E-Class (W124) - The car that launched Mercedes-Benz in India | Feature |

Mercedes-Benz recently completed 30 years in India and to commemorate this milestone, Hormazd Sorabjee reunited with the car that started it all - India's very first E-Class (W124).
Cameraperson: Sharad Vegada, Abhijeet Kamane
Editor: Siddhesh Bhogale
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#autocarindia #mercedesbenz #eclass

[@arvind50]

The year was 1996 and I was an engg. student back then. One day, I was on my way to college when I saw a beautiful blue W124 turn into the corner and I was stunned by the beauty and grace. It was nothing like I had ever seen before and I took a vow, that one day, I will own a Mercedes. And after 27 years, my dream finally came true and today I own a GLE. And whenever I drive through the spot in my merc, I remember that day when I stood on the road, awestruck by this beauty of a car. Thank you Autocar for bringing back a flood of my memories. This is a video that I will cherish for a long time.

[@vikram1262]

Inspirational story. Sadly I’m 42 and even if I make 4laks a month I’m unable to afford/buy an e class. Now with second hand prices Rising. Even those feel like a dream

[@leaderofthefreeworld2700]

@@vikram1262work harder young man!

[@pankajnaik2708]

Well , I used to see picture of Merc on notebooks cover page and was always crazy for it . Finally , at the age of 35 I was able to own E Class W213 .. Dream comes true .. Study hard .. nothing is impossible.

[@mafazrahman1900]

Hormazd sir and the W124. You guys dont know this combination! He had a lot of interesting things to say about the Merc back in the day

[@shazwanrahman2164]

My late dad had two W124s.. absolute tank of a car. He had the W211 after that amongst several other Mercedes models. Last year after his passing, to pay homage to him, I bought my very own Brabus W211.

[@anishpi]

Still remember the Auto india issue. I was a 5th STD student then. Happy to hear and see Hormazd ji's driving and recollecting 30 yr back story. W124 is one of my fav cars since 92.

[@RishiRao-pf4vo]

This is what cars should be. Sheer simplicity, great build, and forever-looks.

[@sagimayank]

Must have been a goosebumps moment for Hormard ji re-uniting with the exact car he drove 30 years ago..!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@aby079]

This was the car that aspired us to dream of buying a Mercedes Benz once in a lifetime to experience sheer luxury and comfort.

[@flyke7428]

It's amazing to hear this story about the beloved W124. I do own a W124 for five years now and I love it. It's classic, it's built like a tank and it never looks too old. It's a simply timeless beauty. A true Mercedes-Benz. Greetings from Germany to India! 🙂

[@nareshkarkal2677]

As a 13 year old boy, I was lucky to get hold of the Auto India magazine where Hormazd reviewed Mercedes E220. I read the details multiple times.. Airbags, ABS never heard of it back then.. scanned the pictures again & again but couldn’t get enough of it.. It’s a dream car.. As its owner rightly said.. it’s timeless design..

[@varunmandalkar]

It's like meeting your best friend after 30 years....🎉🎉

[@Newbutold]

They don't make them like this anymore

[@car_cafe4815]

The year was 1997, I am from Akola MH, when I was a kid, late Mr babasaheb dhabekar(former minister) from my hometown had a similar model in white/silver color. He had a nice bunglow outskirts of the town. Whenever I would passby his bunglow with my father on scooter those days, I would see the car parked outside between the nice long coconut trees and it would put a smile on my face. Being a kid(90s kid) I would shout 'Dad, look it's a Mercedes' woww.it was the only one in the town.Big fan of mercedes benz cars.😊😊😢

[@abhishekvanenooru4959]

knowing it i will never afford to own that car and watching this make me feel wonderful

[@prabirmehta1089]

Brought back so many emotions. Well done Hormazd! I was an intern at the original Auto Hangar service center in Jogeshwari when the E220 W124 was launched. It was the epitome of what Mercedes stood for. Built like a tank. I had the opportunity to drive and fix the W124 and was amazed at the sophistication, coming from the Maruti 800. Still remember the leather texture and smell, the hub caps (and alloy wheels on cars specced with that). I also had the opportunity to work on the W210. It wasn't the same bank vault Mercedes and I wondered if they were taking a step back. But they sold like hot cakes - guess I was wrong.

