Can You Kill An Old Merc? Part 1: Smashing The Suspension - Fifth Gear

In this classic Fifth Gear clip Vicki Butler-Henderson decides to test just how solid are old Mercedes Benz? We bought a second hand E Class Estate and put it through some gruelling tests to see what it would take to could kill it. Part 1 we ravage the old Merc's suspension.
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[@motiveminute01]

"The professional mechanic": Hmm yes, the engine is made out of engine.

[@proelitjump1355]

-Engine still there? -Yes -ok we good

[@patrikandersson867]

"paul the professional mechanic, (checks the oil stick, looks at the engine and nod and say yes spot on) Well then i guess we all are professional mechanics now

[@roniuitto3223]

+Patrik Andersson How about those rock solid panels..? There's rusty holes in it!

[@iwasadeum]

obviously more happened than checking the oil... they're not going to show a full inspection on a short episode...

[@paul2413]

Are you a troll or do you genuinely think that's all that happened? They're not gonna show you an entire check up wtf

[@thomaspree7809]

this is 5th gear, you know

[@gennadyreshetnikov5948]

+Patrik Andersson - Check the engine. Opens the bonnet - Jupp, still there.

[@kerembasaran]

This is like beating up an old man. I don't like it.

[@theeeMitchi]

You're right, doing this just feels wrong. I couldn't do it. On the other hand, itsn't it amazing what kind of car you can get for this money plus MOT?

[@bosethminidu6778]

Kerem Başaran I know right

[@leandersmith6184]

Sick in one word, spoiled rich bitch, bored as hell had nothing else to do. And a very cheap way of making stupid television.

[@emmacarina73]

Just pointless hooliganism to hit it with the ‘bat ... almost as stupid as Top gear

[@LavagreatThegreatnerdity_rocks]

@@leandersmith6184 how in the fuck is this stupid, this is quality television wtf

[@centralintelligenceagency9003]

"We'll check for rust with a baseball bat." The producers should be checked for weak spots in their skulls with an ice pick.

[@harrylonsdale3142]

yes Mr freemen

[@volundrfrey896]

+Gordon Freeman It reminded me of when the moro... I mean technicians, at the vehicle inspection brings out their rust hammers and starts banging. It doesn't matter if it's aluminium, plastic, glass fibre or carbon fibre, they will still ruin it.

[@jeffjefferson3364]

2:55

[@grahamcruickshank4572]

What a waste of a good car.

[@venom5809]

What a terrible thing to do to this great car.

[@mahali5030]

I hate her for doing that to such a lovely car

[@younessalkhader9447]

Stuart Armstrong Exactly! My father had this car back in 2001 till 2009. Best family car ever, it was so exquisite.

[@andrewh3511]

Wasteful.

[@dankpenguin4205]

They are doing it to show us how tough it is.

[@Angel_PC]

I agree. It was not necessary.

[@trefod]

This is like a horror movie and a Greek tragedy rolled into one. I both flinch and look away and my heart bleeds. I feel like buying an E124 and taking very good care of it.

[@fifthgearuk]

Well I'm afraid that Parts 2 + 3 will be painful viewing...

[@stuchly1]

Fifth Gear, why do you torture people like this? :D

[@FrapsYou]

Fifth Gear no wonder BBC has its dropping all over you.

[@mynameisnobody3949]

Fifth Gear unsubscribed! hope u all get cancer!

[@Cathy_cat652]

Living travel

[@thefreeman7237]

Is this supposed to be a rip off from top gear's "Killing a toyota" ?

[@thelastpetrolbender2744]

+char Mario not really...

[@MrJDMRoller]

+char Mario no since Fifth Gear did the experiment on a good functioning/looking Mercedes while Top Gear did it on a good function but rusty Toyota

[@eccIefechan]

+char Mario This was utterly stupid. The Mercedes may be a good car, but it does not have the same rugged simplicity of the Toyota and therefore is much easier to "kill". It's really not an appropriate vehicle for this at all and is totally incomparable to the Toyota.

[@Thekidsinafrica14]

Yep, whole show a top gear rip off lmao

[@ghettomist1575]

+eccIefechan Not really

[@Toastmaster_5000]

I'm not much of a Merc fan but that was a really nice car and in amazingly good condition considering it's history. They couldn't have found some crappier model to abuse instead?

