Mercedes from the late 90's and early 2000's such as the w202,w210 and w203 are still around doing the job while most cars from 1995-2005 are long gone. They still had outstanding quality in the upholstery for instance. Their quality fell sharply in the late 2000's with the apparition of screens and cheap plastic everywhere the interior of w204 was a disgrace.
The quality died in batches. My early w220 has some rust, which is ridiculous. But the ride is still exceptional, the engine is incredible and the interior, with the leather across the dashboard, is second to none. With each development a new way is found to squeeze the quality lower, but it wasn't all at once. I'll be sad when the rust gets too much.
@Koyaanisqatsi Alfas are just upscale FIATs. Definitely better than the '70's & all, but within 2-3 years, the buttons get sticky, leather panels begin to peel, glass delaminates. Maserati & Ferrari also have these issues. Never buy them new & know what your up against- you'll be happier
I am 22 years daily-driving my w201 190D 2.5 litre, with manual gearbox here in Los Angeles. Never a breakdown or concern, just simple quality and elegance
Lovely! Feel free to send us more details and photographs of your pride and joy on rev.community@dw.com. We love when our viewers share their automotive stories with us. :-)
I 100 percent agree I have w124 e280 ‘94 with over 400k miles and never breaks down and it is just so easy to find parts and fix it. It just runs like a new car
Just imagine every product would be constructed to last. No obsolescence, no unnecessary pollution, junk or energy usage, no lost lifetimes due to maintenance.
Very proud owner of w124, c126 and w126, I could not be happier with my cars. Released in the early 1980s last late 70s they still look beautiful today!
I regularly drive an unrestored but carefully conserved 1955 W188 300 Sc as well as a 1970 W111 280se 3.5 (my father’s cars from new), they never cease to amaze me by absolutely always starting immediately and in 2023, after 68 and 53 years respectively, they are still the most incredibly beautiful cars and the absolute stars of the road.
amazing how poor the engineering and quality are now by comparison. 2013 C250 junked after cam adjusters failed at 78k miles. 2017 c300 with only 34k miles traded after crankcase vent valve failed at a prospective repair cost of 3$3-5k. should have kept one of my mid 80s turbo diesels.
@@galbraithmp I do agree that 80’s diesels are true german leopards in disguise. As for the modern cars, i drive a 2013 W204 C63 with a naturally aspirated engine that gives me nothing but thrills and joy every time i get in it. As with the old ones, careful and timely maintenance is the key to longevity as well as durability.
I daily drive a 1990 420sel and have nearly 500,000km on it. Owned it for 11 years and its still holding up after 32 Canadian winters. Basic maintenance and a few wear items and the car still drives fantastic.
@Jack L - We would like to hear and see more of your car. Would you like to send us a picture of your car? If possible, please send your picture to rev.community@dw.com Thanks
I'll never forget my reaction upon getting in a then 30yrs old taxicab. It was a W123 Mercedes. I was in Dakar Senegal, where the main mode of transportation was by taxis. They were mostly 10yrs old offerings from Japan and France that were already rattling away. This one fare was an early 80s W123 that impressed me with the way the door sounded like a vault upon closing, and the ride was rattle free. It wasn't my first time riding in a Benz, but it was much older than the other taxis that I'd been riding in. So, I was able to experience the Benz's durability and quality firsthand.
I own a 1973, w114. A wonderful car to drive. It simply works well, it’s easy to work on mechanically. It will be 50 years old this year. If Mercedes Benz made this car today, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it.
Growing up, my family had a W124 which we loved, but quality went down hill with subsequent models. My last German luxury car was an Audi from the mid 2000s, least reliable car I've ever had. Haven't bought another since.
While Mercedes does have some engines from certain eras that are questionable, most of them are pretty reliable. They're more reliable than BMW and Audi. I know someone who, for example, has an A45 AMG. It has a highly strung and powerful 2 litre 4 cylinder engine currently with 280,000 kms and going strong. Other parts though like the interior plastics and fabrics is where they went down. I've seen many newer C Classes like the W205 have awful interior material and build quality with rattles, cracking armrests, peeling aluminium look bits etc. However, mecahnically and safety wise, they're still strong.
@@SDav21 well, BMW's B58 engines are also up there as well, Toyota even put one in their "supra" which is a Z4 chassis with Toyota bits. Highly robust and high compression ratio
The bean counters took over!!! They replaced the old school engineers with the new age college graduates that use robots and aluminum everything and they started hiring women!!!
I own an E32 BMW 750iL and my uncle has a W124 E300 NA Diesel with almost 400K. I absolutely love his car, very slow but very reliable and just a joy to drive
I have a 1979 Mercedes SD 300 turbo diesel. It is the only one in Ireland. Sold new in Florida in 1979 during the oil shortage of 1978-79. Incredible engine, OM617 5 cylinder turbo. Bigger turbo put on it. Now 350bhp.
I was once lived in a gated community. The local leader is Mercedes Benz lover. He has like around 5 or 6 (some of them is W124), parked all around the places and sometime in empty house. Always love to hear his passionate story about Mercedes Benz :)
Proud owner of a 1974 w114 280e in Australia, 040 black on red interior, completely restored with all original parts - im 30 years old and this is the best car i've ever owned
As an owner of a 2002 C209 CLK200 Kompressor, I can say I'm really pleased with the comfort, equipment, performance, build quality, design inside out and reliability. Except from some design flaws from the engine that I had to fix and that should have been a part of a major recall. (M271) Most notably: timing chain and valve head - valves - valve seats! But after fixing them I'm really pleased and happy and can definitely say that no other car brand matches Mercedes-Benz!
