[canonball]

Was offered the following:

1. Green Blue 2000 E250D auto with 82k full maintaince history quoting 10L!
2. Green Blue 1999 E250D auto with 80K quoting 9L!
3. Silver Mist 1998 E250D auto with fabirc 50k quoting 9L!
4. Silver Mist 1999 E250D auto with fabric 55k quoting crazy amount 15L!!! Says we can sit and settle price!!
5. Green Black 1999 E250D auto with fabric 80K quoting 11L

Should I even bother seeing these cars guys? Being told don't pay anything above "6L for immaculate car" quoting exact words of the person giving advice!

This person himself picked up a brand new E250D mannual (closing sale) from MB in 2001 at 18L company registered!!!

[iraghava]

Wrong post. Please delete.

[Yeldo]

Well, I'm not able to offer you a car, but as somebody who owned a W124 E250D MT, a W210 E250D AT, a W210 E220CDI, a W211 220CDI an a W203 C200CDI, I would wholeheartedly endorse you going for a W210 E250D. Buying an old car means high maintenance, and I understand you know it well, so need not bother about that angle. The W210 CDI's are better performers, but with harsher ride from the low- pro tires. Avoid W203's unless you get a very very good deal on one. Full service history at an authorised MB facility is a must in any case. Also look out for suspension/ under body issues as the first W210's had poor ground clearance.

While you are at it, would you be so kind and oblige me, I'm also interested in a low mileage W210 E250D or any Indian made W124's. Those in Kerala have clocked 1,50,000+ mileages. W211 is up for model change, and from what I've seen abroad, the upcoming replacement looks even worse!

[canonball]

I am with you yeldo. I owned a W210 cdi as well and found the ride tad hard and find the W210 250d is softer and her mechanicals are simpler compared to Cdi and w211. I will keep an eye out for you as well, there are several w124 e250d's in the market unfortunately they are mostly with dealers/investors or owners. Values being low dealers are not very interested in commission but rather invest I am not sure as yet whether this is ultimatley profitable as used car market is supressed right now.

[V-16]

Originally Posted by canonball

So Gogibhai mere liya gaddi la do na!

Sir, on the job!!

Gogi another point is that there were many w210's in fabric upholstry and mannual combo in the initial lot, and later some even opted for auto only. Saw 3 cars so far all auto's with fabric! What was the color of the 17k car? Did it have leather?

Yes there were.

I think the colour is called blue black. Its a very dark grey, not a black.

Posting pics of the car.

These are the only pics if the car, This is when my friend changed the front grill to sports one and added the hideous faux metal chrome inserts to the rear lights. YUCK!! but to each his own.
The interior is full leather and in great nick

aadix more keen on w210 that too 250d for relative ease of upkeep/maintainence. Compared to the CDi's these are less complicated and more robust baring ground clearance. W203 are a big maintianence problem once they cross 50 to 60k I did some research on this.

I would agree. Very solid and one of the last breeds where they were built like a tank, still unlike the W123 and the W124s.

Incidently got the inside and very reliable line on what these cars are valued at in the market today. Ready it is Rs. 6 Lacs for an average run (read 50K) immaculate E250D. This from a main man to all official MB company dealers/service stations etc. He never gets his numbers wrong

I would agree at the price. There was a crappy one but all dolled up with AMG labelling et all for 4.75 too, a E230. Wrong choice, someone made it and is crying all the way to the garage.

Then again it all depends on you. If the car is relly maintained very well and there are only few examples of this, then one can pay a premium say about 25k to 50k not more. I was offered a lemon W123 240D from the south done only 23K kms from new. You will not believe the condition it was in. He wanted 4.5 for the car and i was ready to pay him even 3ish but he wouldn't budge. It even had the original plastic covering on the sun visors (i believe they came in export models). Amazing drool worthy condition. Of course i didn't buy it but its a spur of the moment thing. This was about a year and a half ago when i got my RR and Miata. I believe it was sold at 3.75 to some South Indian Actor who is also a collector settled in Hyderabad. Dont know who, maybe someone can tell.

[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by V-16

I think the colour is called blue black. Its a very dark grey, not a black.


These are the only pics if the car, This is when my friend changed the front grill to sports one and added the hideous faux metal chrome inserts to the rear lights. YUCK!! but to each his own.
The interior is full leather and in great nick



I was offered a lemon W123 240D from the south done only 23K kms from new. You will not believe the condition it was in. He wanted 4.5 for the car and i was ready to pay him even 3ish but he wouldn't budge. It even had the original plastic covering on the sun visors (i believe they came in export models). Amazing drool worthy condition. Of course i didn't buy it but its a spur of the moment thing.

