Driving The 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E W124 - Silky Smooth German Nostalgia (POV Binaural Audio)
Special Thanks to Bond Group in Waltham, MA for tossing the keys to this immaculate 27,000 miles 1989 Mercedes-Benz 300E. Find their incredible inventory at www.bondgroupusa.com
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#RespectTheDrive #mercedes #w124
The W124 was actually quite the opposite of a brick, it might have looked like one, but at the time it was one of the most aerodynamic cars built, and still quite great today.
definitely doesn't look aerodynamic
I think it was the most aerodynamic mass produced car.
W124 has a cW of 0.3, later on optimized to 0.26. Other noteworthy models are W203 with 0.26 and W212 with 0.25
@@formatique_arschloch Very impressive cd 0.29 for 1986 era produced car !
@@hseochinmercedes had a lot of moneey
The quality of old Mercedes is sorely missed
@@bwofficial1776 Cost-cuts during the 90s are a pretty big myth. They were actually spending more than ever trying to keep up with the Japanese. It was really around 2002, a few years after the start of Daimler-Chrysler, where terrible decisions were made. Even more towards the end of the Daimler-Chrysler era. Many point to interior plastic failure and rust issues, etc., but both of those were due to costly experimentation with new methods (lightweight materials to catch up to Japanese plastics dominance, and better corrosion protection methods).
The interior and dash are perfection. Cars now look like they are designed for a 6-year-old. Christmas lights everywhere so cheesy, tacky, backward and stupid. But that's what the Chinese market likes. Cultural revolution left nothing but trash. Mindless consumers.
One generation back was even better
@@JorgeItuarte things evolve Jorge
Things got worse, Zoblizar.
My Grandfather gave me his 1988 300E when he passed away, it also has the really rare „Reiserechner“ Computer in the instrument cluster. I love it and will keep it (hopefully) forever.
Ich wünsche Ihnen viel Freude an diesem wunderbaren Auto. Ich fahre einen 88er 300TE mit geschätzten 400 Tausend Kilometern auf dem Tacho.
@@heimatliebe116 me T00! Last year. 1995. 226k miles. Dailydriver. Carry my mountain bikes.
@@justinhenderson5710 Wonderful! I wish you many, many more miles of beautiful motoring!
Ich hab den reiserechner auch im 260e, einfach ein klasse Feature und super cool für die Zeit. Das Auto ist einfach herrlich beruhigend in der Fahrweise. So hat Mercedes ja damals auch geworben ;)
Shame about your grandfather but to keep his legacy you should keep that car as a reminder everytime you see it.
The W124 it's simply the best or nothing, Bruno Sacco managed to made one of the most beautiful sedans ever
My dad had the 260E version of this car. It had done over 400 000 miles with only one side shaft replaced and a set of injectors installed. Truly one of the best and most durable road cars ever made
80s Mercedes was the best. I've had several W123 diesels. Excellent cars.
Yes the diesels especially would go 500,000 miles or more. Definitely seen them as taxi 🚕 cabs in parts of Europe and other parts of the world.
this car is absolutely legend. you can still see them really often here in Germany, because everybody knows about it's quality and reliability. But you need to know that it is liable to rust, especially the late models with water based paint
My parents had an '88, so this car is super familiar. How could you not demostrate the remote dropping headrests? :)
Remote what ...
Something i still am angry that they dropped. Had them in a 94 ' c-class and a 2002 E-class and miss that feature in my W212.
@@LordOfChaos.x yup, the backseat head rests drop down with a push of a button, so you can see more out of the rear window. Funky feature.
Yes! My 1st car was a w202 C180 and that was my party trick haha Scared so many that didn't expect it
I was thinking the same thing!!! Such a great feature.
I had the pleasure of using a ‘90 300E as a daily driver from 222,000 to 238,000 miles in one year. I am SHOCKED at the level of quality that was built into these cars. It didn’t matter if it was parked outside overnight in below zero temps, it would fire up on the first crank at 4:30 the next morning to promptly carry me to work! The one you drove in your video, with 200,000 less miles, seemed to drive exactly the same as mine did in almost every way. Now that is impressive!
I had the pleasure of driving a 90 300E (in black) for some years. It was a fantastic daily driver which had no faults with very little maintenance required. It was the epitome of 'they don't build them like they used to.'
I had one about 15 years ago. Great car. I love the way the old Benz's feel like a tank and accelerate like a locomotive. I think some early examples of the W124 were available with a manual, but the take rate was low.
4 or 5 speed manuals were the most common option in the 4 cyl w124 in Europe. But you could get also the 300E and 300E -24 with a 5 speed manual. I've driven a 300E with 5 speed manual. Was actually pretty fun. Felt pretty quick when you downshiftet to 2:nd and floored it.
