E320 wagon

[Grey Ghost]

what was the range of production years for the 320 wagon on the 124 chassis?

what should I expect to pay for a 320 wagon with 100K miles in good condition?

(Don Swinford - this car would be my wife's. you know I"m partial to the 123 diesel-powered models!)

[Robert Goodwin]

Information on years built can be found at www.mbusa.com.

Good guide for valuations is at www. kbb.com.

[Grey Ghost]

thank you, BOb

is this a chassis/body combination that MB got "right," or is it to be avoided? I still like the styling...

[Grey Ghost]

thank you, BOb

is this a chassis/body combination that MB got "right," or is it to be avoided? I still like the styling...

[Tom Hanson]

W124 USA wagons were :
1987 300DT
1988-92 300TE (3.0 liter)
1993 300TE (3.2 liter)
1994-95 E320 (3.2 liter)
These were also available in 4matic form in the later years.

[Robert Goodwin]

I believe the 124 wagon was produced up through model year 1995. Not sure what year the engine changed from 300 to 320. Probably 1995. The 124 has been replaced by the 210. Mid '90s suffered A/C evaporator core leaks at $3,400 to repair, among other less distressful things. I know about the A/C problem. I put an evaporator in our 95 E300D. Personally, I would not own any Benz after 1996 unless I had deeper pockets (won the lottery) or a very attractively priced warranty. '97 and up is the age of electronics, sealed transmissions and other unfortunate decisions for the MB cars. My expectation is that most of the gas powered cars made after 1996 will eventually be going to the shop to have the check engine lights replaced because they burned out from overuse. This is an observation on my part, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence to support such a position.

If you like the 210 styling, as I do, then 1996 is the only year I would buy unless I missed something in my research (possible).

[Grey Ghost]

for your candid comments...I guess a 210 chassis car makes more sense for me wife

[Grey Ghost]

for your candid comments...I guess a 210 chassis car makes more sense for me wife

[Grey Ghost]

for your candid comments...I guess a 210 chassis car makes more sense for me wife

[bill streep]

If I were looking, I'd go for a '94 or '95 W124. Better styling than the early 124s, and a rock-solid platform.

[Grey Ghost]

how were the diesel-powered versions? I wonder if the wagons are any quicker than the five-cylinder (193) wagons are?

my wife is such a tentative driver that she's always got a line of traffic behind her...that's why I can't put her in one of the older diesels...it's against her very nature to "floor it"

[bill streep]

Man Skip, can we trade? My wife thinks the 300E is WAY too slow - she's in a souped up 328i that she regularly chirps 2nd in!

My book goes back to '88, and none of the wagons are diesel powered. The '95 TD Sedan, with the 3 liter engine is 134 hp - not too shabby.

[Grey Ghost]

(BUT, are you talking about swapping wives or CARS???)

[Robert Goodwin]

Uh oh. Seems like I may have stumbled on to the wrong thread. I'll just excuse myself now.

[Grey Ghost]

we got off track. I'd be most interested in your input on the diesel-powered 124 wagons...

[Robert Goodwin]

Not having owned a wagon, my experiences are limited. The interesting support aspects of the body are going to have to do with the rear hatch and stuff attached to it. Stuff is similar to doors but still different. My personal preference runs to the 3L engine. Be it the 603 or the 606. We own both and they are real workhorses. They have their share of issues but always allow us to keep driving until we can work on them. Never had an internals problem with either one. The older 603 in a 300SDL has 155K. The 606 is in a 95 E300D with 185K.

[Tom Hanson]

The 1987 300TDT was a great performer (after about 20 mph) for a diesel. It will flat run away from a W123 wagon. Less noise, better fuel economy, etc. No swap comments. I'd get killed !!

[gerryvz]

To my knowledge, the 124 wagons were produced from 1987 through the 1995 model year -- around August 1995 the last units came off the line.

The diesel wagons were only imported to the US one year -- 1987. They can be difficult to find but are in demand for their good torque, drivability, and efficiency.

The M103 (3.0L) was the original gas engine for US cars. For the 1993 model year, MB changed the engine to the 3.2L M104, but retained the "300TE" moniker.

For the 1994 and 1995 model years, MB used the more proper "E320" moniker for the wagons, reflecting their larger displacement.

There was a facelift long about 1990-1991 with the wagons, and the later ones were more desirable. One of the major issues with the 1990 and later cars (especially the 300TEs with the 3.0 M103 motors) is the head gasket -- a weak design on the gasket and block mean that a coolant and oil passage are very close, and the gasket material over time gives way and allows oil in the coolant. You see what looks like a chocolate milkshake floating on the top of the coolant recovery tank.

