So I have accidentally posted the video at midnight! Let’s hope it doesn’t loose any views 🙈 please like,share, and subscribe! Hope you all enjoy this one as much as I did. Beautiful car and joy to work on and drive. All the best everyone. P.s for the eagle eyed viewers, I lent a ramp to a mate for the day to work on his Nissan 😂
Proper straight car that deserves the attention you’ve given it. Get his £3k back in enjoyment over the next few years. Love the “while I’m in there jobs” 😂
@@johnmcfall375I wish he’d showed the resin job he did on the wood veneer on the centre console Must have done it with a magic wand as it looked like a ripped out fireplace when I took it in
This car belongs to me, so this video has been a nail biting watch. Sam has sold himself short here. I gave him a list of about 30/40 things to do and questions, many of which you’ve not seen on screen. It went in sounding and feeling worse for wear and came out *absolutely faultless*. It drives like my 124 coupe 18 years ago, despite having no roof. Whatever Sam’s done fixed the scuttle shake. Now I’m saving up for the bodywork, wheels, new speakers, and to get the leather seats connolised! Sam did check the wiring harness some of you mentioned (I did too when I bought it and it’s fine), he checked under the washer bottle for rust (all fine) and looked in the cavities. Even unblocking water drains and screwing my number plate on. I left him the Lanoguard in the boot just for the bits he welded but he (and Nathan) did the whole car for me! Even though it reeks of sheep. The car is going to a guy in Rugby in summer who fills every cavity with a custom Waxoyl, so it’s just a temporary measure. The one time I locked the centre wooden storage box with the key, it jammed. I split the veneer forcing it open (needed my garage door remote). Sam didn’t just fix the broken lock but skilfully fixed the veneer with resin so you can’t tell anything happened. If I had more time, I’d have waited for a 320 in better condition, but the car this replaced was failing by the day, plus I’ve had a terrible 2024 with family stuff and needed one thing in the year to cheer me up! If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, as my brain is squished on the tarmac, I don’t want the last thought to be “I might as well have had that 124 after all”. Massive thank you to the whole team at SPR, as usual.
As the idiot with the w140 that tried to set itself on fire let me be the first to say what a fkin car. ❤ The colour is amazing and its in good nick for the age. I agree with the whole notion of enjoying the day while you can. I hope you enjoy the benz and have many many trouble free miles. Would you consider an amg bodykit with the monoblocks as the car is already on lower suspension. As for the welds worry not i have full faith in the "not going anywhere that" method of measurement. 😂 As for the team at SPR have an amazing xmas and look forward to many new projects in the new year. ❤
Not only did you get your car repaired but it's all video documented. Lovely car and you obviously have realistic expectations about the cost involved with such a project. I hope it brings you years of trouble free motoring.
Loads of people watching this thinking the same thing ?- it would be great to have Sam doing the work on my car. Knowledge, experience and honest work. Great video, Merry Xmas and prosperous New Year to all at SPR autos.
@@Millennial_Manc It does seem he has a great team around him. His management style is inspiring for the team and builds such a healthy culture. It's just so great to see this!
As a 124 coupe owner, it was wonderful to see the work done on the car. If I were closer, I'd be more than happy to get Sam to work on it. Great job, no quibble with the bill.
Hi Sam, I recently found you off the back of High Peak Autos, and have almost gone through all of your content. I loved this video, such a class car, always wanted one or the coupe, but the cabrio just has something else. I love the way the videos are shot, and all of the inside info you give on the repairs that you perform, I didn't want it to end, and would have happily watched another 20 mins of you doing all of the other little bits to the car. It really is a beautiful piece of engineering and its great to see that you and your team have given it a new lease of life to carry on for many years to come. After watching all of your content it makes me want to get back into buying Mercs just so as I can have them looked after by SPR. Top work
I have been binging your videos the last 3 days in my free time! As a shade tree mechanic I am really enjoying your detailed descriptions. Keep up the great work. Your new fan in Dallas, TX USA
Marvelous to watch and I have NO mechanical knowledge or interest in doing such work or owning such a car ! It’s just great to watch someone so competent working and your charges strike me as being perfectly reasonable !
I’ve owned a 1990 2.0 W201 190 E since 2021 and for me this generation of Mercedes were really built to last. However , despite of a full service history and a new MOT a period of not being used meant a lot of items needed replacing initially e.g. the fuel pump, and it did land me with a rather big bill which was a bit scary. That was three years ago and since then expenditure has been very little. Changing the steering idler joints and replacing the track rod ends did really help with the initially vague steering, but that’s a good point regarding the steering damper, they don’t look too expensive and I may try that next year, thanks for the videos, really enjoying them!
This channel is amazing. I'm not mechanically minded in the slightest, but the host looks like a genuine , honest mechanic/technician. Clear and concise, talking you through the every process in detail.
That's the second Sportline I've ever seen. The first was new when I was fit and slim 😂 Mega video Sam. I really enjoyed watching this one. There's something so satisfying about seeing a modern classic get the treatment it deserves. Welding might not be your forte but let me tell you that it's something you should be proud of I've been welding since I was a kid (Dad was a welder/fabricator) great job fella 👍 👏 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all at SPR.
Great video, found your channel last month & binge watched them all. I’ve got a A124 E320 Sportline & your video was of great help & interest. Similar faults, fabricated a few patch panels & welded them in. Just dropping rear subframe due to surface corrosion & replacing all bushes & arms. Ordered a pair of rear springs & rubber cups, MB sent one blue & one red.( they list a ‘short & ‘long’ spring for easy part number). The dealer provided the correct rubber cup as a good will gesture. Great channel, appreciated.
There are 3 or 4 different ones for ‘sports chassis’ listed depending on the equipment on the car though (weight). None of the dealers inc Germany could give a straight answer on what was already on there but looks like Stockport got it right in the end. I thought all Sportline were red coded but the ones at the front of mine are blue and the rear were red. Dealers couldn’t even confirm that.
I’ve got a copy of the MB software that has the part diagrams/numbers etc with a spring table like in the video(48 mins). I got the same points tally as the main dealer. The initial colour code is the same then the last is a red or blue. Was going to see if the fronts are still available. The main part NLA is the front arms as people bought them to upgrade the standard items on non sportline models.
@@ericyorke5673Is it standalone software on your PC? What’s it called and how does one get a copy? Would be really useful for me as the online parts finders can be temperamental and even that spring chart wasn’t aligned properly. Can you explain the red - blue thing in the table? This is how I understand it - 1st - Find the section in the table that relates to the suspension eg mine’s the “sports chassis” section 2nd - Add up the weight points to identify the spring in the first column for the total points. 3rd - I get lost. The second and third column are the rubber spacers but one column is red and one is blue. If you’ve already identified the spring, why is there a red or blue option? Surely there’s only one correct rubber spacer option for a specific spring with a specific chassis?
My E220 Convertible was in azurite blue like this one. It was a car I fancied since my early 20s. I had her to go to save a deposit for a mortgage. Nice to see this car being sorted for everyday use.
Had a 1995 C124 Coupe 2.2 and loved it. Had some issues, it was a daily hack, not a weekender and a loom replacement and a new throttle body sorted it and it purred. Ultimately Ulez got me... Sportlines are the bis, and the 6 cylinder even smoother..
Great to see this Sam, fond memories of you working on my 2 W124 convertibles. Also my W124 320 salon which you did so much work on, still hoping this will revisit you one day soon, Regards and seasonal best wishes to all the team at SPR, Roy
You're a Legend! I appreciate all that you do and your expertise with these beautiful machines is unmatched. Cheers mate and greetings from Waterton, Alberta.
As always (Sam and the team), a great video of a beautiful W124 cabriolet being brought back into excellent condition. You guys do real quality work on Mercedes cars.