@@fredrezfield1629 It is supposed to be a great car and product. The early flaws of the M271 engine is what spoils the reputation. But once you fix them, it's a treat ! Still, I strongly believe that it should have been part of a Mercedes recall, and that's what really bugs me.
Dailied a 1988 BMW 5 Series for 2 years, never was afraid of not making it home, even if over 30 years old. Always started right up when I needed to go somewhere.
@@DWREVHello from Kosovo mate🖐I saw all videos for Mercedes in your youtube chanel congrulations👏.But please can I ask you something about Mercedes to other cars,I'm serching all the time for this answer which I'm sure you can answer to me🙂
As the older guy or car collector mentioned that after w124 quality went down is very accurate and honest comment. Benz can do it again before it looses it's loyal customers. To my opinion as an automotive tech build all the parts in-house and testing them to a maximum life span. Plus alternative fuels are now in the market.
They can but the corporate nature of Mercedes nowadays is holding them back and they need to abide by things like emission rules, regulatory compliance, etc. etc. and all that boils down to is additional expenses which means they would have to build their cars on a tight budget.
I have a 1987 Mercedes 300D - the iconic Bruno Sacco designed W124. I'm at 29,000 original miles. I bought it from the original old lady owner with 26,000 miles four years ago. Impeccable interior and exterior quality. Easy to work on and so simple.
I have three Mercedes cars with a combined age of 100 years. The oldest, a W116 350SE will outlive all of its post W126 successors because of its high quality and maintainability. Great video.
I just sold my 1995 A124 Cabriolet and I immediately regretted it. She was a beautiful car that I saved from a neglectful owner. My mechanic had her running perfectly.
I had over 25 years two coupe w124 Automatic ...one 32 valve and later a 16 valve .....best cars ever bild ! one time i thought i have a big problem with the automatic transmision and was sure i had a expansive reparation because it did very late shifting , but it was the katalisator haha ....fixt it my self
Our W123 wagon (300TD) is currently serving the third generation of our family. Best family car ever....a true utility vehicle that's safe, reliable and comfortable to own. It will be fully restored this year for the arrival of another family member. 🎉😂
It's interesting to observe the relative cost of the car has reduced over time. In 1986, a 300 E W124 was approximately worth 4 times the annual income of the average Australian. Now, the W213 E 300 would cost less than 2 times the average annual income. Many of the innovations which were expensive to implement at the time are inexpensive to achieve reliably in the modern day due to advances in technology. This means there are more inclusions in the vehicle than previously, which therefore are more possible points of unreliability. However as the appetite for shareholder returns grows, each and every system of the newer car is cost reduced more and more, and additional revenue streams such as subscriptions for optional feature enablement are introduced. The cars we see today are a product of the economy of the time.
If I had to pick just one, probably the W123 (I think that's the model I mean) Mercedes sedan is the finest car ever made. My dad sold them when new; for years, I had the dealer paint color samples - sad to say I think I pitched them in my last move. Even now they have held up incredibly well. The first gen Lexus LS400 is almost there, but interior doesn't hold up as well.
My 1999 W202 is one of the last "old school" designs. Mine is a C230K Sport, still runs great with 265,000 miles on the odometer. Very solid, dependable and fun to drive.
I was lucky to be a Mercedes mechanic from 79 to 04. And I can remember the older traveler technically from Germany they told us that the younger generation was taking over. After that it slowly went downhill as soon as the customer recognized it they all went Lexus
The habits of consumers in the West have changed in general, from more focus at longivity 20-30 years ago and more, towards 'use it and throw it away, buy new'. Most manufacturers have just adapted to meet the wishes of the new generaton. Toyota/Lexus seems to be an exception, with more focus at longivity, making things that last, and less at fancy pricey funtions. and the brand typically got some more grown up customers. I stick to my '95 124 300 diesel, as I love the design and like to maintain everything myself. Got no interest in all the electronics of newer models
Lexus is leagues ahead of Benz my friend. When Lexus was initially conceived, they made Mercedes' highest quality parts their minimum standard for quality.
10-year-old E-350 sedan, Luxury trim. Runs like a top. I always follow the scheduled maintenance at the dealer, and so far, no expensive repairs. Garaged, so the paint looks great, and heads turn when I drive. An uncle had a Mercedes diesel sedan, but he was too cheap to take it in for the required scheduled maintenance, and so he had engine problems that cost $$$$.
I have been driving my w124 my Dad bought back in 1996 and thats the car treated with the most of love and care in the family though it doesnt require it engine feels new like thw day we got it. Want to drive it to Germany from India with my Dad, ❤ may be in 2024.
Experiences with 1978 W116 280se, and 1982 W123 240 D prove that the simplest Mercedes models are the best. Newer models are fancier, safer and better to drive but far costlier and more likely to break
What got me started with Mercedes’ Benz was my ‘92 300d 2.5 Turbo. From there it led me to attain a Ponton and. 2 other Mercedes’ Benz by the age of 20.
