Reliable Classic Luxury | 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300 E Review

Don't adjust your TVs! We travel back in time with our VHS camcorder to review this 1988 Mercedes-Benz 300E with performance and appearance upgrades from AMG. Read our review: goo.gl/7mCLqP
This W124 E-Class was considered to be one of the most reliable luxury cars of it's time, and we look at how this car stands up to that reputation 30 years later.
With common problems such as window regulators, malfunctioning climate control and AC, and biodegradable wiring harness issues, there's quite a bit to look out for if you're in the market for the W124 Mercedes-Benz.
Do you have a unique or interesting car that you'd like to have featured on TestDrive? Contact us directly to see if we can make it happen! Visit our new website at www.perpetualr... to read more on the vehicles we feature and follow what we're doing weeks in advance before we publish!
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We're proud to say that all of our videos are uniquely produced in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada.

[@Kukuruznik91]

That e38 following you throughout the video made it look like scenes from 90s mafia movies.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Felt like it too! We had a little convoy driving around the streets of Burlington.

[@bhigdaddymark]

PRN Where is Burlington? I particularly enjoy your videos and pay real close attention to the background as upon my last visit to see family in Toronto in 2012, I decided that I MUST move there as I wanted to in 1987 upon leaving NYC and foolishly didn't. I don't care about the snow and cold even though I haven't dealt with that weather in 30 years (I live in Florida and no, I can't afford to be a snowbird), but I want to get out of the USA and Canada is as close to perfect as possible. I have a friend in London, Ontario who thinks that's the best place (more affordable than Toronto or Vancouver) for me. You film in the Toronto area?

[@PRNTestDrive]

We used to film in the Hamilton and Niagara regions, which are about an hour/hour and a half south of Toronto, and about an hour and a half east of London. We recently completed a move further east into Québec though!

[@bhigdaddymark]

PRN Thanks for your reply which I see that you're extremely good at doing and I appreciate that! Thanks!

[@opticalmixing23]

😅😅😅

[@hpwan2]

I bought my 1988 300E back in 2009, and is still going strong!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! They're fantastic cars when maintained.

[@احمدعيد-خ7د]

I had one before 20 years ago

[@louisjames1062]

Facelift headlights leaving gaps. Needs facelift hood

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good catch! We noticed a bit of a gap as well, wasn't sure if that was the reason or not.

[@savagepizza2027]

or original headlights! the car would look way better like that!

[@PRNTestDrive]

I personally love headlight wipers. We have a couple more W124s lined up over the next couple weeks for filming so we'll try to see if they have original and year-correct headlights.

[@ChickenHawk841]

I have to agree with Louis.. The face-lift headlights look wonky with a pre-face hood. Though the fix is relatively simple. Replace the face-lift lenses w124 pre-face lift Euro spec lenses- they are a direct fit. (I removed the headlights on my '91 300CE, bought a pair of used face-lift assemblies and replaced the lenses. total cost about about $175.00, and I now have a spare set of lenses for my '95 E320 wagon).

[@eustahijelifetips]

idk mang, the 190e also had such gap, and the dash that wasnt properly fixed in place from the factory so basically every w201 has a bent dash and misplaced glove box door

[@8p8c50]

That car needs a stock look and it will be fine.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The owner is definitely allowed to do what he wants. Next Monday we'll be publishing a 1995 E320 convertible with an OEM setup, or near as can be for a 22 year old car!

[@GwopUpEnt]

no it doesn't it looks nice

[@davidpineda645]

HELLL NAWW it looks great like that!! It just need flares and vossens maybe but man its tasteful. Every old merc should be tuned up because they deserve it

[@PixiBoii]

The AMG body kit makes the car gorgeous imo. The stock is kinda boring

[@EddieFly00]

Everyone we have a purest on our hands.

[@andreibratu7492]

It s normal to love this oldtimer/youngtimer mercedes, from a 17 years old ? 👍👋

[@PRNTestDrive]

Absolutely! We love hearing that younger enthusiasts are interested in these older luxury cars. Don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t cool!

[@andreibratu7492]

@@PRNTestDrive thanks for replay, sure i will🤝

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! We try to reply to all the comments we can, especially ones like this!

[@kamikazee3071]

Even if it isn’t normal it doesn’t change the fact that you have great taste. I am 18 and I am into older BMWs and Mercedes.

[@fawzi9656]

i love the w124 i owned bunch of them and now has the 420e and the 500e amazing amazing cars .. good work man

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We enjoyed driving this one, and we hope to get our hands on the 500E soon!

