Faults:

Faulty warning light (handbrake light still up even when I put the handbrake down).

Dried out brake pads.

No lights on the dashboard.

A missing rubber ring for the antenna.

General Comments:

Just bought it used, and it's in great condition for 22 year old car with surprisingly low mileage!

Handles like a dream, even though the steering wheel is a bit heavy compared to today's cars.

A textured steering wheel definitely makes me feel like I'm in a spa or something very comfy, and it never feels slippery.

All the faults listed above are very cheap to fix, and the whole car feels sturdy and rigid, yet provides a comfortable massaging ride.

The performance might have some hiccups, since it's a luxury model, but it still pulls and is capable of cruising at 100 mph with a smooth ride and little body roll.

Good fuel consumption.

The interior screams "Swiss cabin". It's packed with wooden panels, heated seats, power seats with memory and tight leather, and all the necessities you need and nothing you don't want, with seamless ergonomics.

This car can go back and forth to the moon several times, and it'll still running; its reliability is legendary!

Faults:

Purchase price was $4,000.

Front left and rear right wheel bearings @ $900 each.

Air conditioning fan and control module @ $3000.

Head gasket and valve job $2000.

Not done and why I am scrapping the car:

4-matic - $800.

All shocks and shock mounts - $5,800.

Significant body rust.

General Comments:

I bought the old girl too late in the game. She was cheap, but the cost to fix is more than the car was worth to me.

If you can find one with under 100,000 miles, buy it. The handling and ride are everything you hear. Buy decent tires and you won't go wrong.

The maintenance and repair costs are high, as you have heard, but there are Mercedes mechanics that don't work for the dealer, you just have to find them.

Faults:

Refinished center console wood, replaced potentiometer, cleaned/lubed ICV.

Heater line was disconnected from previous owner; reconnected and replaced leaking aux pump.

General Comments:

These cars (W124 chassis) are one the best Mercs you can buy. Back when "spare no expense" to make the engineering the best was their motto. Before the mid 90s when they had to cut cost on parts to compete with Japanese luxury imports.

The 300CE 24v performs great. After owning a 96 C280 and 93 400e previously, the 300ce performs just as well, if not better.

The only improvements it could use is manumatic or full manual 5 speed vs 4 speed stock transmission. Also 17" x 7.5 wheels vs 15" x 6.5 stock wheels, would be a welcome improvement.

If you haven't had a W124 chassis Mercedes before, you really need to try one out. You wont be disappointed.

Faults:

Constant overheating resulted in tightening of head. That didn't solve it. Replaced thermostat. No difference. Finally replaced water pump and now works fine. Spent nearly $1500 to have same shop resolve the problem.

A/C fan in dash began whining on & off, eventually a constant high pitch. Bought blower motor new on Internet site. New mechanic pulled dash and discovered the motor was not the same as was ordered but a tiny black fan. Total replacement @$700.00 and I have a blower motor ready for replacement.

Botched wiring when Japanese radio was originally put in leading to shorts in courtesy lights, console lights don't work. Stereo wiring is stictly for MB products.

General Comments:

This is a JDM (lhd) car imported in 2006. The body after 16 years was near perfection. Everything appeared original in and out, over and under. A trip to Las Vegas in July in 45 degree Celsius may have been the start of the overheating problems.

This car still draws looks and comments 18 years on. Great WOW factor.

The ride is velvet smooth, power is subtle and doing 140 KPH is effortless and quiet. The 4Matic only occasionally engages even in a Canadian Rocky Mtn winter. Only indicator is the warning light that AWD is on.

Mileage is a surprise as we get the equivalent of 30-32 MPG (Imperial gallon) combined in warmer months and 25 mpg in winter.