The Mercedes Benz W124 series was the most successful car range in the company's entire history and today the 124 range is appreciated not only for it's design engineering excellence but also for it's longevity continued practicality. A total of 2,737,860 units of the 124 series were manufactured during just over 11 years in production, with 340,593 estates. Of these, only 18,368 were manufactured as E320 models (built from Sept 1992 to February 1996).With this many cars produced, being vehicles that last so well, many are still in use today. Some have lived their entire lives as taxis covering huge mileages. Many are still on used daily on roads around the world today, so virtually all parts remain available from MB and other pattern parts brands. Like it's predecessor the 123, this will be a car that remains well supported by MB for decades yet. Enthusiasm for these cars remains strong worldwide for all the right reasons. The last time we counted there were over 8 Benz communities online with a strong interest in 124's. We ourselves also choose W124's as our primary cars both in Japan UK (Modified 300D Turbo E500) and the reasons are simple. We understand these cars well and firmly believe that if properly looked after and maintained, can provide an excellent driving experience for ourselves families for decades to come. Choosing a car that won't have to be replaced for 10-20 years is a wise choice and will save money in the end too, but finding such an example is easier said than done, but finding the best cars is a typical challenge we are known for rising to.
Corrosion resistance is generally excellent, but examples that have been on UK roads all of their lives have usually been subject to 2 decades or more of annual winter salt, mud sand as a layer that tends to build up over the years attaching itself to the underside, arches, exhaust, engine bay, etc. which often finds itself mixed with moisture resulting from use in typical weather in the UK. This mixture combined makes a great electrolytic substance which is the cause of rust other problems associated with corrosion.
By contrast, in Japan cars don't corrode in the same was as in UK. In Japan salt isn't used on plains areas, only in the higher altitudes (mountains areas, etc). where people rarely go during winter due to difficult driving conditions and so even there, salt is rare. Japan's roads are well drained and protected from debris falling onto them since there are frequent earthquakes and typhoon rains can also occur. This means mud, etc. isn't to be found on roads, unlike the UK and for this reason, this example is completely rust free. For someone wanting the very best example available, it'll be hard to beat this one.
The attention to detail quality MB put into the final spec. W124 wagon's design should be an inspiration to car designers today. Unfortunately these 124's were so good owners didn't replace them, so MB had to reduce its quality and things begun to go downhill from the next E class models... This E320TE has been owned since new by a mature non-smoker who, judging by the car's amazing condition Tokyo number plate(s), clearly appreciated the virtues of a W124. This is the final best performing spec. of 124 produced this particular example has every option we've ever seen on a non-V8 W124.
Extensive list of equipment includes: Full grey leather incl. electric front seats with heating, factory fitted privacy glass, electrically heated door mirrors with electric adjustment for both sides (w/ usual larger size reduced blind-spot passenger mirror), Electric sunroof, Cruise Control, electrically adjustable steering column, Dual temp. control A/C, Original option high power speaker system incl. front door woofers rear door mounted speakers too, Dual SRS Airbags for front seat occupants, Leather steering wheel with Zebrano wood to match the rest of the interior, Luggage net (Can be used with all rear seats folded too!), rear tonneau cover, split foldable rear seats, original Yanase (Official MB Importer of Japan) option floor mats, remote central locking etc. The ashtray cigar lighter are unused. The car smells good and (from the interior exterior condition) has obviously been kept garaged and in a city all of its life when not in use. Note the boot area's first aid kit, warning triangle and spare + tool kit are complete unused and the carpet in the boot is in excellent unworn condition too. Amazing for a car of this age! Doors shut as effortlessly as the day the car left the factory and sound like a high quality fridge closing - no rattles, just a reassuring solid thud. The boot lid has a soft-locking electro-magnetic mechanism and there's even a leather strap to help close it. Remotely controlled central locking is of course pneumatic.
Design: Many features demonstrate how much thought attention went into the design of the 124's rear end to add usability. For example, the rear screen wiper operates automatically if the driver selects reverse when the front wipers are in use. There are more interior lights than the saloon too. Effective form function to the smallest detail. Having worked on many 124's over the years including our own, we see many design considerations that contribute to the overall integrity of these. Everything from how the bonnet can open completely upright, to the ease of ability to maintain change parts, there's very little that goes wrong with these and that's testament to the integrity of the original design by MB. Being the first time we take a very close look at an Estate 124 (we have specialized in E500's for the last 5 years), it's encouraging to see MB spent so much time making sure this was a quality wagon too.
Some owners of various MB's have said the 124 has what may be the best design of all for a Mercedes dashboard. It's elegance and ease of use, clear instrumentation with excellent lighting, quality of switches, cold air vent in the centre (helps avoid drowsiness in warm cabins), simple yet effective cruise control, speakers integrated invisibly by the A-pillars, simple A/C controls illuminated vents. Visibility is excellent too and despite the headlights being Halogen filament type, they give excellent lighting and include pneumatic (as opposed to electronic!) headlight level adjustment. There are few electronics in these, which is largely why the 124 isn't known to have electrical problems not uncommonly experienced on later models. If an exterior bulb fails, an orange light on the dash will illuminate to warn the driver. This is controlled through a resistance sensor, again - not by un-necessary modern CANBUS data electronics that plague modern MB's not long after they run out of warranty. Mercedes felt the need to use electronics to switch on brake lights rather than a simple 12v circuit with thick wires, as a need to have OBD2 diagnosis, but these things have conspired to make physical wiring a lot thinner, which in turn can break, etc. You'd almost be forgiven for thinking they went this direction on purpose... ! The integrity of design of 124's included much attention to aerodynamics, but also especially with regard to sound insulation. The engine bay is separated from the interior by not just one, but 2 walls of steel. This insulates noise from the interior. Underneath the carpet there is thick foam molded into the contours of the reinforced floor and combined with high quality rubber seals that don't fail and large heavy duty rubber bushes excellent suspension design all these combine to provide a quiet and relaxing ambience in which to travel. In our own 124 saloon here in Japan, we find ourselves arriving to a destination after a 7 hour drive - refreshed and not tired.
