Why it still makes sense to buy a used Mercedes E-Class W124

The long-discontinued W124 E-Class, with its understated looks, top-notch build and impeccable road manners, is one of Mercedes-Benz’s finest and most successful models. About a decade and a half ago, a used W124 series E 220 was available for under Rs 4 lakh. Currently, the prices range from around Rs 5 lakh for an example that needs restoration and could be as high as Rs 15 lakh to Rs 18 lakh for a fully restored car by an authorised service centre. Here’s an article from Autocar India’s April 2009 issue that delved into why “the E 220 could be the world’s best used car”. This was the first story by Perseus Bandrawalla, the curator of the Mercedes-Benz Classic Car Rally, for Autocar India print edition:

If wishes were horses, everyone would own a Mercedes-Benz. But with an entry-level C-Class selling for a whopping Rs 30 lakh, only a few privileged motorists have been able to afford these prestigious cars. Here comes the best bit, though. You can now pick up a very desirable used Mercedes E 220 (W124 series) for under Rs 4 lakh.

The Mercedes-Benz W124 series of E-Class was one of the finest cars ever built and is regarded by many aficionados as one of the last Mercedes-Benz models built and engineered regardless of cost. The W124 illustrates the legacy of high standards of Mercedes-Benz build quality.

Like all Mercs, the E-Class has understated looks and aptly fits the cliché of Teutonic design. India received the revised version of the W124 that was introduced in Europe in 1993. Even though the original design is now 25 years old, the car’s safety and engineering features are comparable to most modern contemporary equivalents.

The quality of materials used in building this generation of E-Class was top-notch, something you notice the moment you get behind the wheel of this German executive car.

Step into a 13-year-old ‘E’ and you are ushered into a world of exuberance as you are greeted by the orange needles of the instrument cluster that transport you back to a 1980s sports car. Even the speedometer has shift points marked on it, which speaks volumes about the character of this car. The W124 has impeccable road manners. Its ride quality is supple, and the seats are soft and comfortable, as you would expect in a Merc. After all these years, the front engine rear-wheel-drive layout remains entertaining to drive.

The E-Class also has dual-zone climatronic air-conditioning, where the driver and passenger can set different temperature settings.

The doors shut with a vault-like thud that is only present in older generation over-engineered Mercs. The manual central-locking system works with the key. The vacuum mechanism still manages to impress when the stoppers operate. The switchgear and controls have a solid feel that is missing in newer models.

Safety features like airbags and ABS came standard, and even the body sheets were made of high-strength steel, which, back in the 1990s, was generations ahead of its times.With the last models rolling off the assembly lines almost 12 years ago, it isn’t easy to come across an example that can be termed as ‘fresh’.

Most cars we saw had clocked high mileage. Scuffs and dings can be found in abundance on these cars, which have suffered the rough and tumble of Indian road conditions. However, it is advisable to look for a car that is mechanically sound rather than one that is cosmetically ‘bling’.

The interiors tend to show signs of wear and tear, and age becomes apparent, especially when it comes to the carpet, steering wheel, gear lever, dashboard and seats. However, a thorough cleanup and polish should sort things out. As expected with used cars, electrical gremlins are abundant and sometimes very expensive to fix. The fuel pump, headlight switch and power window switches packing up are the W124’s Achilles heels. In most of the cars that we drove, the parking brakes did not function effectively, which was very annoying when parking on slopes. The foot-operated parking brake takes some getting used to, especially in the manual versions, which made up the bulk of the car’s sales in India. Both the diesel and petrol engines came with an optional automatic transmission that was considered one of the best in the world at its time.

The petrol engine in the E 220 is very refined and bullet-proof. It produces a respectable 143hp but can feel a bit sluggish at low revs and is more suited for long-distance cruising rather than flat-out performance. There are five-cylinder diesel-powered E 250Ds available, too.

Like most Mercedes-Benzes, the E 220 has a well-appointed, ergonomically designed dashboard. The first impression upon driving an E 220 is how well-put-together the car is. However, in older cars, we noticed that the engine’s performance had eroded by 10-15 percent on average as compared to when the car was new. The brakes seemed a little faded, too. In some cars, the gear lever bushing felt like it needed replacement. Radiator hoses, too, can give way, and cars with six-digit odometer readings may need a suspension revamp.

