1991 Mercedes-Benz 300E

First registered in February 1991, this first-generation facelift W124 is finished in the attractive colour combination of blue bodywork over a grey leather interior, and can quickly be picked out from the pre-facelift cars by the addition of colour-coded ‘Sacco Planks’ along the lower quarter of the bodywork.

Fitted with a 3-litre, naturally-aspirated inline-six engine, this 300E has enjoyed the company of five keepers in total, and has evidently enjoyed significant expenditure during the last ten years, the majority of which was centred around the engine itself.

In 2013 a total of nearly £3,500 was spent on overhauling the engine, giving it a major service and other attention as it required. A full itemised invoice is available below, but highlights of this round of works include:

Major service, including filters, gearbox oil/filters, coolant flush and other sundry items

- Fitment of a new rocker cover gasket and other engine seals

- New battery earth cable

- Full discs and pads all round, including sensors

Following these works being carried out, the car was again given what appears to be a partial engine rebuild / overhaul in 2015 at a cost of £2,559, with the following items addressed, among other works:

- New head gasket

- New valve stem seals

- New inlet and exhaust valves

- Fitment of a new timing chain, tensioner and guide rails

- New crankshaft seal, rocker cover gasket and sump gasket

- Installation of a new radiator, thermostat and viscous fan coupling

In the years since, this E-class has enjoyed regular servicing - in 2019, 20 and 21 respectively, along with annual MoT exams which not only attest to the mechanical nature of the car, but also help verify the low mileage displayed on the odometer.

With its unmistakably-Sacco lines, squared-off bodywork and thoroughly 80s/90s lines, there’s no mistaking the W124 for any other sedan of the era.

It’s fair to say, however, that in spite of the seemingly strong money spent on the mechanicals of this particular 300E, the bodywork has certainly seen better days.

Whilst we’ve documented the bodywork and its condition in extreme detail - see the extensive gallery of photographs below - we’ll highlight the most prominent imperfections:

- Scuffs to the front and rear bumper rubber trims

- Corrosion bubbles above the rear window, around the nearside front arch, and other small ‘scabs’ across the bodywork

- Numerous more noticeable scuffs, scrapes and imperfections from years of use

- Typical smattering of stone chips, marks and other patina to the paintwork

That said, the bodywork on the whole looks to be straight, with only a few small door alignment issues noted during our photo shoot, along with the typical ‘car park’ dents as you’d expect from a vehicle of this age.

The light lenses - both front and rear - look to be in good order, whilst the windows are all free from damage and appear to be original, with the exception of the windscreen which was replaced in 2017.

All four wheels are in fair condition, though there are some signs of kerb rash and marks on each of the wheels.

Inside, the grey leather interior has fared significantly better than the exterior of this 300E, and presents in decent condition overall.

The seats, for example, show only some light commensurate wear and scuffs to the bolsters in keeping with a car of this age and mileage, whilst the carpets, dashboard and other high-traffic areas are also in useable order, with no signs of any major damage, cracks to the dashboard or other wear beyond what would be considered normal.

We did note that the trim/cover for the centre armrest is missing, and there is some sagging visible on the headliner above the drivers door.

Up above, the sunroof is in full working order, However we do note the sunroof doesn't completely close therefore we would advise keeping under cover until this is rectified. We currently cannot see any sign of water ingress.

In the rear, the boot carpet has been replaced with a cut rug, though underneath the boot trim is in good order, though both side trims require some fettling to get them back in place properly.

We also noted that there is a hole around the size of a 5 pence piece on the offside rear wing, which can be seen through the boot upon removing the offside trim. This may be weld-able, or may require a new wing, depending on the assessment of an independant bodywork specialist.

As far as we could tell, the gauges were all working correctly, as was the blower and air-conditioning unit, though a re-gas would be suggested. We also noted that the alarm/immobiliser system requires a strange ‘dance’ between the buttons, fob and key to work, but this is something you’d get used to in no time, we imagine.

It would seem that the time and money spent on getting the inline-six engine to such good health were well-spent, as during our photo shoot the mechanicals of this W124 appear to be in excellent condition, with the exception of the fact that a new battery is required.

During our test drive and shoot, the engine behaved without issue, with no untoward behaviours noted, and no strange noises on-the-go, though there was a slight rubbing sound coming from the fan shroud area.

Similarly, out on the road the gearbox happily shifted up-and-down without issue and without uncharacteristic jerkiness, whilst speed bumps and uneven roads didn’t reveal any noises or issues with the suspension system.

Looking at the engine itself, there appears to be a continuing leak/misting around the rocker cover and along the nearside edge of the engine, though this may be relatively minor - we’d suggest cleaning up the block and monitoring the situation.

Underneath, we could see no concerning signs other than the aforementioned hole in the OSR wing, and a recent clean MoT exam suggests no hidden issues either, though we always welcome inspections and independant assessments - just use the ‘contact seller’ button above to arrange an appointment.

As always, we’ve photographed the full extent of the documentation and history we have present with the vehicle, and this is available to view towards the end of the gallery below.

Highlights include:

- The V5, showing just four former keepers

- The current MoT certificate with no advisory items, valid until May 2022

- A stamped service record from new until 1999

- Invoices for servicing from 2013 onwards

- Two ‘big ticket’ invoices for the aforementioned engine works

- Miscellaneous handbooks

- Two sets of keys, remote locking buttons and immobiliser fobs.

Offered with NO RESERVE and an estimate of £3,000 to £5,000 this 300E holds plenty of potential for someone looking for a useable cosmetic restoration vehicle, and with extensive works on the engine in the vehicle’s recent history, we imagine it’ll give plenty more years of enjoyment and service, subject to regular routine maintenance as you’d expect from a vehicle of this era.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.