Lovely! Where are you based, and how many clicks on the odo have your cars managed to rack up? We'd love to know. If you like you can also write to us and email us photographs on rev.community@dw.com
The W108 received an engine overhaul in 1995 and it had over 350k km on the odo. She is with my in laws in Jogjakarta Indonesia. The w124 is my daily driver in sydney and it has about 359 K kms. My parent had w123, w116 and W114 and they all provided with the same solid ride and the thumping doors
All series cars are made by robots now. I remember in the early 90s Porsche had a commercial showing guys welding the cars. So yeah, those days are gone. But my current daily driver, a 2010 E550 Sport rwd 5.4L na V8 with amazing adjustable adaptive air suspension. AMG bits from the factory carried the great tradition. Mid-sized square-jawed Meisterstück. The new cars are fine but no real emotional attachment.
That is why i drive W124 and W140 cars today and still maintains them, but recently sold the w124 and bought the w210. Basically i own and operate, drives only 90's Mercedes. They are just the best of Mercedes to own and drive, comfortable and cheap to maintain and quite reliable by modern standards, which are rubbish with too many electronics. I'm from Malaysia and will keep these cars running until i'm old.
Old Mercedes Can Last forever, true engineering marvels, no other manufacturer even in there wildest dreams can compared to any Mercedes before 1999 Now , after the company run by accountants , all Japanese and Korean manufacturer have better cars , Mercedes cars now breakdown like ice cream in hot summer
My father brought 180 made in 1955 from Royal Thai Family and even it was that old, we sold this car for taxi. The car was original paint and well maintain until we sold it and move to USA.
I've had a few diesel Benz cars. W123 ,W201 n now a W210. My opinion is ; even though I enjoy my W210 very much , I wouldn't dare buy a newer model because the electronics n plastics keep increasing with each newer models. I think this documentary is spot on , the W124 is probably the best Benz to hold onto . In my case , it would have to be a Diesel ⛽ 🙂
What an excellent video piece 👌🏼 like I have told my children and family, I don’t drive Mercedes for image or status, I like a car that has long term durability. My wife and I have been using MBZ in our family for 25+ years easily. We keep them until they have well over 300K miles..
Magnifico video con grandes y ciertas afirmaciones. Son unos coches fiables y resistentes a pesar de que algunos circulan por caminos intransitables para otros vehículos de su segmento. Tengo un W123 300TD de 1978 y estoy encantado. Great video with great and true statements. They are reliable and tough cars even though some drive on roads that are impassable for other vehicles in their segment. I have a 1978 W123 300TD and am delighted.
They need to make Mercedes great again! I’d happily pay more for a car that lasts longer than the current ones. It’s much better for the environment too.
Great video, DW! I was only missing one thing about these Mercs; they were outrageously expensive to buy new! They might have eternal life (who cares when buying a new car and not planning to drive it the rest of your life?) but that's what you paid for.
I have owned several Mercedes-Benz, from some models. The one model I owned more was the W201 - the legendary 190D - of which I owned four of them, all with the 2.0 Diesel Engine and a five speed manual transmission. I also owned a W123, W124, W202, W203, and W204. Then, I stopped. They keep the same comfort, build quality, and sound isolation - which I really appreciate. However, I noticed my maintenance bills kept rising, both due to the decrease in reliability, but also in the cost of parts. Thus, I decided to stop spending so much on the car's purchase. Meaning, I started buying Reanult cars, which offered me more comfort, but an inferior purchase price and a lower maintenance bill. Yes, the overall build quality is not the same - but close enough. Yes, the sound isolation on the highway is not the same - but it is enough at or under the speed limit. Thus, I love Mercedes-Benz, but stopped buying them!
I don't buy the "keep it simple" argument. Not only because the S-Class models (all the way back when there was not a Class to mention, e.g., the W126) - which is the luxury model - that make the Mercedes-Benz the desired brand; but also because the Multilink suspension system was what made the W124 and the W201 so special in terms of affordable comfort. What made Mercedes-Benz so reliable and special was: engineering. Hard, time-consuming, and testing engineering - which is very expensive. After the W140, W124, and W201 in the late '80s and early '90s Mercedes-Benz stopped spending so much money in Research and Development, for both new platforms and new models. The W202 was proof of that, which was a reliable product, because it was quite similar to the W201. However, it did have very little to offer in addition. To contradict critics, the W203 was a quite substantial leap forward, but it went through little testing, and had many issues, with several recalls and bills over the roof. You can see that in your local taxi fleet. In the past, Mercedes-Benz ruled the Taxi market. Nowadays, there are some Mercedes-Benz, but Toyota with its Hybrid solution coupled with reliability; and many EVs, have dominated the Taxi market.
Mercedes Benz simply the king of cars, however they don’t build them like they used to anymore. I own a R107 450SL 1976 a W123 240D 1983 and a CLS350 2011. The CLS is my daily driver but I definitely prefer the old ones especially on a dry sunny day.
After mein first 190e 2.6 I would not drive any other cars since then. Still have my '92 W201 and my newer '03 W208 Cabriolet. Absolutely gems. Especially the 201 !
I Daily a 500K Km w201 2.0D that has been owned by my father since 1997, fantastic car, plastics show a little age, but in terms of reliability it is unmatched even by cars from 2010s
@@DWREV In the UK, so its a constant battle against the rust but I'm staying on top. I have taken all the wheels off ant stripped it back treated her and undercoated the underside. I hope to keep her on the road for as long as possible. Thank you for the excellent content by the way.
