You can fully blame Toyota pretty much single handedly for that, the LS400 was annihilating Benz with the looks, technology and everything in between for half price
They were way ahead of the time. That design holds up well to this day. It seems like an honest review. Wider tires and a separate glass hatch would be nice. Really for 1987 that's was a spaceship of a design.
That's because in time, many ''drivers'' (unlike those backward! types like me:) ) wanted more from their cars, hence the weight as you know....self drive, massage your tush and wash your clothes!. Give me that carburetor induction noise any day, electrical this electrical that, bahhh! :))
The famous "Monowiper" is a truly iconic piece of engineering! Ahhhh, the days when car brands actually wanted to be interesting and different from one another.
They still do for the most part. They had some major QC issues in the late 90s- early 2010s but that’s been fixed, only a few issues remain with specific peices of equipment. Most of them will last a very long time with basic maintenance.
These days only American and Chinese buyer think they get something superior. In Germany we know they are nothing special anymore and, as all cars, are slapped together as cheap as possible for maximum profit.
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper in Europe wagons weren't that available nor that popular till the 80s, after that the started taking over the market much more then sedans. Look at second hand German cars for sale, most E class, Most 5 series and most audi a6's are in wagon form.
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper change my mind. that car came out in 1984. Build Quality, Reliability and Comfort, All these could not be compared to other cars at the market.
This was a sweet car but, unfortunately, it would prove to be a one-year-only model, and the last diesel station wagon Mercedes-Benz offered in the U.S. The reason? That would be the big metal barrel you can see driver's right under the hood. That was the trap oxidizer, a forerunner of modern diesel particulate filters (DPFs) that Mercedes installed on all early U.S. specification OM603 powered models (the '87 300 TD Turbo, the '86 and '87 300 D Turbo and the '86 and '87 300 SDL Turbo) in order to make them emissions compliant in all 50 states. However, the trap would get extremely hot during operation and, due to its proximity to the aluminum cylinder head (Previous M-B diesels had iron heads.), would cause the head to warp, leading to head gasket failure. There were also instances of chunks of the material inside the trap coming loose and being ingested by the turbocharger. It was a massive PR black eye for Mercedes-Benz in this country, especially given how its earlier diesels were known for going multiple hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance. All OM603 powered models were withdrawn from the U.S. market for the 1988 model year, the 300 D Turbo being replaced by the 300D 2.5 Turbo (which used the OM602 inline-five) and, eventually, the 300 SDL being replaced by the 350 SD and SDL Turbo (which used a bored out 3.4L OM603). However, as all of those models did away with the trap oxidizers, none were legal for sale in California or the northeast states that adopted CARB's stricter standards; in fact, it wasn't until mid-1994 and the debut of the model year 1995 E300 Diesel with its new DOHC, 24-valve OM606 (and a revised DPF that was located well clear of the engine) that a Mercedes-Benz diesel was again available nationwide. Alas, by the time that happened, Mercedes concluded that there wouldn't be enough demand for a wagon version to justify the cost of going through the necessary certification processes. Too bad...
Diesel cars have only got more complex and prone to failure since then, with all the additional emissions controls to meet tighter requirements. For example, there was a massive recall on diesel BMWs made in the past decade, which were catching fire due to EGR cooler failure. DPFs and SCR systems usually cost a bomb to repair or replace when they go wrong. Between that and things like the VW emissions scandal, it feels to me that pursuing small diesel engines in passenger cars was a mistake. It's easier to control emissions effectively to modern standards in larger scale applications (like trucks and trains).
Here in Sweden you certainly see them occasionally but this is definitely Volvo country. My dad drove a '86 ish Volvo 740 wagon (bought new) until it gave up on him and he got a "new" car in 2000-ish. A '92 Volvo 740 😂 Having grown up in that car I'm kinda looking for something else as a second family car (no complaints about it, just a little boring at this point). Late 80s Mercedes looks like it could suit us well, if we can find a good one.
My 1979 240D with crank windows cost $16k in 1979 or $64k in today’s money. Your point is valid as you paid for longevity with those cars. My car is still running 42 years later.
Those were some reliable Mercedes Benz vehicles that body style is. One of my old neighbors has a 1988 E300 that he's had for over 12 years now. Still runs like a charm.
Even today more than 90% of all E classes are sold with diesel engines in EU. E 220d is the great value for money and it has best resale value for years.