[@romanistalazialle1081]

Nice video dude .. You will never walk alone .. we are supporting you

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! Nice catch on the tattoo too ;)

[@reezevlog]

"You'll Never Walk Alone"...... a Liverpool supporter i bet.. :)

[@urielgotkicks7459]

I have a 1988 mercedes 300E clean tittle 123k miles just installed a aftermarket stereo with beat and got her some AMG monoblock rims im 20 years old and Made my dreams xome true love this car first wanted the bmw M3 e30 but now Im rocking with boxy shape benz 300E and 190E

[@PRNTestDrive]

Enjoy it!

[@parassahai]

following you from India. keep up the good work. I happen to grow up in 80s and 90s, so I feel emotional towards all these old variants. your knowledge is your forte n keep that the highlight of your channel. way to go my friend 👍

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thank you very much for that! We really love what we do, and always appreciate hearing from people all over the world. Thanks for watching!

[@DavidJackTumusiime]

The classic "tank" Benz! Still looks so commanding on the road. Thank you for this review! Did it smell of old money?

[@PRNTestDrive]

It definitely did! We'll be filming a 1995 E320 tomorrow evening, looking forward to getting back into this type of car already.

[@cawagoshy]

cant wait for the upload

[@PRNTestDrive]

Should be published by the end of July or the first week of August, depends on our filming schedule. But we had a blast filming it!

[@BIMMERZEITT]

Nice channel. Keep up the good work! Love the vintage recording haha

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We wanted to do something a little different for the opening on this one, mix things up a bit.

[@GENTILJEN]

Love the old school beginning it's awesome !!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it!

[@bhigdaddymark]

I subscribed to your channel as soon as I saw the review of the 1988 560SEL (126 chassis) less than three weeks ago and I'm loving your fine reviews! I had a 1986 420SEL (126 chassis) 4.2 liter V8, from 1994-2010 and when I sold it in 2010 (pissed off that the price of gas doubled, and ALL of those damn German cars required 93 octane), it had 350,000 miles on it (original engine and transmission with ZERO problems) as that engine and transmission are absolutely bullet-proof! What's NOT bullet-proof and absolute SHIT are the A/C components. I've yet to own a Porsche, but I've owned ALL of the other brands of German cars in my long car ownership life and with the exception of VW, the others effen sucked at A/C as Germans knew NOTHING about it back in the 70's, 80's and 90's. In all of the years I owned that 420SEL, the A/C worked four damn times and that ALWAYS required the compressor replacement, condenser and other parts. Pure crap! My 1985 300CD had A/C that was okay not great like an American, Japanese or Korean car air-conditioning and that was because my friend and client from the limo business that I bought that 300CD from, had already spent $$$$ (thousands) to make sure it always worked. I missed buying his wife's 1986 124 chassis 300D which I really wanted, but he sold it to his secretary at his law firm. These were great cars and my only gripe with them was the A/C as I live in FLORIDA with 100% humidity and that can be a problem. From 1994 to 2010 when I sold both of my Mercedes-Benz beauties, I only bought OEM parts for them from a friend first at a large southern California dealership, then he became parts manager at the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in southern California where they'll restore your classic Benz back to as new condition. It WILL NOT be inexpensive, but your car will be restored to factory original engine, transmission, body, paint, accessories, and electronics. With the permission of PRN, I'll leave the parts manager's name and direct phone number here as MANY OEM parts for Mercedes-Benz from the 80's (possibly 70's and earlier) and 90's from Mercedes-Benz are STILL available and you can save minimum 15%, so I'm happy to post his name and direct phone number here for Mercedes-Benz owners if PRN allows me to. Great cars! I miss them...

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's awesome that your 420SEL hit 350k miles! The W126s really do seem like they're built better than anything else out there, especially when it comes to older cars. We really enjoyed having the opportunity to feature this car twice and the chance to drive it around. We'd love to be able to add one to our garage, even if it was as a project. We too had pretty rough summer heat in Ontario before moving, it was crucial to have good working A/C, something our BMW 7 Series barely does, definitely is a German thing. You're more than welcome to leave the contact details! I'm sure there are a lot of folks out there who'd like to get parts for their older Mercs. We found out about the Classic Center a while ago by watching Wheeler Dealers, and we think it's a fantastic operation from Mercedes that shows how committed they are to keeping their cars on the road.

[@bhigdaddymark]

PRN Thanks!

[@rmariu]

Love the big windows. Perfect for resting the arm and better for avoiding car sickness in passengers.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely true! It feels like driving a truck with the huge windows, which is a good thing.