Interior Condition is near 100% perfect, as pictures will show. Leather is in excellent shape, carpets are unmarked original option (Yanase) floor mats are in good condition and even the boot area looks as if it's barely been used. The wood veneers on the centre console are all in original condition with no fading or delamination door trim veneers are all as new too. All electric seat adjustments work perfectly silently, incl. head rest height, etc.The Leather is all in great condition and appears to have barely been sat on. These rear facing seat belts are neatly held out of the way when not in use. Exterior Condition: Bodywork as pictures show is excellent. It's clearly been stored indoors throughout it's life when not in use (registered in Nagoya). Paintwork is very well preserved and we note a distinct lack of stone chips too (indicating this car's been driven slowly). We also noticed some minor scratches to the wheel edges, nothing too deep. There are clear pictures of each wheel. Note that these still have original factory finish on - a testament to the underside condition of this car. It has ZERO rust. We pay strong attention to such details, as we would want were we considering purchasing this car ourselves. The self-levelling rear suspension works perfectly. Note this wagon has (rare on these) headlamp wash / wipe fitted too. Underneath there's no rust to be found at all and even the rear silencer has most of it's original factory protective paint still intact. We did note there are just two pin dents - one on each rear passenger door; see pictures). Also there are some carefully touched in chips on the edges of doors (With perfectly matched paint). Things like this attention to care of a 20+ year old car are a sign that the previous owner cherished this car!
Engine bay has no corrosion at all, anywhere. The engine still carries the original factory sprayed anti-corrosive wax over lacquer. Looking inside under the cover, we could see camshafts are still like new, which confirms it's had very regular oil changes with synthetic oil throughout it's life in Japan and the engine is barely worn. Signs show this car's been driven slowly and done mostly motorway kms (legal limit is 100 km/h in Japan). Service history confirms this also. We checked and note the engine loom is still soft and pliable, which helps confirm the car hasn't sat in traffic most of it's life. The M104 engine has proven itself as reliable is known to run without trouble to 500,000km, if properly maintained as it has been to date.
Test Drive: The 3.2 L (3199 cc) 24 valve M104 engine produces 220 hp (162 kW) at 5500 rpm and 310 N·m (229 ft·lbf) at 3750 rpm. For this twin cam design, to improve on prior 3 litre models MB developed the variable inlet camshaft system to boost gas flow at low to medium speeds to maximize low end torque, without losing performance at higher engine speeds. The result was impeccable performance which to this day still works perfectly. Weighing only 1,510kg the M104 engine can propel this 7 seater wagon to around 145 mph with sensible or brisk performance as desired. The engine purrs quietly smoothly at idle, almost making itself imperceptible. Transmission is creamy smooth and takes up well.
Brakes are reassuringly good (4 pot calipers 294 x 25mm vented discs front / opposing 2 piston rear calipers with 278 x 20mm vented discs rear). Self-levelling rear suspension means this makes a great car to carry luggage in, or tow with and it's known to give excellent ride quality regardless of carrying loads in the back. For this model anti-roll bars were made larger (Same size as coupe Convertible E320's), meaning body roll is minimal, offering good handling by way of the excellent 5-link rear suspension that was introduced in the 124 series and continued for several subsequent replacement series.
As to be expected of a properly looked after example, it drives faultlessly is one of those cars that will break motorway speed limits whilst purring quietly with the usual W124 sound proofing keeping the interior sedate relaxing, in part due to the excellent sound deadening in the floor, lowest in period of class aerodynamics and the engine bay being separated from the cabin by two walls. Despite this being one of the last W124 wagons produced 21 years ago, this example's integrity means it still drives better will without doubt last a lot longer than most modern equivalents today.
This example was supplied new in 1995 (May) by Yanase, Japan - official MB Importers and is therefore not a grey import that came from Japan as a used car from Germany. With the best of these now appreciating, as there are so few left in this condition and with other W124 models such as convertibles E500 models going up in value, it made sense to us that these too have begun to climb in desirability value. For our stock we only select top condition with the best spec. possible being intended for sale in the UK market it has to be RHD. Most W124's of higher spec in Japan are LHD since this has been considered a status symbol since the end of WW2, so finding this particular car took much daily diligent daily searching. We also only search for the very best spec'd examples - hence why all of our previously sold W124 wagons have each had leather seats too. Knowing 124's well, we've picked out this particular example as what we would want were we looking for the same car personally. When it reaches the UK it'll have our usual full specialist check-over, extensive service and a new MOT so it's ready for daily use for it's new owner.
This unique Mercedes W124 E320TE represents a top opportunity to acquire an appreciating classic of best possible condition spec. It's the lowest original mileage E320 7 seater wagon we've stocked yet. Ready to leave for the UK immediately, this example is priced at £10,495 includes 12 months comprehensive warranty, new MOT UK registration. Contact us for further details on how to reserve or to arrange viewing after arrival (unlikely to be unsold by the time it has travelled all the way to the UK)
Don't delay - It took a long time to search for this car and there are people looking out for the best examples - even UK specialists in W124's don't usually offer this spec condition combined. Once it's sold we expect it to take us another 3 months at least to find another RHD as good as this. If enquiring from other countries, please note we would be able to source similar spec LHD example to special order.
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