These 1980s era diesel Mercedes still drive around Africa every day, many of them with well over 1 million kilometres on the clock and still going strong on dusty and muddy dirt roads. These are truly over-engineered mechanical marvels. I once asked a taxi driver in Western Africa why there were so many old Mercedes being used as taxi cabs, he said it's the car that holds up the best in Africa. His was beat up beyond belief, every light in the dash was lighting up when he turned the key, yet it started up every time.
Beautiful car. Much more appealing than today's Mercedes all looking like jellybean-shaped sports sedans. I owned an '87 300E, the sedan gasoline 3.0L I-6 version of this car. Vault-like build quality. Supremely opulent for a car of its time. Unfortunately, the reliability left a lot to be desired. The electrical componentry and automatic transmission on these cars were short-lived. The competing Volvos of the time weren't nearly as luxurious or elegant looking, but they were far more comfortable and far more dependable. If I could travel back in time, a 700-series Volvo would definitely be my choice as a new luxury car.
@@bobbbobb4663 my transmission went out at 108k miles. When I looked at two other used 300E cars for sale with under 150k they both needed transmission rebuilds. My neighbors 1994 600SL needed a transmission rebuilt at 54k as well.
Cars ''back then'' were more straight and honest like the usual people at the time, cars now are like jellybean-shaped, as you said, just like the character and shape of the usual people this time. :/
Nice. Had an W124 200D in the 90s. Love this Diesel. Combined with power - as 300D Turbo it would be terrific. Fast enough even for todays traffic. My 200D with 72 HP would be too weak for todays needs (in my eyes) 😅
That's exactly what replaced the 300TD after '87. Same thing when the 300SEL (W126) also appeared for '88, to replace the diesel 300SDL. It was also the spiritual replacement for the W116 280SEL that we didn't have after the 1980 model year.
WOW back in Time when Mercedes used to make decent reliable Cars !!! overseas this Vehicle still running. solid honorable engineering !! unlike todays plastic Vehicles they make !! thank you for theses retro reviews. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
They were way ahead of the time. That design holds up well to this day. It seems like an honest review. Wider tires and a separate glass hatch would be nice. Really for 1987 that's was a spaceship of a design.
Back when MB were rear drive only. Wider tires would’ve made them even worse in the snow. I remember being behind a colleague who was driving her 190D slowly up a slight hill on a slushy road and watching it go sideways. RWD will work ok in winter weather if the car has a 50/50 weight distribution and reasonably narrow tires. My ‘76 Volvo DL was actually quite good in the snow
@@beb1527 The old MB:s were pretty good in the snow. If they had the lighter gasoline engines. Especially the w123 that had 175 tires. Same with the Volvos except the 7 and 9 series that had light rear ends.
Nice when Mercedes recalled those lousy trap oxidizers and replaced them with the oxidation catalysts. My Dad said he averaged 27.5 mpg highway. If memory serves S124 did not have the aerodynamics of the sedan (.36 vs ~.30) besides the heavier weight. Fuel economy and overall performance was similar to the contemporary 300sdl. VERY practical car though with the self-leveling suspension. Gasoline versions get about 20 mpg but also require 91 + octane fuel. Top speed is in excess of 120 mph for both models.
Note this car had a Diesel Particulate Filter. You can see it, it's the large canister to the left of the engine, part of the exhaust manifold. And I didn't see any smoke in the exhaust!
Imagine the millions of people who were fooled into thinking something newer would be better than this and sold it many many years ago. I could drive a clean one until the end of the world and wouldn't care much about other 'new' cars including mercedesi :) !!!
The parking lot at the county club I used to work at in Atherton was full of these wagons in the late 80’s for a moment it was “the” wagon to have for the upper crust..
With a royal weight of 3700lbs..." oh if the host could only see into the future, 4500lbs 2-door SRTs, 3900lbs M3s roaming the modern roads....besides that I must say Mercedes kept the weight of a comparable modern compact wagon close to that from '87, the '22 C200 is only 3770lbs👍
@@cherkas009 as base s class was never that smart of an buy honestly, especially not on the tight roads of europe. s class didnt even have much more passenger room unless you bought the extended wheelbase version.
I always loved those Mercedes analog gauges.. Very clear and everything you need.. Even when the car is 20 years old, those gauges would still be there and visible and hopefully still working.. With the new 2022 Mercedes, the dash is all digital and after 20 years, can anyone honestly say they will still be working and visible.. If that dash goes out, you can’t see anything and I’m sure that will be a fortune to fix.. Mercedes should have stuck with analog gauges like these, that were perfect.