Hi Sam....Your videos can never be too long... Even if they were long like a Bollywood movie.. with songs and dancing I would watch your content... Is really good indeed, the way you explain things and the way you show things on camera has really got me hooked almost daily to see if you have any updates. I am definitely liking the older Mercedes love to W140s class, and I am liking the w124 as well... Keep up the good content keep up the good work. For the amount of work you've done I think the customer has got a good deal. It shows you're not all about making mineyy and have passion for old cars ans do go oit of your way
I owned 2 W124s. A1886 with SOHC 3L and a1992 with the DOHC 3.2L. The latter I got with 33000 km on it and it left me at 296000 km. In that time other than routine stuff like services, tires and brakes the only “ major” failures was replacement of the engine wiring loom and because of my heavy foot the cam shaft sprockets, chains and tensioner. Of the 14 cars I have owned in the 36 years from the first the 1992 was the best of them all.
Sam you never said or I missed it but what year is it? It has to be 1993 or later as the 1992 MY was the last year with the full faced grill. After that they were an insert in the hood (bonnet)
Always great videos Sam, especially when working on older cars. And great editing. The sound of your brain "buffering" was pure gold. Now, one other thing. I remember a bet or something you had if you reached 30k subscribers before the end of the year. That's only 300 away. Please refresh my memory.... what was the bet??
@@Millennial_Manc, @sprautos Firstly, congrats on the car. A lovely old banger. I'm sure you'll enjoy every drive. I smell a hilarious video here. Sam in a suit and tie at some fancy restaurant. And as I write this we're now only 100 subs away. And as I just did a quick Google search of restaurants in Manchester (I'm in Melbourne, Oz) and I think the one to go to is Mana, for two reasons. Firstly, is seems hideously expensive, and secondly, one review started... "At Mana, Martin has succeeded in carving his own path - one which confuses and delights people in equal measure." Could Sam be more confused as a fancy restaurant??🤣
@@peternic1Old banger? Thanks Peter, I think 🤣 Seems this video has helped the subs as he’s 500 over the target now. I’ve been posting it on every 124 and classic Benz forum I can find as I’m quite competitive. Mana has the Michelin Star but I think Sam would prefer The French at the Midland Hotel. The food is more conventional, and after all, that’s where Mr Rolls and Mr Royce first met.
Lovely car with good colour combination. I had the 3 litre 24 valve coupe about 15 years ago. Mine was quite solid, except for some weird rust holes in the rear seat pan and the usual rust under the rear window
Multiple W124 owner here past and present. 1988 300TE estate, then 1994 E220 Coupe, then 1994 E220 Estate and an 1995 E320 Sportline Estate and E220 Cabriolet. Still own the last two E220s there, but the Estate needs recommissioning and I’ve neglected the Cabriolet. That E220 Estate had the engine wiring loom replaced in my ownership..I fitted it myself….before that it never ran properly. First time I started it after fitting the new (£700) loom it ran sweetly and ticked over properly for the first time in years. I realised then that my 300TE had been suffering from the same problem.
Back in the day when these were new, I saw a convertible in the same colour with AMG alloys and lowered springs. Transformed the look (and stance). I think these classy cars have aged well and look better than the latter/new models.
Seems like a lot of mechanics now days that pick and choose what they want to work on. If it's a big job they often give a hefty estimate just to run you off. It's great to see there still are some that are willing to do a proper job. Thanks for being one of them. :-)
Great car in fantastic condition. I used to potter with my first car - a mini- a long long time ago and learned loads but your knowledge and skill is incredible. Keep up the good work!
I have had 8 or so W124’s . Love them . Was put off by a 200. Carb version which no one wanted to fix , shame as it was mint . Currently have a 260 E from Japan 59000 miles . It’s nice a cruiser , not quick but really nice . Built like nothing today , but as they are 30 odd years old rust kills them . Nice welding by you . They are a good daily driver and love to be used not stored . Thanks for a great W124 fest ! Cheers
I have had some great motors and the one I regret selling was a 1980 W124 Coupe 3.0 litre CE finished by Carat du Chatelet in black with beige leather in perfect condition. I owned it for 8 years as my daily and I sold it to get my current 1999 SL320, that I've owned for 8 years now, but I still haven't got over the W124! I have also owned a 2007 gen one CLS320 CDI for 14 years now that is the family wagon and absolutely superb! I love older Mercedes - not much time for the newer ones!
@@jonboy9912Lovely. 20 years ago I had an E220 coupe in the same combo as the cabrio and I’ve missed it ever since despite a string of newer and more powerful Benz since then.
@@Millennial_Manc What makes me feel worse is the buyer stripped the car selling the wheels etc and sold it again with substitute parts! I hated the thought that a rare and beautify car had been abused and ruined.
@ They’d never do that to an R107 or even C107. 124s just don’t seem to be respected as classics yet. Why do you think that is? Maybe they have an image problem from serving as German taxis and the ancient intergalactic mileage examples circulating around Africa. If this car dies I’ll probably get an old S class with 12m MOT and a wood steering wheel and gear lever. Even if I have to scrap it in 12 months, I’ll get most of it back from selling those!
It’s a late model 93 to 96 model. The drive belt tensioner pulley has a mini shock absorber behind it and it is a good idea to change it. The bushings become stiff over time and the centre ferrule will rattle on the top mounting bolt. Sounds like worn tappets but it’s not. It’s cheap and easy fix. Also if you have rust on the rear wheel arches check the condition of the front inner wings below the wash bottle and ABS module and also rear subframe front body mounts. They can look solid on the exterior but tend to rust inside out. They have two rubber blanking plugs on the inner face and a quick inspection with borescope can give you an idea as to the interior condition. I bit of surface rust is not to worry about and squirt of lanoguard or waxoyl before refitting the rubber plugs will keep bad corrosion at bay for some time. Lastly and perhaps of greatest of concern is to check the condition of the insulation of the wiring harness on the engine. Mercedes used a biodegradable insulator that goes hard and cracks off like it is made of dried spaghetti, heat accelerates the process so the wires to the injectors will show the first signs of degradation.
It was built March 97. He checked below the washer bottle and I checked the harness when I bought it… all fine. Taking it to a guy in Rugby in summer who strips everything down and spends 2 days pumping every cavity with Waxoyl. The Lanoguard is just a temp fix. Best to do the Waxoyl in summer so it’s thin enough to get into every crack. It’s going to be a battle against rust for as long as I own the car (or it owns me!) but getting some protection on will stop the clock.
Another cracking episode, really enjoying this channel. The editing is great too, some funny little bits that made me smile (toolbox and smashed thumb😂) keep it coming if you can, it’s better than the shite on TV👍
Great to see such care going into keeping older cars going. This video endorses what a great mechanic Sam is. I hope more customers including myself will get the chance to treat our cars here in the new year. Really enlightening vid Sam - keep em coming!
Regarding the diff seals, If you ever come across PTFE seals, the shaft needs to be fitted dry, as a film of PTFE is put onto the shafte when it rotates. lubricating the seal will result in leaks. Also the PTFE material is harder than the usual compund so extra care needs to be taken when fitting the shaft
My favourite video so far, also my dream car, great to see the comment from the owner below, trust and loyalty are everything to a business like yours. Well done, keep up the good work and the videos.....oh how's the thumb 🙂?
Me and my dad did similar treatment to our old 89 190d. The weak points were rly the places where you have to put the jack stand, so we had to open up these places and we noticed there is extra reinforcement inside, so we had to recreate it and then patching and covering up with this body point to prevent future rusting. Much like lego - create patches and place them in :)
this car has a soul , a history , and built in the days were cars were built to last , and no or hardly any computers ,sensors and relay bullshit , like most modern cars today , i will never buy a new car , and im sure the guy who bought this merc feels the same , thanks for keeping old cars alive and people still using them for daily drivers !! great job!!
It may seem a lot of money initially for that repair bill but we are talking todays money and worth every penny spent on a rare car also your customer has a great repair work video when the car eventually goes to a new home!