[@IndoJordy]

Love the S600 grill

[@PRNTestDrive]

We thought others would have as well, but most people disliked the look of this car completely.

[@iandanton1337]

Awesome video! The more AMG & MB cars the better

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're working on it! We've got a couple more lined up to film this month.

[@JJ_atan]

I can’t wait to get one

[@PRNTestDrive]

I bet!

[@Kauppamopo]

those are aftermarket "crystal" headlights not original

[@PRNTestDrive]

Seems to be, we've gotten quite a lot of comments about this car and the mods done to it.

[@04dram04]

Such a freaking handsome car. Much better looking than the sclass of that generation

[@Chris-oc9wu]

I have a 1990 300d turbo diesel. They drive great, Love the old school Mercedes. Mine has ice cold a/c though. Nice review .

[@PRNTestDrive]

Awesome! The diesels for this generation seem to be very popular, we'd love to feature one!

[@azaz911c]

The W124 is in my top 5 list of favorite cars stylistically. I love its looks, which are simultaneously utilitarian and upscale. When I was shopping for my first car, I had a chance to drive a diesel variant - tan colour with brown cloth upholstery. Intimidated by the high mileage and the seemingly exotic nature of the German car, I let it pass, but have always wished I had bought it.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I know that feeling all to well! The one that got away. I hope we get the opportunity to feature some more diesels on this Show, I'd love to pick one up as a daily.

[@ChickenHawk841]

Hi Azaz! There's still time.. last year my wife and I were shopping for a pre-owned car; Budget under $10K (We wanted to pay cash) and made in Germany.. We considered a w202 S-Class or a E66 (LWB). 6-months later we now own a '91 300CE " and" a '95 E320 wagon for a combined cost of well under $10K for both! and we couldn't be happier!

[@colmfarrel4742]

ChickenHawk841 I want to buy a 300ce but they are hard to find in good condition with lowish mileage.

[@sheldonm3535]

Tilt the sunroof way less noise. Looks way better and you won’t overheat

[@PRNTestDrive]

Can't argue with that.

[@opticalmixing23]

Love these late 80's movie cars

[@philipnomikos96]

I really want this Car

[@PRNTestDrive]

I bet, these are sweet cars to own!

[@colinthebeard]

Going to see a 1987 300e tomorrow with a view to buy.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Good luck!

[@EekaMau5]

Love these Benz 300E's thx for reviewing one! found your review while searching for das hammer's =)

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! Glad you found our episode. We're hoping we can get the chance to feature a 500 E, we know a couple owners back in Ontario.

[@E39ENTHUSIAST90]

Hey, great review as always, but this Mercedes unit looks very bad

[@PRNTestDrive]

For a 30 year old daily driver, we think it looks pretty good. I believe it had nearly 300k km on the odometer, but I could be mistaken. We didn't end up getting any footage of the cluster during this shoot.

[@peakperformance8960]

Doug Quan this isnt a 560SEL? Lol

[@GwopUpEnt]

no it doesn't

[@blakebias9515]

My lord I never new how mean and imposing your e38 is .looking from the back window

[@PRNTestDrive]

Neither have I! Usually I'm the one driving it, but the past week I've been in other cars and having the E38 driven behind/in front. Nothing beats a big black BMW.

[@kylesmitsdorff]

This is a terrible example of a 124. That body kit is shocking but these motors are bulletproof and if you find a good one you will float down the road. Great video

[@PRNTestDrive]

Unfortunately we don't always have the luxury of finding unmodified cars, however we did film a 1995 E320 convertible this past week and it was as OEM as it gets. We're hoping to publish that video for the end of the month or early August, depending on our current production schedule.

[@ChristopheZ]

I drive a black W124 400E ( with the M119 V8 engine), and I love it!!!! However, I still have the original US-spec headlights ( and don't plan on changing them....lol ) The 400E is actually pretty quick....at the light, you put the 4 spd auto on 1st gear, step on it..and this thing flies the 400E compared to the 300E has 275hp and 295 lbs of torque

[@PRNTestDrive]

We had hoped to film a 400E, the owner of the E55 AMG we filmed a few weeks back owns one but our scheduling hasn't worked out. We're hoping to get the chance to try it out, and get a full picture of the W124 family.

[@teamsleepnine]

hows the reliability..care to share you experienced?

[@scotchgod8478]

the last genuine Mercedes!

[@ahuman9864]

Theres a reason why they use these as Taxi's in Europe.