@@benjaminkessler8169 I’m not up to spec on the technical terms, so could you tell me what VDO stands for? I know your talking about the analog gauges that I wrote about yesterday, but I just don’t know what VDO stands for.. Thanks.
@@juliekavanaugh4993 it’s the brand that makes these instrument cluster and gauges. All the German brands used them, they have a clean uncluttered design. My favorite is the 210 E class
@@benjaminkessler8169 Oh, ok.. Now I know, so thank you so much.. I guess they also made the ones for BMW then.. I always liked BMW’s also, with the same uncluttered look with the orange backlight.. They were always nice also.. Well thanks again for the info and you have a nice day! 😊
its weird how americans (or atleast car reviewers) switched around so quickly to make european car weight and size standards the norm during the 80s. that was relatively quickly reversed again in the 2000s and now stands out as a weird period of downsizing.
I'm german and i can tell you that you can still see some of these cars in germany today. But out of all Mercedes models of the 80s and 90s, i see the Mercedes 190 most often here.
Memory seats in 1987. So ahead of it’s time, why I love Mercedes’, except for cars after 2014, once the CLA and all those cheaper LA LE models came along it just ruined the the brand. I have a 04 E320 and my grand father has a 2020 E350, and the build quality of both is night and day, and my car is from the “dark ages” of Mercedes’ build quality as people say, but the 2020 E class is unacceptable, a year old and everything doesn’t just feel cheap but u touch the buttons they feel like they wanna fall off. It’s pathetic and sad tbh.
I have this model with 180k miles and it is still very peppy to drive. It isn't luxurious, just vintage chic. The diamond blue paint has flaked off a bit... but it performs well 35 years after new!
I had back in early 2000's the sedan. Head cracks were comon on om603. My car had an updated head. Drove the car to near 300k but body rust prevented my 5 years with the car going further.
Those beautiful car are almost indestructible if properly maintained. Most of those built in western Europe found a second life in eastern Europe, Turkey or Africa. I have always loved the elegance, sturdiness and incredible built quality.
So weird that Benz went with the square sealed beam headlamps that were mandated by the US government until 1984. By 1987 Ford had the stylish composite, styled to the car headlights on most of their models. The Euro spec W124 also had much nicer looking composite headlights.
When this car was built, the Mercedes badge really meant something! QUALITY. And you paid for it mind... these were not affordable cars for every day folk, but that also made them rare and prestigious. A car you buy and keep for 20 or 30 years if you wanted - Not chop it in for another after 3 years (by which time it is probably already riddled with faults) like you would with a new Merc today.
I have a 1987 300td. With 532k miles on it. Still rattling along. At least the third transmission. I don't know if its original engine, but the one it does have stock heads.
The OM603.96x six-cylinder turbo diesel had some quality problems, but as a whole it was nothing compared to the expanded 3.5L "rod bender" version (OM603.97x series) used in the 1990-91 W126 350SD and 350SDL.
Surprised how low the torque and fuel economy figures are for this engine. Given the displacement and being a straight six, it’s figures are more on par with an inline NA gasoline engine of the era.
@@thewiseguy3529 Correction -- I meant the OM603. Anyway, I 99% of the installed usage was in passenger cars with a small number installed in the G-class. It was not a "truck engine".
station wagons were a bigger deal in the US then they were in Europe I can say this as someone who came home from the hospital as a newborn in a 1979 Toyota Corolla Station Wagon in March 1985. always liked a few of the Mercedes models out in that era my childhood best friends mom Drove a Mercedes when we were kids in the late 80s early 90s I've never actually ridden in a real Mercedes Benz though I had a rechargeable ride on Mercedes Benz Convertible as a young child and my younger brother had either a Jeep or a Chevy Blazer version of it can't remember if the Mercedes one I had was the Mattel collaboration model that looked like Barbie's Convertible that came with the dream house
on the intro of the car driving, is the front rim bent or does it already have brake dust on it? PS- wouldn't the *misses* include not having a voltage gauge?
As impressive as this classic Mercedes was, if I had had 42 grand to spend on station wagons in 1987, I would have bought a Volvo 740 and a Mercury Colony Park. :-)
The problem with making cars that last forever (or anything that lasts forever) is that eventually you've satisfied the market and you run out of customers. You go out of business because everyone that wants what you're selling has it and they won't be a second time customer because the thing they bought from you once will last them their entire life.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
I wish Mercedes-Benz vehicles were this timeless, elegant, functional, and solidly built today.
The W124 and W201 were the end of an era for true over-engineering
You can fully blame Toyota pretty much single handedly for that, the LS400 was annihilating Benz with the looks, technology and everything in between for half price
@@J.Gainez and because of it, everything is half rate now in good 'ol Asian fashion.
