Eventually this one had to make an appearance. It’s been a long while since I sat in a W-124 too.
Everything about the W-124 is executed to a high standard. That includes the driver’s ashtray in this quite high-spec version. That said, I recall the Renault 25 and Citroen XM’s as been deeper and wider.
Here’s the tray in the closed position:
And open:
The rear passenger ashtray is like this:
Open:
This is not so roomy though impeccably constructed. Is it exactly the same size as the predecessor?
Driven To Write 
Lovely interior, pity about the aftermarket radio.
If you’ve experienced a W-123 and then this, you realise the later car is almost the same dimensionally. The Senator isn’t any less roomy, I now understand. The boot of the W-124 is smaller than I expected. The door’s shut with that legendary firm feeling – perhaps that aspect of the car that resonated most, starting a two decade-long arms-race for the thunkiest, most vaultlike closures.
The photos are less brown than reality. Is this an 86-sort of car?
It’s a 1991 300D. The jacquard weave is a giveaway.
This is a W124 including the radical changes of the 1989 Mopf such as a wood-stripe at the doors.
The W124 was the last mass Mercedes that was constructed without considering aspects of marketing or fashion – without a range of different trims. So some cars got a really strange equipment combination.
So you coulld see a 200D with manual 4-speed-gearbox, a plastic steering wheel, manual window cranks with electric leather seats (but without seatheating or climatisation) an electric window shade for the rear window, air suspension (rear axle), limited slip differential, electrical adjjustment for the steering wheel, foldable headrests for the rear seats and in blue interior…
Weren’t they always built to order then, hence the odd specifications?
One must also remember that these cars were drastically more expensive than the competition. An E34 was to be had for significantly less money, back in the day.
Richard, Mercedes had a slogan for the W124: Ordered today, built tomorrow.
After the W123 when people had to wait 2 or 3 years to get their W123 built Mercedes was very ambitious not to let their customers wait for their new W124 again. And they managed this quite difficult task (if you did not order all of those strange options they offered).
The expense is palpable. You get a strong impression these are cars with service lives equivalent to rolling stock. The shortage of room is a fly in the ointment. A Volvo 240 feels more spacious. The 604 is positively palatial.
Very nice. I have my eyes on this coupé right now and were it not for the unknown mileage I could really be tempted:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/used-cars/mercedes-benz/230/used-mercedes-benz-230-2-3-ce-2dr-fpa-201604092803732?logcode=p
That’s a very pretty example. You couldn’t go wrong with black ‘n grey Sacco Benzes, either. What would put me off though is the manual gearbox. Merck need autos almost as badly as Citroens (sic) need hydropneumatic suspension.
the W124 is one of those rare cars that looks great in almost any version: the T-model, the coupé, the convertible – all of them are very handsome in their own right.
Actually the fact it has a manual is probably why I came across in the first place – the idea of driving an automatic is still anathema to me (although deep down I know it makes more sense with certain cars).
I’d be tempted even with the unknown mileage – except, in the end, even if I paid for it out of my own pocket, I’d want to get the odometer working again. The manual shift stick is hardly a thing of elegance.
I’m still tempted, but not for £5k. And indeed one would have thought the current owner would have taken the same view as soon as the odo failed.
A very nice example of all the W124 characteristics. The coupe was the very expensive version of the very expensive W124 Sedan. The last real E-Class-Coupe apart from the CLS – the following CLKs are based on the C-Class
A coupe with 4 cylinders, manual gearbox, without black leather trim, not many pre-owners and not spoiled by aftermarket tuning parts is always a good choice. I would prefer the velours-seats (the last Mercedes with optional velours-seats – i think) and a car built after 1989, because of the better seats.
Markus
I think you’re the first person I see suggest that manual is an attractive option on a big Merc. Is it just your personal preference?
Also re 4 cylinders. Is it because 6 (or 8 assuming that’s what was fitted at the top of the range) is too costly to run?
And yes velour seats would be ideal.
It is just my own preference – because i have my left leg always with me and there is no reason for me just to use only my right leg. Second reason is that older automatic transmissions are always thirsty – and a old big engine is thirsty too. Third, it is an additional risk concerning repair and maintaining costs.
Here in Germany, the W124 Coupe was (before the SUVs are conquering this market) very popular with younger men working hard the whole week just to drive on saturaday and sunday to the hot spots of their city in a black W124 coupe with 6 cylinders and in shining black leather seats. Equipped with the full range of fatermarket parts (tanned rearlights and side windows, white indicators, fat wheels and so on.
So it is rather easy to prefer the rest of the coupes when searching for a nice W124 Coupe in good condition.
The W124 with 8 cylinders are very nice (especially the 400E). But not available as a coupe or cabriolet. My favourite version would be an E220 Cabriolet with some quirky equipment…