This problem entails new hoses and a complete cleaning of the cooling system, not to mention a head removal and new gasket. Fortunately the new gaskets are of a reinforced design and are far better. The cost for this runs $1,200-1,500 by an independent shop and it happens to all cars later than about 1989 or 1990. Generally it's around 80-120,000 miles, somewhere in there.

MB does not stand behind this faulty design and will not acknowledge that there is a problem. You are on your own with this one. (Yes, the factory knows that there is a problem, but they refuse to offer any recall or official warranty claims on this issue). Basically they won't admit there's a problem.

The M104 cars (the 1993-1995 cars) had their own "dirty secret" problem these few years -- a faulty upper wiring harness. This problem entails a "biodegradable" design of the wiring insulation, specified by the eco-freaks in Germany. Unfortunately, the engine heat over time results in the "eco-friendly" wiring insulation to flake off of the individual wires in the upper harness bundle, causing individual wires to short out against one another. Then you get all kinds of W-E-I-R-D electrical gremlins, mainly involving how the engine runs (or doesn't run) or its' idling characteristics.

The only cure for this is a new harness -- not an exhorbitant job but worth a few hours of a shop's time. Plus the part, which runs currently several hundred dollars for the 6-cylinder engines. (Thank your lucky stars that you don't have a 400E or 500E -- these upper harnesses are well over $500 apiece!).

The M104 engined cars also have oil-in-the-coolant problems but don't seem to be QUITE so bad as the M103 cars. The wiring harness problems start around 80,000 miles and can happen up to 150 or 200K -- earlier if the harness has ever been disturbed or moved by an unsuspecting mechanic or weekend do-it-yourselfer. The head gasket problems with the M104s can start at 50K and go up to 200K -- seen this on a variety of cars, but it doesn't seem to be quite the "given" as it is on M103 cars. Perhaps because the M103 cars are a bit older.

The 1993-1995 M104 engined cars are twincams and have 217 HP -- 40 more (and very sorely needed) horsepower than the M103 cars. And they get essentially the same mileage per gallon. Expect around 19-20 MPG in mixed city driving and up to 25 MPG on the freeway on long trips. Not bad. The M104 engines have the HFM-SFI (hot film sequential fuel injection) injection system which is fairly advanced and is a beautiful idling and running system. Fairly reliable too.

The M103s use the KE-jetronic (an electronic version of the original K-Jet CIS) which is simple and reliable, and easy to diagnose and repair.

All in all, any car that is 1992 and later is probably the most desirable. Some cars had the "third seat" option which is nice if you have small kids; many had the vertical hanging cargo net as well.

One issue with the 1991-1993 wagons is the Becker radio. These years used a system with a head-unit in the dashboard and a secondary amplifier that is located in the right rear section inboard of the wheel inside the rear fender. This amp is located in a position that when the rear window washer reservoir leaks (and they ALL do sooner or later, from the little rubber gasket into which the washer fluid motor fits), it leaks fluid over the bottom of the amplifier and "zaps" it into oblivion. You lose your radio and it's costly to have this repaired by Becker (or get a new or used one). Unfortunately retrofitting another style or type of Becker is difficult with these two-part systems because of the cabling of the system through the long interior of the car.

Other than those things, I would say that a 1992-1995 gas wagon would be the most desirable. 1993-1995 wagons are first-gear start; the 1992 and earlier M103 cars are second-gear start. The first-gear start combined with the higher torque and HP of the M104 provides a far stronger "off the line" feel along with the more precise and responsive HFM-SFI injection system.

The interiors wear well, particularly if they are MB-TEX which many were (especially the older cars). All are well-made and employ the classic MB design of the 124 interior. 300K out of a 124 wagon is fairly easy with good and regular maintenance. 500K out of a diesel 124 wagon is not unheard of.

Good luck -- hope this helps.

Cheers,
Gerry

[Grey Ghost]

for a very thorough review!

I tend toward the 87 diesel, but my wife prefers the styling of the 94-95 model years

as always, service records are a MUST!

[zak]

There's only one year, my man -1987. The only US 124 diesel wagon.
The 94/95 wagons are the best non diesel years. stay away from the 4-matics in those models.

[Grey Ghost]

finding a suitable candidate is another matter altogether!

they seem to be as rare as hen's teeth to start with, and I'll only consider one that has COMPLETE service records. I'll have to be awfully lucky, and will have no choice on color...

[Tom Hanson]

Buy the 87 and put the 94-95 front end parts on it. It's all bolt-on.

[gerryvz]

If you are looking for a good 1987 diesel wagon, please contact Robert Fenton, owner of European Car Service in San Rafael CA (Marin County just north of the Golden Gate Bridge). He can definitely help you. You can contact Robert at (415) 456-4077

Also Robert / ECS stocks the largest OEM/OE new parts/engine/transmission/sheet metal inventory of any company or individual other than MB itself, west of the Mississippi River.

Cheers,
Gerry