You sure they are not?
I don't know about timeless, my 300te is dated, especially the interior.
W124 is one of the best looking Mercedes ever designed, Bruno Sacco should be proud
no its not
And one of the most reliable
I would agree.
It looks like it was just carved from a solid block of metal.
They were way ahead of the time. That design holds up well to this day. It seems like an honest review. Wider tires and a separate glass hatch would be nice. Really for 1987 that's was a spaceship of a design.
Crazy how this '88 diesel Mercedes wagon weighs about 400 lbs less than a modern Camaro SS. And John remarked about how heavy it was. lol
Haha, I caught that too!
That's because in time, many ''drivers'' (unlike those backward! types like me:) ) wanted more from their cars, hence the weight as you know....self drive, massage your tush and wash your clothes!.
Give me that carburetor induction noise any day, electrical this electrical that, bahhh! :))
I wouldn't of guessed that! Impressive.
The famous "Monowiper" is a truly iconic piece of engineering! Ahhhh, the days when car brands actually wanted to be interesting and different from one another.
Back when Mercedes-Benz made reliable cars.
They still do for the most part. They had some major QC issues in the late 90s- early 2010s but that’s been fixed, only a few issues remain with specific peices of equipment. Most of them will last a very long time with basic maintenance.
These days only American and Chinese buyer think they get something superior. In Germany we know they are nothing special anymore and, as all cars, are slapped together as cheap as possible for maximum profit.
@@eaglevision993 I agree. Some Mercedes-Benz owners would put fake AMG badges on their cars in order to make it high spec.
mercedes and reliability don't go together lol
*From the era Mercedes-Benz’es were made to last forever*
Thanks for sharing.
That's what I was thinking. Now they're disposable plastic junk just like every other vehicle made today.
This car was definitely ahead of its time
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper It was for some
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper in Europe wagons weren't that available nor that popular till the 80s, after that the started taking over the market much more then sedans. Look at second hand German cars for sale, most E class, Most 5 series and most audi a6's are in wagon form.
Many W124 still had 4 speed manuals.
5 speed was already a standard in Europe.
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper change my mind. that car came out in 1984. Build Quality, Reliability and Comfort, All these could not be compared to other cars at the market.
@@Mr.FirebIadeDr.JiIIAIiceCooper yeah. reliability.
We still daily drive our W124 300D 5 speed. Timeless classic and easily gets 32 to 35 MPG.
This was a sweet car but, unfortunately, it would prove to be a one-year-only model, and the last diesel station wagon Mercedes-Benz offered in the U.S.
The reason? That would be the big metal barrel you can see driver's right under the hood. That was the trap oxidizer, a forerunner of modern diesel particulate filters (DPFs) that Mercedes installed on all early U.S. specification OM603 powered models (the '87 300 TD Turbo, the '86 and '87 300 D Turbo and the '86 and '87 300 SDL Turbo) in order to make them emissions compliant in all 50 states. However, the trap would get extremely hot during operation and, due to its proximity to the aluminum cylinder head (Previous M-B diesels had iron heads.), would cause the head to warp, leading to head gasket failure. There were also instances of chunks of the material inside the trap coming loose and being ingested by the turbocharger.
It was a massive PR black eye for Mercedes-Benz in this country, especially given how its earlier diesels were known for going multiple hundreds of thousands of miles with only routine maintenance. All OM603 powered models were withdrawn from the U.S. market for the 1988 model year, the 300 D Turbo being replaced by the 300D 2.5 Turbo (which used the OM602 inline-five) and, eventually, the 300 SDL being replaced by the 350 SD and SDL Turbo (which used a bored out 3.4L OM603). However, as all of those models did away with the trap oxidizers, none were legal for sale in California or the northeast states that adopted CARB's stricter standards; in fact, it wasn't until mid-1994 and the debut of the model year 1995 E300 Diesel with its new DOHC, 24-valve OM606 (and a revised DPF that was located well clear of the engine) that a Mercedes-Benz diesel was again available nationwide. Alas, by the time that happened, Mercedes concluded that there wouldn't be enough demand for a wagon version to justify the cost of going through the necessary certification processes. Too bad...
Diesel cars have only got more complex and prone to failure since then, with all the additional emissions controls to meet tighter requirements. For example, there was a massive recall on diesel BMWs made in the past decade, which were catching fire due to EGR cooler failure. DPFs and SCR systems usually cost a bomb to repair or replace when they go wrong.
