Mercedes W 124 - AUTO DIDAKT Design Review

[@Matteo_Licata]

Truly brilliant video. Unique insight, excellent production value. Keep it up and I’m sure you’re going to get big here on KZbin.

[@ellizisimatou338]

Love your videos roadster life

[@stephankippe]

„The most rational kind of excellence“ would also be an appropriate tagline for this video. Erstklassig.

[@schieteensklop]

Perfectionism at its finest, love it !

[@marino8034]

What a wonderful surprise seeing my favourite Automotive design blog is now a You Tube channel. And what a wonderful car to showcase in your first video. The W124 is a favourite of mine. Can't wait to see your upcoming videos. Congratulations.

[@speedntktzlastname2182]

Please make more videos. You have story telling mastered and your depth of knowledge on design is endless. Christopher walks you through history showing proper respect for the rarely known giants that came before us. Danka.

[@SigmundOppenbaum]

This was brilliant. May your channel explode!

[@VaishDinakaran]

Terrific video, Christopher. Really enjoyed the way you analysed various design elements of the W124, and highlighted its cultural context. Can’t wait to watch what you do next!

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Thanks so much, Vaishali!

[@arvindno117]

So nice to see you and this vehicle here Christopher. It is nice to put a voice to your words written on Auto Didakt. Wonderful presentation and a lovely car.

[@MamboChapChap]

The old Daimler-Benz modus operandi of choosing a direction and then executing it aggressively with a barely hidden air of arrogance. Cars designed by engineers who wake up at 4:45AM each morning and swim for an hour and maybe a round of tennis before work.

[@sklevalio]

An absolutely smashing breakdown of the W124's design. Very thorough and professional. Crediting the designers at the end is such a fantastic touch. Wonderful work.

[@jcritter9295]

Just bought a 1990 300e. Sat 6 years. Got it for $600. Done water pump and tube up. Not to bad to work on and can’t ignore the build quality

[@MichaelDiTullo]

I really enjoyed this! Thanks! Growing up in New York in the 80s this was a pretty rare car but usually driven by a professional with understated taste. I remember my parent's lawyer had one and as a kid I was always fascinated by the shape of the back.

[@flat6croc]

Some intriguing analysis, but I can't agree regarding the interior. The dash design looks for more crisp and contemporary today than just about any other from the 1980s. It's an utter masterpiece.

[@danielromeo1859]

I am here because Matteo recommended your channel. Not disappointed at all! Very well chosen car for your first video. I drove a 1994 station wagon with +300.000 in the clock. I was instantly thrilled by the quality of the interior, no rattles at all. Is the definitive Mercedes for me. The one that is ahead of the rest of its competitors. "Engineered like no other". Nevertheless my heart is with Alfa Romeo. Good luck with your channel, cheers from Argentina.

[@doyley011074]

Marvelous work Christopher. More please. Also, thank you for reminding me of the A pillar base on my W201 that I have always chosen to ignore. Bravo on the use of perniketiness.

[@GreatEstateAutomobiles]

Well done. The video is as well thought out and executed as the the car it's all about. And it's always nice to hear someone knowledgeable talking about a subject they love.

[@rafaellorenz4124]

This video is absolutely brilliant and gives the W124 the respect it deserves. But more and foremost I admire all the details in this video! I mean you Mr. Christopher are German obviously but you are wearing a suit, shoes and trousers that are very Italian style… just like the W124! It’s brilliant! 👏

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Thank you. I have it on good authority that Bruno Sacco appreciates a decent suit, so I tried to pay my respects.

[@rafaellorenz4124]

@@AutoDidaktFilmsthank you! And if may ask if you were standing intentionally on a manhole cover while filming? I’m saying it because the wheel design of the W124 was called “Gullideckel” which means manhole cover due its similar design. Even though I’m very sure Bruno Sacco hasn’t brought its inspiration for it from such a piece of industrial design but rather the evolution of the old Barrock wheel design of the 70s.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

@@rafaellorenz4124 The choice of a very German, very petty bourgeois setting certainly was fully intentional. As for the wheel design's origins - maybe that's a question for Stefan Heiliger?

