Since we're sharing some of our porn...

http://www.hatchandsons.com/pages/sa...9/images/1.JPG

http://hatchandsons.com/pages/sales/JB129/images/3.JPG

If you're one of the rare people that actually use it as intended, they are unstoppable off road. It's basically the German version of the Hummer.

You people are killing me with the 500E pictures. Something about those just hits home, it's one of the few cars with an automatic that I would buy.

Renntech offered a 6 speed conversion :D :D

Eric, you're evil. :D:D:D

I want one, too!

willtell, that's Jonathan Hodgman's blue Hammer wagon with the 32v motor

It was originally a Canadian delivery DIESEL 300TD wagon that was built into what you see by AMG Chicago. That car is pretty amazing, with well under 50K original miles

Jono owns Blue Ridge Mercedes Benz / AMG East in Lilburn

Hatch & Sons - 1992 Mercedes-Benz RennTech 500E 6.0

http://www.hatchandsons.com/pages/sa...6/images/8.jpg

W124s are fantastic cars but are becoming like 944s. They are true enthusiast cars but do suffer from deferred maintenance, so you have to be careful with what you get or be resigned to just R&Ring as needed to bring back to factory spec or better.

The nice thing about the cars is they are so well engineered, easy to work on with a great parts selection at very reasonable prices and have a serious cult following. I've finally started working on mine. It now drives better (for my taste) than my friend's '06 E500 and approaching another's '10 325. Of course it's a big heavy bank vault so even with all the upgrades, it won't really get there. :)

Entire front end done, carnage below, still need to do the multi-links and main control arm in the rear.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349961556.jpg

I love my W124
 

Special ordered at a FrankFurt MB Dealer by a NY architect living on Long Island for his commute into the city.

- Taxicab suspension
- 5 speed
- A/C dials (not climate control)
- Sunroof
- Radio
- right side mirror

Tried and true 4 cylinder
No ABS, Power seats, windows, rear headrests, as basic as they came in Germany at the time.

I just turned 74,000 miles. I bought it on CL 4 yrs ago with 59,000 original documented miles, delivery papers, cancelled check from dealer, every piece of docmentation from 1986 to present all for $3300. 100% original paint, always garaged and pampered.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349966145.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1349966157.jpg

Here's one that someone put some $$ into:
 

Not everyone's cup of tea, but still nice. Young guy spent crazy $$ having this w124 wagon completely color-changed to Arabian Grey, a late '60s MB factory color, interior recovered in leather, etc...

The wheel and tire combo alone cost more than you would pay for the best stock w124 wagon in the country. :cool:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533344.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533398.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533444.jpg

Suede headliner:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533515.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533560.jpg

Seats freshly recovered in leather, smells great:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533624.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350533676.jpg

That's fantastic Denis. The only thing that I dislike is the stretched tire look, otherwise very nice.

I agree about the wheels.

Phenomenal color, and a heck of a job on the interior.
Agree with you guys, shame about the stanceworks look.

Really jonesing for a coupe...
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350573444.jpg

Denis,

Let me know when he's tired of it. Will be happy to pay KBB private party "good" value for that one!

not quite as nice as the one Denis posted, but it's getting there. Have to raise the front end 1/2 inch and lower the rear 1/2 inch for the right stance. Problem is I have the thickest spring pads in the front and ran out of adjustment on the SLS rear, though I think I can reset that and adjust again. The H&Rs really drop the car and feel great with Bilstein sports up front. Just need to put a limo bar in the front and 500E bar in the back and the suspension will be done.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1350580703.jpg

those are great wheels Shaun

I have a set going on my wife's w203 c320 wagon. Not sure they'll look as nice on the newer car as they do on yours

I had a W124 that we bought new and picked up at the factory in Stuttgart. We put about 145,000 miles on the thing over the course of 12 years. I would not do that again. It was very expensive to maintain - much moreso than the succession of BMWs we've had since then. Nice car, but it has a lot of little things that can go wrong. Also, the seats were nowhere as good as those in BMWs, a factor on long trips. I think I'll stick with Munich.

Looks really good Shaun.

I agree. The w124 wagon has some nice angles and lends itself to mild hot-rodding really well. :cool:

Thanks Jake! With your rounded arches, I dare say they'll look better than with my squares. Post some pics when you get them on. Wheels are tough on W124s, especially wagons. They respond better to chunky styling IMHO, but it's hard to find a modern-looking chunky wheel. I think these E430 wheels offer a nice balance and just work.



Thank you Gentlemen. Understated, "sleeper" mods fit the wagons beautifully. I can't wait to get a new front bumper (need to find one) and paint all the lower body cladding same as the main body color. Then it'll start to really look sharp I think. Definitely fun cars. I can see why the fellow above went nuts with his. If you are married to the shape and quality, dropping $10K into a $3K car might give you something close to the equivalent of a modern E350. It would last longer too.

New:
C36 motor
Complete leather interior
Paint
Suspension

Of course you'd have to do some of the work yourself to achieve that price/goal.

Great looking wagon, Shaun. :)