Between that and things like the VW emissions scandal, it feels to me that pursuing small diesel engines in passenger cars was a mistake. It's easier to control emissions effectively to modern standards in larger scale applications (like trucks and trains).
I still see these things on the road. Longest lasting car ever.
Well... Theres still 120 year cars that can drive, but you won't really see those randomly on the road tho.
I drove my 1991 S124 4matic wagon for 28 years. Still miss it.
Indeed, and having bought mine in 2022, I expect nothing less than a long effortless journey!
Here in Sweden you certainly see them occasionally but this is definitely Volvo country. My dad drove a '86 ish Volvo 740 wagon (bought new) until it gave up on him and he got a "new" car in 2000-ish. A '92 Volvo 740 😂
Having grown up in that car I'm kinda looking for something else as a second family car (no complaints about it, just a little boring at this point). Late 80s Mercedes looks like it could suit us well, if we can find a good one.
3:23 John: THAT WHEEL SITS JUST BELOW A GAUGE CLUSTER THAT INCLUDES EVERYTHING WE DESIRE, EXCEPT VOLTAGE! LOL
John's strict gauge requirements and "Toyota Camray" are always entertaining
John Davis’s ideal car would be a cockpit with 4000 gauges, the rest of the car is just an afterthought
I have an original 1987 300TD Wagon with 779.617 miles, with which I raised my kids and went around USA 6 times. Today, it still is my work horse.
Any tips on getting a car to that high of mileage?
Did you change the transmission fluid? How often do you change the oil? Etc.
You could have bought it 35 years ago and still drive it today. However, the price is crazy at $100,000 in today’s money.
My 1979 240D with crank windows cost $16k in 1979 or $64k in today’s money. Your point is valid as you paid for longevity with those cars. My car is still running 42 years later.
Those were some reliable Mercedes Benz vehicles that body style is. One of my old neighbors has a 1988 E300 that he's had for over 12 years now. Still runs like a charm.
I got S124, 250 d ,1995 ,5 cyl, with 20 valves,113hp.5 speed,..runs like gasoline..so smoth...excellent condition...now over 500.000km...
0-60 in over 11 seconds is “very fast for its class”. How times have changed…
Umm, 11.2 seconds for a mid 80s diesel wagon IS good. Try the Chevy Chevette diesel for instance: 0-60 in 30 seconds.
@@GeeEm1313 At about seven times the price!
@@dukegrapewin9440The Mercedes was still a better deal. The W124 is one of the most durable cars ever.
times have changed for the worst
Even today more than 90% of all E classes are sold with diesel engines in EU.
E 220d is the great value for money and it has best resale value for years.
I use to love the sound of those old diesel cars!
The S124 is a terrific car, timeless and durable.
When the name Mercedes-Benz still had meaning.
I owned this exact year and model, and it was even in the same color combination. Great car.
These 1980s era diesel Mercedes still drive around Africa every day, many of them with well over 1 million kilometres on the clock and still going strong on dusty and muddy dirt roads. These are truly over-engineered mechanical marvels. I once asked a taxi driver in Western Africa why there were so many old Mercedes being used as taxi cabs, he said it's the car that holds up the best in Africa. His was beat up beyond belief, every light in the dash was lighting up when he turned the key, yet it started up every time.
Fabulous old bus. ‘87 only TDs are hard to come by, good luck finding one.
So too was the W201 190D 2.5 Turbo Diesel -- also only for '87.
I miss wagons and when Mercedes weren't endless money pits.
I sincerely believe that these cars will outlive most of the people who own them. They're some of the most reliable vehicles on the planet.
Beautiful car. Much more appealing than today's Mercedes all looking like jellybean-shaped sports sedans. I owned an '87 300E, the sedan gasoline 3.0L I-6 version of this car. Vault-like build quality. Supremely opulent for a car of its time. Unfortunately, the reliability left a lot to be desired. The electrical componentry and automatic transmission on these cars were short-lived. The competing Volvos of the time weren't nearly as luxurious or elegant looking, but they were far more comfortable and far more dependable. If I could travel back in time, a 700-series Volvo would definitely be my choice as a new luxury car.
It was an inline-six.
@@manoharjishnu2009 yep my bad. I updated my comment.
To add, the 722.3 was used in every Mercedes for years. I’ve never heard the term short lived for that transmission.
@@bobbbobb4663 my transmission went out at 108k miles. When I looked at two other used 300E cars for sale with under 150k they both needed transmission rebuilds. My neighbors 1994 600SL needed a transmission rebuilt at 54k as well.