[@sammy.3152]

Back when cars looked like Class

[@floraexoticsfloraexotics]

Simply epic Homzard .You are as amazing as the Merc. As an automotive enthusiast, we thank you and very emotional. I still remember ( and still dearly hold on to my paperback Auto India).

[@tiwanaku]

I was in 4th grade when I first saw Mercedes ( this was around 1989) in New Delhi. I bought my first Mercedes ( C300 : W204 , brand new in 2011) in US and have thoroughly enjoyed the car . I have 98,500 miles on the car and absolutely love it.

[@aakashtekumalla7659]

Built like a Tank. A statement can be used in this context " Old Is Gold."

[@ZOOZOOOZO]

Modern Paint and light Tweaks Here and There And people would still buy this

[@shivdutthalady9101]

I have seen PD’a passion for the W124 and his first car as well - which was Azurite Blue. Having seen and driven this one myself, it’s a marvellous car and in the right hands where its legacy continues to live on and shine! ❤❤❤

[@prakaashj5485]

So many models from mercedes..but w124 looks distinct & great

[@user-id8cr8gn9y]

That's my first auto magazine wid lots of poster collection memories back in school days with a special gift of parker vector thank you sir for your remarkable coverage of all auto industry news for 4 decades for an auto enthusiast like us..god bless you ll success for many such decades to come..

[@dastansphinx4559]

Mh12 Pune ❤❤

[@MegaRetr]

t's like meeting your best friend after 30 years.

[@LifeofSharvan-eu7tn]

Hormazd, After watching your video on W124 I wish I could own one of these E class today. I like the honest to goodness build quality and everything you need for today’s drive.

[@SA-yb7mt]

Little would Indians have known back then how fortunate they were to be offered the W124. While the W210 was excellent, the W124 and its brilliant reliability and ease to repair would have served and owner well. The very model in this video is testament to the quality. Alas, like nearly every other nation, everyone thinks the newer model is better but not in the case of the W124. Great video and nice to see this model still going strong.

[@Readbooks6800]

Amazing video that walked us through Mercedes-Benz's great heritage👍🏻😊.Knowing that initially, they were jointly ventured with TELCO, which is amazing as an Indian.

[@parth6436]

2 legends ❤

[@rgfromkl3594]

Think I have that magazine somewhere at home. Still love cars

[@MrNippon510]

The kids of these person are most lucky in the world..legacy is already there with their dad 😁

[@shivapillai1681]

Every Mercedes is the best car in the world (except the 2000s era)

[@Dr.SumeshkamatGoa]

🔥😍true mercedes of its time 🔥😍

[@axt_minion]

The golden era when Mercedes at its peak ❤🔥🔥🔥

[@ssadaqatbukhari]

Great work sir (love from Karachi Pakistan)

[@Car.ParkingUS99]

It so amazing car ❤

[@siddheshchavan2642]

My *childhood* memories..... I have copy of *Auto India* which I purchased with my pocket money!!! During the time...

[@anishbiswas]

This very car was on the cover of Auto India magazine, probably July 1995 issue. The cover story was by Hormazd. Later the same team launched Autocar magazine in India in September 1999 (cover story of the Ford Ikon).

[@vladgladkov237]

Thank for video

[@debabrataghosh1536]

NOSTALGIC

[@abubakarsarran2998]

SIR STILL I HAVE THAT MAGAZINE

[@armaangaibi8493]

W211 E class what a legendary machine that gives a tough competition to bmw e60 5 series

[@vladgladkov237]

Privet from Seattle nice video

[@divyajeevan69]

Good Old Days...

[@aesean]

When legends reunite 😊

[@alpha_delta_93]

Hey autocar I am planning to buy a w124 Can tell which is better diesel or petrol ? And other information to lookout to second hand car ? And which one is reliable and what are cons ? Please 🙏 answer to my doubts it would very much to second hand car

[@anujjaiswal7640]

Awesome German engineering I have E220 AMG 2013 model

[@booblam6919]

Benz is the greatest.....greetings from Jamaica 🇯🇲

[@vijaym4791]

Homzard never fails to impress👏

[@riviol87]

This car would pair well with a 1986 Made in Japan silver colour Hero Honda CD100

[@Alone1am]

I was born in 1980 and in 1996i nevr liked the e class. It was obvious my father drove a sl300 iqn dubai. Realized how rich my dad was for his timewhen i wanted to buy a c 63 amg. 80 born 90s kids best time of life on earth.