Back then when you would look at car magazines and/or brochures, the Mercedeses, BMWs, Jaguars, Bentleys, etc. were all on a separate section set apart from the Toyotas, Nissans, Mitsubishis, etc. as the definition of a luxury car was crystal clear back then - classy-looking cars with an elevated standard of engineering and quality. Nowadays, the cars made by these brands are compared side-by-side with no differentiator as they all have the same build quality, engineering, and of course, predicted lifespan.
I'm a kid from the 80's and i only remember few cars that broke down. But cars like Opel, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi and all the japanese never broke down. But that changed in the early 2000's.
@@DWREV I think this problem exists through the board. I remember times when the Opel Astra F was called a disaster for Opel because of its low quality. But this type of car runs even after 30 years without problems. And also interior quality wasn't that bad when you compare it to modern Mercedes C-Class...cheap plastics, everything squeeks and rattles. Another example is timing chains. Back than they were all duplex-chains and had no problems with ripping apart or skipping teeth. Today engines die in big numbers because of timing chain failures. And all that has nothing to do with smaller displacement but higher output. Reliability can be planned and enginered! Back than people and also manufacturer thought more about their reputation than maximizing their profit in the short run...
German cars from the 70s to 90s were amazing. My dad used to own a 1970s VW Beetle and it ran beautifully. Modern day German cars however are money pits, require a lot of maintenance and need to go to a mechanic often.
I still drive Mercedes (my current is a 2016 E350 and running great) BUT the quality that was in my 1978 450SEL is missing. I remember the days when seeing a Mercedes on the road in the USA was a special occasion. Now there are 8 on my street. They just got greedy starting in the late 90’s early 2000’s. It’s really a shame
We would love to hear more about YOUR Mercedes Classic Car - you can send your pictures to rev.community@dw.com
Thank you! 😊
Sure. I'll send some pictures to you now.
Mercedes are still living on a reputation that disappeared in the mid to late 90's, Sad really what they have become.
Mercedes from the late 90's and early 2000's such as the w202,w210 and w203 are still around doing the job while most cars from 1995-2005 are long gone. They still had outstanding quality in the upholstery for instance. Their quality fell sharply in the late 2000's with the apparition of screens and cheap plastic everywhere the interior of w204 was a disgrace.
The quality died in batches. My early w220 has some rust, which is ridiculous. But the ride is still exceptional, the engine is incredible and the interior, with the leather across the dashboard, is second to none. With each development a new way is found to squeeze the quality lower, but it wasn't all at once. I'll be sad when the rust gets too much.
100% agree
@Koyaanisqatsi Alfas are just upscale FIATs. Definitely better than the '70's & all, but within 2-3 years, the buttons get sticky, leather panels begin to peel, glass delaminates. Maserati & Ferrari also have these issues. Never buy them new & know what your up against- you'll be happier
@@olikat8 right! Okay, I promise. Now I'll never buy a new Ferrari...
I am 22 years daily-driving my w201 190D 2.5 litre, with manual gearbox here in Los Angeles. Never a breakdown or concern, just simple quality and elegance
Lovely! Feel free to send us more details and photographs of your pride and joy on rev.community@dw.com. We love when our viewers share their automotive stories with us. :-)
Great 👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏
Wow. How many Miles had your w201?
I 100 percent agree I have w124 e280 ‘94 with over 400k miles and never breaks down and it is just so easy to find parts and fix it. It just runs like a new car
Is it 4-speed or 5-speed?
Just imagine every product would be constructed to last.
No obsolescence, no unnecessary pollution, junk or energy usage, no lost lifetimes due to maintenance.
...but next quarters profits would decline. Short term thinking drives poor outcomes.
Boring to some, but it would be better for sure. Ford wanted it that way too, but he had to bend to the market.
Sadly the company wouldn't last many years. It is nonviable
It's called death by design for making profit, companies don't care about Climate change.
Very proud owner of w124, c126 and w126, I could not be happier with my cars. Released in the early 1980s last late 70s they still look beautiful today!
Amazing brother! You own some beautiful cars. Take care of them and enjoy them :)
Still look beautiful today?
May I correct you? They look better than today's cars.
I regularly drive an unrestored but carefully conserved 1955 W188 300 Sc as well as a 1970 W111 280se 3.5 (my father’s cars from new), they never cease to amaze me by absolutely always starting immediately and in 2023, after 68 and 53 years respectively, they are still the most incredibly beautiful cars and the absolute stars of the road.
Cool, maybe you can mail us some pics Rev.community@dw.com
That is impressive.
I couldnt imagine riding around almost daily in some 50s American marshmallow suspension car.
@@DWREV Done. Check your inbox.
amazing how poor the engineering and quality are now by comparison. 2013 C250 junked after cam adjusters failed at 78k miles. 2017 c300 with only 34k miles traded after crankcase vent valve failed at a prospective repair cost of 3$3-5k. should have kept one of my mid 80s turbo diesels.
@@galbraithmp I do agree that 80’s diesels are true german leopards in disguise. As for the modern cars, i drive a 2013 W204 C63 with a naturally aspirated engine that gives me nothing but thrills and joy every time i get in it. As with the old ones, careful and timely maintenance is the key to longevity as well as durability.
I have a 1994 W202 C200D, it has 1 334 000 Kms, still going strong without missing a beat, every single day I drive it and love it
I daily drive a 1990 420sel and have nearly 500,000km on it. Owned it for 11 years and its still holding up after 32 Canadian winters. Basic maintenance and a few wear items and the car still drives fantastic.
