When Mercedes introduced the W124 E class to the world in 1985, it was released to much acclaim. It was the successor to the beloved W123, long known as one of the preeminent taxis in Europe and Africa, thanks to its good design, durability, and reliability. Being a good successor to the W123 would be a hard feat, but surely Mercedes could do this well. Alas, they were unable to recreate this success for the W124’s successor, the infamous W210.
Until the 1990’s, Mercedes made cars that were not just for the image-conscious buyer, or the European taxi driver, but also the person who wanted a car as safe and reliable as a Volvo, with advanced engineering, and a higher price tag. Essentially, it was an upper-crust Volvo 200-series or 700 series in America.
Many have said that the W124 was the last example of the “old” Mercedes. The “many” are probably right, as it was the past reliable and over-engineered Mercedes, just as the W140 S Class was the last over-engineered Mercedes.
Mercedes created what many consider one of the best cars ever made in recent times, and the argument is not hard to prove. If any further evidence is needed for this argument, just ask Paul. He will tell you how it was the best car made in the last thirty years.
It was a car built for a certain culture and time. One that we may never see again.
Related Reading:
Curbside Classic: 1985 Mercedes 300D Turbodiesel – More Than A Fashion Statement
Curbside Classic: Mercedes W124 (1985-1996 E-Class) – The Best Car Of The Past Thirty Years
Sweet looking Mercedes-Benz. I remember admiring this generation when I was a teen.
These sure are sharp looking cars and they have aged well. Obviously this Merc is not a life long Michiganite based on the non-faded spot on the front bumper and the sticker on the windshield which reminds me of New Jersey. Wonder how the slight dent on the rear driver’s side door got there? Seems to have taken some skill compared to run of the mill dents. Interesting place for rust to develop on the rear, but it makes sense since Salt gets trapped in the gap and I wonder how pampered this Merc is.
These things are truly indestructible.
When I was a student I had a weekend job as a taxi driver and the company I worked for used only W123 and W124 cabs. These cars could take a lot of abuse. They had a W124 200D that passed 1.000.000 kilometers with the original engine and transmission. That car had been used as a taxi since new!
One of the classiest Mercedes Benz with the R129 SL and the 190E. I love it !
Still driving a 1996 W124 convertible which I have had since 1996, Still tight and few rattles but it is way too heavy for the 4 cylinder engine that it is burdened with.
Some nice shots there, Mr. Mann. A W124 in that typical metallic ice-blue Benz color I like.
I mentioned it the other day, this is the most common old (as in at least 25 years) car on the road. Lots of them still being driven daily, in a way like there’s no tomorrow.
Quality-wise this was one of the very best mass-produced cars that has ever been built.
(2,583,470 of them, according to Wikipedia)
One was gifted to me last year: 1990 300E with 232,000 miles. It was running, but every fluid save power steering was leaking. Trans slipping, ABS light on, tires bald, coolant and oil leaking externally from head gasket between #4 and #5. Drove it to a scrapper for a $500.00 check. Sometimes a car is just too far gone to save….even a W124.
These are criminally inexpensive nowadays. I see a lot of abused ones for sale. Love these cars.
+10
I still see some of them in daily duty over here, in good nick. More than the E34.
And I love them too.
Like the W124 & W140, the R129 is also representative of the last great, over-engineered Mercedes automobiles.
I have always admired the W124. I think that in the USA there was a 260E for a few years that could be had with a five speed manual.
Always have my eyes open for E320 coupe or wagon at the end of the W124 run – especially a Mars (or Signal or whatever it was called at the time) red wagon. I did own a W123 coupe but never a 124 of any type.
Yeah, it was called 300E 2.6 rather than 260E. Before the new nomenclature system in 1994, the W124 for American market was designated as 300-Class.
There was also a 300E 2.8 in North America, probably called 280E in rest of world.
Actually, there was a one year 260E also.
