I can't offer an informed comparison, but can offer my own experience with my W124 1994 E320. I bought it with 69,000 miles on it 6 years ago. Everything was original then, and still is.

I replaced a seeping water pump immediately after taking ownership. The car still drives beautifully at 154,000 miles, with it's original exhaust and shocks. I replaced the left tie rod assembly, and front sway arm bushings about 25,000 miles ago. It now needs a right inner tie rod.

The only disapointment with the car is the pending head gasket replacement (inherent in this year) and I recently had to replace the engine wiring harness. Although an expensive part (I paid $700 US), it is a snap to do the job. I did it in a morning before work. It took me 3.5 hours. A real piece of cake to be honest.

For a car that is 15 years old, it is hard to imagine how I could have done much better. I have gotten 28 mpg by cruising at 60 mph on highway trips. The car feels unflappable when driving, is solid as a rock, and handles beautifully without the harshness found in the later, tightly sprungBenzes. The interior is nearly flawless, with a small split in the driver seat. You could remove my dashboard, headliner, door panels, carpeting, and hardware, and put them in a brand new car, and I don't think anyone could tell that didn't know the mark.

This is a RWD model without limited slip. I live in New England, and see a lot of snow. With a set of Bridgestone Blizzak WS '60 on all four corners, the car is virtually unstoppable,flying up steep inclines,and the neutral handling makes it easy to control through the
twisting country roads.

Yeah, give me another W124. And if 1994 was a bad year for the mark, I'm terribly confused about the word bad.

-Mark

 

Marko, sounds like a great car. The fact that you bought it 6 years ago and still have no plans of moving on says alot. Good stuff[8D]