I have a 1987 420SEL with only 90,000 km on it. My late father bought it new. No plans to ever sell it.
@@yenchang760 would you like to send us a picture of your car?
If possible, please send your picture to rev.community@dw.com
Thank you! 😊
@Jack L - We would like to hear and see more of your car. Would you like to send us a picture of your car?
If possible, please send your picture to rev.community@dw.com
Thanks
I'll never forget my reaction upon getting in a then 30yrs old taxicab. It was a W123 Mercedes. I was in Dakar Senegal, where the main mode of transportation was by taxis. They were mostly 10yrs old offerings from Japan and France that were already rattling away. This one fare was an early 80s W123 that impressed me with the way the door sounded like a vault upon closing, and the ride was rattle free. It wasn't my first time riding in a Benz, but it was much older than the other taxis that I'd been riding in. So, I was able to experience the Benz's durability and quality firsthand.
I own a 1973, w114. A wonderful car to drive. It simply works well, it’s easy to work on mechanically. It will be 50 years old this year. If Mercedes Benz made this car today, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy it.
Neat! Do you drive it regularly? Send us photographs on rev.community@dw.com :-)
Sadly, German luxury cars are no longer synonymous with quality and durability and are now bought only as status symbols. What happened ? 😢
Growing up, my family had a W124 which we loved, but quality went down hill with subsequent models. My last German luxury car was an Audi from the mid 2000s, least reliable car I've ever had. Haven't bought another since.
While Mercedes does have some engines from certain eras that are questionable, most of them are pretty reliable. They're more reliable than BMW and Audi. I know someone who, for example, has an A45 AMG. It has a highly strung and powerful 2 litre 4 cylinder engine currently with 280,000 kms and going strong. Other parts though like the interior plastics and fabrics is where they went down. I've seen many newer C Classes like the W205 have awful interior material and build quality with rattles, cracking armrests, peeling aluminium look bits etc. However, mecahnically and safety wise, they're still strong.
@@SDav21 well, BMW's B58 engines are also up there as well, Toyota even put one in their "supra" which is a Z4 chassis with Toyota bits. Highly robust and high compression ratio
The bean counters took over!!! They replaced the old school engineers with the new age college graduates that use robots and aluminum everything and they started hiring women!!!
the engineers no longer have control of what they do its all accountants now sadly
Mario Theissen , formerly BMW Motorsport director...even he recognises Mercedes-Benz's solid reputation of building durable automobiles
I own an E32 BMW 750iL and my uncle has a W124 E300 NA Diesel with almost 400K. I absolutely love his car, very slow but very reliable and just a joy to drive
I have a 1979 Mercedes SD 300 turbo diesel. It is the only one in Ireland.
Sold new in Florida in 1979 during the oil shortage of 1978-79.
Incredible engine, OM617 5 cylinder turbo. Bigger turbo put on it. Now 350bhp.
What turbo did you put on? I know the Garrett can take a larger impeller but that can't reach >300hp
I was once lived in a gated community. The local leader is Mercedes Benz lover. He has like around 5 or 6 (some of them is W124), parked all around the places and sometime in empty house. Always love to hear his passionate story about Mercedes Benz :)
Proud owner of 1981 W123 240d with close to 400 000Km Engine still purring beuatifully, and no breakdowns at all. One of the most reliable cars ever!
Proud owner of a 1974 w114 280e in Australia, 040 black on red interior, completely restored with all original parts - im 30 years old and this is the best car i've ever owned
I own 1992 Mercedes W124 in decent shape and i must say its really OLD BUT GOLD!
As an owner of a 2002 C209 CLK200 Kompressor, I can say I'm really pleased with the comfort, equipment, performance, build quality, design inside out and reliability.
Except from some design flaws from the engine that I had to fix and that should have been a part of a major recall. (M271) Most notably: timing chain and valve head - valves - valve seats!
But after fixing them I'm really pleased and happy and can definitely say that no other car brand matches Mercedes-Benz!
at how many km did you have to change the timing chain ?
@@BoranundBaran At around 152k kilometres for preventive reasons.
you get what you pay for
@@fredrezfield1629 It is supposed to be a great car and product. The early flaws of the M271 engine is what spoils the reputation. But once you fix them, it's a treat ! Still, I strongly believe that it should have been part of a Mercedes recall, and that's what really bugs me.
@@nickzourb190 M271 engine is shocking all i see is problems with them stick with the old v8s and v6 in my opinion
Dailied a 1988 BMW 5 Series for 2 years, never was afraid of not making it home, even if over 30 years old. Always started right up when I needed to go somewhere.
I have a W126 V8 from 1982 - perfect drive and look - even today!
Still driving my 32 year old W124 Turbodiesel. Solid and soooo comfy.
Wow! How many kilometers did you drive with it?
W124 has the most comfy seats ive ever sat in
Mercedes-benz, The best or nothing.
@@DWREVHello from Kosovo mate🖐I saw all videos for Mercedes in your youtube chanel congrulations👏.But please can I ask you something about Mercedes to other cars,I'm serching all the time for this answer which I'm sure you can answer to me🙂
As the older guy or car collector mentioned that after w124 quality went down is very accurate and honest comment. Benz can do it again before it looses it's loyal customers.
To my opinion as an automotive tech build all the parts in-house and testing them to a maximum life span. Plus alternative fuels are now in the market.
