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In a moment of slight madness when trawling the internet for a more interesting daily driver I found myself hitting 'buy now' on a w124 estate. It had cool wheels and somehow had an MOT so took a punt and thought I would see how I got on with it for a while... A 3 hour faultless drive home from Preston was confidence inspiring to say the least. It does however idle wildly when left to it's own devices and temps do start to creep up... Oh and it is slow. Like, super slow. It's 2.3 litre petrol engine and auto box combo do take a little winding up, but it gets up to speed after a while and seems pretty happy sitting there so no worries. The comical value of this car is much more than it's actual value. Once parked up, I jumped out, locked her up and then thought, "oh curse word, I left the v5 in the glove box" I then go to un lock the old girl... Nah not happening. Totally locked out. Hilarious at 1am after the 3 hour drive home. Ah well, left her there nice and secure and went off to bed. The next day after work a few squirts of WD40 in the lock and we are in! Wahey! But then she wouldn't start. Turns over like a champ, you can hear the fuel pump prime but she just doesn't catch. At this point I simply couldn't stop laughing, wondering what have I got myself in to... I suspect it's just a bit damp, the thing was sopping wet under the bonnet with condensation as it had turned in to an ice cube over night, so I pushed it into the sun for a while and some time later, after a bit of persevering she fired in to life and got straight back in to her wonky idle routine after a few revs. Some 'internetting' later, this seems quite likely to be a sticky throttle body/IDC or vac leak so will take it apart at the weekend and go through it all, may even be why it struggles to start a bit? Who knows? Other amusing points, the rear suspension is pretty hard, it gets a good bounce on going down the road. The plan is to put some new springs and shocks in at some point so this doesn't worry me, just adds to the comical value. It would however be nice to get it running a little more reliably with the aim of turning it in to a daily... We shall see. Feel free to chime in with advice and opinions or the laughing as we find out if this old girl has what it takes to be used daily. So far, this wagon is just pure class...
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Your hard starting may be down to a blown fuse in the Over Voltage Protection relay or a duff relay itself. It will be a little electronic box behind the battery with one or two fuses under a cap at one end. Check the fuses. If they're ok then replace the OVP relay.
As for your bouncy rear suspension, S124 estates have a self levelling rear suspension similar to the hydraulic suspensions found on old Citroens. What appear to be shocks are in fact hydraulic rams connected up to accumulators/spheres . There are some helper springs as well, but most of the car's weight is taken by the rams. Your symptoms would the system being low on fluid or a broken sphere
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Last Edit: Feb 6, 2017 19:33:18 GMT by mrabody
1995 Range Rover 4.0 1995 BMW 320i Saloon 1989 BMW 325i Touring 1991 Mercedes 300TE-24 1991 Mercedes 190e 1970 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1966 Valiant 200 Custom 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Station Wagon
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W124s are fantastic choice. Get a few little things sorted and it will keep you going down the road forever
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like, all part of the hobby, that'll be running fine soon with a bit of fettling, keep updating please
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Fraud owners club member 2003 W211 Mercedes E class 1989 Sierra sapphire 1998 ex bt fiesta van
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This story sounds very familiar. I did almost exactly the same but mine is a 300te and has 4matic (although that doesn't work!).
I have some rough running and a little slow to start when its cold or wet but not as bad as your one sounds.
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thanks for the insight mrabody I will have a play at the weekend. She's pretty straight really, one very dodgy looking front wing, but then rest is overall pretty tidy. It could do with some new window seals as a lot of moisture is getting inside and there is a little mould in the boot. Hopefully I can get her running right and put her in to daily service. If she stands the test of time I will clean her up on the outside to keep her rock solid. such a great looking motor. In regards to the hydraulic setup out back... Is it easier to do away with that and run standard shocks? Or is it a bit of a pig?
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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OM606, big turbo, loads of boost and a bigger injector pump.
next easy to answer question please......
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"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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Hey woah you have seen right through my plan village haha I work in Aylesbury, so you may even see the coal rolling after the conversion Want to get it a little lower and more useable first though!
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mattiwagon
Part of things
Just got a work truck
Posts: 445
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Drove a D reg burgundy with beige interior 230E manual for a while. Thirsty(to me at the time) slow but felt as solid as a Unimog, changed gear like one to!loved it to bits. On my one day list to get another. Top choice that man 👍, love the idea of a TD
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If they cant be nice f**k em!
84 low t25 panel 1.9td beige and rust combo 97 Goped Bigfoot G260RC with clutch conversion 97 Impreza turbo 2000 builders wagon 76k sold 04 Fabia vRs 50mpg pocket rocket 04 battered T5 pickup in blue! Chainsaws lotsa Chainsaws
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gn3dr
Part of things
Posts: 391
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I'm collecting an '86 one of these myself next Saturday. It's a 300TE - non runner at the moment but hopefully something small - it just isn't turning over. I already have the OM606 turbo sitting on a pallet and the ECU de-immobilised. However as the time gets closer to picking it up i'm starting to have thoughts about leaving the M103 petrol engine in it.....hmmm Love teh shape of these though and they have a pretty loyal following. Mine is a horrible light blue with a blue velour interior - real 80's tastic but apparently the velour was more expensive that leather at the time!
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Last Edit: Feb 7, 2017 21:34:00 GMT by gn3dr
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Well bought, they are a lovely piece of kit. I have a 1994 as a daily and love it. The main dealers are worth checking for parts, and seem quite well priced !
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1994 Mercedes e220 petrol estate, daily driver. 1998 Peugeot 406 Coupe 3.0 v6, shopping car.