[@avivscrewvalla]

Such a great feature! As an owner of a W124 for 15 years, I can safely state one key point of difference between old and new. Cost of ownership. Parts are affordable (Skoda level) and things rarely go wrong. A much better purchase than the new stuff from the Star.

[@vedant2791]

Back in 1994 Horamzd ji probably wouldn’t have even dreamt of riding this car 30 years in future.

[@user-pl1zk9qy5t]

Plz make a video on jlr like this video.

[@Smokedship]

I can’t believe that after all this heritage, they’ve landed with the hideous monstrosity in the 2024 All-Screen E Class.

[@serious1587]

I read the review back then. They later added a diesel as well and the diesel car had 3 slits near the headlights. 20 lakhs used to go such a long way in those days. Now you get econoboxes for that much.

[@marshallmarthes]

A small detail that maybe no one noticed is that there is a Ganesha statue on the dashboard and the owner is a sikh Punjabi. This is the beauty of india and hindu/sikh philosophy

[@soumyadeepbarik5711]

LEGEND will notice the NEXT GEN E-CLASDS in MAROON W-125 standing behind .

[@roshroy23]

Please don't tell me that knob near the lower part of the dashboard below the key, is for CNG switching. Even if not, it looks out of place and I wish the owner didn't have to do that. Rear view mirror broken. 30 year old car would be difficult to manage yes but I hear the W124 parts are still widely available.

[@MrPandyavicki]

👌🏻

[@rahulvarkala]

There is still a copy of the same edition of Auto India car magazine in my possession.

[@gokul8458]

Please review w123 ❤

[@abhitoshghongade5098]

My batch mate bought new scooty that time. Being new rider and new vehicle she use to be little nervous that time. One fine morning while coming to tution she dashed to rear of this car on signal. Lol the owner came out and aas worried for both her and his car. He drove her to tution.😂

[@ThePseudoBasher]

My dad bought a copy this edition of ‘Auto India’. I still remember it came with a poster of the car as well.

[@gauravhsiingh1367]

I used to own 210

[@ChinmayKashid]

Growing up, owning a Mercedes means person has won in life. There was no Audi or bmw.

[@amarjittalukdar1967]

As Hormarzd Sobrabjee right said 30 years ago, "Even Nostradamus couldn't have predicted that Mercedes Benz will set up shop in India".

[@soleview]

Autocar: Please share how it can be used on Road after 30 years, what about the Govt Guidelines for a Vehicles. Which can't run on roads after 15 years of Age.. kindly help Me understand this..

[@kulvardhansinghrathore8693]

That law is only applicable in delhi

[@varmamotog4657]

Rule is only in Delhi NCR, all other states collect green tax and let you drive down....

[@soleview]

@@varmamotog4657 oh, ok But I believe that it's for entire India as vehicles RC is valid for 15 years irrespective of your vehicle is registered in Delhi or not.. But in Delhi due to the some norms it is for 10 years only in case of Diesel engines Thanks for your response though ☺️

[@gurinderpalbrar7060]

It’s a very good car until the vacuum system, the power antenna and the sunroof fails.

[@vm-my6hg]

They don't make em like they used to 😢

[@trp3628]

First comment ❤❤❤

[@afzGTR]

Imagine wanting a W210 over W124 😂 W124 is still considered the best E- class and the W210 is the opposite of it 😂

[@sameerhinduja7357]

When you could get one for 25 lakhs...

[@vfrfandom3904]

Mercedes released this in the midst of one of India's biggest economic crises. Indeed, it seems to me that Mercedes chose this particular launch window to coincide with India's introduction of the Capital Economy. Despite this, Mercedes continues to seem ancient and stuffy in India. In fact, if you look closely the interiors are very Italian and seem like Bruno Sacco's design. Although in the USA the Toyota/Lexus absolutely ruined the Germans, from that time till now.

[@alpzepta]

30 years old but still have more feature than a Tata Nano

[@apple1652]

Been kept immaculate