They can but the corporate nature of Mercedes nowadays is holding them back and they need to abide by things like emission rules, regulatory compliance, etc. etc. and all that boils down to is additional expenses which means they would have to build their cars on a tight budget.
Nobody will pay the necessary price for a base model Mercedes made to those standards these days.
There is more profit margin to a luxury product, which is why merc is the way it is now.
The key to reliability is simplicity. Unfortunately manufacturers are heading in the other direction.
Having fun with my 1980 240d manual silver car. Slow as Xmas but designed better than Easter. It is like a slow tractor car.
I've owned 5 w123s. My favorite classic car to own
I own a 1984 w123 300d. Best car I've ever had!
I have a 1998 w210 E430 the best car I’ve ever had.😊🚗
How many miles have you racked up on the odo? Feel free to send us more details and photographs on rev.community@dw.com :-)
Hi from New Zealand I have a 2002 W210 E320 CDI, also best car I have ever had
I have a 1987 Mercedes 300D - the iconic Bruno Sacco designed W124. I'm at 29,000 original miles. I bought it from the original old lady owner with 26,000 miles four years ago. Impeccable interior and exterior quality. Easy to work on and so simple.
90's Mercedes are my favourite car designs ever, I'd love to own one one day.
facebook market place. dont be afraid to the work urself. usually thats how you score the cheaper mercedes
I own W124 E320 1995 for 20 Yrs and still going. This kind of story make me wanna keeep mine for 20 more yrs.
Thanks you.
I have three Mercedes cars with a combined age of 100 years. The oldest, a W116 350SE will outlive all of its post W126 successors because of its high quality and maintainability. Great video.
As a driver/owner of multiple W124 300E models, in multiple country's, I can confirm it's the best car ever.
I just sold my 1995 A124 Cabriolet and I immediately regretted it. She was a beautiful car that I saved from a neglectful owner. My mechanic had her running perfectly.
I had over 25 years two coupe w124 Automatic ...one 32 valve and later a 16 valve .....best cars ever bild ! one time i thought i have a big problem with the automatic transmision and was sure i had a expansive reparation because it did very late shifting , but it was the katalisator haha ....fixt it my self
Our W123 wagon (300TD) is currently serving the third generation of our family. Best family car ever....a true utility vehicle that's safe, reliable and comfortable to own. It will be fully restored this year for the arrival of another family member. 🎉😂
Thank you for this report. I love my 1989 W126 420SEL, and remember fondly my father’s W123 200
The W140 600 SEL is my favorite - the tank from Stuttgart
I have three Mercedes die-cast 1/18 scale models, they are solid. No rust or any technical issues, best Mercedes cars ever made!
🤣
123 model was the best built saloon Mercedes built,having worked on them for several years the quality of built was superb😊
It's interesting to observe the relative cost of the car has reduced over time. In 1986, a 300 E W124 was approximately worth 4 times the annual income of the average Australian. Now, the W213 E 300 would cost less than 2 times the average annual income.
Many of the innovations which were expensive to implement at the time are inexpensive to achieve reliably in the modern day due to advances in technology. This means there are more inclusions in the vehicle than previously, which therefore are more possible points of unreliability.
However as the appetite for shareholder returns grows, each and every system of the newer car is cost reduced more and more, and additional revenue streams such as subscriptions for optional feature enablement are introduced. The cars we see today are a product of the economy of the time.
If I had to pick just one, probably the W123 (I think that's the model I mean) Mercedes sedan is the finest car ever made. My dad sold them when new; for years, I had the dealer paint color samples - sad to say I think I pitched them in my last move. Even now they have held up incredibly well. The first gen Lexus LS400 is almost there, but interior doesn't hold up as well.
My 1999 W202 is one of the last "old school" designs. Mine is a C230K Sport, still runs great with 265,000 miles on the odometer. Very solid, dependable and fun to drive.
I have a 1981 Mercedes Benz W123 body style 240d diesel and it is my daily driver. It is the best car i have ever owned.
Have to say my wifes father has this one in a garage in a top condition and its awesome to drive! Very comfy and just superb experience!!
I was lucky to be a Mercedes mechanic from 79 to 04. And I can remember the older traveler technically from Germany they told us that the younger generation was taking over. After that it slowly went downhill as soon as the customer recognized it they all went Lexus
Lexus are definitely building the reputation Mercedes have lost.
Lexus never made a diesel car. Mercedes is simply a different level of car. Mercedes make industrially engineered cars and lexus does not.
The habits of consumers in the West have changed in general, from more focus at longivity 20-30 years ago and more, towards 'use it and throw it away, buy new'. Most manufacturers have just adapted to meet the wishes of the new generaton. Toyota/Lexus seems to be an exception, with more focus at longivity, making things that last, and less at fancy pricey funtions. and the brand typically got some more grown up customers. I stick to my '95 124 300 diesel, as I love the design and like to maintain everything myself. Got no interest in all the electronics of newer models
Lexus is leagues ahead of Benz my friend. When Lexus was initially conceived, they made Mercedes' highest quality parts their minimum standard for quality.
Either new or old Benz, I’m in love with Mercedes Benz forever 😊
I had an old Mercedes in Caracas during the early 90s. It was so solid. Nothing else since has felt like a real car.
