Benz E320 24V LIMITED Luxury Wagon. 7 Seats.

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 its design & engineering excellence but also for its 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 mileages that better those completed by long-distance trucks.
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 w123, this will be another 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 forum communities online with a still strong interest in w124's.

The attention to detail & quality MB put into the final spec. W124 wagon's design should be an inspiration to all car designers today. Unfortunately, these 124's were so good that the owners didn't replace them. And so MB had to reduce its quality and things began to go downhill from the next E class models...
This E320 Limited Wagon was previously owned by a mature non-smoker in Japan who, judging by the car's amazing condition & Tokyo number plate(s) at the time this car was selected by us, 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, being full Limited Specification, offered only in the Japanese market, as the premium model from Yanase, Mercedes -Benz official importer for Japan.

We ourselves, here at Newera have, despite the wide range of cars we are very familiar with, chosen W124's as our primary cars both in Japan & UK (Modified 300D Turbo & E500) and the reasons are simple: We understand these cars very well and firmly believe that if properly looked after and maintained, these models can provide an excellent driving experience for ourselves & families for decades to come. Choosing a car that won't have to be replaced for another 10-20 years, even perhaps longer, is a wise choice and will save money in the long term. Not least, these cars aren't becoming any easier to find and are now collectable and rising in value as demand for the best far exceeds supply.
For us, out w124's have each become a dependable member of the family, rather than one which must be replaced after a time.

In truth, finding such w124's such as this example is nowadays easier said than done (& getting ever more difficult with each passing year). Sourcing the very best cars is a typical challenge we at Newera Imports have been known for over 2 decades +. This is the very best s124 wagon you'll find, without a doubt.

EQUIPMENT

The extensive list of equipment includes: Full grey leather incl. electrically adjustable front seats with heating, 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 (With a Kenwood CD/Radio fitted), Dual SRS Airbags for front-seat occupants, Leather steering wheel with Mahogany 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 option floor mats (See comment on condition & custom-tailored & matched replacements to be included), remote central locking etc. The car smells good and (from the interior & exterior condition) had obviously been kept garaged and in Japan all of its life before being purchased by ourselves and also ever since.

Note the boot area's first aid kit, warning triangle, emergency torch and tool kit are complete & unused.
The 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. Central locking on this example, is of course pneumatic.

Design: Many features demonstrate how much thought & attention went into the design of the s124'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 & be locked into position completely upright, to the ease of ability to maintain & change parts, there's very little that goes wrong with these and that's a testament to the integrity of the original design by MB.

Some owners of various MB's have said the w124 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 air conditioning climate controls & illuminated vents. Visibility is excellent too and despite the headlights being Halogen filament type, they're well designed to give excellent lighting and include pneumatic (as opposed to electronic!) headlight level adjustment.
There are few electronics in these, which is largely why the w124 isn't known to suffer significant electrical problems, which sadly are 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. After the w124, Mercedes began to specify the use of electronics widely, even for simple systems such as the brake lighting circuit. Rather than employing a simple 12v circuit with thick wires, nowadays Mercedes uses thin wires with logic systems. When they fail, OBD2 diagnosis equipment is required. Such things have conspired to make physical wiring a lot thinner, which in turn can break, etc. You'd be forgiven for thinking after the w214 and 201 series, Mercedes-Benz began making their cars less reliable, on purpose.

EXTERIOR

Bodywork, as the pictures show, is excellent. Paintwork is very well preserved and we note a lack of stone chips too (indicating this car's always been driven slowly). There were a couple of small paint chips on the front o/s wing. These were touched-in by ourselves, using MB sourced & perfectly matched paint. Although visible if looking for these, they're too minor to warrant doing paintwork. However, we prefer to mention them, to give a complete report. Note there are ZERO pin dents nor any signs of body filler or accident repairs of any kind to be found on any of the bodywork. Note also that underneath there's no rust to be found on the chassis either. No jacking point corrosion, no rusty subframe mounts, no crusty brake lines. Nothing like that whatsoever.
Compare our example with a car that's been in Europe all its life and you should be prepared to be shocked at the difference. The MOT inspectors who last tested this car were shocked too.

