Well by that measure every system on every car ever made can be considered problematic.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I'm still settling into the new digs, I'll get started on the S8 at some point this fall. I had the headliner out to recover it when I moved, I need to get that back in first. I'll probably do all the hoses (at least those that I can still buy) and all the other little crap that will be exposed when doing the cam belts. I don't want to be back in there again. Much like what you did with your last one... Still undecided about the trans fluid change...

I'm just trying to point out one of the things on those cars that you need to be careful of... It's not like a relatively simple system that just has a couple manual latches and electric motors. Something you definitely need to examine on any car you consider.

I used to wince when I operated the top and all of the popping and banging started. If you've never sat in one and operated the top, your first time it will get your attention.

Have always loved this feature on all of my W124s

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1602351541.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1602351541.jpg

I always liked the looks of the W124. One of Bruno Sacco’s finest designs...

I liked that color when they came out with it, too.

well go ahead and change the headlight unit on that modern Merc . Have fun with it cause the benefit of that fancy hood won't help you do that job, at all.

Maybe a coincidence but the transmission on my 90k D2 S8 failed about 1,000 miles after I changed the transmission fluid and filter. Pretty sure it had never been changed.

Yeah, that is what concerns me. What exactly failed inside your transmission?

I don’t remember exactly it’s been a few years. I seem to recall a fluid pump and failure related to the throttle body.

Valve body?

Doh! Yes valve body.

I loved my A8, but what sent it to the donation yard was, believe it or not, a starter. Was like a 1500 job, on top of control arms (unrelated) and a bunch of sensors that lit the dash up but meant nothing. It was a great car until 180k, and then it imploded all at once.

I am sad to see this one go. The navy was a great combination, loved my wagon. If I could find this red, I'd get one in a heartbeat.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1602380272.jpg



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1602380272.jpg

I think the W124 is a timeless design. I wish I had bought a 500E when they could be had for under $20k.

You and me both. I’d love to have a 92 model. I’m a bigger fan of the pre-face lift cars, I think.

I’ve been researching the failure points on these transmissions and I’ve got a question for you. If you can remember back that far, can you list the symptoms you had when you first noticed a problem with the transmission? Bonus points if you can be specific as to which gears, transmission hot or transmission cold, that sort of thing.

Flare and then bang into gear, particularly bad from a start. The worst was starting on an incline where the car might roll backwards slightly, when I applied throttle it would slip and then bang into gear. It also did that on a stop on an incline. It also would flare shifts but that was intermittent. I believe it was worse when hot. In tiptronic mode it was far better behaved, far worse when driving in automatic.

Just ‘cause you did t know about it doesn’t mean it wasn’t there..,

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606069030.jpg

Mercedes makes it easy when doing a motor swap! this is my 84' 280CE that I pulled the seized M110 motor and swapped in a turbo diesel OM617a in to.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606070114.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1606070114.JPG