1986 Mercedes-Benz W124 200 review from UK and Ireland

The Carburetor choke stopped working around 20, 000 miles ago. This part alone costs £1,200 new, but the choke can be fixed by the owner by first removing the aluminium part with the two coolant hoses attached to it and then adjusting the contianed sping to touch the (rich) marked lever.

The head gasket has blew around four times since the car was new. And most recently the cylinder head also needed regrinding which cost a whooping £168.00 to put right. (without labour charges or gasket etc.)

I have owned the car from new and it really has been a really robust car, but most definitly requires specialist Mercedes Mechanics to work on it, and it also runs a lot better on new (original) marked Mercedes Parts.

The car is really built like a Tank, although dispite appearances it can really shift! It's Carburetor is very rare to be in a Mercedes, but it gives the engine a smoothness and power quality that a 2.0l injection could most definitly not offer. I Have owned three Mercedes along with this one including a 95 c180 a 96 e320 and a 2001 e220. But still the old 200 is still my favorite car and is definitaly built a lot stronger.