[@TraustiGeir]

+Peter Schmidt Like, oh, Top Gear did with the Hilux? I guess it made more sense to them to "test" a beautiful, well-maintained one instead.

[@xalataf3365]

I'd rather have them destroy a MK4 Supra...

[@bardanke]

@@xalataf3365 ...come on now

[@bigrat4452]

@@TraustiGeir That hilux is legendary though

[@Brebgon]

@@xalataf3365 why

[@dabombfromguam9932]

2:44 someone's enjoying the vibrations

[@Navneetvaio]

Thats exactly what i thought

[@mattr2238]

She says she feels awful, but her face says differently.

[@hoedoe5981]

She had an orgasm

[@EngiNetion]

*[COOL VIBRATIONS]*

[@balasankarajith2923]

@@EngiNetion She's doing the Gamu-tapu-desmachu

[@pianoman3214]

A kid from Africa could've eaten that

[@MrSupercar55]

+pianoman3214 What makes you think a kid from Bongo Bongo Land could eat an estate car?

[@pianoman3214]

MrSupercar55 Well, they eat alot of stuff we don't normally eat...

[@Velopod]

+pianoman3214 Best comment I've ever read

[@kev68ify]

Bruce_Jenner he could try

[@Speedster404]

2:42 I bet she's feeling good down there

[@MrSupercar55]

+A.TWorldChannel Giggidy

[@lucasmunksgaard3509]

A.TWorldChannel Virgin

[@shaolin2596]

Lucas Munksgaard lol honestly

[@HollandBest.nr1]

Wet as fuck

[@losh330]

Wow

[@edincausevic6988]

I think this is stupid and unnecessary, 124 is an awesome car

[@kampungboy8662]

Do u knw...bcoz they r british...☺☺

[@revmatch4515]

It's an old episode, and in that time they just were old.

[@derekheeps8012]

@@revmatch4515 The car was still a good used car at that time , and hardly old .

[@derekheeps8012]

Actually , its predecessor , the W123 , was even better built , and if you wanted a step up in quality the SL range and S-Class range of the same period were even better built . Try a R107 or W126 ; R129 or W140 and you will see what I mean ( I have owned all of these , besides many others , at one time or another ) .

[@mydogsnameisbenji1]

wanna hear a joke? Fifth Gear

[@3rdpartyU5er]

+mydogsnameisbenji1 I can't agree with you more. Seriously if you English people want to start the third world war, then just continue what you are doing with that particular car.

[@usa_dobson8967]

+mydogsnameisbenji1 Your username!

[@justinprohm]

Triggered Mercedes enthusiast lol

[@baldeepsingh9736]

True

[@lukej2267]

3rdpartyU5er what the fuck are you on about moron?

[@sebastian-daquanglocknerjr1883]

what has my life come to, watching fifth gear please come back jeremy

[@ozomini3400]

Daquan Jr. And come back tiff nedell :(

[@planespotter3355]

Get amavon prime

[@HotRod16]

It was sad to see this pristine wagon being driven to destruction in the name of tests. But to be honest, this whole episode eventually lead me to buy a W124 for myself. Been owning it for great 7 years. Driving with quality.

[@xride09]

Old Mercs are built like tanks! Got a 90s C Class and I love it!

[@LongIslandCityLayout]

Wow that's great, take a car in perfect condition and destroy it for no reason at all...

[@lancs_emergencyspotter9661]

Who gives a shit

[@tongtong7532]

Agree

[@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge]

The car was 16 years old when this was filmed. Who wants to save a 16 year old car nowdays?

[@Kref3]

Well, If you would find a good W124 today and ruin it like that, I would see if I find a gun. But back then it was not some iconic old car from a bygone time, but just some really old, uninteresting old thing. It is like getting a rusty 15-20 year old Merc W211 or W202 or W203 today. Just some really old piece of metal in generally bad condition. And I think they had a perfectly good reason to destroy it. Thy bought it as a requisite for a few thousand pounds (if not less), and could create an episode of Fifth Gear for quite little money that made them probably quite a lot of money. Sounds reasonable. I would rather ask: Why are people interested in watching this? But since they are interested - Top Gear of the period proved that - it was quite clearly a good idea to make money.