Another excellent video, Sam. Merc owners down here in the South, particularly in the London area, will think that the HIGH quality of your work - and comparatively LOW prices, might be worth the long drive!! Keep up the great work - and take a break for Xmas & New Year.
What a beautiful job you did! Again an older Mercedes saved. May I say something about the corrosion? Also with the w123 and w126 open the doors and check the underside of the door. So many times it is completely gone because of corrosion. Oh, my wife heard you talking while in the kitchen and said your voice is like John Lennon. I thought that was quite accurate. All the best and merry Christmas!
He did a lot more than what you saw on here - it was in for 2 weeks. Getting some bodywork done next year and all the cavities done with Waxoyl by a specialist in Rugby
I woke up in the early hours and saw a post by the owner on the MB owners club forum to say his video was just up on the SPR channel and I immediately thought Sam has got his timings wrong again... A busy day at work has meant I've only just had chance to enjoy this episode. A car from a similar vintage to my R129 which covered so many areas of the car and in great detail. Thanks very much for being my (almost weekly😃) UA-cam essential viewing in 2024. I hope you and the whole gang enjoy your break and see you in 2025!!! EDIT - I didn't spot the Nissan but I thought I heard a sound clip of a ZX Spectrum loading...
Haha yes messed up the timings again. No far off a weekely, I aimed for 1 a week which has been very ambitious. But we go again for 2025! Good to hear it’s getting shared in the forums . Cheers Paul.
@@sprautos you are doing a fantastic job and every video has decent content which is of interest even if it is on a different car to the ones I own - please keep doing what you do.
Well worth the money just to know everything is ok. It’s a good base to start from if you are keeping the car. Get it to a standard you are happy at and keep it there. Great video once again. Well done .
I am probably showing my ignorance here ,but what is that inside the offside wheel arch that looks like expanding foam? Can’t stop watching these videos,it’s just good down to earth commentary on honest to goodness work
I don't have a merc, and I live at the other end of the country, but I almost wish I did have a merc and I lived nearby. Oh, to have someone as knowledgeable and conscientious as you that could work on cars that I want!
I worked on these new. The 320 sportline was a beautiful & fast car in its day, done many a pdi of these back in the day very popular down the kings road in Chelsea. The sportline also had sportier seats & smaller steering wheel & if I remember correctly a faster ratio steering box. Had a 190E sportline 2.6 lovely car. I much prefer the plush ride of these than harsher ride of today’s cars. I’m surprised the wishbone bushes aren’t worn used to replace them even in the 90’s you’d find the tracking was always out & steering wandering a little, add to that the idler arm bush free play. Red rubber grease 🤔 Mercedes specifically had SI that said not to use any grease back in the day the bushes were modified with a fabric type coating on the inside. M111 was an ok engine no real issues, ocassional coils, water pumps, throttle body problems & belt tensioners plus front cover oil leaks. Nice car for the age & mileage. Good old days when you got decent time for a service unlike now.
I have a new Landcruiser and every time it’s just me going somewhere I take my w124 300d. Given a choice I choose 300d all the time. I have a sedan, signal red with mushroom interior. I get a lot of young people asking about the car. 🚘 forever car for sure.
@@martinwalsh7126 I don’t really drive cars for attention but I’ve had more driving this one than any other car I’ve owned. It’s nice attention though… curiosity and maybe even respect for the car. I was cleaning it before I took it to SPR and a guy pulled over in a new ML to say he’s seen me going up and down and wanted to say it looks great and he’s pleased to see an old Mercedes on the road. The A124 was aimed at the US market as there was thought to be a gap for luxury 4 seater convertibles, but buyers went for the R129 instead.
Hi, I have been enjoying your channel for some time. A lot of knowledge and relaxed (naturally) presented. Question: Are you able to share the model year of the vehicle you present in each video please? (this as I’m not in the UK, so unable to tell by the number plate as your locals can 🤪) keep it up/ awesome channel. Ronny/ from a Swede but living permanently in Australia.
Looking at a typical plate you might see for instance 72 in the reg bear with me so minus 50 leaves 22 so it’s 2022 but also it might be 22 instead of 72 that’s because they release twice a year to basically stop a once a year rush for these nob heads who think it’s important 😂to have the latest plate can’t remember but probably about 1980 they swapped round the format and you see an older car ending in K that’s 1972 (L) 73 and so on not sure you needed this info but you got it anyway 😂🎉
Just finished watching this. All worth every penny. Pay £1000 now for the welding or 5+ times that in a few years. With a 30 year old car have to keep on top of things.
Great video as always! When you smashed your thumb in the cold I could actually feel that sitting on my couch watching this video! Been there done that brother! Thanks again for the hoodie. They are great to work in👍🏻
Had a mint low mileage E320 Sportline cabrio, same colour, about 25 years ago. Beautiful, and the only reliable Merc among the dozen or so we owned. (But watch out for duff micro-switches in the folding hood mechanism.) Replaced it with a mint low mileage R107 420SL. Mistake!
@@Millennial_Manc No, A German Car Specialist. They rang around for parts but only genuine Audi discs available in the UK. In all fairness they lasted 65,000 miles, but still a sharp intake of breath.
@ Can’t knock the quality at 65k miles. Perhaps you’re one of those rare drivers who doesn’t forget how to work a gearbox when they go down steep hills!
£3400 for all that work is a bargain compared to a £2000 bill for a crappy wet belt replacement on a 40,000 mile crappy Ford. Fords used to last 70,000 miles before you threw it away but now the latest ones have an engine life of 40,000 miles and about 2 years. I’ve bought a 1983 Mercedes W123 and it mostly works.
Nice job. Really enjoyed watching this, had a 1988 190E 2.0L manual back in 2001 which was my dream car, it had a small spoiler which made me buy one,but the car was cream not white....beggars can't be choosers. Had decent non Merc alloys & this fake leather/plastic seats which i forgot the name of. Worked at a garage & it came in P/X,it was a good decent car i really enjoyed driving it.....ahh the memories. ♥
These outstanding, highly commendable videos make me nervous about going ahead with my plan to dispose of my Golf R and revert to a W124 (I drove them for more than 20 years): where could I possibly find such an informed, reliable and capable service agent anywhere within a 50 mile radius of Southampton/Portsmouth? It's a long drive to Stockport, even for a 'B' service....
Join the Mercedes Benz owners club. They have a huge directory of member recommended places for every type of work and if you see a car and put the link in the forum you’ll get people who will give you a good opinion on what to look for - sometimes they even know who owned the car previously. And they buy and sell cars in the club from time to time. I wish I had joined it before I bought this one! If the mechanic get several recommendations they add them together (SPR has 4 or 5) but if they get 1 complaint they get removed from the directory until a different member recommends them.
I owned one of these 15 years ago car was in excellent condition but the 2.2 petrol engine was a gutless wonder, especially if you had 4 adults on board.
I’m gonna backtrack. Spent the last few days in rural Northumberland and it was underpowered driving 3 of us around hilly country roads. It could still move adequately but I had to really work the engine and gearbox (manually) to do so. It would be an unacceptable level of noise with the roof down. Effortless with 3 of us on the motorway though. It’ll rarely have more than just me in there fortunately.
Very impressed by your vid. My Sportline coupé could do with a session at your place but I'm not exactly local, being in SW France. And your £3.5K bill seemd reasonable to me and I'm by no means wealthy. And the old 300CE-24 is very much a daily driver for me. Well done and I'd love to meet one day. By the way, mine's now at half a million Kms! Had it for 27 years, bought from MB in Périgueux in '98.
Nice one, Sam! I always look forward to your videos and it is good that you are trying to get more out. Love your morals and it's great to see you train up your young un's properly!
Bill seemed very reasonable, I have just bought a 320CE and the previous owner spent over £18k in the last four years fixing everything possible, done nearly 200,000 miles and it feels like new.