[@ronalddean3630]

@@AutoDidaktFilms Very sharp indeed!

[@MrDelgrigorov]

Perfect, the timeless design. The best car shape ever made.

[@stephenmajor5498]

Thank you for your acknowledgment of those who have an appreciable involvement in the overall development of the design with particular emphasis on an Italian and especially an American. As an American, I've found it quite insulting that we have bought the majority of the brand at the highest amount and then belittled by the European public. Again, nice work and a "like" as I subscribe to your channel. 👍🇺🇸

[@gearhead9828]

Schönes Video! Wie immer eine gute Empfehlung von Matteo.

[@SykesAJ]

I have enjoyed and admired your writing for many years so it is delightful to put a face and voice to the words. Your delivery loses nothing in the transition of media, I hope to find many more of your insights in such thorough and polished videos. Thank you!

[@toekkababy5329]

Got a 1991 300e exactly the same colour silber grau,silver gray 500700 km still looks and drives like new, Imported from germany to amsterdam Quality is from another planet

[@fhwolthuis]

Injust discovered this channel, amazing! Subscribed of course. W124 Mopf 1 is the best looking of them all 🤩👍

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Agreed.

[@shakesnbake]

This is a brilliant channel! Thank you! Just gor the Maserati video to watch. Looking forward to more content!

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Thank you.

[@champagnedanny]

Keep the videos coming! Love it

[@apl175]

I remember seeing my first W124 in late 1985, in the United States. You can imagine how jaw dropping it was compared to the average American sedan.

[@mohammadcheema7375]

Great analysis thank you. It’s hard to understand why Mercedes switched to making much cheaper and flimsier vehicles. I would happily pay a lot of money for a car that lasts 20 years or more.

[@giuliopedrali4794]

The last Mercedes, Bauhaus design but with the maestro Bruno Sacco

[@chrispoulson3215]

Wonderful review. As regards the W124 designers' approach to the A pillar its seems that, fatigue or not, they adopted the same approach utilised by their forebears working on the R107 in the mid -1960s which had exactly the same format. Perhaps I don't have a designers' eye for form but given that the R107 was as much an exercise in safety and some might argue, but not me, less form might not the rationale for the adoption of this A pillar design into the W124 be for the same reason? I don't believe they just ran out of puff.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

That A pillar's less than coherent appearance clearly was no accident. I have yet to learn the rationale behind it, however.

[@sam85f]

Great video! Hope you do some old BMW videos too! Maybe an e12 or e28 one? Maybe even Neue Klasse like the 2002?

[@Easy_Rider77]

W 124 is a masterpiece! Still remember my grandfather's dark Grey 124. I grew up near this car. ❤ now I drive w212 and it's shame to to compare with 124.

[@MotorWisdom]

Great review of a great car ! Good job !

[@cornishrider]

Utterly superb piece of design, if I could now only have one car until my demise it would be this. Please could you next do a BMW E30?

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

No E30 in the immediate future, but eventually, for certain.

[@giuliopedrali4794]

Why Mercedes in the 80s was so beautiful and rational and now are so transnistrian gigolò...

[@jtreut]

Italian designer + German engineering = perfection

[@eros_875]

The fact that one can still find W124's on the road says it all regarding their build quality. They're stunning on the outside (I didn't know about the anodised aluminium trim, always thought it was plastic, shame on me), that rounded edge at the back and rear window shape so characteristic. Ostentatiously rational really nails it as a definition. I can't agree with Christopher with regards to the interior, I find it totally consistent with the exterior looks, out of plainness (meant in the good way) and superb build quality. Again, ostentatiously rational (Christopher you should patent this expression:⁠-⁠) I'd like to encourage the team to continue reviewing cars that are interesting pieces of design beyond the flashy, hyper-expensive models. The real talent in the automotive design sits where efficiency and costs need to be fought. MB spent awful loads of money on this car's development, but at the end of the day it still had to keep price wise competitive against its rivals.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

The type of cars featured largely depend upon the kind of car made available to us.