I have an Imperial Red ’95 E320 wagon which I’m going to put on the market as I also have a 420SEL, a 240D and a 560SL, not to mention my wife’s new C300 (which is thankfully a lease), but since I’m chock-full-o’ Mercs, one’s gotta go and the only reason it’s the W124 is because at some point, when my friend decides he’s ready to part with his Euro 250TD wagon, I’m buying that, so there’s no need for two W124 longroofs in the garage! Or is there???
In any case, you can email me on QV5000 “at” gmail if you want to discuss the E320. It’s a nice one.
The W124 models truly have aged well; my neighborhood has a 1994ish E320 cabriolet that looks just like the one below, with the exception of a dark blue interior. It really does catch the eye as you approach. That said, this car would have cost $125,000 in today’s money (adjusted for inflation), and instantly I feel underwhelmed. I can say the same for the original 1986 300E. Great buy today, but damn well better be world class for $75,000 adjusted. It isn’t hard to see how Lexus ate their lunch upon their debut…
That is kind of the way I feel about them (and most Mercedes) as well. Nice cars and all, but for their new price? No, thanks anyway.
It had been too long since I’d seen a W124 convertible–had forgotten how attractive they were top-down. The coupe is quite a looker too, with the hardtop roofline (someone who lived down the street from me until recently had one).
Great to look at but no fun to work on.
If I’m going to punish myself by diving into Mercedes PCH I’m going to buy something like a mid 80s 560SEL.
Go big or go down in flames!
I just purchased a 2013 MB E350 BlueTec at the end of our 2 year lease. I’m hoping to have this car for many years to come… so far, so good.
Mine is still going strong and is giving me pleasure every single time I drive it, see it, think about it or park it (looking over my shoulder when walking away from the car never gets old, it always looks great). It’s a good size car with a healthy low weight (I think it’s about 1300 kilos), it’s very stable, comfortable while firm (I run Bilstein HD shocks but the standard ones are up to the job as well) and it can do high speed runs effortlessly and continuously. It takes a while to get there but once it is it can do it all day long. I can pull away in third gear np (diesel), slowly but surely. The seats are great, dash resembles perfection, no rattles, clunks and closing the doors still sounds like a bank vault. I love the power steering. The single wiper is the best solution to the problem I’ve experienced. Every switch still feels new. It is still on its original 25 year old fuses. All in all I would not want to miss it for the world. There is one big letdown with these cars, the biodegradable wiring harness but the survivors all have had that replaced by now or they would not be survivors.
Edit
I see a comment mentioning it’s not great to work on. I actually work on it, had no experience doing such things before I got this and it’s constructed in such a way that working on proves to be a joy. Only thing that sucks is the pretty short cable driving the speedometer, that’s pretty hard to reattach once detached. But most other things are easy to reach, easy to repair and easy to replace. Parts are all available at any MB dealer from the shelve.
I have to agree with you about working on the W124. The cars were designed like Chinese block puzzles. Things go together and come apart one way and in a particular sequence. If you can get into the designers’ mindset for how it was built, they are extremely satisfying and fun to work on, if not, they are totally frustrating.
I have had my 1987 model for eight years and I still savor every minute I spend behind the wheel
As you see by my name I’m a long-time Benz fan. I was “privileged” to own two W124’s; a beryl (kind of turquoise) colored sedan and a dunkel blau (dark blue) coupe. Both had the M104 dual cam 3.2 liter in-line six and it is a sweetheart. Yes, I did have the head gaskets on both replaced under warranty and the engine wiring harness on the sedan was replaced at about 76k miles. Mercedes paid for the part, I paid for the labor on that – it was about a 50/50 split.
“Like a bank vault” indeed! IMO, along with the W126 S-Class, the best cars Mercedes-Benz ever built and ever will build. I never considered replacing the W124’s with either the W210 or W211 but I finally had to face reality. Even though solid, comfortable, and practically ageless, maintenance of the E320’s was becoming a bit of an issue. I now drive a W212 (E350 Sedan) and my wife has a GLK350 which she really, really likes.