Great video, looking to purchase W124 cab. 220. Fantastic info on what to look out for. No mention of the bio-loom on these. Was/is it a problem or just on 320? Finally a video from someone with so much practical knowledge. Neil
Checked it before I bought it and seemed fine and Sam checked it on his health check. This is a March/April 97 build so about a year after most soy harnesses were phased out. A few still found their way into some cars after early 96 for whatever reason so there are no absolute rules with it. It affected all the electronic fuel injected engines of the era (124, 129, 140 etc). The earlier ones eg CE 230 cabrio weren’t affected and they are holding up better from rust due to Mercedes switching to eco friendly water based primer in the mid 90s. 320s with the soy loom disintegrated faster due to the additional heat in the engine bay but almost all will have deteriorated by now regardless of engine. Initially it usually just causes misfires but eventually it fries an engine control unit something or other which takes the car out of action and is moderately expensive to fix so you don’t want to leave one long if it’s starting to go. There are at least two harnesses affected though - an upper and a lower. Some people have cut corners and just done the upper one to save money as that’s the one that is easiest to inspect and the one nearest the heat of the engine. It was a screw up but you shouldn’t let it put you off buying one. 320s were very prone to head gasket failure which I think is a £1500+ job (not 100% sure on that) so you want to make sure that’s in order. 320 had the option of a 5 speed gearbox which is a bit less reliable than the hydraulic 4 speed, but improved fuel economy and wasn’t as lazy when kicking down. Make sure the tombstones (rollbar) works up and down and the flashing red lights on the button go out after you start the car. The big thing is the 124s are great at hiding their rust thanks to the Sacco Skirts. MOT testers can’t remove panels or covers to inspect for rust so it can pass an MOT but still be rotten around the jacking points. Sam said a lot of 124s look immaculate from the outside and when you get them on the ramp they’re absolutely rotten underneath so buyer beware. If I had known what I know now, I would have joined the official Mercedes Owner’s Club and wait for a member to sell theirs or ask them their opinion. Loads of times someone posts a link to a car and someone in the club owned it or knows who did and can tell you its history. A club member sold an immaculate A320 recent at auction for under £14k, with £18k invoices spent on it, and that included the ultra rare Weissman hardtop which you can sell for £4k+ on its own. Avoid ‘poverty spec’ cars if you’re thinking of resell value - they’re difficult to sell without air con and heated seats.
In my view it's a good price for a lot of quality work, I wish I lived closer to you guys as I've just got my late fathers W124 200E back on the road, he had it from new and exported it to Spain when it was 5 years old, it's back with zero rust. I've just spent 1.7K and there is still work to do but it's part of the family. I love the videos please keep them coming...Jon
Another great video. As far as the bill is concerned I think it was very reasonable for all the work and time involved. In addition the work was done to perfection. No skimping or cutting corners here. No wonder the customer is so happy with the outcome, and that is the ultimate compliment to you and your work.
I’m delighted. Big bill this time but I’ve had other cars in for an MOT at SPR and not needed a thing doing. I got away lightly with the air con this time too.
Seems very fair price to me. If I had a Merc I would be heading your way! I think most sensible people are prepared to pay for work done properly and not to be ripped off by people who know how to charge, but don't know how to do a proper job. It's a yes from me!
Funny to see how small the discs are on that gorgeous 124 - Old mercs are such beautiful cars. 3.4k is I think a decent price for the high standard of work and welding carried out.
@@Millennial_Manc😂 be ok on the 4 door 🙃. Recently got the R230 V12 wow… but always on the edge with that car 😟. The W124 thou with the straight six ❤.. no SBC ABC ETC… mind you my ASR light is on in my W124 cabriolet 😂
@@BobBenz55I’m gonna backtrack. Spent the last few days in rural Northumberland and it was underpowered driving 3 of us around hilly country roads. It could still move adequately but I had to really work the engine and gearbox (manually) to do so. It would be an unacceptable level of noise with the roof down. Effortless with 3 of us on the motorway though. What’s the ASR light on your 124 cabrio? Some sort of skid reduction traction control? Presumably didn’t have that on the 1997 E220 or was it an option?
@@Millennial_Manc yeah I the the ASR and ASD option on mine. I have a 1993 sport line model, pre facelift (bigger grill on the front) but with the M104 HFM engine. Garage queen she is 😂
I would have one of these old mercedes over the new rubbish they sell today i can understand why your busy the level of care you give is unusual and worth a premium
So I have accidentally posted the video at midnight! Let’s hope it doesn’t loose any views 🙈 please like,share, and subscribe!
Hope you all enjoy this one as much as I did. Beautiful car and joy to work on and drive. All the best everyone.
P.s for the eagle eyed viewers, I lent a ramp to a mate for the day to work on his Nissan 😂
Mate, I believe everything about Mercedes is very painful in one way or another. :)))) Take care.
Your mate looks identical to John
Proper straight car that deserves the attention you’ve given it. Get his £3k back in enjoyment over the next few years. Love the “while I’m in there jobs” 😂
@@johnmcfall375I wish he’d showed the resin job he did on the wood veneer on the centre console
Must have done it with a magic wand as it looked like a ripped out fireplace when I took it in
@@sprautos , perfect for night owls like me.
I doubt it'll make any difference for the views. There's always tomorrow. 🤣
This car belongs to me, so this video has been a nail biting watch.
Sam has sold himself short here. I gave him a list of about 30/40 things to do and questions, many of which you’ve not seen on screen.
It went in sounding and feeling worse for wear and came out *absolutely faultless*. It drives like my 124 coupe 18 years ago, despite having no roof. Whatever Sam’s done fixed the scuttle shake.
Now I’m saving up for the bodywork, wheels, new speakers, and to get the leather seats connolised!
Sam did check the wiring harness some of you mentioned (I did too when I bought it and it’s fine), he checked under the washer bottle for rust (all fine) and looked in the cavities. Even unblocking water drains and screwing my number plate on.
I left him the Lanoguard in the boot just for the bits he welded but he (and Nathan) did the whole car for me! Even though it reeks of sheep.
The car is going to a guy in Rugby in summer who fills every cavity with a custom Waxoyl, so it’s just a temporary measure.
The one time I locked the centre wooden storage box with the key, it jammed. I split the veneer forcing it open (needed my garage door remote). Sam didn’t just fix the broken lock but skilfully fixed the veneer with resin so you can’t tell anything happened.
If I had more time, I’d have waited for a 320 in better condition, but the car this replaced was failing by the day, plus I’ve had a terrible 2024 with family stuff and needed one thing in the year to cheer me up! If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, as my brain is squished on the tarmac, I don’t want the last thought to be “I might as well have had that 124 after all”.
Massive thank you to the whole team at SPR, as usual.
As the idiot with the w140 that tried to set itself on fire let me be the first to say what a fkin car. ❤ The colour is amazing and its in good nick for the age. I agree with the whole notion of enjoying the day while you can. I hope you enjoy the benz and have many many trouble free miles. Would you consider an amg bodykit with the monoblocks as the car is already on lower suspension. As for the welds worry not i have full faith in the "not going anywhere that" method of measurement. 😂
As for the team at SPR have an amazing xmas and look forward to many new projects in the new year. ❤
Thanks for letting him do this video on your beautiful new ride. Now this car gets to live on the internet for all of us to see! How cool
Wonderful car . Enjoy 😊
Not only did you get your car repaired but it's all video documented. Lovely car and you obviously have realistic expectations about the cost involved with such a project. I hope it brings you years of trouble free motoring.
finally someone whose *dream car* isn't a brand new GT3 RS
Loads of people watching this thinking the same thing ?- it would be great to have Sam doing the work on my car. Knowledge, experience and honest work. Great video, Merry Xmas and prosperous New Year to all at SPR autos.
His whole team are great including the front of house admin. One man doesn’t make an orchestra!
@@Millennial_Manc It does seem he has a great team around him. His management style is inspiring for the team and builds such a healthy culture. It's just so great to see this!
