1987 Mercedes-Benz W124 3.0 om603 turbo diesel from North America
Summary:
Semi-reliable luxury at decent price
Faults:
A/C was out when I purchased the vehicle. R-134 conversion was not very cold.
Fuel leak at coolant/fuel heat exchange when purchased; bypassed.
Replaced belt tensioner and components at 185k.
190k, cooling fan failure caused damage to the radiator, fan clutch, fan shroud and transmission cooling lines, as well as denting the hood.
190k, rear multi-link suspension components dry rotted, replaced.
194k, original starter died at 25 years old, rebuilt.
205k, ball joint failure on the highway, this was big. Replaced lower control arm, strut, tie rod end, hub and spindle. Wheel/tire caused massive damage to the fender. Still have lingering suspension issues.
Both strut tower mounts have started to separate; not sure if I'll fix or part out the vehicle
General Comments:
From the massive amounts of research I've done, the strut tower and cooling fan failures are very rare. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another W124, as I'm far more knowledgeable now and could do a thorough inspection.
Very quick car. Fastest diesel in the 80's.
The vehicle feels very solid, and I feel very safe driving it.
Fuel mileage is spectacular for a vehicle of this vintage, and even by today's standards. I see 29 MPG consistently, and better on road trips.
The interior has held up great, minus some cracks on the dash. Very comfortable seats with electronic controls.
Basically everything works on the vehicle; switches, controls, gauges. The sun roof is slow; I don't use it for fear of failure while open.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 14th July, 2013