Note this wagon has (rare on these) headlamp wash / wipe fitted. We noted the headlamp wipers are old & the rubber had deteriorated, so these were replaced with new MB-supplied items.

INTERIOR

The integrity of the design of 124's included much attention to aerodynamics, but also especially with regards to sound insulation. The engine bay is separated from the interior by not just one, but 2 walls of steel. This neatly insulates noise from the interior. Underneath the carpet, there is thick foam moulded into the contours of the reinforced floor. 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 saloons here in Japan, we have found ourselves arriving at a destination after a 7-hour drive - refreshed and not at all tired.

Interior Condition on this Limited wagon, is excellent as pictures will show. Leather is in excellent original condition, still soft & supple, further indicating this car has lived an indoor life. Original mats are in good condition (but new ones to be supplied, for best presentation for the new owner). The boot area has barely been used in over 2 decades. The wood veneers on the centre console are all in original condition with no cracking or delamination & door trim mahogany veneers are all without cracks too. All-electric seat adjustments work perfectly & silently, incl. headrest height, etc.
The Leather is all in great condition and appears to have barely been sat on. The rear-facing seat belts are neatly held out of the way when not in use. The rear folding seats appear to not have ever been used, but there's a slight mark in the centre section. This can be repaired in a small extra cost if desired, but we feel it's so minor we feel it's better to leave as is.
Upon arrival to the U.K., we fitted a dual-range (MPH & KM/H) speedometer face for UK & EU Use (Odometer continues in km, so mileage on odometer remains accurate - in line with FSH).

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Unlike U.K. cars engine bay has no corrosion at all, anywhere, even in the usually hidden areas of the inner wings.

Looking inside through the oil filler cap, you'd see camshafts are still like new with no crystalised oil deposits. This serves to confirm (& thereafter in the U.K. since arrival, of course). FSH shows it's had very regular oil changes with synthetic oil throughout its life in Japan and the engine is barely worn. Last oil change was less than 1,000km ago.
Signs show this car's been driven slowly and done mostly motorway kilometres (legal limit is 100 km/h in Japan). When originally inspecting this car, we naturally checked and noted the notorious engine loom remained soft and pliable, which helped confirm the car hasn't sat in traffic most of its life, but it has been changed during the last 1,000km in any case, as part of continued no-expense-spared maintenance for a trouble-free future, whilst parts are still available from MB.
The M104 engine has long proven itself as reliable & is known to run without trouble to 500,000km if properly maintained, as this example clearly has been to date.

WHEELS, BRAKES & SUSPENSION

Brakes are reassuringly good (4 pot callipers & 294 x 25mm vented discs front / opposing 2 piston rear callipers with 278 x 20mm vented discs rear). The 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 minimised, 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.
The self-levelling rear suspension works perfectly and upon recent inspection comes with a clean bill of health, exhibiting no leaks or any such problems. Wheels are of the original size with no corrosion (Finish is factory original, another indicator of providence). Tyres are of good quality and also near new.

CONDITION REPORT

Corrosion resistance is generally excellent on 124’s, but examples that have been on U.K. roads all of their lives have usually been subject to well over 2 decades and more of annual winter salt, mud & sand as a layer that tends to build up over the years. This mixture attaches itself to the underside, arches, exhaust, engine bay, bodywork, etc. whilst also being regularly splashed with dirty muddy water, resulting from use in typical weather in the U.K. The combination makes a great electrolytic substance and this is the cause of rust & other problems associated with corrosion. By now, the vast majority of U.K supplied examples are exhibiting some rot, which is often hidden – but often severe.
Such horrors usually reveal themselves only to those who truly know 124's and where to search. Naturally, we know - and thereby avoid the pitfalls.

By contrast, in Japan w124’s don't corrode in the same way as in the U.K.
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, although even there, salt is rarely spread. Japan's roads are also well-drained and protected from debris falling onto them since there are frequent earthquakes and typhoon rains can also be severe. This means mud, etc. isn't to be found on Japan's roads, unlike the U.K. and for this reason, this example is completely rust free. In fact, this is the best we've ever had.