I’m not a mechanic or a Mercedes driver, never owned one. Why do like watching these videos. I don’t know…..but I do. Especially the older vehicles.
As a 124 coupe owner, it was wonderful to see the work done on the car. If I were closer, I'd be more than happy to get Sam to work on it. Great job, no quibble with the bill.
£3400......no quibbles there. It's well worth it.
Beautiful car from any angle. 👌👍
£3400 for that car is a bargain..... but I would like to have it diesel.
Great video - just bought a 124 coupe 320. 50,000 miles, one owner. Totally original and a fantastic vehicle
I had one 20 year ago (a 220) and missed it so much ever since it led me to buy the one in this video
Hi Sam, I recently found you off the back of High Peak Autos, and have almost gone through all of your content. I loved this video, such a class car, always wanted one or the coupe, but the cabrio just has something else. I love the way the videos are shot, and all of the inside info you give on the repairs that you perform, I didn't want it to end, and would have happily watched another 20 mins of you doing all of the other little bits to the car. It really is a beautiful piece of engineering and its great to see that you and your team have given it a new lease of life to carry on for many years to come. After watching all of your content it makes me want to get back into buying Mercs just so as I can have them looked after by SPR. Top work
Thanks Vince very kind of you and welcome to the channel.
Real pro, so fair with prices. thank you so much you’re a real professional
Congrats on 30k, what restaurant are you going to?
The most expensive....😂😂😂
Thank you very much!
An expensive one 😉 I shall have a think 🤔
@@sprautosThe French at the Midland Hotel is great, plus that’s where Mr Rolls met Mr Royce…
I have been binging your videos the last 3 days in my free time! As a shade tree mechanic I am really enjoying your detailed descriptions. Keep up the great work.
Your new fan in Dallas, TX USA
Best video yet mate, editing is on point and a very easy watch, also customer has got a bargain at £3400 for all of that work 👍🏼
Congrats on 30k! Bon appetit! This time next year you should have your 100k UA-cam plaque. 🥇
Fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
Marvelous to watch and I have NO mechanical knowledge or interest in doing such work or owning such a car ! It’s just great to watch someone so competent working and your charges strike me as being perfectly reasonable !
Currently recovering from hernia surgery. Your channel always puts a smile on my face. What a beautiful older MB this is. Great work guys. Simon
Hope your doing well Simon. Are you Uk based?
Thanks!
I’ve owned a 1990 2.0 W201 190 E since 2021 and for me this generation of Mercedes were really built to last. However , despite of a full service history and a new MOT a period of not being used meant a lot of items needed replacing initially e.g. the fuel pump, and it did land me with a rather big bill which was a bit scary. That was three years ago and since then expenditure has been very little. Changing the steering idler joints and replacing the track rod ends did really help with the initially vague steering, but that’s a good point regarding the steering damper, they don’t look too expensive and I may try that next year, thanks for the videos, really enjoying them!
This channel is amazing. I'm not mechanically minded in the slightest, but the host looks like a genuine , honest mechanic/technician. Clear and concise, talking you through the every process in detail.
Perfect timing for your U.S. viewers. cheers from Detroit.
Absolutely brilliant video. They should call you "Honest John" and I can only wish all garages were like yours.
He’ll have to register as a non-profit charity if he carries on like this
Just boosting the old algorithm. You’re less than 200 subs from your free scran now!
That's the second Sportline I've ever seen. The first was new when I was fit and slim 😂
Mega video Sam. I really enjoyed watching this one. There's something so satisfying about seeing a modern classic get the treatment it deserves. Welding might not be your forte but let me tell you that it's something you should be proud of I've been welding since I was a kid (Dad was a welder/fabricator) great job fella 👍 👏 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all at SPR.
Great video, found your channel last month & binge watched them all.
I’ve got a A124 E320 Sportline & your video was of great help & interest.
Similar faults, fabricated a few patch panels & welded them in.
Just dropping rear subframe due to surface corrosion & replacing all bushes & arms.
Ordered a pair of rear springs & rubber cups, MB sent one blue & one red.( they list a ‘short & ‘long’ spring for easy part number). The dealer provided the correct rubber cup as a good will gesture.
Great channel, appreciated.
There are 3 or 4 different ones for ‘sports chassis’ listed depending on the equipment on the car though (weight). None of the dealers inc Germany could give a straight answer on what was already on there but looks like Stockport got it right in the end.
I thought all Sportline were red coded but the ones at the front of mine are blue and the rear were red. Dealers couldn’t even confirm that.
I’ve got a copy of the MB software that has the part diagrams/numbers etc with a spring table like in the video(48 mins). I got the same points tally as the main dealer. The initial colour code is the same then the last is a red or blue. Was going to see if the fronts are still available. The main part NLA is the front arms as people bought them to upgrade the standard items on non sportline models.
Welcome aboard 🙏
@@ericyorke5673Is it standalone software on your PC? What’s it called and how does one get a copy? Would be really useful for me as the online parts finders can be temperamental and even that spring chart wasn’t aligned properly.
Can you explain the red - blue thing in the table? This is how I understand it -
1st - Find the section in the table that relates to the suspension eg mine’s the “sports chassis” section
2nd - Add up the weight points to identify the spring in the first column for the total points.
3rd - I get lost. The second and third column are the rubber spacers but one column is red and one is blue. If you’ve already identified the spring, why is there a red or blue option? Surely there’s only one correct rubber spacer option for a specific spring with a specific chassis?
My E220 Convertible was in azurite blue like this one. It was a car I fancied since my early 20s. I had her to go to save a deposit for a mortgage. Nice to see this car being sorted for everyday use.
3400 is very reasonable for all the work that went into repairing the rust. Great car, and I'm happy that it'll get driven daily.
Had a 1995 C124 Coupe 2.2 and loved it. Had some issues, it was a daily hack, not a weekender and a loom replacement and a new throttle body sorted it and it purred. Ultimately Ulez got me... Sportlines are the bis, and the 6 cylinder even smoother..
Great to see this Sam, fond memories of you working on my 2 W124 convertibles. Also my W124 320 salon which you did so much work on, still hoping this will revisit you one day soon, Regards and seasonal best wishes to all the team at SPR, Roy
@@royparker1844 thanks Roy.
No chance of you selling me the saloon!? 😉
Be a great project for us.
All the best
You're a Legend! I appreciate all that you do and your expertise with these beautiful machines is unmatched. Cheers mate and greetings from Waterton, Alberta.
As always (Sam and the team), a great video of a beautiful W124 cabriolet being brought back into excellent condition. You guys do real quality work on Mercedes cars.
Hi Sam....Your videos can never be too long... Even if they were long like a Bollywood movie.. with songs and dancing I would watch your content... Is really good indeed, the way you explain things and the way you show things on camera has really got me hooked almost daily to see if you have any updates. I am definitely liking the older Mercedes love to W140s class, and I am liking the w124 as well... Keep up the good content keep up the good work.
For the amount of work you've done I think the customer has got a good deal. It shows you're not all about making mineyy and have passion for old cars ans do go oit of your way
I owned 2 W124s. A1886 with SOHC 3L and a1992 with the DOHC 3.2L. The latter I got with 33000 km on it and it left me at 296000 km.
In that time other than routine stuff like services, tires and brakes the only “ major” failures was replacement of the engine wiring loom and because of my heavy foot the cam shaft sprockets, chains and tensioner. Of the 14 cars I have owned in the 36 years from the first the 1992 was the best of them all.
180k miles… that’s about the half way point!
Sam you never said or I missed it but what year is it? It has to be 1993 or later as the 1992 MY was the last year with the full faced grill. After that they were an insert in the hood (bonnet)
Yup but then as a guy who gets the itch 8 yr is a long time. On average over the last 37 yr I have bought a Benz every 2.6 yr
@@AlexCurrie-q9ebuilt March / April 97 and registered a few months later
Always great videos Sam, especially when working on older cars. And great editing. The sound of your brain "buffering" was pure gold. Now, one other thing. I remember a bet or something you had if you reached 30k subscribers before the end of the year. That's only 300 away. Please refresh my memory.... what was the bet??