[@bossyboots4821]

Too bad it was gonna be crushed anyways lol.

[@aky19832001]

Back when Merc actually created quality vehicles that were solid and reliable.

[@victorcharlie6384]

someone had taken good care of that merc and here she comes .

[@__-ox5kz]

Horrible people do horrible things. This car is one of the best ever made. It was developed in the early eighties, drawn and manufactured by hand! Amazing vehicle.

[@TsugraVids]

1:25 And thats the reason why I drive a four speed automatic transmission with NO Fifth Gear!

[@0Sirk0]

i bet she enjoyed those bumpy roads and resonance

[@mattr2238]

Gentleman Hooligan She was orgasming at 2:44

[@derweiehelge9087]

@@mattr2238 And trying to cover it up by saying "I feel awful" 😂

[@zabaleta66]

Vibrations.....she likes it alright!

[@Dazza2292]

its good viewing but for a car that well looked after and so many people less fortunate in the world it really pisses me off when they do things like this. why not buy a shit heap one that the engine is due to go bang or even the body and smash that up? it would end up in the scrappage sites anyway but a decent fully functional car that is reliable and would do someone a turn its such a waste

[@TheApplePoint]

We can't know whether the car was in mint condition or not. They might told it only to amaze the viewers

[@Dazza2292]

i do believe it mate i have a 12 year old fiesta and i am in that exact situation

[@ryanshek4101]

Know what you saying, but ppl will more likely paying 3-4times more for a ford than buying the Merc.as mentioned by others, they worried about high tax, insurance, running cost etc.

[@billieguitar]

***** What are you talking about? In my country taxes are way cheaper for older cars. We pay 15$ tax for our Golf mk 3 and about 100$ for our 2011 toyota corolla. Same engine sizes. And the Golf is cheaper to maintain. These days cars are made shit cheap quality yet they charge you hideous amounts for oil changes and other mandatory stuff and if you dont do these things at the dealership you lose warranty so they milk you to the max. A 20 year old car is at least 10 times cheaper to buy and a couple of times cheaper to maintain. And if it's a Merc such as in the video it will outlast every single car produced today bar none, these are built like tanks.

[@djjesus.hediedforyourspins3154]

the kids in africa could've ate that merc

[@Gixxxable]

Maybe this is fun to watch for someone who has a new Mercedes, but for the rest of us who drive crappier car than this its humiliating.

[@natalijab5398]

This is better quality than new merc

[@derekheeps8012]

Then buy a Mercedes-Benz and don't be humiliated any longer .

[@Hachiae]

when she was driving on those bricks the look on her face was priceless. she was absolutely loving it

[@Felix96xy]

The one with the baseball bat was so fucking unnecessary.

[@Bleach420]

"I want to watch Top Gear." MOM: We have Top Gear at home. Top Gear at home:

[@HeavenlyWarrior]

16 years old is old? WTF!? My father has a 30 year old Mercedes-Benz 190D and it still is in a very good shape, several mechanics said that the car if continue to be well treated will last for decades more. And this stupid people are trying to destroy a 16 year old car? That's a new car and in a very good condition! Next time if you're gonna destroy something give me the car for free, I would appreciate that. Idiots.

[@morlaikoroma]

i agree with u 16 years old car is definitely not that old

[@AGD_27]

+FreedomWarrior Their job is to test brand new cars you can expect an unrealistic view on whats old and whats new.

[@Rheainstoun]

+Laimray I have a VW Passat Wariant made in 11/99 and it still runs flawlessly. 341 000 km. That engine is eternal, every mechanic told me that, so yeah 16 years is not that much if you take care of your car. Mine will surely make 500 000 with no issues.

[@allan2k195]

My dad has a 31 years old merc w124 and it is a lovely car

[@ozomini3400]

Allan 201 wow you couldn't bother to get the model and only say "w124"? There are lots of w124 models so shut up

[@pierrot148]

I'm looking for this exact model to use as my first car. They're really hard to find a decent one nowadays (well, looks-wise). So thanks a lot Fifth Gear :p

[@derekheeps8012]

I'm on my fifth W124 estate , after two W123 estates and lots of other MB cars ranging from the 50's up to the 00's . They are still not that hard to find , just that you must expect to pay more for one now than six years ago ; prices are only ever going to increase for desirable cars like this .