The color is called "green black", even by MB service people. If the original grille on the car in the pic was not damaged, it might be lying around. Back then, chrome inserts costed a whopping figure. I had these on my W210. It was also "green- black". The trimmings somehow don't look good on black/ green black/ beige/ ruby red/ silver cars, but looked fantastic on the white ones. Would you believe, the person who bought my car plated the entire front grille in gold- like colour! It is still running around in Bangalore, I think.

Regarding the lemon W124, was it LHD? If yes, it was owned by my late father's acquaintance. I have driven it around. There can't be many 240D's of that color down South.

[V-16]

@ Veldo- no bud it was a RHD and it was a W123 not a W124. It was a 1984.

Yes its called green black. My mistake.

[Yeldo]

Originally Posted by V-16

@ Veldo- no bud it was a RHD and it was a W123 not a W124. It was a 1984.

Yes its called green black. My mistake.

Oops, sorry, I also meant W123. Afraid it's OT, anyway that's settled.

[canonball]

Gogi she looks clean I agree with yo on the grill not to my taste either, rather put the avantgarde grill. Front bumper grill section seems missing and the rear letterings gone to, she looks clean though Wish I had told you ealier anyway everything happens for a reason. So I Gogi if understand 6.5 max?

[V-16]

Originally Posted by canonball

Gogi she looks clean I agree with yo on the grill not to my taste either, rather put the avantgarde grill. Front bumper grill section seems missing and the rear letterings gone to, she looks clean though Wish I had told you ealier anyway everything happens for a reason. So I Gogi if understand 6.5 max?

Yes, i would also prefer the original grill but the owner loves this one. The part looks missing as the grill was being installed at that time. The rear badging is deliberately removed by the owner for reasons best known to him.
6.5 max i cannot say. As i said, if the car is great like the one I posted, then one can pay a premium but not more than 7ish.

No sweat now i know you want one so im on the lookout.

[canonball]

In search for an W210 E250D auto I am faced with a quandry whilst low miles cars like the one above look great are they better on realibilty? Or better to buy cars with say 80K a good average for 10+ yeas cars. Only issue I face is that 80K cars don't have the best body condition something I cannot see myself driving (All my cars notwithstanding age look like they just stepped out of the showroom )

I liked one car with 70k but her grey leather seat (grey's crack and deteriorate earlier) were changed to cloth and she had been professionally oversprayed. Added to which she did not have showroom history made me look away. I keep getting offered greenblacks (V16 ) somehow Greenblack's were sold in higher numbers (read forced onto customer) as a dealer insider tells me. I have seen 4 green blacks, 2 golds on a sad state and one black

GTO/V16 and all others your comments pls? My search continues as I know from experience paitence will yield the car I want

[Ricky_63]

Am also looking for a W124 250D, found a few, the one I may be looking seriously at is a single owner, original paint (only both bumpers are repainted). Has done 1,23,000 kms. Seller not willing to budge below 6L.

From what I hear the cars that have been running regularly are far better than the ones just sitting in garages.

Is it a fair price ? Given that everything is in running order ?

Another option I have is a 1999, E 250D, single owner, done 43,000 kms. Asking 9L. Mint condition. Personally prefer the shape of the W 124



Please advice.

[canonball]

6 is high 4 is fair. Is the 99 E250d an auto and what color she? lastly cloth or leather? Any pics of the car? thx

[Ricky_63]

Originally Posted by canonball

6 is high 4 is fair. Is the 99 E250d an auto and what color she? lastly cloth or leather? Any pics of the car? thx

I may go to see the '99 250D but only post Diwali. Will let you know the details.



Cheers

[canonball]

Thx ricky and let me know as I would like to consider it if you indeed stick to a w124 (hope you do!). Please keep in mind 98 to 2000 (prefacelift) W210 have the lowest ground clearance of any car made in India (really) so way more than w124 therefore less practical. They are famous for scrapping so you need to keep this in mind which many don't realise in a test drive therefore this partiular model has limited go anywhere capability unlike w124. I have taken this into account against my ussage pattern and therefore OK with it

Please take some pics (all 4 sides, dashboard and rear seats) so we can all see. Happy Diwali