A meal at any joint in Manchester! Get subscribing folks
Good memory, fanimy member said if I make 30k subs by new year they will take me to a restaurant of my choice all paid for
@@Millennial_Manc, @sprautos Firstly, congrats on the car. A lovely old banger. I'm sure you'll enjoy every drive. I smell a hilarious video here. Sam in a suit and tie at some fancy restaurant. And as I write this we're now only 100 subs away. And as I just did a quick Google search of restaurants in Manchester (I'm in Melbourne, Oz) and I think the one to go to is Mana, for two reasons. Firstly, is seems hideously expensive, and secondly, one review started... "At Mana, Martin has succeeded in carving his own path - one which confuses and delights people in equal measure." Could Sam be more confused as a fancy restaurant??🤣
@@peternic1Old banger? Thanks Peter, I think 🤣
Seems this video has helped the subs as he’s 500 over the target now. I’ve been posting it on every 124 and classic Benz forum I can find as I’m quite competitive.
Mana has the Michelin Star but I think Sam would prefer The French at the Midland Hotel. The food is more conventional, and after all, that’s where Mr Rolls and Mr Royce first met.
Lovely car with good colour combination. I had the 3 litre 24 valve coupe about 15 years ago. Mine was quite solid, except for some weird rust holes in the rear seat pan and the usual rust under the rear window
Now that was a good engine
Multiple W124 owner here past and present. 1988 300TE estate, then 1994 E220 Coupe, then 1994 E220 Estate and an 1995 E320 Sportline Estate and E220 Cabriolet. Still own the last two E220s there, but the Estate needs recommissioning and I’ve neglected the Cabriolet.
That E220 Estate had the engine wiring loom replaced in my ownership..I fitted it myself….before that it never ran properly. First time I started it after fitting the new (£700) loom it ran sweetly and ticked over properly for the first time in years. I realised then that my 300TE had been suffering from the same problem.
Back in the day when these were new, I saw a convertible in the same colour with AMG alloys and lowered springs. Transformed the look (and stance). I think these classy cars have aged well and look better than the latter/new models.
That would be the E36 AMG
Seems like a lot of mechanics now days that pick and choose what they want to work on. If it's a big job they often give a hefty estimate just to run you off. It's great to see there still are some that are willing to do a proper job. Thanks for being one of them. :-)
Great car in fantastic condition. I used to potter with my first car - a mini- a long long time ago and learned loads but your knowledge and skill is incredible. Keep up the good work!
I have had 8 or so W124’s . Love them . Was put off by a 200. Carb version which no one wanted to fix , shame as it was mint . Currently have a 260 E from Japan 59000 miles . It’s nice a cruiser , not quick but really nice . Built like nothing today , but as they are 30 odd years old rust kills them . Nice welding by you . They are a good daily driver and love to be used not stored . Thanks for a great W124 fest ! Cheers
I have had some great motors and the one I regret selling was a 1980 W124 Coupe 3.0 litre CE finished by Carat du Chatelet in black with beige leather in perfect condition. I owned it for 8 years as my daily and I sold it to get my current 1999 SL320, that I've owned for 8 years now, but I still haven't got over the W124! I have also owned a 2007 gen one CLS320 CDI for 14 years now that is the family wagon and absolutely superb! I love older Mercedes - not much time for the newer ones!
Wasn’t it a 123 in 1980?
@@Millennial_Manc Mine was a 1988 W124
@@jonboy9912Lovely. 20 years ago I had an E220 coupe in the same combo as the cabrio and I’ve missed it ever since despite a string of newer and more powerful Benz since then.
@@Millennial_Manc What makes me feel worse is the buyer stripped the car selling the wheels etc and sold it again with substitute parts! I hated the thought that a rare and beautify car had been abused and ruined.
@ They’d never do that to an R107 or even C107. 124s just don’t seem to be respected as classics yet. Why do you think that is? Maybe they have an image problem from serving as German taxis and the ancient intergalactic mileage examples circulating around Africa.
If this car dies I’ll probably get an old S class with 12m MOT and a wood steering wheel and gear lever. Even if I have to scrap it in 12 months, I’ll get most of it back from selling those!
Finaly, I was waiting for this video, I own a '93 W124 with 65K milage Red 300CE available, no rust Mint Cond.
14:24
Thanks I don’t have AMG kit, engine is 3.2 L price new was 77k in93 +7%Tx
that 124 is now good for at least another 100K miles especially with those services! well done chaps!
It’s a late model 93 to 96 model. The drive belt tensioner pulley has a mini shock absorber behind it and it is a good idea to change it. The bushings become stiff over time and the centre ferrule will rattle on the top mounting bolt. Sounds like worn tappets but it’s not. It’s cheap and easy fix. Also if you have rust on the rear wheel arches check the condition of the front inner wings below the wash bottle and ABS module and also rear subframe front body mounts. They can look solid on the exterior but tend to rust inside out. They have two rubber blanking plugs on the inner face and a quick inspection with borescope can give you an idea as to the interior condition. I bit of surface rust is not to worry about and squirt of lanoguard or waxoyl before refitting the rubber plugs will keep bad corrosion at bay for some time. Lastly and perhaps of greatest of concern is to check the condition of the insulation of the wiring harness on the engine. Mercedes used a biodegradable insulator that goes hard and cracks off like it is made of dried spaghetti, heat accelerates the process so the wires to the injectors will show the first signs of degradation.
It was built March 97. He checked below the washer bottle and I checked the harness when I bought it… all fine. Taking it to a guy in Rugby in summer who strips everything down and spends 2 days pumping every cavity with Waxoyl. The Lanoguard is just a temp fix. Best to do the Waxoyl in summer so it’s thin enough to get into every crack. It’s going to be a battle against rust for as long as I own the car (or it owns me!) but getting some protection on will stop the clock.
dont tell your granny how to suck eggs, you couldnt even get the DOM right
Another cracking episode, really enjoying this channel. The editing is great too, some funny little bits that made me smile (toolbox and smashed thumb😂) keep it coming if you can, it’s better than the shite on TV👍
Thanks Dan
Great to see such care going into keeping older cars going. This video endorses what a great mechanic Sam is. I hope more customers including myself will get the chance to treat our cars here in the new year.
Really enlightening vid Sam - keep em coming!
I have the same colour and spec Merc A124! Wish I lived a bit closer to SPR Autos....they obviously know how to look after a classic car
Regarding the diff seals, If you ever come across PTFE seals, the shaft needs to be fitted dry, as a film of PTFE is put onto the shafte when it rotates. lubricating the seal will result in leaks. Also the PTFE material is harder than the usual compund so extra care needs to be taken when fitting the shaft
Just a little boost coz I want my car in your top 15 vids! Because… reasons.
My favourite video so far, also my dream car, great to see the comment from the owner below, trust and loyalty are everything to a business like yours. Well done, keep up the good work and the videos.....oh how's the thumb 🙂?
Me and my dad did similar treatment to our old 89 190d. The weak points were rly the places where you have to put the jack stand, so we had to open up these places and we noticed there is extra reinforcement inside, so we had to recreate it and then patching and covering up with this body point to prevent future rusting.
Much like lego - create patches and place them in :)
this car has a soul , a history , and built in the days were cars were built to last , and no or hardly any computers ,sensors
and relay bullshit , like most modern cars today , i will never buy a new car , and im sure the guy who bought this merc feels the same , thanks for keeping old cars alive and people still using them for daily drivers !! great job!!
No issue with the $3400. It’s brought the car back up to standard. It’s part of the purchase price in my mind.
It may seem a lot of money initially for that repair bill but we are talking todays money and worth every penny spent on a rare car also your customer has a great repair work video when the car eventually goes to a new home!
Another excellent video, Sam.