[@Kong101_]

​@@derekheeps8012 bro i think your a little bit too late.

[@gesik3898]

The old Mercedes where very good cars, I love to have one in good condition.

[@EngiNetion]

My uncle has one with almost 600000km on it. It looks very good!

[@TheMrDumb0]

700 pounds for this car? seems legit

[@marcd7332]

That's a normal price for a car like that in Europe

[@TheMrDumb0]

+Marc D maybe for some rusty piece of shit but not one in such a nice condition

[@cupofmozzarella]

+Dumbo I bought mine for €800. Sure it needed a bit of fixing up but you can most of that yourself.

[@alkoyyy]

+Dumbo this video is from 2006. Those Mercs weren't exactly rare back then. And 700 pounds were worth more than today.

[@TheMrDumb0]

+Matthias Schmitt they still arent exactly rare

[@drnubb762]

I can't even watch this video without cringing. My grandmother had this car, a white 300TE with blue interior. So many memories of sitting in the rear jumpseats.

[@Silvertipo2]

Why do that with a car in so good conditions? : (

[@Frietpan]

opens bonnet , looks at oil , yeh all good,......... no play on the bearings, valve clearance ok, compression test was perfect etc etc etc

[@BoostedPastime]

valve clearance never goes out of spec and compression doesn't exist for this show apparently

[@BoostedPastime]

valve clearance never goes out of spec and compression doesn't exist for this show apparently

[@BoostedPastime]

valve clearance never goes out of spec and compression doesn't exist for this show apparently

[@SraMusicOfficial]

I got one of these W124's It's an awesome car!!!!! Simple to repair, not a lot of maintaince required ect

[@jasoncarpp7742]

If only todays cars were tested this harshly. I drive a 2017 Mazda CX-5, and although it has good features, so far, I've yet to drive it on anything harsher than the I-5 freeway between Seattle and Tacoma. So far, it's held up well. :)

[@xdtjv2843]

Me: I want Top Gear Mom: we have Top Gear at home Top Gear at home:

[@charles-9134]

I wonder if the previous owners of this car watched this🤔

[@turboslag]

My Father and I had 5 Mercs between us over the period of '88 to 94 and they were real weapons grade cars! My favourite was a 300E-24 that I had for 3 years. I had my worst ever accident in that car and I walked away unscathed. The car it hit, due to him making an illegal right turn across my path on a dual carriageway, had it's engine torn out and it's bonnet was ejected up into the air and landed on a car waiting at traffic lights! The Merc was repaired and back on the road in 7 days! That 300E had the safest handling I've ever known in the wet and slippery conditions, in the dry it was on rails! Merc rapidly declined after that.

[@EtowahValleyRovers]

Taking a baseball bat to every panel may have been the dumbest part of all of this.

[@therionman52]

But why would you do that to perfectly good car?! I feel sorry for it...

[@tjfSIM]

+therionman52 Yeh, absolutely! This is ridiculous, what a total and utter waste of a car, which could have been found a good home. The fact that the car was in such condition in the first place proved the point they were making - smashing it up was just pointless and incredibly sad.

[@therionman52]

tjf4375 Yep! Couldn't agree more, it's condition opposed to it's age was enough to realise that (normal usage) the car was indestructible. Good point there! It could have been driven for so much more and make someone happy for as little money as it now costs. Sigh!

[@BryceLovesTech]

What a waste

[@Mshbl]

Im more of a bmw guy, but watching this car getting beat up hurts me soo much ! Someone really looked after that car once...

[@TRUTEN1993]

she had fun on them bumps thats for sure !

[@nathantherealtorsonoma]

that was painful to watch. A beautiful old merc in good working order should me treasured.

[@anthonosrobertos]

At least when Top Gear did this thing with the Toyota Hilux it was a pile of shit before they started, this was a decent car that the wrecked for no reason!!!

[@LittleMikeStarCraft]

I love how her laugh sounds like when you let air out of a balloon.. :D

[@olafcoerper]

Think it was not called an "E-class" at that time, but "200" and "T-model" or so, since the 190 ("Baby-Benz") was not available as a "Kombi" which made it the only Kombi Merrcedes model anyway

[@shadow479]

My God, for a few moment it seemed she was enjoying.