I drive a 350 SE from 73,it just goes and goes, love the styling of the W 116, best looking merc ever
MB Quality and focus for long-lasting vehicles ended in 1997!
im a owner of a w124 300d turbo diesel 427k miles and running strong not trading or ever selling the car pure gold mine when driving
10-year-old E-350 sedan, Luxury trim. Runs like a top. I always follow the scheduled maintenance at the dealer, and so far, no expensive repairs. Garaged, so the paint looks great, and heads turn when I drive. An uncle had a Mercedes diesel sedan, but he was too cheap to take it in for the required scheduled maintenance, and so he had engine problems that cost $$$$.
I have been driving my w124 my Dad bought back in 1996 and thats the car treated with the most of love and care in the family though it doesnt require it engine feels new like thw day we got it. Want to drive it to Germany from India with my Dad, ❤ may be in 2024.
Totally agree, my W201 / 190E is solid built and it’s celebrating it 33rd birthday this year. After the W124, the quality went down noticeably.
Experiences with 1978 W116 280se, and 1982 W123 240 D prove that the simplest Mercedes models are the best. Newer models are fancier, safer and better to drive but far costlier and more likely to break
Them old Mercs wore designed to coupe with the rough roads thats why Albania loved them Mercs
Still own, and use a W124 since 1996.
Own 2 W124s, love them. Never gave me any hassle.
What got me started with Mercedes’ Benz was my ‘92 300d 2.5 Turbo. From there it led me to attain a Ponton and. 2 other Mercedes’ Benz by the age of 20.
Really proud of my R129. Built on the W124 platform.
I own a W124 and a W108 for more than 30 years ; i love how they drive....period.
Lovely! Where are you based, and how many clicks on the odo have your cars managed to rack up? We'd love to know. If you like you can also write to us and email us photographs on rev.community@dw.com
The W108 received an engine overhaul in 1995 and it had over 350k km on the odo. She is with my in laws in Jogjakarta Indonesia. The w124 is my daily driver in sydney and it has about 359 K kms. My parent had w123, w116 and W114 and they all provided with the same solid ride and the thumping doors
All series cars are made by robots now. I remember in the early 90s Porsche had a commercial showing guys welding the cars. So yeah, those days are gone. But my current daily driver, a 2010 E550 Sport rwd 5.4L na V8 with amazing adjustable adaptive air suspension. AMG bits from the factory carried the great tradition. Mid-sized square-jawed Meisterstück. The new cars are fine but no real emotional attachment.
That is why i drive W124 and W140 cars today and still maintains them, but recently sold the w124 and bought the w210. Basically i own and operate, drives only 90's Mercedes. They are just the best of Mercedes to own and drive, comfortable and cheap to maintain and quite reliable by modern standards, which are rubbish with too many electronics. I'm from Malaysia and will keep these cars running until i'm old.
Happy to hear it’s treating you well
I have the W203 and love it
Old Mercedes Can Last forever, true engineering marvels, no other manufacturer even in there wildest dreams can compared to any Mercedes before 1999
Now , after the company run by accountants , all Japanese and Korean manufacturer have better cars , Mercedes cars now breakdown like ice cream in hot summer
That's we love before 2000Year Mercedes
1991 190d 2 with 150000 kms and a c200 cdi w203 with 433km. Benz Diesels are just amazing!
I wish DW would so unbiased when reporting on politics!!!
My father brought 180 made in 1955 from Royal Thai Family and even it was that old, we sold this car for taxi. The car was original paint and well maintain until we sold it and move to USA.
I have a W124, 300D. A sun roof and AC is the only extras. Change of oil and oil filter everything 5 000 km and the will most likely outlive me.
Mine W211. Love it!
🫶🏼 w211
I drive a magnificent w124 200ce everyday since I bought it 17 years before. Is a 92 model coupe. Easy reparable if you are a little bit handy.
I've had a few diesel Benz cars. W123 ,W201 n now a W210. My opinion is ; even though I enjoy my W210 very much , I wouldn't dare buy a newer model because the electronics n plastics keep increasing with each newer models. I think this documentary is spot on , the W124 is probably the best Benz to hold onto . In my case , it would have to be a Diesel ⛽ 🙂
Please Mercedes go back to making this kind of vehicle. I have a W201 and a W140 and they are 30 years old and they are the best cars ever built.
What an excellent video piece 👌🏼 like I have told my children and family, I don’t drive Mercedes for image or status, I like a car that has long term durability. My wife and I have been using MBZ in our family for 25+ years easily. We keep them until they have well over 300K miles..
Magnifico video con grandes y ciertas afirmaciones. Son unos coches fiables y resistentes a pesar de que algunos circulan por caminos intransitables para otros vehículos de su segmento. Tengo un W123 300TD de 1978 y estoy encantado.
Great video with great and true statements. They are reliable and tough cars even though some drive on roads that are impassable for other vehicles in their segment. I have a 1978 W123 300TD and am delighted.
They need to make Mercedes great again! I’d happily pay more for a car that lasts longer than the current ones. It’s much better for the environment too.
Great video, DW! I was only missing one thing about these Mercs; they were outrageously expensive to buy new! They might have eternal life (who cares when buying a new car and not planning to drive it the rest of your life?) but that's what you paid for.
Good point!
Mercedes Quality seems to come in waves the W204 and W212 are phenomenal cars
I dont know about the W204. Engines were reliable but interior material and build quality was awful.
I have owned several Mercedes-Benz, from some models.
The one model I owned more was the W201 - the legendary 190D - of which I owned four of them, all with the 2.0 Diesel Engine and a five speed manual transmission.
I also owned a W123, W124, W202, W203, and W204.
Then, I stopped.