I owned a 1986 Anthracite /with tan interior. I was the second owner. It was a magnificent vehicle to drive on the highway. It was solid. The single windshield wiper wowed everyone. Its double firewall engine bay seemed very unique and intelligent. The only problem I had was that it had the air conditioner refrigerant was inferior when Mercedes tried something new. It The dealer and other shops couldn't get that A/C cold....but that was my only real complaint. There were no built in cupholders at the time, but an aftermarket window hung was a partial work around. It was a tremendously confident vehicle to cruise in. These were some of the last vehicles that Mercedes built that were formidable. The new ones are not the same. They are are not made to last...these were. Also of note, the sunroof. The sunroof has a hand crank tool available in case the power goes out to the sunroof...allows you to open or close it by hand in case of such a failure.
@@martinsv9183 What is with the US and not getting a manual option on vehicles, if only!
@@thekrimsonchin6023 Trust me, you don't want the W124 as a manual. It's very slushy, wiggly and not fun to drive compared to the smoother automatic. I bet there's no one on this planet who manages to shift from 1st to 2nd in a W124 without the car jerking a bit.
@@planej6315 I can shift my w124 without any jerking.
I adore these things. Such a beautiful era from Mercedes. Everything is so intelligently laid out under the hood, and the working space is so nice to see.
*I was born in 1982 and it was the first benz I fell in love with w124 coupe and w126 coupe 1986 including this one. Now 2023 still love it the memories*
My father owns a w124 200E Diesel. It is his first car and also his daily driver until now. That car has more than 800.000 KM and Runs Smoothly. My childhood was spent rinding this car thinking that my dad was the coolest out there rideing it. Now I am looking to buy one for myself. I just fell in love with the interior and exterior design of that car. It is even more special because you dont see these cars on the road that often.
The feeling of driving these old Mercs cant be replicated with newer cars. I never got that feeling from any car.
Great combo: 1989, so no wiring harness issues; 6 cylinder engine; nice colours; low miles. Sweet!
1:46 Later models also had an electric door-side mirror. 3:30 The first aid kit has actually been moved to the inside deliberately. In case of an accident with a severe rear-end collision, it might be that the trunk can't be opened anymore. It's basically a safety feature. 😉 Very nice car in a pristine condition. 🙂 Presentation is top-notch as usual.
I learned something new! I didn't realize that about the first aid kit. An extra safety feature to point out to people now, thanks!
@@1984318i You're welcome! 🙂
The emergency triangle at 3:18 actually goes in the trunk lid! So many clever features built into these cars other manufacturers never even thought about.
Owned a 300CE and I still wish I never sold that car. Still so very classy.
Hi! Little tip from a W-124-owner: The emergency-triangle can be fittet on the inside of the trunk-lid. It's the original way to store it and it can be seen, when the lid is open while standing on the side of the road.
You must drive the 24Valve Version that spins crazy in the limiter. Great Car and Engine and as always a Great Video Ted
He said in the beginning of the video that its the M103 engine, thats the 12 valve version. In the earlier model years like 89, before the 12 valve was discontinued, the 24 valve model was called the ‘300 E-24’.
it’s crazy to see the difference in mercedes’ 30 years ago compared to now. the W124 even looks well made. id love to see you try out a volvo v70 wagon or just more volvo in general!
I’ve always wanted one of those early W124 models since I was a kid riding in them - still such a classically beautiful and solidly built piece of machinery. Dope POV as always! 🔥
Back in the days, I was a young taxi driver in Germany. The most impressive for me in comparison to other cars like Audi 100 , BMW 5 series was the stability. Cornering bumpy backroads out of town, the right side on the gravel, wet or dry, the W124 felt always in control, safe and smooth. The biggest weakpoint in my opinion was the manual gearbox.
What's your opinion on Audi 100 C4?
Mercedes had an amazing small turning circle compared to others,especially front wheel-drive cars.
5 series was more fun to drive,BMW had always the better manual gear boxes.W124 offered more internal space and comfort.
still daily drive my late father's 1988 260E. just a fantastic car.
Nice review! I actually own an ‘89 300CE & ‘88 300E and they are my daily drivers. Amazing cars that I plan to drive for a long time to come. I’m surprised how accurately you picked up on all the details of the car in the short time you probably had it, on a long trip they are a real treat, comfort levels beyond any other car I have driven.
AGREED. THE BEST OR NOTHING.
Ha. Amazing. I am the recent owner of a CE myself (92) and 95 e320 wagon. Daily them both.