After 15+ years of service for each and well over 125,000 miles the appearance of both W124’s was exceptional. I’m fortunate to live in a fairly benign climate (Texas gulf coast) and have a covered parking space for my cars both at home and at work. That said, even the leather on the driver’s seats showed almost no wear.
The jury is still out on the reliability of the W212 – too new, but the GLK is approaching 80k miles and has been trouble free. Still, it in no way compares to the W124’s in overall comfort and quality of materials. I guess that’s the trade off for the lower purchase price. In 2010 the GLK listed for just under $45k. In 1994 the E320 sedan listed for just under $45k in 1994 dollars!
I made my first foray into German car ownership with a 1990 W126 300SEL that I purchased from a tow yard auction this past March. I only paid $475 for it. The previous owners were a military couple from central California who apparently got into drugs, wound up homeless, and briefly lived in the car before abandoning it in Orange County.
Even with 365,000 miles on the clock, everything still works except the power antenna and the warm A/C. It’s powered by the M103 6-cylinder. Mine is suffering the Achilles heel of all M103 / M104 engines- the head gasket is pooched. The right rear door window is a sheet of plastic carefully cut to fit the opening. The original window was shattered when the door got creamed.
I’m not sure what my long-term plans are for this thing. I guess it will either be a flipper, or a future replacement for my 1995 Lexus LS400 once that car wears out.
Another pic- this one showing the body damage. This picture was posted on CL by the tow company selling it.
Is that a VW Golf/Jetta, parked next to your W126 ? Look how huge it looks compared with Mercedes’ flagship from the eighties….
You did a good job, by the way.
If I remember correctly, it was a Golf. The company’s owner had all sorts of cool and interesting stuff has was keeping for his own private collection, including an early Econoline pickup, an early 80’s two-door notchback Corolla slammed to the ground with BBS wheels, fat tires, and JDM-style fender mounted rearview mirrors. I vaguely remember sort sort of old full-size Ford in there too.
Funny you should mention the size comparison. The other night a mid to late 2000s Chevy Tahoe was parked next to the Benz. The Benz is actually a few inches longer.
There are still loads of them running around LA, they just keep going and going. Hard to say which there are more of 80s RWD Volvos or 300E/190Es.
Sometimes I peek through the window at the odometer. Not usual to see 300k+ on these cars.
You don’t see anything much older than the Bangle BMW 5-series being driven and never see any old Audi 100s or A6s.
The big secret that we didn’t know then was the RWD Volvo’s and the W124’s were million mile cars, while BMW & Audi were selling 100,000 miles cars (at best). I always wanted a TE wagon, but the wife was unshakably in her Suburban phase. Truthfully, probably made a better kid hauler… but nowadays I’d consider snagging a TE if I found the right one. My Lab needs a dog hauler (grins).
I owned a 93 300e with the M104…black, matte black bumpers and cladding, black perforated leather. The kids hated it, said the back seat was too small, compared to the 86 420SEL it replaced. Rock solid car, wish I still had it. My 97 Volvo V90 seems mechanically sound but the crappy plastic trim in the Volvo lets it down, compared to the 124.
Another remarkable thing about the W124 was how versatile it was, even in the American market–all the way from early cars with matte bumpers and trim, hubcaps, plain interiors and stickshifts, all the way through the Porsche-engineered 500E and the late convertibles. A renaissance car, if you will. And they do still look remarkably current for a car that debuted 30 years ago–from Mercedes’ Timeless Era.
The early (expressed radiator shell) W124 was the best type. These Merc’s were cheapened during their production run.
This article makes me sad. I’m actually at a point in my life now where I could actually entertain purchasing or leasing a Mercedes- and now I don’t want one.
Missed it the first time around, thanks for republishing!