings for the car and you can also do a search based on VIN here. the decoder didn't specify anything about airbags.. maybe Mercedes might be able to help?

I saw thison benzworld though, so it is possible to do what you wanted, all you'll need is time and $$$

Wow the new site you've provided is just brilliant! Only a small caveat was that the original link isn't exactly 100% correct, I google through the hint from the address and came up with a working one here

http://www.auto-parts.spb.ru/cat/cats/m.mycat?cat=mb

And I'm speechless looking at the full list of parts information and the drawings.. if only I could stuff this many info in my head (and learn how to assemble them). Hehe..

To those who is keen on the topics of airbags, I found my answer, a 1989 W124 is (design wise) able to retrofit both driver and passenger airbags. Through the above link search for the VIN of a 1989 model, and follow this category to come to the part list of the airbags:

68 COVERING -> 195 INSTRUMENT PANEL & BODY PARTS USED FOR CO-DRIVER'S AIRBAG

46 STEERING -> 105 STEERING WHEEL AND STEERING LOCK

And assumption is.. if the parts can be sourced (shouldn't be much of a problem especially sourcing from overseas site), and if the mechanics know how to install them (this I am not so sure.. need your advice on the best mechanics around that could do it), then a 1989 W124 will have twin airbags. Potentially, achievable.

[audiobean]

Wish to seek an opinion about insurance, I was asking around several companies and the quotes provided so far, for > 20 years W124, is mostly around $2k per year.. Am just taking it at 0% NCD as a reference. Felt that this is very high indeed! Can someone share if you get anything lower or is this the normal rate? Thanks for any advice. Am thinking is it because of the car age that caused the premium to be high. And the quotes I've gotten are for third-party coverage only.. Ha.

[Ricebandit]

Most cars this age you can only get 3rd party insurance, and only a couple of companies do it. Try www.directasia.com, I think they do a pretty decent job.

[keltanky]

directasia dun do >10yrs old car

[keltanky]

3rd party with fire and theft?

[Ricebandit]

3rd party with fire and theft?

Yup, and i got mine from direct asia. They may not necessarily do it online.. I called them when I got my quote.

[audiobean]

After checking with directasia and gotten a few quotes, just to share that for W124 Merc although you can't see the model online, you can just put it as E200K with year 1991, 1989 etc, no need to call them, and you can see the quotes directly.

[Ricebandit]

 

Tyre pressure chart for W124s

 

There should be a table on the inside of the fuel filler cap but some cars have lost theirs..

[keltanky]

i normally pump 240/250 , these are the best FC .