[@PRNTestDrive]

From what I understand they are still used throughout the world as taxis also! Goes to show how well built these cars really were right from the beginning.

[@Villxe]

Can you be more specific? I have not seen these as taxis in a long time. In the western Europe taxis are replaced every 3rd year, usually sold to eastern Europe.

[@jonkingz5737]

Usually taxies in western europe are brand new cars. Denmark used to get the newest e-classes and then run them down, then change them for the brand new models again

[@marinzupancic3061]

There is, its fcking indestructible !!! Btw if there is an w124 taxi, its a disel. And disel w124 mercedes can run more then 1milion km on the odometer. I've seen myself many of then over an milion. Own one and got 750k on it. Buy any new car and do that mileage .....yeah I dont think so. :)

[@davidramsvik]

Villxe Madeira for example

[@AppleValleyIndie]

I have this model as well as the 2.6 version w124 Both are 1992 and I love them so much! Engine and transmission go well beyond 300.000 miles! My 2.6 is already going into 450.000 miles!! Looks beautiful Honestly easy as hell the fix (If you do it your self) Only thing that sucks is the electrical, tail light goes out often due to shorts And the cluster lights too Other then that it’s a badass car

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! The W124s are very popular still, goes to show that Mercedes really knew what they were doing with this car.

[@saveyourhero3307]

My w123 had same issues with the brake lights until I added a small aluminum piece between the bulb and the connection because there was a small gap. Problem solved

[@monica93304]

Love the lines of that car

[@PRNTestDrive]

Classic Mercedes design! We've featured a number of these over the years, recently about a week ago!

[@monica93304]

@@PRNTestDrive I recently bought my 1st MB. It's a W211??? 2006 E350. Love it.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Congrats! The W211 is the perfect mix of timeless design & modern looks.

[@colmfarrel4742]

I thought you could have mentioned more about how the car drives but I enjoyed the video as always.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We do try to balance out the different segments of each episode so we aren't repetitive, but we'll see what we can do moving forward!

[@colmfarrel4742]

PRN I liked the historic details aswell I realise it's hard to fit everything in. Forr some reason you have alot of Mercedes reviews recently (not that I'm complaining)

[@PRNTestDrive]

The local Mercedes enthusiast groups have been more willing to let us film their cars! We have a BMW coming next week, but so far the few videos we've lined up after that are also MB.

[@EthanGlozman]

I've had three w124's, my first was a '92 300e 2.6, crashed it at 374,000 km. 2. '95 E320 Sedan and the a/c went at 25x,000 and the third one, well that's a surprise 😜

[@PRNTestDrive]

We love surprises!

[@alenfora6790]

Owned a 93 model 300ce the coupe version great car

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're hoping to get the chance to feature a 300 CE soon! After that, we just need a wagon to have featured every version of the W124 that was available in North America.

[@GwopUpEnt]

how can anyone think this car doesn't look clean it doesn't have to be your preference but this is a nice car

[@PRNTestDrive]

That's definitely true, it might not be everyone's taste but it's in pretty good shape and the owner clearly takes care of it.

[@dlwst44]

Should've spent the money on repairing and converting the ac, instead of those rims

[@PRNTestDrive]

A/C would always be our priority.

[@manicmandownup]

Cool intro video edit

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad you liked it, thanks! Wanted to try something different with each video we did back in the day.

[@Yesterday23071]

Hi, I had one of those in estate shape, dark red, 300td automatic. Man the best car ever had. The design the lines, the shape. I sold it cas I ve run out of money for rent. But just look what japanise fellows are making out of w124 tuning. My one had 2 airbags, dark windows factory fitted, sunroof, abs, asd(some kund of esp), electic windows and mirrors, driver seat had some lombar air bag function, self leveling on the back, etc, wonderfull car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sounds like a great car! There's a 300TE for sale in my area, black on beige leather I believe. I'm tempted to check it out, but curious if the rear window glass opens separately from the trunk. Some wagons I've looked at are like that, others don't open that way. Was yours able to open just the glass?

[@garanincorp.5579]

Man, this car is a horrible ghetto example! You do nice reviews, but it is just impossible to watch this eBay porn on wheels. Try to find better classic Benzes, maybe go to a forum and ask some people to give you a nice car to review.

[@supbrolyle]

Garanin Corp. You act like this is a bad cae go learn something about a car its not even ghetto its actually a very well put together car for its time

[@siopowar]

You have no idea what "ghetto" looks like

[@TheCarTakerGarage]

i find it hard to see that this is an original Amg car,,no offense..but it looks just so wrong. nice video anyways :)Greetings from Norway

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks! We've certainly got some criticism about this car's appearance, we've updated our vehicle criteria on our website now when searching for cars to feature.