@matthewsmith8249 Nice! You have the M104 engine in your CE, bit of an upgrade over the older single cam. Hang onto it, values are only climbing.
Really ?
@@CarswithNashheard the 104 was more power but less reliable… my aunt had one that was brand new and it didn’t make it to 100k miles .. so it sat around 97 till these days .
I currently use a 1993 300e 2.8 as my daily driver...a very happy car....goes and goes. So easy to drive and live with. Good mpg, enormous trunk. Yours is a beauty!
I was 17 looking at these cars trying to get a loan from my grandmother to buy lol! I visited many Massachusetts dealers checking them out in 1999, i still love this model. Today I have the w210, last of real Benz quality
this has to be the most beatiful W124 I ever seen - and I've seen a lot. Congrats
My parents had this car when I was younger. It was truly an amazing car, miss it dearly!
Man these old school 80s-era Benz are so fascinating! Love your reviews on old cars Tedward
I'm obsessed with the w124
I used to have one in bronze gold 1989 model 300E bought one used with almost half a million km done on it. Drives great with timeless looks and the suspension that are perfect to me, smooth yet responsive and never gave me even a hint of carsick like so many much newer Japanese sedans with soft suspension. Done almost a 100 mph on an expressway with at over 500k km on odometer it still the best car I've ever owned, and it came from the 80s and its a Mercedes!
I recently drove a s420 four door at work and I have to say that these cars from mercedes during that era were just something else. Love the vid!
Good video :) that long revving of the inline 6 is so beautiful! Sure modern standards we expect faster shifts but it’s still something to be appreciated imo.
I started selling these in 1988 at a MB dealership. This one was about 46K. They kind of remained in that range for a number of years inspite of inflation and improvements. It automatically started in 2nd gear unless you floored it to drop it down to 1st. They sold very well and were considered bulletproof, had a really strong trade in value and in the 90's I took them in with 100+K and put them right on the pre-owned lot.In their day and even now, they are an amazingly, rock solid car. I special ordered a few 260E's with manual 5 speeds and they were pretty cool. No sunroof and a 5 speed. I regret not buying one now.
the @straightpipes reference in the end was just icing on the cake. loved the review Ted!
4:43 You must try closing the last door with all glasses up to experience the most satisfying, heaviest thud among all cars ever built.
My first car was a 190E loved that old thing, one day I'll get it restored and drive it again. The interior of yours is stunning!
The temptation to double the 55 mph speed limit in one of these back in 1989 must have been overwhelming!
Made it to 132 one time
This car would make for such an amazing first car. They're safe, reliable, and insanely comfortable
super underrated
It’s my first car - ‘94 E220
W124 - one of the best cars ever made
What a lovely car
What a stunning car! The paint, the interior, the rear seat upholstery, the smoothness. Just awesome
It was an absolute pleasure and pleasure only to watch your video, 20m gone like that. Absolutely a dream spec on the inside, insanely perfect condition on the outside as well. Whenever I think about buying an old car the old interiors kinda discourage me because they look way worse on the photos than they do in person in my opinion, but I would never say no to a beauty like that one. I could see myself driving a manual W124, either a sedan or coupe at 5AM on a sunny May morning in Alps or Tatra mtns. Not pushing it around all those 180 degrees turns, just cruising in absolute peace and comfort on almost completely empty roads. Doing it in that unit would be a dream come true.
Love the steering wheel size and rubberized texture- feels so good in your hands and lasts forever and the low belt line and generous greenhouse is unheard of in modern vehicles - so many feel like coffins with slit windows beginning at your shoulders.
My dad owned a couple of these second-hand when I was a kid in the mid-90s, then another when I was a teenager in high school learning to drive. I was always blown away by how these are nicer to drive than many cars 10+ years newer. I really want to get my hands on one before all the nice examples are gone.
I had one of these! Mine was gold with tan interior. Probably one of the top three favorite cars that I’ve owned. I wish I still had it…. Very solid and tight car. Amazing handling at high speeds. When I had passengers they were always amazed to hear what year it was…. because it felt and drove like a newer car. In fact … there are many new cars (today) that couldn’t come close to the craftsmanship, quality and driving experience of this car (1989 300 E) in good condition. I even loved the one windscreen wiper. Amazing engineering and timeless sophistication. A brilliant car! Thanks for the video! Brought back some great memories! 👍✨
i have a 1990 300E 4 Matic that got handed down from my grandpa even tho it's got high mileage it still drives fantastic!
We had the 300 TD (i.e. station wagon with a Diesel engine) in the early 90s. It was a great car. Even at 120 mph on the Autobahn it felt super save. My dad kept it for more than 10 years and it never had any mechanical issues, no rust etc. Just the automatic antenna broke two times so eventually we replaced it with a normal one.