Merc owners down here in the South, particularly in the London area, will think that the HIGH quality of your work - and comparatively LOW prices, might be worth the long drive!!
Keep up the great work - and take a break for Xmas & New Year.
Try Olly at PCS in Horndean. I used to drive an hour to get my car there when I used to live in north Surrey. He has the same work ethic and heart.
@@franklee2598 Two recommendations for Prestige Car Service Horndean in the official Mercedes Benz Club directory too
What a beautiful job you did! Again an older Mercedes saved. May I say something about the corrosion? Also with the w123 and w126 open the doors and check the underside of the door. So many times it is completely gone because of corrosion. Oh, my wife heard you talking while in the kitchen and said your voice is like John Lennon. I thought that was quite accurate. All the best and merry Christmas!
He did a lot more than what you saw on here - it was in for 2 weeks.
Getting some bodywork done next year and all the cavities done with Waxoyl by a specialist in Rugby
@ wow!
I woke up in the early hours and saw a post by the owner on the MB owners club forum to say his video was just up on the SPR channel and I immediately thought Sam has got his timings wrong again... A busy day at work has meant I've only just had chance to enjoy this episode. A car from a similar vintage to my R129 which covered so many areas of the car and in great detail. Thanks very much for being my (almost weekly😃) UA-cam essential viewing in 2024. I hope you and the whole gang enjoy your break and see you in 2025!!!
EDIT - I didn't spot the Nissan but I thought I heard a sound clip of a ZX Spectrum loading...
Haha yes messed up the timings again.
No far off a weekely, I aimed for 1 a week which has been very ambitious. But we go again for 2025!
Good to hear it’s getting shared in the forums .
Cheers Paul.
@@sprautosI sent it Lanoguard too and they’ve passed it around the office
@@sprautos you are doing a fantastic job and every video has decent content which is of interest even if it is on a different car to the ones I own - please keep doing what you do.
Well worth the money just to know everything is ok. It’s a good base to start from if you are keeping the car. Get it to a standard you are happy at and keep it there. Great video once again. Well done .
Well done nice to see a proper mechanic Doing a fantastic job well-done on that one 😁
I am probably showing my ignorance here ,but what is that inside the offside wheel arch that looks like expanding foam? Can’t stop watching these videos,it’s just good down to earth commentary on honest to goodness work
Looks like a washer bottle for the windscreen.
I don't have a merc, and I live at the other end of the country, but I almost wish I did have a merc and I lived nearby. Oh, to have someone as knowledgeable and conscientious as you that could work on cars that I want!
I worked on these new. The 320 sportline was a beautiful & fast car in its day, done many a pdi of these back in the day very popular down the kings road in Chelsea. The sportline also had sportier seats & smaller steering wheel & if I remember correctly a faster ratio steering box. Had a 190E sportline 2.6 lovely car. I much prefer the plush ride of these than harsher ride of today’s cars.
I’m surprised the wishbone bushes aren’t worn used to replace them even in the 90’s you’d find the tracking was always out & steering wandering a little, add to that the idler arm bush free play.
Red rubber grease 🤔 Mercedes specifically had SI that said not to use any grease back in the day the bushes were modified with a fabric type coating on the inside.
M111 was an ok engine no real issues, ocassional coils, water pumps, throttle body problems & belt tensioners plus front cover oil leaks.
Nice car for the age & mileage.
Good old days when you got decent time for a service unlike now.
E DOPPIA CATENA della distribuzione, che è un plus
I never realised until now looking at the steering wheel how chunky it is
I still daily drive a diesel 124 in the US and I rarely have trouble getting parts which is amazing. These cars were built to last a lifetime.
I have a new Landcruiser and every time it’s just me going somewhere I take my w124 300d. Given a choice I choose 300d all the time. I have a sedan, signal red with mushroom interior. I get a lot of young people asking about the car. 🚘 forever car for sure.
@@martinwalsh7126 I don’t really drive cars for attention but I’ve had more driving this one than any other car I’ve owned. It’s nice attention though… curiosity and maybe even respect for the car. I was cleaning it before I took it to SPR and a guy pulled over in a new ML to say he’s seen me going up and down and wanted to say it looks great and he’s pleased to see an old Mercedes on the road. The A124 was aimed at the US market as there was thought to be a gap for luxury 4 seater convertibles, but buyers went for the R129 instead.
That repair 4.5k any day attention to detail SPR thee best nothing but praise for these guys
My brother has a w124 coupe, his has loads of extras including rear windscreen blind, he doesn't even drive it much anymore
Under the windscreen washer bottle also a very common area for rust also
He checked that for me - all clear
Hi, I have been enjoying your channel for some time. A lot of knowledge and relaxed (naturally) presented. Question: Are you able to share the model year of the vehicle you present in each video please? (this as I’m not in the UK, so unable to tell by the number plate as your locals can 🤪) keep it up/ awesome channel. Ronny/ from a Swede but living permanently in Australia.
This one was built March/April 97 and registered late 97, but you can’t tell from the number plate due to it having a private registration.
Looking at a typical plate you might see for instance 72 in the reg bear with me so minus 50 leaves 22 so it’s 2022 but also it might be 22 instead of 72 that’s because they release twice a year to basically stop a once a year rush for these nob heads who think it’s important 😂to have the latest plate can’t remember but probably about 1980 they swapped round the format and you see an older car ending in K that’s 1972 (L) 73 and so on not sure you needed this info but you got it anyway 😂🎉
Just finished watching this. All worth every penny.
Pay £1000 now for the welding or 5+ times that in a few years.
With a 30 year old car have to keep on top of things.
The final bill seems quite reasonable considering the work done. Good job done Sam.
Great video as always! When you smashed your thumb in the cold I could actually feel that sitting on my couch watching this video!
Been there done that brother! Thanks again for the hoodie. They are great to work in👍🏻
Had a mint low mileage E320 Sportline cabrio, same colour, about 25 years ago. Beautiful, and the only reliable Merc among the dozen or so we owned. (But watch out for duff micro-switches in the folding hood mechanism.) Replaced it with a mint low mileage R107 420SL. Mistake!
Ouch 🙂
The money spent is a great investment I think to future proof the value of the car. Great video many thanks for this! Merry Christmas to you all.
I recently spent £2k replacing discs and pads on my Audi A6....all that wok done for £3.4k seems like a bit of a bargain tbh.
Ouch. Was that at a main dealer?
@@Millennial_Manc No, A German Car Specialist. They rang around for parts but only genuine Audi discs available in the UK. In all fairness they lasted 65,000 miles, but still a sharp intake of breath.
@ Can’t knock the quality at 65k miles. Perhaps you’re one of those rare drivers who doesn’t forget how to work a gearbox when they go down steep hills!
@@Millennial_Manc Nah, it's all part of the mild hybrid auto generation process...that went wrong as well...£3.5k job under warranty
Wow. So many faults with new cars. It’s like our thirst for new technology has overtaken our ability to manufacture it.
£3400 for all that work is a bargain compared to a £2000 bill for a crappy wet belt replacement on a 40,000 mile crappy Ford. Fords used to last 70,000 miles before you threw it away but now the latest ones have an engine life of 40,000 miles and about 2 years. I’ve bought a 1983 Mercedes W123 and it mostly works.
No way,,,i overhauled a 3 cylinder eco sport motor with wet belts ,for 2000 £. And that was with new pistons.....
Nice job. Really enjoyed watching this, had a 1988 190E 2.0L manual back in 2001 which was my dream car, it had a small spoiler which made me buy one,but the car was cream not white....beggars can't be choosers. Had decent non Merc alloys & this fake leather/plastic seats which i forgot the name of. Worked at a garage & it came in P/X,it was a good decent car i really enjoyed driving it.....ahh the memories. ♥
These outstanding, highly commendable videos make me nervous about going ahead with my plan to dispose of my Golf R and revert to a W124 (I drove them for more than 20 years): where could I possibly find such an informed, reliable and capable service agent anywhere within a 50 mile radius of Southampton/Portsmouth? It's a long drive to Stockport, even for a 'B' service....