Cars ''back then'' were more straight and honest like the usual people at the time,
cars now are like jellybean-shaped, as you said, just like the character and shape of the usual people this time. :/
$43K was a boatload of money for a car in 1987! - W124 estate was worth every penny.
Back when it used to mean something to own a Mercedes.
Nice. Had an W124 200D in the 90s.
Love this Diesel. Combined with power - as 300D Turbo it would be terrific. Fast enough even for todays traffic. My 200D with 72 HP would be too weak for todays needs (in my eyes) 😅
My dad had a 1988 300TE (with the gas engine) and it also featured a rear facing seat behind the 2nd row
I loved that car before he sold it!
I wish you still had it.
That's exactly what replaced the 300TD after '87.
Same thing when the 300SEL (W126) also appeared for '88, to replace the diesel 300SDL. It was also the spiritual replacement for the W116 280SEL that we didn't have after the 1980 model year.
WOW back in Time when Mercedes used to make decent reliable Cars !!! overseas this Vehicle still running. solid honorable engineering !! unlike todays plastic Vehicles they make !! thank you for theses retro reviews. 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Not me, i own a Mercedes Benz E250 Diesel Station Wagon W212 built in 2015 never ever had a big Problem.
@@wolfgangneuser8530 2015 is 'last week' compared to 1987.
Wait another week. :)
Best Mercedes Benz diesel wagon ever sold in America including now
They were way ahead of the time. That design holds up well to this day. It seems like an honest review. Wider tires and a separate glass hatch would be nice. Really for 1987 that's was a spaceship of a design.
Back when MB were rear drive only. Wider tires would’ve made them even worse in the snow. I remember being behind a colleague who was driving her 190D slowly up a slight hill on a slushy road and watching it go sideways. RWD will work ok in winter weather if the car has a 50/50 weight distribution and reasonably narrow tires. My ‘76 Volvo DL was actually quite good in the snow
@@beb1527 The old MB:s were pretty good in the snow. If they had the lighter gasoline engines. Especially the w123 that had 175 tires.
Same with the Volvos except the 7 and 9 series that had light rear ends.
Nice when Mercedes recalled those lousy trap oxidizers and replaced them with the oxidation catalysts. My Dad said he averaged 27.5 mpg highway. If memory serves S124 did not have the aerodynamics of the sedan (.36 vs ~.30) besides the heavier weight. Fuel economy and overall performance was similar to the contemporary 300sdl. VERY practical car though with the self-leveling suspension. Gasoline versions get about 20 mpg but also require 91 + octane fuel. Top speed is in excess of 120 mph for both models.
Note this car had a Diesel Particulate Filter. You can see it, it's the large canister to the left of the engine, part of the exhaust manifold. And I didn't see any smoke in the exhaust!
Imagine the millions of people who were fooled into thinking something newer would be better than this and sold it many many years ago.
I could drive a clean one until the end of the world and wouldn't care much about other 'new' cars including mercedesi :) !!!
Same. I'd just install a radio with bluetooth and some better speakers and I'm good to go.
Proud owner of a 1994 S124. Thinking of all that body roll as I see it race around that track.
Do not make the mistake of selling it.
Just repair/fix it when it's needed.
Listen to me Ryan!
Repeat after me ''I will not sell it! '' :)
Timeless design. One of the all time great cars
The parking lot at the county club I used to work at in Atherton was full of these wagons in the late 80’s for a moment it was “the” wagon to have for the upper crust..
Watching that thing slalom is majestic.
This was when Mercedes-Benz vehicles was better made, compared to today's Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
i had one of them. perfect car
I'm impressed that MotorWeek was able to get Mike Ditka to check out the interior of the car.
We used to have the Euro version and it was a tank. Wish all the new cars had the same quality.
I've never seen this test before. Interesting.
Wow these take me back to being a kid, I knew so many people that had the sedan
what a classy vehicle
With a royal weight of 3700lbs..." oh if the host could only see into the future, 4500lbs 2-door SRTs, 3900lbs M3s roaming the modern roads....besides that I must say Mercedes kept the weight of a comparable modern compact wagon close to that from '87, the '22 C200 is only 3770lbs👍
3:23 How I miss those beautiful analog gauges. So much classier than the 'video game' digital trash served up in 2022 models.
Yep - and those analog gauges will continue to look wonderful in 50 years. The digital will look horribly dated within 10 years.
Wow, 42700 USD back in 1987! That was a lot of money!