Beautiful vehicle, and condition. Interior is classic Mercedes.
I had one...I loved it! You just made me nostalgic for it!
My first Benz was a 1984 300D, built like a tank, drove it for 240,000 miles. Bought a 1987 300E and a 1988 300E from my wife and put over 200,000 on each of them and passed them down to 2 of my adult sons. I also bought a 1990 300CE coupe with the DOHC 24 valve engine, which adds almost 50 horsepower. Still have that amazing car in mint condition. The W124 is truly the last era of built to last Mercedes. I have since owned a 1998 E320 that I passed on to my son with 220,000 miles. I currently won a 2000 E430 (wife's car) and a 2001 E430 Sport, which is my car. The W210's are still a great model, but not quite the same quality as the W124. The coupe is now becoming collectible.
My uncle used to drive a 300, what a beast it was.
I have an 86 300E, that I have owned for 25 years. It still amazes me every time I drive it. I know every inch of the car, and although I am no mechanic, I am the only one who has serviced this car in over 15 years. Thanks to You Tube, lol
Hi Rick, likewise I’m also a delighted longterm owner of 21 years of a mint smoke silver on cream leather 300E M103 sedan with just 340K’s. Whilst I daily a LR Disco 4 the couple of times a week I drive the E its always amazes me what pure joy it is to drive every single time. Like you I am no mechanic but I share the servicing with a trusted longstanding Old Merc indy here in Melbourne Australia. Occasionally I get ragged by people for having such an old and outdated car in their eyes. I just smile and say nothing - as my old dad said when asked about his WW2 service … “it’s only Vets would understand”
What an absolute beautiful car.
Positively drooling here. Good design and engineering never loses its appeal, and what a lovely example.
Love all the videos
A beautiful car! My dad had one back in the day~ It was so SOLID!
thx - so nice. in 2006 I had a 1989 300E for about 1 year. great car, did 240 km/h on autobahn. nice for travelling. needed 15L/100km in the city- dont know mpg here... so smoth an the sound is real special. loved it
This design has aged beautifully. Totally unique, muscular and minimalist. Both outside and inside.
I had a '90 300D. I LOVED it. So solid, smooth, and, quiet. That 2.5L 5 cylinder turbo-diesel was such a sweet engine.
Beautiful Colour on the paint
Tedward. Thank you soooo much for this video. This is a partial dream car for me. Especially a C124 with a V8. Auughh a dream 🥰
I appreciate someone who understands a need for good urban design And this like my dream car in black❤
Enjoyed that video. I remember, many years ago, getting this car as a loner, while my 200E was in for a service. Same car, with a 4 cylinder petrol engine. Same vault quality, same 4-speed auto. The small engine not sold in N.America. It had about 130 hp. I had to visit a customer urgently and on a straight two lane black top, I made a pass at a slower car, floored the throttle and boom! I was passed in no time. Even here in Ireland the 300E was not offered in a manual.
We have just bought one a 94 coupe drives like it’s brand new, love it ! From Perth Western Australia 🇦🇺
I had one...bought new. Arrived with factory defects. Pleasant to drive, good body work but lots of mechanical and electrical problems despite perfect maintenance by the book.
I got a ‘87 300E 6sp this summer and I love it!
Just 😍😍😍😍. Gorgeous. I love 80’s and 90’ Mercedes sedans and SL’s.
I had a 1000$ Black on Black that my dad found for me. Got the rims powder coated gloss black. Painted the aged & cracked center console Gloss Blue Galaxy. (Blue glitter in the clear coat) Was the most popular car to see around. lol
The key with these is to find the best one you can - an example that has always been cared for & correctly maintained. We did that 4 yrs ago, a 1993 280E in 199 & Blk interior. It was a 1 owner car from Japan, 67k km on the clock, full supplying dealer history. Recently hit 110k km, looks & drives like a new car. Has been the easiest to live with car I've ever owned - it's actually a complete pleasure, what an amazing piece of engineering!
Currently dailying a 92' E32 M30 and got 2 88' E34 M20 I6 keepers. Late 80s were a great time for German automotives, last years before they made interiors feel a lot cheaper and started cost cutting where they could and added a lot of wiring into the first years in the 90s.
I had a 1989 300E wagon. I loved that car.
Really nice video. The 260E was also a very interesting motorization.
The very first car I drove was a 1990 300D. This brought back so many great memories :)
I just bought a 1990 300e, I'm wondering, is it normal for the brakes to feel hard to press down? I feel like it's a bit of a workout to get this thing to stop, and it takes more effort than any car I've ever owned to brake.