[@Yesterday23071]

Buy one with air conditioning if you can and with electric seat an asd. That asd save my life couple of times. Anyway is not the fastest cat in the world, but has something special, don't ask me what cas could be just me. I had also w 126 with a diesel engine and 4 speed manual retrofitted. Again is something about those old cars what I can't find in the newer ones. I don't know, maybe is just my madness....

[@PRNTestDrive]

We love older models over the new stuff, thats for sure! Air conditioning is a definite must, when I'm driving alone I love having the windows down, but with the family or while recording audio it's essential to have the AC working during the summer.

[@Yesterday23071]

I love the first shape of feont grill

[@PRNTestDrive]

Can't beat that S600 grille!

[@ChickenHawk841]

fact-ually the grill design (on the car) dates back to the w126 S-class.. The 600 SEL ("S600"?) wasn't introduced until the w140 chassis in1991..

[@MikeVista15]

Love the reviews, and I'm in the process of restoring a W124. Keep it up!

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it! The W124 is a great car, we're hoping to review a couple more of them before we move in a few weeks.

[@Yesterday23071]

If I m not wrong that option you can find it on bmw 5 series e 39 estate and 3 series same years

[@dieselbuddysatgeisslertran777]

....and dont forget the 300E 3.4 AMG;) Was the Opel Lotus Omega 3.6 Biturbo or the Opel Senator Irmscher 4.0 selling in Canada?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I don't believe either were, Opel is't sold over here, but they may have been imported by now if anyone was interested in them.

[@08DJTUNING]

This is not AMG!!! This car is imho stock 300E with ducktail spoiler on trunk from AMG, sideskirts from AMG and wide trim by AMG, but!... Front bumper is from Hella, rear one D&W. It's better to say that this car got AMG style tuning...

[@Yesterday23071]

At the minute I m still stocked selling some of my others cars and purchasing that Bmw e 65 745i 2002. My wife will kill me in the end

[@opticalmixing23]

I don't care what you say, I like the look of this car

[@PRNTestDrive]

We got a lot of hate comments about this car unfortunately.

[@Requiescat_in_pace]

If you buy the W124 you have to make sure the wiring harness was replaced or you buy a year without the absurd biodegradable wiring harness

[@PRNTestDrive]

We do mention that in the third act of our video, our Buyer's Guide on what to look for if you're in the market for one of these cars.

[@1981jman]

Nice video, and great choice in a car to review. Just one suggestion to make the video a little cooler. I notice in all the videos, you review all the buttons and nobs. This isn't necessary, because I don't know anyone who is all that interested in these detail. Performance and reliability are much more interesting. Maybe you could give more attention to these things, and remove all together info about buttons and knobs. This would be appreciated greatly, and thanks for the great content overall. I love all the old MB's you review.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We started doing full tours and reviews of these cars, and if we removed that segment of the video we’d be just like every other car channel on KZbin. We like being unique.

[@youandiryan]

I love my fucking w124. Mine is the facelift w124. 94 e320. Its more reliable then my dodge truck which has left me on the side of the road TWICE. My w124 has NEVER had major issues and it has 310,000kms. That being said. My w124 is mechanically maintained meticulously. My AC still works and blows super super cold

[@PRNTestDrive]

Great to hear, that's awesome! We'd love to find one of these to add to our garage.

[@youandiryan]

PRN you definitely need to get one. I am from Canada to! Calgary,Alberta. And my e320 came from vancouver originally. To this day i still constantly get compliments on my w124. Real car guys know and respect the w124 because they know what the car represents. You sir are a real car guy. You got a new sub

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it, thanks! We appreciate every subscription we get. We've seen a few W201 190Es out here in Quebec since moving here last month, way more than we saw out in Niagara when we were living there. Haven't come across any W124s yet but we're hoping to get the chance to film some more. Definitely need to get a wagon on the channel.

[@youandiryan]

PRN youd be totally right. There arent that many w124s out east. But there are lots of w124s in alberta and BC. Maybe if you find one thats worth it. Buy it out here and drive it back east with you. Wouldn't cost a lot. My w124 is the 3.2 inline 6. And its super good on fuel. Maybe like 80 bucks to go from Calgary to Vancouver.