It's almost base S Class territory.
Wagon more practical than an S class
@@cherkas009 as base s class was never that smart of an buy honestly, especially not on the tight roads of europe. s class didnt even have much more passenger room unless you bought the extended wheelbase version.
I always loved those Mercedes analog gauges.. Very clear and everything you need.. Even when the car is 20 years old, those gauges would still be there and visible and hopefully still working.. With the new 2022 Mercedes, the dash is all digital and after 20 years, can anyone honestly say they will still be working and visible.. If that dash goes out, you can’t see anything and I’m sure that will be a fortune to fix.. Mercedes should have stuck with analog gauges like these, that were perfect.
There’s nothing better than VDO instruments. Newer cars don’t have the clarity of past times. Maybe some Toyota still do.
I love my W210 VDO Cluster
@@benjaminkessler8169 I’m not up to spec on the technical terms, so could you tell me what VDO stands for? I know your talking about the analog gauges that I wrote about yesterday, but I just don’t know what VDO stands for.. Thanks.
@@juliekavanaugh4993 it’s the brand that makes these instrument cluster and gauges. All the German brands used them, they have a clean uncluttered design. My favorite is the 210 E class
@@benjaminkessler8169 Oh, ok.. Now I know, so thank you so much.. I guess they also made the ones for BMW then.. I always liked BMW’s also, with the same uncluttered look with the orange backlight.. They were always nice also.. Well thanks again for the info and you have a nice day! 😊
This would make an excellent family car for me to use. You'll pay more for diesel fuel but the fuel efficiency will be worth it.
27 mpg?
Nice! I want to get an E class wagon too!
Back when 3700lbs was considered heavy lol.
Considering that most Midsize Family Sedans weigh around 3200 lbs or under back in the 80s.
its weird how americans (or atleast car reviewers) switched around so quickly to make european car weight and size standards the norm during the 80s. that was relatively quickly reversed again in the 2000s and now stands out as a weird period of downsizing.
$42k…sheesh. That’s expensive even today
Before the Oldsmobile diesel,I used to like Mercedes Benz diesel, now I like both, how crazy is that.
Boy those still looks good!👌😎👍
Love the shades and mustache 😎
You can always grow a moustache and buy shades like that.
But they don't make leather jackets like they used to.
I'm german and i can tell you that you can still see some of these cars in germany today. But out of all Mercedes models of the 80s and 90s, i see the Mercedes 190 most often here.
My main take away from this video is that it was the first week in January
Memory seats in 1987. So ahead of it’s time, why I love Mercedes’, except for cars after 2014, once the CLA and all those cheaper LA LE models came along it just ruined the the brand. I have a 04 E320 and my grand father has a 2020 E350, and the build quality of both is night and day, and my car is from the “dark ages” of Mercedes’ build quality as people say, but the 2020 E class is unacceptable, a year old and everything doesn’t just feel cheap but u touch the buttons they feel like they wanna fall off. It’s pathetic and sad tbh.
Other luxury cars had that too. I been riding in luxury since the 80s. A lot of these items were only for luxury cars back then
I have this model with 180k miles and it is still very peppy to drive. It isn't luxurious, just vintage chic. The diamond blue paint has flaked off a bit... but it performs well 35 years after new!
I had back in early 2000's the sedan. Head cracks were comon on om603. My car had an updated head. Drove the car to near 300k but body rust prevented my 5 years with the car going further.
Wow, it was expensive. $42k in 1987 is $110k now
HOLY! REALLY?! That's a lot of grains ...
This is a real gem
Those beautiful car are almost indestructible if properly maintained. Most of those built in western Europe found a second life in eastern Europe, Turkey or Africa. I have always loved the elegance, sturdiness and incredible built quality.
So weird that Benz went with the square sealed beam headlamps that were mandated by the US government until 1984. By 1987 Ford had the stylish composite, styled to the car headlights on most of their models. The Euro spec W124 also had much nicer looking composite headlights.
When this car was built, the Mercedes badge really meant something! QUALITY. And you paid for it mind... these were not affordable cars for every day folk, but that also made them rare and prestigious. A car you buy and keep for 20 or 30 years if you wanted - Not chop it in for another after 3 years (by which time it is probably already riddled with faults) like you would with a new Merc today.
Mercedes should make a retro E class based on the look of the W124 that’s all electric but doesn’t look electric
And this was the greatest wagon mercedes ever made, and they only released it for 1 years in the US
Thank you John.
I have a 1987 300td. With 532k miles on it. Still rattling along. At least the third transmission. I don't know if its original engine, but the one it does have stock heads.