[@BomberFletch31]

I often wonder what Sacco would think of the modern Mercedes-Benz "designs". I think whoever is in the design office at Mercedes-Benz these days have lost the plot. They've even decided to do away with the chrome grille and the upright star for most of the models, taking away the most iconic of Mercedes-Benz design cues.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Imagine being one of two car makers with a mascot that can proudly stand on top of the grille without being silly. Then imagine coming to the conclusion that you don't really need it, and that your logo is at its most effective when placed exactly where almost everyone else has been putting theirs for decades.

[@flat6croc]

Fabulous video. Tiny bit of a shame not to use an original '124. Even this early facelift was a bit of a downgrade as they started plastering wood all over the interior etc. But at least it's Zebrano!

[@ronalddean3630]

Beautiful car. I remember riding in one on a short road trip and I liked how it felt; solid, sure, and the understated elegance. I did note it road a bit hard, but perhaps the suspension needed something, I don't know. The seats were firm and comfortable, and the layout of everything made sense to me. Unlike today's cars...I won't go there.

[@emixmim]

"Ostentatiously rational" - I'm stealing that!

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

The sincerest form of flattery is always appreciated.

[@oliversalacan1094]

High-quality materials and a clear, geometric design characterize the noble overall impression. Add the innovations of the era - ABS, airbags, multi link suspension, single wiper - Mercedes-Benz was the undisputed leader and icon of the automotive industry. Once they decided to become a mass volume automotive company they destroyed the prestige and superiority of the brand. They should have followed the Toyota/Lexus strategy and created a 'middle class' brand like Smart, and kept MB separate, for the upper classes. Today the entry level Mercedes GLA with its cheap interior, rough ride and cramped seating saddens me, it is not worthy of the famous Mercedes name.

[@cmbasse]

These are great videos could you ad the bmw e28 m5 or m535i

[@Igifzo]

Great video

[@co7013]

The current Mercedes designers should be locked in a room with this car for as long as needed to get them back to sanity.

[@captainwre]

Amazing! Keep going!

[@adebrade172]

W201 please, next

[@Caisuno]

Please make more videos

[@richardvandervoort]

Today a very cool classic car

[@amgjens]

Brilliant!

[@c.f.7493]

In my eyes the late 70s and 80s designs were the peak of Mercedes design language and engineering that rapidly declined in the decades thereafter

[@KRAMPUS1933]

It takes a German to speak English so beautifully.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Thanks. However, other opinions are available (see comments). One individual's beauty is another one's pretentiousness/stiffness.

[@KRAMPUS1933]

@@AutoDidaktFilms Naturally, this is entirely down to individual perspective. Regardless, my position remains unchanged. You really do speak English rather well. Better in fact than most "English" do.

[@fb3824]

That so called anodized aluminium was painted black from the factory (consider the factory archive footage).

[@adanreinosa7599]

Mine enjoyed for 472k miles and going...yes, an engineering milestone.1991 300e M103

[@Vladislav-pn9my]

Даже сейчас, сделай этому красавцу подтяжку лица и обновку оптики, и его дизайн будет современным. Получше многих современных. Снимаю шляпу перед теми инженерами, кто проектировал этот шедевр. И перед Бруно Сакко. У этих ребят отличный стиль. 👍

[@MrPicky]

124 series is the best mass produced Mercedes-Benz ever!

[@TET2005]

Testament of a great build... legacy to last.

[@TypeTuber]

I have a hunch, if you keep at, you just might save modern BMW and get them back on track.

[@brightenupcc]

You could be describing any Volvo

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Almost, but not quite.

[@humanbeing1675]

Ein dickes Lob dafür, dass Du angemessen bekleidet bist... sehr schön.

[@AutoDidaktFilms]

Mit einem vernünftigen Anzug kann man eben nichts falsch machen.

[@thomashumber9762]

Anodised alloy...but not just any old quality. Quality to last as its owner might have the car for life. Today I do not agree with modern cars with the recycling idea. Long life should be the criteria.

[@carlbothmann]

bla bla nix neues ,nix orgineles