[@brad5150able]

PRN - Perpetual Radio Networks Nice video! I have a 1987 300D turbo, with 384K and OM603 engine. I also just purchased a 1995 non turbo, with 196 and OM606 engine. Not the HP of this beast, yet I still love both of my W124s diesels.

[@ChickenHawk841]

One of the things to look out for when buying any used car is buying something that is not what it's being touted as. Case in point; "Reliable W124 Mercedes 300E "AMG"". The front spoiler appears to be Lorinser , rear bumper cover appears to be Zender, side-skirts; who knows.. The only thing that I see about the car that might be authentic AMG is the 3-pc "Duck-tail" spoiler. All in all; The car does appear to be a pretty decent w124.

[@PRNTestDrive]

The suspension components are also from AMG, as per the owner.

[@ChickenHawk841]

Well due to my previously mentioned inconsistencies regarding the body-kit; "the owner" lacks a bit of credibility, not to mention that I have a set of real AMG springs that I removed from my CE sitting in my garage (I replaced them with H&R's and a set of Koni Sport "yellow-jacket's"). Putting a "Prancing Horse" emblem on the hatch of a Ford Pinto does not make it a Ferrari...

[@colmfarrel4742]

ChickenHawk841 the engines are pretty bulletproof (from what I have seen and heard) I'm not sure about the suspension as I have only driven normal models.

[@doafbewohna9651]

great video. new sub

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to hear it, welcome!

[@mangoplayzzz4541]

I got an 85 a few years ago only 170k miles and I got it for $2,000 apparently it was also owned by a master Mercedes’ technician before me

[@PRNTestDrive]

Not bad at all!

[@RuggedBrotha]

MEEE HAD FIVE.. NOW ME GOT 300SEL. ME LIKE

[@PRNTestDrive]

The SEL’s are seriously nice cars, I’ve had the pleasure to drive a couple W126 S-Classes over the years.

[@alanOHALAN]

where can i get these headlights?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Ebay most likely.

[@Yesterday23071]

But onestly I was about to buy one estate 300 petrol, full option 2 months ago. Lol 600£.

[@harrisonwheeler373]

Id love to have one in ontario but are rare wish it was manual tho

[@PRNTestDrive]

Might be possible to do a transmission swap if you do find one, these seem like relatively easy cars to be able to work on, depending on how much you want to DIY.

[@alexmoran731]

Subscribed 👍🏽👍🏽

[@PRNTestDrive]

Glad to have you on board!

[@ethancropp600]

theres a good running one in my city w 300,000 miles for sale, 1500$ im considering?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Did this end up working out for you?

[@johngivens1626]

Are you going to do the W201 as well?

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd definitely like to. We're going to be filming some older vehicles at the end of the month, we're hoping that's going to help us reach out to the enthusiasts who have something like a W201 that we can film.

[@davidfrieda8700]

ths is a lvly car .i wll be drvng mine soon i wll go ps a drivers licence tedt and i wll hve my 300E for ever

[@PRNTestDrive]

Very nice! We'd love to own a W124, phenomenal machines!

[@kbcarroll]

all the headlights were glass. ac death is usually fan death or evaporator in the dash. But when the ac works, it works very well all north american models came with ac stock. updated models came in 94 with better seats, steering wheel, and much more fun m104 engine but it could have bad wiring harness and head gasket that ruined their reputation. also had way better grille, hood, and headlights with newer wheels.

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're hoping to review a couple other W124 models, maybe we'll get the chance to see what the facelift brought! Seats were pretty comfortable in this one. AC though would be nice in whatever we review!

[@shaazy]

At 2:19 next to right window switch is a scroll wheel with a speaker icon, what is that?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I do mention it at about 2:25, it's the fade selector for the speakers, it'll adjust the fade between the front and rear speakers.

[@shaazy]

@@PRNTestDrive Ohh sorry. Mine doesn't work but speakers work fine. Has it been bypassed or is it faulty you reckon?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Could be either issue, electronics on these can be temperamental. Does yours have the original radio or an aftermarket one? If aftermarket then that switch likely wouldn’t have connected to the new unit.

[@shaazy]

@@PRNTestDrive it has the original Becker.

[@ab-jp8mf]

AMG suspension no thanks the best thing about these was the suspension

[@siopowar]

I killed my 124 e320 just over 300k miles of abuse as a highschool handme down. If I could only go back and smack my younger self silly. Planning on picking up a 560SEL for a restore project and weekend cruiser.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I think we all have regrets like that, I know I wish I treated my first car a lot better than I did. Hopefully you can find a good W126!