Any tips on getting a car to that high of mileage?
Did you change the transmission fluid? How often do you change the oil? Etc.
The OM603.96x six-cylinder turbo diesel had some quality problems, but as a whole it was nothing compared to the expanded 3.5L "rod bender" version (OM603.97x series) used in the 1990-91 W126 350SD and 350SDL.
Ahead of its time!
I wouldn’t buy a Mercedes Benz but if I did, I would buy this era.
Were these the ones that went over 300K miles?
No you’re thinking of the W123, those were the most reliable
@@agamemnon8163 there we go! Thanks
Lots of W124 go over 300K miles. Rust, however, is an issue...but that also goes for the W123. Mechanically, these cars will almost last forever.
@@agamemnon8163 i had w124 400E that i got from my dad and got it to 450k before it was totaled in an accident
The 124 is a BEAST! The last true Mercedes.
Was it faster than the base 300E with the 2.6 liter?
In the beginning scene, the rims were so dirty.
This is what lead to the SUV’s of today, however the ML or GL are no where strong as the W124 was.
Surprised how low the torque and fuel economy figures are for this engine. Given the displacement and being a straight six, it’s figures are more on par with an inline NA gasoline engine of the era.
Emissions equipment.
These were their truck engines. Great stuff
Not really. The OM606 was designed and installed only in passenger cars. It’s major flaw was the trap oxidizer which most people straight piped.
@@bobbbobb4663 nope they used that 5cyl. diesel in motorhomes. Mercedes Hymers lol
Sooooo there's that
@@thewiseguy3529 Correction -- I meant the OM603. Anyway, I 99% of the installed usage was in passenger cars with a small number installed in the G-class. It was not a "truck engine".
@@bobbbobb4663 lol 😂 ok Bob. Thanks 👍
My pops had an ‘87 190E. Basic but solid.
A Mercedes was never basic
When Mercedes were ACTUALLY the Mercedes, their reputation was built on. Today? Not nearly the same cars.
5 less bhp than a petrol V8 at the time. Incredible.
station wagons were a bigger deal in the US then they were in Europe I can say this as someone who came home from the hospital as a newborn in a 1979 Toyota Corolla Station Wagon in March 1985. always liked a few of the Mercedes models out in that era my childhood best friends mom Drove a Mercedes when we were kids in the late 80s early 90s I've never actually ridden in a real Mercedes Benz though I had a rechargeable ride on Mercedes Benz Convertible as a young child and my younger brother had either a Jeep or a Chevy Blazer version of it can't remember if the Mercedes one I had was the Mattel collaboration model that looked like Barbie's Convertible that came with the dream house
Today wagons account for 15-20% of sales in Europe but far less than 1% in the US.
Mom drove one of these in that mustard brown color. We named the wagon Helga.
$42500 in 1986 when this was released for sale is equivalent to $122K in 2024 dollars. WOW
on the intro of the car driving, is the front rim bent or does it already have brake dust on it? PS- wouldn't the *misses* include not having a voltage gauge?
Legendary!
Probably still on the road as a Taxi somewhere out there
As impressive as this classic Mercedes was, if I had had 42 grand to spend on station wagons in 1987, I would have bought a Volvo 740 and a Mercury Colony Park. :-)
Love these other than the asymmetrical wing mirrors
Absolutely. Had a 230 Estate and the wing mirrors bugged the shit out of me. Loved it otherwise
Is the 300TE the same car, without the diesel engine?
Yes
@@bobbbobb4663 thanks!
My dad had a used 1988 300 TE with the rear seats (facing backwards)
I loved that car!
@@FeartheCyr611 You are welcome. IIRC the 300TD was a one year only model in 1987 and was replaced by the 300TE inn1988. Same car just gas engine.
@@bobbbobb4663 ok
Just paid $3750 for a 1987 td wagon om603 turbo in great condition. Hope it was worth it.
These old Mercedes cars are tanks
well engineered machine...W124 is the ultimate middle weight luxury mercedes...
Imagine a car in 2022 with a turbo v6 taking 11 seconds to get to 60 😳
Diesel gate from the 70s made cars more muted in the 1980s
What were headlamps before halogen?
Sealed beam.
Last generation of true Mercedes
:15 - CAM-RAY
The problem with making cars that last forever (or anything that lasts forever) is that eventually you've satisfied the market and you run out of customers. You go out of business because everyone that wants what you're selling has it and they won't be a second time customer because the thing they bought from you once will last them their entire life.