[@richardramos141]

iphone 7 plus 258GB or this.. i would take this anyday..

[@TheMagicalPonyBrony]

02:55 you can see a rust patch where there is a whole right through and it's under the paint too

[@mahawiryasantoso5689]

I really like this car. Not because of the design, but also the safest because this Mercedes Benz had put on crash test, making the safest car that ever tested.

[@geethsan1567]

Not as exciting as Top Gear's 'Killing a Toyota'.

[@tin12445]

YOU JUST STOLE THIS FORM TOP GEAR!!!

[@appelpower1]

The Hilux video is a lot better.

[@scratchnsniff7528]

Per'aps, but it's a good basis for a segment on a show. And, ultimately, everything is "stole" from somewhere. The fact Mercs, like this one, have the legend of being invincible is because that's what they've proven to be, they're just demonstrating it here. Which is awesome because these cars deserve every bit of respect they get whether it's someone chatting to someone down the pub, or a television show doing this. Props for recognising and spreading the love of a brilliant car, Fifth Gear!

[@appelpower1]

ScratchN Sniff Even then, this is blatant theft. And the show already tries to be Top Gear.

[@scratchnsniff7528]

I don't think it's blatant theft... But nothing will be Top Gear, even TG America/Australia could replicate the real TG. So, if they have any sense, they'll not try to best "the best" at what they do. I like Fifth Gear because they feature real cars, which TG don't any more, but, as a petrol head, I'm still interested in that sort of stuff.

[@appelpower1]

ScratchN Sniff True. Fifth Gear is underrated; it's actually better than Top Gear if you're looking for an informative show. However, it's the sheer entertainment value of TG that makes it so good. That's also why it can't be replicated, or beaten.

[@janosojca9286]

Many people spend thousand of dollars/euros to safe those cars and you just destroy their intentions in seconds. A merc in that condition would be a dream for many.

[@deancoates2467]

amazing how the rear number plate fixed itself back on after the cobbled road at the beginning when she got on to tar mac

[@lukasznowak8873]

last proper mercedes :) AA professional mechanic ? lol checked oil with dip stick yeah spot on LOL

[@timvanderpol2377]

At 3:13 the rear licence plate is falling off the car, at 3:21 it's magically back up!?

[@hoedoe5981]

Magic

[@derweiehelge9087]

The car realized what was going on at 2:44 and, well you know the rest...

[@IceMan-il7dx]

This was a crime Fifth Gear....W124s are now classics. We know they're strong, ask me I drove one across South America!

[@volundrfrey896]

The baseball bat was just stupid, but the torture test could have been interesting. Such if one gets two or three used car of the same year and model and then drive them to see how different they have become over the years.

[@AlanJoy_random]

We are driving on roads like these everyday in India 😂

[@AlanJoy_random]

@Bob Jo kinda true

[@nickc3053]

Always been a Bmw guy and always will. Not a fan of mercs but even i thought this was stupid. 16 years old, obviously been cared for by many many owners and fantastically engineered to last then it gets pointlessly smashed. Stupid.

[@ericg.vilella9238]

Toyota Hilux: "Who are you?" Mercedes E Class Estate: "I'm you, but from Fifth Gear"

[@bbsingh7554]

My right ear really enjoyed it.😂

[@amrtounsi]

WHY WOULD YOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO A BEAUTIFUL CAR....

[@lancs_emergencyspotter9661]

Who cares

[@derweiehelge9087]

@@lancs_emergencyspotter9661 There's a difference between wrecking a shitbox and wrecking a car that was well looked after and could have been sold to someone who actually wants to use it.

[@arendmookhoek4314]

because hitting a strong car with a basball bat with less power than what i use to touch my male organ is defenitly going to break a car, all it did was make it unsellable.

[@theslimeylimey]

It would have been interesting to see a newer model merc doing the same tests alongside the old girl. Mercedes probably wouldn't though ;)

[@scratchnsniff7528]

Where have I heard that 2:10 noise thing from?! I know it's off something I've seen before... Played it back half a dozen times and I can't remember :|

[@KittyCatInAMicrowave]

Off to watching Top Gear again after seeing them kill this perfectly fine car.