[@cooleloekie]

If this one just had square headlights and 18 inch AMG monoblocks it would've been a lot nicer in my opinion 😛

[@PRNTestDrive]

Yeah, the owner's taste doesn't seem to aline with anyone else's, we'd have liked it to be a little more original too, which is why we've changed our internal policy for what kind of cars we'll film.

[@cooleloekie]

@@PRNTestDrive thanks for the 1nswer! The fact that it's tuned doesn't bother me at all but some stuff just isn't right.

[@georgemit5340]

The ugly wheels and front lights destroy an awsome car.

[@atos.nympha3451]

Looks like 500E in so many ways ,apart from the side skirts (AMG? )

[@PRNTestDrive]

We were told they were AMG skirts, but truthfully we couldn't confirm. We're still hoping to feature the 500E on the show, we've heard from a few owners who've got them, so we're going to see what we can line up for spring!

[@fullygaza2990]

Beautfiul Car

[@jeffkelly568]

I have one and I need to have a mechanic who knows what he is doing replace the fuel pump, belts/hoses/fluids. Can you recommend a mechanic in the Atlanta Metro Area?

[@PRNTestDrive]

Unfortunately we're in Canada and don't have any insight to that state. I'd recommend finding a local Mercedes enthusiast group on Facebook in your area and see if they have any recommendations.

[@Slacksfifth]

Could you do a review of a W201

[@PRNTestDrive]

We'd certainly like to do the 190 E, we've spotted a couple of them around but we're hoping to find someone interested in having their car featured in the spring.

[@garrettdodson6110]

Is that your 7 series following behind you?

[@PRNTestDrive]

That it is! We didn't have a route planned for the driving segment so everyone had to follow in a convoy.

[@jamesstaggs4160]

I don't know what it is about the w124's seats, but every one I've ever sat in are very uncomfortable. Very strange in a luxury car.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Everyone has a different idea of comfort, we've had our own experiences with cars that a lot of people find comfortable. We're hoping to get the chance to feature another W124, hopefully the Coupe, so we can see if the seats are any different in comparison.

[@mrlcazzlb]

Please do the W203 C230 Kompressor

[@PRNTestDrive]

We're looking at this! In fact, we're in the market for a W203 C-Class which we're hoping to pick up by the end of July. If so, we'll be doing some videos on it!

[@mrlcazzlb]

PRN awesome, looking forward to it!

[@PRNTestDrive]

So are we! We love the looks of the W203.

[@AliExplores13]

Mine has a rear curtain option

[@PRNTestDrive]

Nice feature to have!

[@Yesterday23071]

Nope the rear glass is opening in one piece with the hatch

[@PRNTestDrive]

Darn! We wanted to grab something like that to film out of the back from, but if the glass can't open it's off our list. Thanks!

[@AB-lo1ec]

E39 glass hatch opens, at least on the facelift 530 my friend has.

[@thrillseekanz7874]

These don't have major rust issues unless driven on salt. This car is ruined by the cheap facelift aftermarket headlights and needs the proper AMG smoked tail lights rather than painting with tint spray. Fix that and get Monoblock rims and it will start looking better.

[@wholeNwon]

I had an '89. Very unreliable despite maintenance by the book at the dealership. Left me stranded several times. Tie rod separated once. Cam shaft, seals, motor mounts, etc. all replaced under warranty...factory defects. AC compressor failed. Defective relays, etc. Replaced 2 MBs with a Lexus LS400 that has been very little short of perfection for 21 years.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Sometimes ya just unlucky and get a car that isn't reliable. The few Lexus models we've featured though have all been bulletproof.

[@wholeNwon]

@@PRNTestDrive I had 2 that were equally bad...supplied by my company. Got to know the service manager pretty well and he said that my problems were pretty run of the mill in his experience. BUT at the prices they charge, I expected much better quality control, better engineering, better reliability. Happily I switched to Lexus at the quiet suggestion of an MB Certified Master Tech.

[@veadvenjr2588]

What size are those wheels?

[@PRNTestDrive]

I want to say 18"?

[@c32amgftw]

W124 look great, but if you really have to get an old e class and are on a budget go for a w210 e320 or e430 sport, they look great, are quick, a lot more reliable than the w124 and don't have those crazy electronic problems plaguing the w124s

[@PRNTestDrive]

We love the W210, it's a fantastic car for the price. We see them all over the place too, many people are still using those as daily commuters and most look like they're in great shape, considering rust is bad up here.

