Some of these models had robotic built perepherals that gave serious and costly problems, rear axles with ABS sensors that could not be replaced on their own (though some ingenuity may have improved that, I don't know).

Gearboxes that failed after 50,000 or less miles due to excessive component tolerances.

AutoBild, a Germany magazine, found out a lot, presented the infos to Mercedes, who said there was not a general problem....the next week, Autobild published dozens of letters from owners with the same problems.

They also went through a spate of rusting doors and sills with these models, but there was no rhyme or reason to the corrosion as far as I remember....

I would not touch any of them personally........though I am a big diesel fan....

As far as I can remember the 124 has started in Germany in 1985 (1984) and the model before, guess.... was 123. Nothing in the 124 corresponds with the 123.

The novelties of this chassis and the revolutionary suspension change took place in the 190 series, which is definitely a smaller model. Now referred as class C while the 124 is the class E. It was also the introduction model of the 1 windscreen wiper in this series.

We had them all from the first 1985 and I still drive a 1994. The then model change with Mercedes was a 9 year cycle.

I have met only a few 5 cylinder diesels in the US. This model introduced a "diesel" break (read stop) for the US, because of the damaging diesel fuel quality.

It changed again in the 90's where the direct injection type diesel engines were re-instated.

Our company had 6 of these, all European turbo diesels. Know as 300D and after the face lift in 1994 - E300 diesel. All 6 cylinder in line "old diesels with pre-combustion chamber".

No serious problems ever occurred besides the springs that lost height and the diesel contaminations. Most of them we lost in accidents in the Bahamas, but mileages were all 250,000 plus. The 1994 I drive goes now to 300,000. Nevertheless it will be a good-bye to Mercedes, because the service here has not been taken care of and the electronics scare DIY's, as I try to be. Also the hot sun loosens up all the glued parts, what also happens with the competition and the AC is poor for this climate here.

yours I have met only a few 5 cylinder diesels in the US. This model introduced a "diesel" break (read stop) for the US, because of the damaging diesel fuel quality.

i saw the "stop" button and since my 300 td 85 runs on. sometimes i have to use it. iknow the 15ppm low sulfur ruins the pump seals but they can be replaced. you wrote a very interesting essay on the cars. I have had about 5. the first 240 (115-115) went for 1million with about 3 engines. i only paid for one. now my whole muffler system fell off just below a flex pipe abut 8 inches below the turbo outlet. i wonder if i can just splice off the pipe and discard the 2 mufflers. will i have a back pressure problem. thanks. i get an even 22.5 mpg no matter what.

It will have back pressure problems without the muffler pipes and/or mufflers.

You still can buy the parts new from Eurauto or KWS in the US. They are even cheaper than in Europe

You can also repair the flex with a sleeve.