1990 Mercedes 300CE Coupe *Now with added lows*

[MrSpeedy]

Well, I decided a replacement for my old 190E was required. As much fun as it is bezzing around in the Vitesse, there are some days were I journey would not be a full on assault on all my senses.

Having spent considerable time ooking, I decided the car I NEED would be either a W123 or W124 coupe. Decent W123's are more than I wanted to spend so narrowed it down the the later.

Anyways, a little jolly up to Nottingham last night after a sucsessful weeks bidding and I am now the happy owner of this;





Now, it's a 21 year old car, so it's not perfect. But, it is in pretty damn good condition.

This next picture may show why;



Every single receipt for work on the car from new totalling £9K . I curse word you not !! All Main Dealer stuff too. The car has been in the same family from day one before the P.O. I bought it from.

Every service stamp is in the book upto 180k. Again, all main stealer.

Now the speedo was replaced at 150 (again, documented by main dealer) and the car feels as tho the current reading of 37k is the actual one. It is tight, quiet, no rattles, pulls like a bloody train and feels like it would survive a nuclear holocaust !

To say I'm happy so far, is reasonable ;D

I've never had a car before with such complete history, and all for less than a bag of sand. (Including fuel to fetch it)

And to top it all off, the 3litre barge returned over 30mpg on the run home.

It will recieve a little 'treatment' as and when funds permit. It's a short list tho, consisting of tints, wheels, springs and clear front indictors.

[andy9eleven]

Looks like a lovely example. Always had a soft spot for these.

[tali100]

Any nice optional extras on it? Merc made you pay for everything extra even when spending 30k!

[BenzBoy]

Very nice! I really like the W124 - such a great quality car and these coupe's look really cool!

[MrSpeedy]

Not too many extras tbh, but I see that as a bonus as it's less things to go wrong !! lol

I always thought my old 190e was a nice drive, but this is in a class of its own. Even better than my old XJ40 imho.

It does make you feel good and smiley when wafting about in it. Just added some tunes and that's about it for now i think.

And It's still returning aroung 30-35mpgs !! Happy days.

[MrSpeedy]

Well, not quite, but I can haz nooo rimz!



Not a Donk, but it does remind me of one atm.

Now, where did I leave that stick..............



Not much room left in the arches now





You may have noticed (or not) that I've also fitted clear front indicator lenses. Completely changes the look imho

[Sinky]

Wow! A good history and nice motor.

Happy Wafting.

[Brian Damaged]

That is nice.

I'm thinking of starting a new W124 club called 'The Wafty Crankers'

I feel the same about mine, even with a lowly four-banger under the hood. No need to shout 'look at me', just stick it in D, engage cruise control and glide serenely to your destination.

[MrSpeedy]

I must admit, it is literally THE comfiest barge I've ever owned. Even better than my old XJ40!

You can feel it's a well put together car.

It is the 'Ronseal' of cars. It really does do exactly what it's supposed to, and does it well

[sphinx]

Looks like a great purchase!

[MrSpeedy]

Soooo, after many trouble free miles I decided to finally do something else to it.

Oil and filter changed and then dropped it off at a unit for the day.

When I picked it up it looked like this;







I know it's a little 'drug dealer', not to mention technically asking for a slapped wrist for front tints, but personally I think it looks 100% better.

Next on the list is to add some much needed lows

[tommy300ce]

Tints look great! Took mine out for a quick spin today blow the webs out as been working on it for a few weeks and ended up doing 30 miles! It just drives so damn well.

[maf260]

Is it normal for the rear wheels to sit so far forward in the arches? Looks really odd to me.

[MrSpeedy]

Sept 26, 2012 11:26:13 GMT maf260 said:

Is it normal for the rear wheels to sit so far forward in the arches? Looks really odd to me.