[@colmfarrel4742]

c32amgftw w124 are generally bulletproof but I haven't experienced the bigger engine models. In Africa for example they are still driven regularly today with some as much as 500k miles.

[@MrEddiedk]

That would be a big no from a former MB mechanic. The W210 rusts away underneath the paint, and it has some electric issues with the gearbox. The W124 is NOT known to have serious electrical problems, other than the engine eco wiring on '92 and forwards. As the M103 engine (300E and 300E 2.6) is before this period, it is bulletproof. The M104 is prone to this (E300-24), as this is from '92-'95. The best W124's is from the first facelift (cladding on the side) - '89-'92. Doesn't rust, has the M103, and has the design, Bruno Sacco intended...

[@tatianashelepova4668]

Why would you choose such a bad example? W124 should be bone stock and completely untouched.

[@jamesb8305]

Biodegradable wire harness under the hood? Sounds like some stupid shit Mercedes-Benz would do.

[@PRNTestDrive]

At the time they thought it made sense, one example of why jumping on the latest technology might not always pan out.

[@brianbrown6342]

Like the tattoo

[@PRNTestDrive]

Thanks!

[@jstjst9826]

watched the video, until i saw disgusting alloys

[@johnnydangerous8067]

Contradictory statement: engine is bullet proof but head gasket go out. This is due to a engineering flaw. I am 98% sure 103 and 104 engines had this problem. If only they had fixed this issue before mass producing these cars could have been on the list of top five cars of all time which is always disappointing. They should learn a lesson from the Japanese. That goes for American cars as well. Car manufacturers think that if you build a flawlessly engineered engine and transmission people will only buy that one car and no other. Wrong. If you really want to know if a car is good or not take the engine apart and put it back together. The process should be effortless and not to complicated, if it fails in any of these merits then it a piece of shit and should be discontinued. Food for though a long time ago before my time Ford was able to produce an A model with only two people and within two hours from start to finish.

[@PRNTestDrive]

I don't think there are really any cars out there that are completely flawless, especially as they continue to age and be driven.

[@nleighton7110]

Nasty little ding on rear left side of bumper. Nice car though.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Little bit, there's a few spots around that would need to be addressed, but the owner does use this as a daily driver.

[@Sportiummotors]

My w124 230e is pretty damn slow compared to the 300e , would love to swap the engine to 500e tho hahhha

[@PRNTestDrive]

Wouldn't we all! We enjoyed driving both the 300E and the E320 we just published today. Both have enough power to get you around and stay out of trouble.

[@iI_Principe]

How is a 3 litre engine "relatively small"? xD

[@PRNTestDrive]

We probably mean in comparison to what we had been featuring at the time, which were some of the larger Mercedes and BMW engines available. By today's standards 3.0L isn't bad at all!

[@teamsleepnine]

that rims....urghhhhhh

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely not everyone's cup of tea.

[@SALTrips]

One of the last good Mercedes.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Definitely is one of the best ever made!

[@wholeNwon]

Mine sure weren't "reliable" at all. I see very few of them still on the road. Switched to Lexus...no problems.

[@PRNTestDrive]

Reliable for their age from what it seems. Compared with newer cars it's hard to say, but Lexus certainly is the way to go if you want a headache free luxury car.

[@wholeNwon]

Mine were both new and the problems began within the first 2 weeks. The dealership service manager subsequently became a friend and the tales he had of problems with them were incredible. Huge owners' surveys confirm the large number of problems experienced by those who buy and try to keep them. Never again for me.

[@atos.nympha3451]

African second favorite or popular Mercedes

[@PRNTestDrive]

What's the #1 choice?

[@atos.nympha3451]

@@PRNTestDrive well the W123 was like a virus especially the diesel versions.ppl were just loyal to it even though the w124 was kind of modern in every corner including speed but it was new and expensive and didn't have a history of anything apart from being another probably good Mercedes-Benz. W124 didn't penetrate the African market easily not the AMG or the 500E but w124 diesel was creeping in faster in my opinion. Long story short ppl were glued to w123 more.

[@e90baby]

Looks great but all those blemishes and hood gaps make it look endlessly unfinished lol

[@Smarterthanyou-mthrfkr]

No no no on those rims Love the vid tho

[@thjn23]

"amg", yea right... It's so annoying when you can (but you shouldn't) call any modern merc with amg package AMG mb or even the ones only with amg rims, for example "200cdi AMG". Lol. And the most annoying thing is when everybody is adding that method in older benzes. This isn't amg, this is aftermarket FakeMG :D

[@AnitaHannjob]

...she’s a beater