[@alexhazael9055]

That car in Australia is worth $3000 😂😂😂

[@hpwan2]

Alex Hazael sedan - yes, but a well maintained TE wagon is much more expensive..

[@asd7751]

1:20 spot on yeah checks the engine oil 😂😂😂😂

[@marouenekerfahi9740]

If I have a merc like it I wouldn't be tired with public transportation

[@PhilOsGarage]

This is the sort of juvenile rubbish you would expect from some 17 year olds. What was the baseball bat supposed to prove? Fifth gear has been the underdog motoring show for a while, but it's clear the desperation has crept in.

[@mark-1rc502]

What a fucking waste! All the poor old car wanted was a good home and some tlc and she could of been a good car,. I would of had it ,.

[@ChilliJonCarne]

how VBH kept a presenter job so long is beyond with all the noises and the 'no i cant do it' in almost every clip

[@niteblaster1]

how did you manage to pick up the wheel arch trim when it was at least 100ft away🤔

[@TheSuperMotoHooligan]

Old footage? Vicki looks younger has fewer pounds and less wrinkles.

[@mandarin7728]

LMAO, I guess you have to pay for that test track with bumps? Well, I know where you can test your car's suspension for absolutely free of charge. Bring your cars to Ukraine and try driving outside of big cities. Drive through small villages. You will certainly get all sorts of road imperfections you want. And the baseball bat test was absolutely pointless. Yes, I beat my car with a baseball bat every day in the morning, after I eat my breakfast. Shame on you for that, filthy Top Gear rip-off!

[@Y10Q]

There is a 1998 E300 diesel for sale for $1900 couple of miles from my house. I might go buy it just for the hell of it. Owner claims it runs fine. It has like 180k miles on it.

[@timothyhudson948]

2:10 music from Nevis and butt head tripping in the Desert!😄

[@Mrcantfapenough]

Why are you people so mad?

[@Mrcantfapenough]

Nice Britain

[@waseealam7136]

I like this

[@dps023]

all these tracks you´ll find here in brazil easily

[@marcusbrain9229]

It could have been rather worse! 5th Gear were originally going to do this with a 1983 W123 280TE ( one owner and full service history from new). Fortunately, this was considered a step too far and a W124 bought it instead. I acquired the original car from the production company some years ago and it is still very much alive.

[@derekheeps8012]

A W123 was a far better built car than a W124 ; I have had 280E/CE/TE and SE and the only downside was the poor fuel consumption of the M110 ; I since had two W124 300TE , a 300TE-24 , a 230TE and currently an E220 estate ( all W124 ) and the main advantage of the W124 series was lower running costs as well as better rustproofing .

[@xwhels]

Too much money

[@robertsteel3563]

I love How the Host keeps on apologizing to the Merc!

[@ShinYuzo00]

The Testtrack reminds me driving on german streets xD greetings from germany

[@alexandrrh_]

*This is WHY I love a merc.* =D

[@PKMNFan4664]

No one in my immediate family has owned a Mercedes-Benz nor any other luxury car, but seeing you damage a car like this hurts me some on the inside. I mean, there are things in life more important than cars, but still, this is a valuable piece of property that someone could have!

[@Rick2010100]

A same year build Jag would not even appear to that contest. I had a few Jag´s and also two E300 and a E250 TD als Merc E have run like hell and also been indestructible.

[@maximeb6662]

Professional mechanic: checks oil, looks at the motor, yeahh its good

[@Phipston]

Hello, people of fifth gear. One simple thing. Did you consume large amounts of spray paint? This shows why Top Gear is, was and will always be better.

[@jab1720]

I actually almost cried looking at this video.

[@caseybonas3385]

I have a 98 E320 wagon, 281,000 miles on it . Still runs great , no issues

[@JeniousJustin]

top gear fell in love with the car after they failed to kill it, she already has a hard time harming it, and she just got it

[@johnhonda93]

I feel like I remember a certain British motoring show doing something similar with a pickup truck. except more interesting

[@aryapradhanad186]

Pffttt, Top Gear,,cough cough

[@blueminion8149]

my left ear loved this

[@Philip.Magnusson]

thats real walnut wood aswell, finding a nice 7 seater s124 like that today for that money isnt easy.

[@gadgetsgamesandmore.ripper750]

The wave looks fun

[@sunnyuutsu]

What is this test track name called?