Join the Mercedes Benz owners club. They have a huge directory of member recommended places for every type of work and if you see a car and put the link in the forum you’ll get people who will give you a good opinion on what to look for - sometimes they even know who owned the car previously. And they buy and sell cars in the club from time to time. I wish I had joined it before I bought this one! If the mechanic get several recommendations they add them together (SPR has 4 or 5) but if they get 1 complaint they get removed from the directory until a different member recommends them.
I owned one of these 15 years ago car was in excellent condition but the 2.2 petrol engine was a gutless wonder, especially if you had 4 adults on board.
Adequate. They even did an E200 cabrio in other markets but I imagine that was pushing it.
I’m gonna backtrack. Spent the last few days in rural Northumberland and it was underpowered driving 3 of us around hilly country roads. It could still move adequately but I had to really work the engine and gearbox (manually) to do so. It would be an unacceptable level of noise with the roof down. Effortless with 3 of us on the motorway though. It’ll rarely have more than just me in there fortunately.
Yes Sam that was a very satisfying repair and service, I know the feeling you get when it;s all done and it feels good as new it's really enjoyable.
Very impressed by your vid. My Sportline coupé could do with a session at your place but I'm not exactly local, being in SW France. And your £3.5K bill seemd reasonable to me and I'm by no means wealthy. And the old 300CE-24 is very much a daily driver for me. Well done and I'd love to meet one day. By the way, mine's now at half a million Kms! Had it for 27 years, bought from MB in Périgueux in '98.
Nice one, Sam! I always look forward to your videos and it is good that you are trying to get more out.
Love your morals and it's great to see you train up your young un's properly!
superb car well worth maintaining and far cooler than a 100K brand new Merc
Always a joy to watch you working on these old Mercs Sam. Wishing you and the team at SPR a great Christmas and all the best for 2025!
Bill seemed very reasonable, I have just bought a 320CE and the previous owner spent over £18k in the last four years fixing everything possible, done nearly 200,000 miles and it feels like new.
Late one tonight Sam... Sam and the Lads hope you and your Family's have a Great Christmas all the best
Great video, looking to purchase W124 cab. 220. Fantastic info on what to look out for. No mention of the bio-loom on these. Was/is it a problem or just on 320? Finally a video from someone with so much practical knowledge. Neil
Checked it before I bought it and seemed fine and Sam checked it on his health check. This is a March/April 97 build so about a year after most soy harnesses were phased out. A few still found their way into some cars after early 96 for whatever reason so there are no absolute rules with it.
It affected all the electronic fuel injected engines of the era (124, 129, 140 etc). The earlier ones eg CE 230 cabrio weren’t affected and they are holding up better from rust due to Mercedes switching to eco friendly water based primer in the mid 90s. 320s with the soy loom disintegrated faster due to the additional heat in the engine bay but almost all will have deteriorated by now regardless of engine.
Initially it usually just causes misfires but eventually it fries an engine control unit something or other which takes the car out of action and is moderately expensive to fix so you don’t want to leave one long if it’s starting to go.
There are at least two harnesses affected though - an upper and a lower. Some people have cut corners and just done the upper one to save money as that’s the one that is easiest to inspect and the one nearest the heat of the engine.
It was a screw up but you shouldn’t let it put you off buying one. 320s were very prone to head gasket failure which I think is a £1500+ job (not 100% sure on that) so you want to make sure that’s in order.
320 had the option of a 5 speed gearbox which is a bit less reliable than the hydraulic 4 speed, but improved fuel economy and wasn’t as lazy when kicking down.
Make sure the tombstones (rollbar) works up and down and the flashing red lights on the button go out after you start the car.
The big thing is the 124s are great at hiding their rust thanks to the Sacco Skirts. MOT testers can’t remove panels or covers to inspect for rust so it can pass an MOT but still be rotten around the jacking points. Sam said a lot of 124s look immaculate from the outside and when you get them on the ramp they’re absolutely rotten underneath so buyer beware.
If I had known what I know now, I would have joined the official Mercedes Owner’s Club and wait for a member to sell theirs or ask them their opinion. Loads of times someone posts a link to a car and someone in the club owned it or knows who did and can tell you its history.
A club member sold an immaculate A320 recent at auction for under £14k, with £18k invoices spent on it, and that included the ultra rare Weissman hardtop which you can sell for £4k+ on its own.
Avoid ‘poverty spec’ cars if you’re thinking of resell value - they’re difficult to sell without air con and heated seats.
In my view it's a good price for a lot of quality work, I wish I lived closer to you guys as I've just got my late fathers W124 200E back on the road, he had it from new and exported it to Spain when it was 5 years old, it's back with zero rust. I've just spent 1.7K and there is still work to do but it's part of the family. I love the videos please keep them coming...Jon
Sounds like a lovely set of wheels. Glad that some people are looking after the 124 saloons as they don’t seem to get much love.
Great video as always. Nice to see another old merc kept alive. Hope you all have a great xmas
Another great video. As far as the bill is concerned I think it was very reasonable for all the work and time involved. In addition the work was done to perfection. No skimping or cutting corners here. No wonder the customer is so happy with the outcome, and that is the ultimate compliment to you and your work.
I’m delighted. Big bill this time but I’ve had other cars in for an MOT at SPR and not needed a thing doing. I got away lightly with the air con this time too.
@@Millennial_Manc Your car could not be in better hands.
Nice calm video and a beautiful car A124.
Absolutely great show. Great to see a top tradesman ply his trade to the very best standards….
Excellence value, real professionals
Great video. Well worth the price you charged. The knowledge and expertise you have deserves the price you charge
You got a new subscriber now, despite seeing you on Matt's channel. I love the old Mercs :)
Thanks for the sub! And welcome 🙏
Seems very fair price to me. If I had a Merc I would be heading your way! I think most sensible people are prepared to pay for work done properly and not to be ripped off by people who know how to charge, but don't know how to do a proper job. It's a yes from me!
The car looks really good with the roof down
Lovely car chaps! Used to have the E500 shouldn’t have sold it!! I’m after one of these with a AMG kit. If anyone has one!
Going even further back to the 60s, some cars had badges to warn following vehicles that this car had 'disc brakes'. Nothing new eh. Good video.
My dad, had SRI on his boot lid, when he was travelling with work, Sales Rep Inside
Well worth the cost and I would be happy knowing it's working in tip top condition. You pay for quality. Well done lads.
Funny to see how small the discs are on that gorgeous 124 - Old mercs are such beautiful cars. 3.4k is I think a decent price for the high standard of work and welding carried out.
Great video, I love something more long form that shows real details. Happy NY.
Got a few W124’s all 320’s thou. E220 is way underpowered for such a heavy car. Lovely car thou 👍🏼👌
I bet you’d have loved the E200 cabrio in other markets 😛
@@Millennial_Manc😂 be ok on the 4 door 🙃. Recently got the R230 V12 wow… but always on the edge with that car 😟. The W124 thou with the straight six ❤.. no SBC ABC ETC… mind you my ASR light is on in my W124 cabriolet 😂
@@BobBenz55I’m gonna backtrack. Spent the last few days in rural Northumberland and it was underpowered driving 3 of us around hilly country roads. It could still move adequately but I had to really work the engine and gearbox (manually) to do so. It would be an unacceptable level of noise with the roof down. Effortless with 3 of us on the motorway though. What’s the ASR light on your 124 cabrio? Some sort of skid reduction traction control? Presumably didn’t have that on the 1997 E220 or was it an option?
@@Millennial_Manc yeah I the the ASR and ASD option on mine. I have a 1993 sport line model, pre facelift (bigger grill on the front) but with the M104 HFM engine. Garage queen she is 😂
I would have one of these old mercedes over the new rubbish they sell today i can understand why your busy the level of care you give is unusual and worth a premium