Must be the camera angle or summat co they sit dead central when you look at it


Anyways,
Following a rather sketchy drive home on Sunday night in the dark and rain I decided something had to be done. (At one point I couldn't see the road at all and could only navigate by following the cats eyes due to being blinded by Audi A4s with badly adjusted/main beam headlights )

So, I've invested in a HID kit (yeah, I know they're a bit 'chavvy' but the Benz candles seem a little inadequate)



Seems to have the effect of making the car look even more 'clean' and modern

[MrSpeedy]

Well, having now driven the car in the dark, I find myself wondering why I haven't done this conversion earlier. Best half hour and £50 I've ever spent I think!

[oli8925]

Sept 26, 2012 18:06:54 GMT MrSpeedy said:

blinded by Audi A4s with badly adjusted/main beam headlights

Sept 26, 2012 18:06:54 GMT MrSpeedy said:

So, I've invested in a HID kit

Sorry but eh? The Audis aren't badly adjusted, that's just modern lights/HIDs. They're a thing of pure evil. And now you've fitted after market HIDs into a car whose headlight aren't made to have HIDs and won't disperse the light probably, becoming as annoying as 'those Audis' to any other driver. Plus surely that's now an MOT fail as you're supposed to have self-leveling headlights and high flow headlamp washers, although whether they'll pick up on it is anyones guess. Don't mean to be a downer or a jobsworth type but you've just become what you were bitching about

I've always found a decent set of halogen bulbs more than adequate anyway, have Osram Nightbreakers fitted and they're great.

Anyway, loves these things. The shape, a nice set of wheels and decent drop makes them look so hard. There's a black W126 SEC down the road with the above that just looks so perfectly menacing. Talking of drop, any plans for that yet?...

[dave80]

been looking at these recently,you get a lot of car for not much money,and with a drop and wheels look mean.nice tints by the way.

[MrSpeedy]

Sept 28, 2012 22:31:25 GMT oli8925 said:

Sept 26, 2012 18:06:54 GMT MrSpeedy said:

blinded by Audi A4s with badly adjusted/main beam headlights

Sept 26, 2012 18:06:54 GMT MrSpeedy said:

So, I've invested in a HID kit

Sorry but eh? The Audis aren't badly adjusted, that's just modern lights/HIDs. They're a thing of pure evil. And now you've fitted after market HIDs into a car whose headlight aren't made to have HIDs and won't disperse the light probably, becoming as annoying as 'those Audis' to any other driver. Plus surely that's now an MOT fail as you're supposed to have self-leveling headlights and high flow headlamp washers, although whether they'll pick up on it is anyones guess. Don't mean to be a downer or a jobsworth type but you've just become what you were bitching about

I've always found a decent set of halogen bulbs more than adequate anyway, have Osram Nightbreakers fitted and they're great.

Anyway, loves these things. The shape, a nice set of wheels and decent drop makes them look so hard. There's a black W126 SEC down the road with the above that just looks so perfectly menacing. Talking of drop, any plans for that yet?...

Ha ha, I know I've become what I was complaining about. I figured if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! lol

I'm hoping to attack it with the lowering stick over the next couple of weeks. It desperatley needs to lose a couple of inches to fetch it down out of the clouds

[stretch]

love it looks the dogs fella just needs lowness

[MrSpeedy]

Sept 29, 2012 9:09:54 GMT stretch said:

love it looks the dogs fella just needs lowness

And now it has it!

Not too severe this time (my old 19e was sat on it's and became a pain) but just a nice subtle drop I think, which looks loads better and still remains perfectly driveable







I think the rear needs to go down a little more yet, but I'll wait and see how it settles

All made possible by my latest purchase



May seem a little excessive buying the proper kit, but anyone who has messed about with these cars will know that there's no easy or safe way to remove these springs without the risk of losing a digit or your face!!

And seeing as this kit will now lay dormant for god knows how long, I'm willing to hire it out to any R-Rers who want to lower their Merc safely for a nominal £10 beer fund contribution