Engine rebuild costs are stratospheric, and one must stay away from very high-mileage cars unless they have been refurbished at an authorised workshop by the previous owner or are available at throwaway prices. Avoid cars with a history of mechanical maladies. “Always try and look for a car with the most complete service history,” says Rajesh Sanghi from Carma Born Again Luxury Cars. Many cars, especially those more than five years old, are maintained by private garages as owners find it less expensive than going to an authorised workshop. This is a habit with many Indian customers, says Sanghvi. So, it is important to give the car a thorough check before closing a deal.

We noticed that there is a world of difference in the cost of spare parts at authorised workshops and those available through stockists and independent automobile spare part stores. While the latter are said to be ‘Mercedes Benz Approved’, one must make sure that the source is reliable. Because the W124 series is a popular choice with taxi drivers in Europe, components need to be replaced regularly, and parts like the clutch assembly, oil filters, and brake pads are reasonably priced (at independent spare part shops). This keeps the running costs of the E 220 fairly reasonable and on par with modern executive cars like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, provided they are maintained by a private garage that specialises in imported cars.

Ajay Parekh, a proud owner of a 1996 E 220 with more than 1,00,000km on the clock, says his E has never skipped a beat in 13 years. Other than routine services, nothing has ever gone wrong.

The body panels of the E 220 were made of galvanised steel and do not rust easily, but a thorough inspection is still recommended. Also, do a vigilant check for under-body damage on a ramp. ABS and SRS lights glowing on the dashboard’s instrument cluster spell trouble. Wiring harnesses and ECU boxes can fail in older cars and are, again, expensive to fix. It is best advised to visit an authorised Mercedes-Benz workshop to fix these issues.

There are some examples of the E 220 with factory-fitted alloy wheels and leather seats, which came only as options. According to Sudhir Damodar, a respected automobile consultant and ex-Mercedes-Benz dealer, the E 220 may not have the same amount of electronic sophistication as some of today’s modern Mercedes-Benzes, but this only adds to the charm of owning these older cars, along with the ease of maintaining a car with the relatively simple electronics in the long run.

Car collector Gurbaxish Singh has owned five W124 cars to date. “My E 220 has been easier to maintain than my Pajero,” he declared.

With an average service at an authorised workshop costing anything in the area of Rs 25,000 to 30,000, E 220s are certainly not as easy on the wallet as your average Japanese sedan. Fuel efficiency isn’t frugal, either. However, this should not change your mind, as the E 220 is an over-engineered, sturdy, luxury barge on wheels built to last many miles of trouble-free, safe motoring. Buying one now may also be your ticket to owning a classic or vintage Mercedes Benz in the future.

If a magic carpet-like ride, solid build quality, bomb-proof safety and impeccable road manners are what you are looking for in your next car, and you do not mind spending a premium for these virtues, the E 220 could be the world’s best used car! The shining three-pointed star on the bonnet will boost your ego, too.

Also see: Mercedes-Benz EQC meets E-Class (W124)

Mercedes W124 E-Class history in India

Mercedes introduced the W124 series to the world first in 1984, but it was brought to India only in 1995 in the form of the E 220 petrol and E 250D diesel models when Tata Motors and Mercedes-Benz started building and selling them under a joint venture. In a short production run that ended in 1998, just 2,465 of these cars were sold in the domestic market. The W124 series remained in production in India for a while, even after it was replaced by the much-unloved twin oval-lamped E-Class(W210 series). The W124 is one of Mercedes’ most successful models worldwide in its history of over 100 years. Known for its bomb-proof build quality and reliability, this generation of E-Class was a favourite among both Wall Street executives and Stuttgart taxi drivers. In fact, so good was the car that Mercedes sold its platform to SsangYong, and the car was built and sold in Korea as a SsangYong model for some more years.

Also see:

Mercedes Benz Classic Car Rally 2024 spectator guide

Forty years on, Merc’s W124 is a bonafide legend

Mercedes India to hike new car prices by 3 percent