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Hey woah you have seen right through my plan village haha I work in Aylesbury, so you may even see the coal rolling after the conversion Want to get it a little lower and more useable first though! Sounds like a plan! I've got my workshop 10mins away just outside Thame, pop over if you want to see whats involved when playing with these.
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Last Edit: Feb 7, 2017 20:57:56 GMT by carat 3.6
1988 Mercedes w124 superturbo diesel 508hp 1996 Mercedes s124 e300 diesel wagon 1990 BMW E30 V8 M60 powered! 1999 BMW E46 323ci project car
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hario
Part of things
S202 C300STD
Posts: 421
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Can I suggest you get various lengths and diameters of generic silicone hose and replace all the cracked and leaking ones which are in, around and under the inlet manifold. You can take the IACV off and WD40 it and give it 12v to check if it moves also,
Check the front and rear screens aren't leaking down the a-pillars and c-pillars and down the firewall it probably is, and the side window seals are probably dry and leaking water down into the door cavities, and keeping the interior damp (unblock the drain holes).
Maybe gently pull apart every single multi-plug, fuse and contact you can find and spray with aerosol contact cleaner or clean with a mini wire brush. They are all big round copper/aluminium contacts which corrode and isolate themselves..
That SLS rear suspension is fed from an aux pump off the back of the PAS pump, check for leaks and / or lack of fluid? There should be a big reservoir for it by the NS headlight.
Ideally you'd fit saloon rear springs and dampers but I believe the struts are different so its not a direct swap (defo not on W210 anyway), haven't looked under w124 yet.
Regarding idle, I also think the k-jet has a 5th injector for idle next to the IACV which can stop working properly (get blocked?).
Does it still have oil pressure at idle when it's hot?
Good luck! Looking forward to updates,
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Last Edit: Feb 8, 2017 21:02:59 GMT by hario: reworded: Does it still have oil pressure at idle when it's hot?
*S202 C300TD Wagon* Installed: OM606 & 722.6, Evo6 IC, S600AMG callipers & 345mm rotors. No catz. Leatherish seats.. Rust.. Future: DIY manifolds & turbo compound build. Built IP, & some kind of software. Less rust..
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I already have the OM606 turbo sitting on a pallet and the ECU de-immobilised. Well, if you get bored of that you know where I am!
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Hey woah you have seen right through my plan village haha I work in Aylesbury, so you may even see the coal rolling after the conversion Want to get it a little lower and more useable first though! Sounds like a plan! I've got my workshop 10mins away just outside Thame, pop over if you want to see whats involved when playing with these. Ah mega! What have you got over there?
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Thanks hario, I will get stuck in to it on Saturday and take lots of pics. I'm sure the rear screen is leaking as it's more 'soggy' than damp in the back. The car was stood for a long time so could do with airing out a bit anyway. I spent hours yesterday reading about the SLS setup and how to remove/block off or swap for coilovers and so on... I'll get her running right first before messing around too much with that side of things... Although things never normally pan out like that Thanks for all the help so far guys!
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I love these old things. I bought my first at four months old and drove it for years. I bought about a dozen when they were for beer money and still have five. 320 saloon, 280 estate, 320 coupe, 500e and an ambulance I bought while under the influence on German eBay, then took over the border to my Polish home. In time I hope to add a 6 door and a convertible. Anyway I digress. These things are tough and will take some stick, which means when you get one now it usually has and needs love to get it going again. Once running, they run on for ever. Check the bottom ball joints, failure isn't very funny, last time I did some they were about twelve quid I think. Lots of fun to fit. The rear hub is more beefy on the estate, but I did once fit a saloon part to an estate without issues. You may think a manual would be nice, but although the gearbox is pleasant, it's a total pain for urban driving with the parking brake, you really need four legs.
I have a pair of never fitted aftermarket wings, if you plan on keeping her. I'm in Ireland and won't be in Blighty until summer, but if you can wait or members can arrange a shuttle to the midlands, you can have them.
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village
Part of things
Always carries a toolbox. Because Volkswagen.......
Posts: 567
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When I lived in Aylesbury, there was a chap called Richie who lived on my road (Northern Road) who had a 230(?) coupe, t'was a lovely bit of kit!
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Last Edit: Jun 8, 2017 7:24:04 GMT by village
"The White Van is strong with this one...."
Chris "Chesney" Allen 1976-2005 RIP
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They look like SLK Wheels?
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96 E320 W210 Wafter - on 18" split Mono's - Sold :-( 10 Kia Ceed Sportwagon - Our new daily 03 Import Forester STi - Sold 98 W140 CL500 AMG - Brutal weekend bruiser! Sold :-( 99 E240 S210 Barge - Now sold 02 Accord 2.0SE - wife's old daily - gone in PX 88 P100 2.9efi Custom - Sold
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Thanks hario, I will get stuck in to it on Saturday and take lots of pics. I'm sure the rear screen is leaking as it's more 'soggy' than damp in the back. The car was stood for a long time so could do with airing out a bit anyway. I spent hours yesterday reading about the SLS setup and how to remove/block off or swap for coilovers and so on... I'll get her running right first before messing around too much with that side of things... Although things never normally pan out like that Thanks for all the help so far guys! Springs and shocks are for pussies. Fix the SLS
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1995 Range Rover 4.0 1995 BMW 320i Saloon 1989 BMW 325i Touring 1991 Mercedes 300TE-24 1991 Mercedes 190e 1970 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1966 Valiant 200 Custom 1964 Ford Fairlane 500 Station Wagon
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