They keep the same comfort, build quality, and sound isolation - which I really appreciate.
However, I noticed my maintenance bills kept rising, both due to the decrease in reliability, but also in the cost of parts.
Thus, I decided to stop spending so much on the car's purchase.
Meaning, I started buying Reanult cars, which offered me more comfort, but an inferior purchase price and a lower maintenance bill.
Yes, the overall build quality is not the same - but close enough.
Yes, the sound isolation on the highway is not the same - but it is enough at or under the speed limit.
Thus, I love Mercedes-Benz, but stopped buying them!
I don't buy the "keep it simple" argument.
Not only because the S-Class models (all the way back when there was not a Class to mention, e.g., the W126) - which is the luxury model - that make the Mercedes-Benz the desired brand; but also because the Multilink suspension system was what made the W124 and the W201 so special in terms of affordable comfort.
What made Mercedes-Benz so reliable and special was: engineering.
Hard, time-consuming, and testing engineering - which is very expensive.
After the W140, W124, and W201 in the late '80s and early '90s Mercedes-Benz stopped spending so much money in Research and Development, for both new platforms and new models.
The W202 was proof of that, which was a reliable product, because it was quite similar to the W201.
However, it did have very little to offer in addition.
To contradict critics, the W203 was a quite substantial leap forward, but it went through little testing, and had many issues, with several recalls and bills over the roof.
You can see that in your local taxi fleet.
In the past, Mercedes-Benz ruled the Taxi market.
Nowadays, there are some Mercedes-Benz, but Toyota with its Hybrid solution coupled with reliability; and many EVs, have dominated the Taxi market.
3:05 "They took their time back then, and didn't cost cut to death"
This is the true statement!
Mercedes Benz simply the king of cars, however they don’t build them like they used to anymore. I own a R107 450SL 1976 a W123 240D 1983 and a CLS350 2011. The CLS is my daily driver but I definitely prefer the old ones especially on a dry sunny day.
How nice. Where do you live?
@@DWREV I live in UK 🇬🇧
After mein first 190e 2.6 I would not drive any other cars since then. Still have my '92 W201 and my newer '03 W208 Cabriolet. Absolutely gems. Especially the 201 !
I Daily a 500K Km w201 2.0D that has been owned by my father since 1997, fantastic car, plastics show a little age, but in terms of reliability it is unmatched even by cars from 2010s
Those cars are the best, I drove a few of them, they were solid.
Still driving my w116 300SD 😊
It's like vinyl record player next to EVs ;)
So can anyone tell me what model and year mercedes is the best to get as I'm thinking of getting an old mercedes
I’m partial to the W123 series but any old Mercedes will work as long as it has been maintained.
Im the very proud owner of a 2004 C220 CDI Elegance W203 she is about to pass 200,000 miles love her to bits.
🙏 Where are you driving your beauty?
@@DWREV In the UK, so its a constant battle against the rust but I'm staying on top. I have taken all the wheels off ant stripped it back treated her and undercoated the underside. I hope to keep her on the road for as long as possible. Thank you for the excellent content by the way.
Ob das mit den Elektrokisten in 30 Jahren auch funktioniert?
Back then when you would look at car magazines and/or brochures, the Mercedeses, BMWs, Jaguars, Bentleys, etc. were all on a separate section set apart from the Toyotas, Nissans, Mitsubishis, etc. as the definition of a luxury car was crystal clear back then - classy-looking cars with an elevated standard of engineering and quality. Nowadays, the cars made by these brands are compared side-by-side with no differentiator as they all have the same build quality, engineering, and of course, predicted lifespan.
Totally true
I agree i wish we could have cars like this again its very sad
Herr Steins hat Recht, das echtes Mercedes-Benz Qualität hat bei 1997 geendet.
I'm a kid from the 80's and i only remember few cars that broke down.
But cars like Opel, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi and all the japanese never broke down. But that changed in the early 2000's.
Do you think the change is true of cars from all manufacturers across the board? Or do you feel it's especially true of manufacturers from Germany?
@@DWREV I think this problem exists through the board.
I remember times when the Opel Astra F was called a disaster for Opel because of its low quality. But this type of car runs even after 30 years without problems. And also interior quality wasn't that bad when you compare it to modern Mercedes C-Class...cheap plastics, everything squeeks and rattles.
Another example is timing chains. Back than they were all duplex-chains and had no problems with ripping apart or skipping teeth. Today engines die in big numbers because of timing chain failures.
And all that has nothing to do with smaller displacement but higher output. Reliability can be planned and enginered!
Back than people and also manufacturer thought more about their reputation than maximizing their profit in the short run...
Great auto
The engine on a w124 might last but those subframes are another story !
My 1986 w123 still runs beautifully, low maintenance car
Still happily driving my 84 300SD and my 01 E320.
German cars from the 70s to 90s were amazing. My dad used to own a 1970s VW Beetle and it ran beautifully.
Modern day German cars however are money pits, require a lot of maintenance and need to go to a mechanic often.
I drive a 1982 280CE so elegant I live in the past
Mercedes-benz w123 for me thank you
I still drive Mercedes (my current is a 2016 E350 and running great) BUT the quality that was in my 1978 450SEL is missing. I remember the days when seeing a Mercedes on the road in the USA was a special occasion. Now there are 8 on my street. They just got greedy starting in the late 90’s early 2000’s.
It’s really a shame
Das beste. My W126 is a beauty car