This example was sourced and imported from Japan to the U.K. by Newera, to special order for a discerning customer in summer of 2017, with the order criteria, to source what would be the best example in the U.K. It had to be as perfect as possible and we met the challenge. This 24V E320 Limited wagon has been driven just 1,200 miles since arriving in the U.K, and then, always in dry weather.
It has been pampered ever since, receiving lots of regular maintenance and care (fully documented).
For someone who has been disillusioned by so-called "Rust Free" U.K. cars, wanting only the very best genuinely rust-free example of the highest factory spec. ready to drive in the U.K. now, it'll be impossible to beat this example. We feel it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this is probably the very best example of a w124 wagon currently available for sale within the U.K.

To give a complete report, here is the extent of minor faults we have noted on the entire vehicle:

There's a thin area of the driver's door seal which is damaged (see picture). Whilst this is only very minor and doesn't warrant replacement, to give a complete report, it's photographed and mentioned herewith.
There's a stain on the rear luggage area and another on the o/s/r passenger floor mat. We've cleaned these as best as possible with a steam cleaner and although much better than before, marks are still visible. Please see pictures.
We intend to order specialist high-quality fitted replacement mats from the U.K.'s best specialist in matching colour to the original carpet, including a mat for the trunk area. Supplied of course, without any additional charge. We haven't yet ordered, as we'd prefer for the new owner to choose what style is preferred (MB Logo, Mercedes-Benz Text, border colour, heel mat colour, interlocking edge stitching colour, etc. Please us know details of what's preferred when reserving the car and we'll make sure it's taken care of & delivered directly from Hamilton Classics, who will make them to special order for us.

TEST DRIVE

The 3.2 L (3,199 cc) 24 valve M104 engine produces 220 hp (162 kW) at 5500rpm and 310 N·m (229 ft·lbf) at 3750rpm. 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 an impeccable level of 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.

As to be expected of a properly looked after example, this E320 Limited drives faultlessly.
This is one of those cars that will break motorway speed limits, whilst purring quietly. Despite this being one of the last W124 wagons produced 21 years ago, this example's integrity means it still drives better & will without a doubt last a lot longer than most modern equivalents today.

HISTORY

This example was supplied new in 1995 (April) by Yanase, Japan - official MB Importers and is therefore not a grey import that came from Japan as a used car from Germany, hence why it's never seen salt.
With the best of these continuing to appreciate and being highly sought after, we haven't seen another left in this condition for years in Japan, now. With other W124 models such as convertibles & E500 models going up in value, it made sense to us that these 7-seater wagons have also risen in desirability & value and we fully expect they will continue to do rise in value steadily.
We'd stock more, if only we could, but supply is very limited of these E320 Limited models. This may realistically be the last we source, as the best are likely to command ever stronger premiums in the event such cars surface on the Japan market in future.

This E320 was sourced specifically for a UK customer car-enthusiast who wanted the very best w124 we could supply and this included the lowest mileage example we could find. Complete with a comprehensive service history from Japan, after arriving it had a full-service by ourselves (inclusive of transmission oil & filter change) at 106,159km in July 2017, before the new owner took delivery and has been serviced every year since regardless of lack of use.
Since then it's mileage has increased to only 107,962km (It's only done 1,803km / 1,120 miles since arriving in the UK), driven only in good weather and always dry stored in a new garage when not in use.
It's been serviced yet again and the new owner also had the wiring loom replaced. A testament to the care the car has continued to receive since the arrival to the U.K., probably even better than it was cared for by Yanase Mercedes-Benz throughout its life in Japan.

This unique Mercedes W124 E320 Limited represents a top opportunity to acquire a stunning and appreciating classic of best available condition & spec. I
n the UK and ready to go immediately. Price is inclusive of 3-month comprehensive warranty & new MOT.

If you'd like to arrange a viewing (by appointment only) or would a similar example sourced to order, Contact us.

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