@@user-ox7tl9yx5b This could be down to a number of things, the car I drove was eldely owned and ran with OEM or OE Mercedes parts, the brakes had a decent bit of initial bite but were fairly well boosted in a manner that matched the rest of the cars inputs. I wouldn't say they were firm like that of a classic porsche but they certainly gave the impression of confidence
I had the 1989 260E lower level of the 300E body identical every thing you say is so true I miss that car
That is a beautiful interior.
I own the 300E with the 5 speed manual and it can fly! Almost as fast as a2.3 16 w201 and much more spacious & as chuckable
What a stunning and magnificent color! Fantastic car...
I had a 1994 E200 manual with the most basic 2 liter 136 hp motor up until last February. Owned it for 11 years and had 0 issues with the suspension. The car was extremely slow - to the point that I had to the AC off when overtaking. But everything else was superb - the ride, the solidness, the overall comfort - I will never forget that car... Best Mercedes ever built!
I had a 200 W123 and she had even less power (108HP) than your W124. You struggled to get her going anywhere in a hurry but she was extremely smooth and comfortable. Forget running aircon 😀
Sweet Jesus that buzzer always made me anxious every time my dad started his.
We had a '91 model and it was just a thrill to drive. We gave it to my uncle to use it but sadly he sold it without notice and now I just miss that car. It is a brick, but it's also a tank on the road it's just so smooth riding but yet so stable!
the dashboard and console in this car has aged like fine wine. Beautiful geometry
These days, too often than not, older is better. Just replaced a stick tire gauge I purchased in the early '70s simply because it was that old. The new unit although looking exactly like the one it replaced, was made of plastic instead of metal, and the rubber seal that makes contact with the air valve on the tire seemed to compress less as if it were not made of as much rubber. Cheap vs. old. Bean counters in charge of companies.
This looks just like my 1998 C280 although is a much cleaner version with some extra features. I’m always so shocked at how a 20+ year car feels like you are driving on a cloud. Great video!
My parents had an 89 260E when I was in high school. It was a smooth road car that could accelerate onto the freeways.
I’ve always wanted one of these!
Heavy nostalgia on this video. My parents had a 1990 300E and this brings back so many memories. The sounds! It would start in 2nd gear from the stop just like this one. I miss that car. Great video as always!
I figured out how to start in 1st. Lol. That second 2nd thing bugged me
Second gear start is what I always hated about my '92 300. Very sluggish in town. It was a blast once you got over 80 mph though.
@@maxxbenzz7842 my Dad would just shift it down to "2" to start in 1st. What was your fix?
@@jensen1971x indeed! that tall 3rd gear would be around 4500 rpm at 80 mph if I recall correctly.
@@DorionNorton yes. U shift to second and back to drive and u will start in 1st. I believe it would then start in 1st until u shut the car off. Then u would have to repeat it once again. It felt great actually having some pick up off the line. Also I would shut off my 4matic with that valve in the summer. This added a bit of giddy up too!
5:45-5:57 love that engine sound
I daily drove a 1990 model and can concur, these are fantastic machines. The interior is everything which you expect from Mercedes at their peak. They're still quite common here in Berlin (Charlottenburg) which is a testament to their longevity and upper-class status.
I missed these cars. Rode in a few of them as a kid growing up when they where still fairly new. Even then, as a kid you can tell the quality of the car just by the ride, doors and switches.
So quiet amazing for such an old car
Now I daily drive a 82 R107 SL, but I still miss my 88 W124. It always has such a smooth, refined, and dependable ride.
Whoa, this thing is reeeeeeally mint. Would definitely be a fun addition to your collection :)
That's a real car!
Super nice. Super condition. ❤️ 80’ 90’ benzes
The W124 is one of my favourite Mercedes!
I am very proud to have a 1991 300D (NA) with a 5-speed manual as my daily driver (and it is my 1st car, btw). In my opinion, the W124 is the perfect balance for a daily classic, which is still modern and convenient enough for everyday use. It is the pinnacle of reliability, specially the diesels (mine has about 240k miles, which is almost nothing for these). I have done a lot of mechanical maintenance on mine (they're great cars to work on), and it is now in the paintshop to look like new once more! PS.: Although they look like bricks, they are incredibly aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of 0.29, which is better than a Pagani Huayra, for example!
We had one in the 90s and Dad has another one now. I also bought a W212 for myself but it isn't as nice as W124. Love these cars.
owned a 95 w124 for a decade ...unreal machine .. purchased used @ Florham Park NJ Mercedes (may have been Morristown) w/ about 55k miles .. ended getting it up to 225k.. with a 2nd rebuilt transmission .. word