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Beautiful and rare Pre-facelift C124 320CE
£6,500
Mercedes 320CE Hatchback
- Mileage: 186,476 miles
- Gearbox: Automatic
- Engine: Petrol
Beautiful and rare Pre-facelift C124 320CE
Welcome to the sale of my beautiful and rare Mercedes W124 platform 320 CE Auto in Pearl Blue Metallic with Grey leather interior. The car is a 1993 pre-facelift model of this sought after and much loved pillarless coupe but is fitted with the 3.2L 24V in-line six version of the bullet-proof M104 engine (217 bhp) coupled to the desirable 5-Speed automatic transmission. This combination is like The Holy Grail for W124 Coupe lovers combining the desirable pre-facelift car with the later, more desirable and more powerful engine and longer legged transmission. There were very few of these cars made in RHD and registered in the UK and there are even fewer left now. This car is therefore a desirable and appreciating classic but also one that can be driven and enjoyed every day, just like they should be! I have owned the car for two and half years and I have covered around 14K faultless miles in it and really enjoyed it. The odometer now shows 186K. When it showed 172K, the car was acquired and extensively rebuilt and renovated by a famous MercedesBenz owners club member with a long track record of bringing W124s back to life. He spared this car no expense and his attention to details was amazing. He said about the car:- "I was lucky to find a corrosion-free example and no panels needed replacing or any welding required but badly in need of a thorough overhaul. Car is a great colour Pearl Blue over Lagos with Orion grey leather, factory a/c, cruise control an electric tilt and slide sunroof also 15 hole 15inch wheels an electric driver’s seat, headlamp wipe wash and all the usual 124 coupe spec including a full set of original MB mud flaps." A list of work done leading up to August 2019 when I bought the car is:- - Head off, checked, cleaned, new head gasket. Sump off, pistons out, bores, pistons and bearings checked for wear all good. New main and big-end cap bolts on re-assembly. New timing chain tensioner, new drive belt and tensioner, oil pump checked and new oil level sensor fitted, Power steering fluid flushed and changed, new steering damper, new MB coolant and flush, new thermostat, new engine mounts. New plugs, leads, oil and filter (x 2), air, fuel and cabin filters. - Transmission and Torque Converter drained, fluid replaced with MB new, new filter, magnet and gasket. New later model control unit, new transmission mount, new 5th gear micro-switch. - reconditioned correct drive ratio rear differential and new pinion seal - All wiring loom replaced with new; Engine, lower engine harness and throttle body, new OVP and Fuel pump relay, all fuses replaced with copper / ceramic, Factory A/C rebuilt, degassed, ned under bonnet insulation and A/C flap. Vacuum system renovated and numerous pipes, hoses and clips replaced as required - new top mounts, 4 new MB shock absorbers and bellows, new front wheel bearings, new MB discs and pads all round, new parking brake shoes, brake fluid flush and changed, new brake light switch (at some point in the recent past, the servo has also been replaced with MB new but I don't know when exactly), drop-arm idler reconditioned with new bushes and bolt. - Paint : bonnet and wing tops painted to deal with stone chips etc. bumper top under headlight wash/wipers (also rebuilt and renovated), mirror covers and surround. Battery and washer bottle tray cleaned and painted, new battery and new washer pump. Wiper mechanism cleaned and lubricated with new blades. New Nearside headlamp lens, Osram +150 Nightbreaker headlamp bulbs, electric aerial wing mounts replaced. - Inside - it's all lovely and original with beautiful and undamaged leather but with a lovely patina (apart from some wear to the centre armrest). New indicator multi function stalk, new flasher relay, new light multifunction switch, new sunroof / interior light module (the sunroof has also been fully re-conditioned and works perfectly), new electric seat multi-switch, even new interior vent bulbs! Everything works perfectly - all four windows, HVAC system, belt butlers etc. - new exhaust middle and rear box, new anti-roll bar bushes - rear screen was rebondede to get rid of delimitation. There is only a small amount visible to the offside edge. - wheels (15" 15 hole Gullideckels) refurbed and fitted with new Toyo Proxes tyres. Good matching spare wheel and tyre. A couple of the wheels could do with another reform and I would get them done again when I fitted new tyres (5-6 mm at present). In my ownership, I have had to do very little but being a 29 yo vehicle there are always some things to do. I have: Changed the stereo for a great Sony DAB Bluetooth unit which actually looks fab and in keeping as it has the ability to adjust the screen to pretty much any colour you like. I have it set to a soft orange in keeping with the nighttime dash illumination. CD Multi-changer in boot. Replaced the gearshift bushes Fitted new bump stops in the boot, a new passenger sunvisor clip and new gear shift surround (genuine MB parts). Replaced both braded transmission cooling hoses with MB new parts Had the boot lid painted (the badge was in the wrong place and covered some scratches and one rust bubble now dealt with) and the wheel arch lips painted (there was very minor bubbling on two of the arch lips but they are all A1 now). Replaced the main high pressure fuel line from the pump as it had split with a custom made E10 compatible (although this car has only had Esso super E5 through it under my ownership (which in my area, contains no ethanol at all). Replaced the grill badge with new as the blue had faded Serviced it twice (3 oil and filter changes) Replaced one of the lower arms and repaired and refitted the anti-roll bar to tighten it up as the bracket was bent and broken New set of Mercedes colour coded fitted mats Other than that, it’s been a dream. It’s not perfect, but it’s probably one of the best on the road. It flew through the last MOT in August with no advisories. Not so good bits: One of the hydraulic tappets is noisy when cold (I have two new ones that I will pass on although I haven't felt the need to do it). But this disappears when the engine is nice and warmed up. The engine is otherwise very smooth, quiet and delivers right through the power band without noise or smoke. Oil usage is low - I put in around 1 litre between oil changes (5K miles) and there are no noticeable leaks. Oil pressure is A1 - I have included three photos to show it. One at cold start, one at warm idle and the third at warm 1500 rpm (the engine was not quite at full operating temperature) There is a 20p sized rust patch from a stone chip on the offside front edge of the bonnet. Other than that, the car is pretty much rust free with only light rusting of suspension components underneath and otherwise sound. The jacking points, inner wings, cross members etc. are all good. Happy for prospective buyers to view the car