I wont make the choice becoz I like both
... but the following is my view of the W124....comments below are based on W124 230E (converted to 'e class') which was my company car which I drove from 2000 to 2002...
Its a solid car. The 230 is a workhorse, not very smooth (4 pot) but gets the job done. The 260s are better in this respect with their 6 pot engines. I think the e class versions (later species of the W124) had better/updated engines e.g. E200, E220...the crown jewel is of course the E280....
Performance wise (230) - sufficient and dare I say a match, if not better, than the E36 318i. Fuel consumption is ok ...it is a 2.3 litre car with a heavy body after all. Handling...surprisingly good , not as involving as a samll BMW but for highways, fast sweepers etc. it is nice enuf....it feels cumbersome to drive the first time u drive it but u will soon know how to chuck it around in no time....
Maintainance....I'd say pretty reasonable...if nothing breaks, which they seldom do they are pretty reasonable to run....my guess is it could be similar to an E36...my mech said the W124s are the most robust/trouble free version he has worked on (it has less electronics than the E36 for exmaple). When they do break, some bits are obviously expensive....it is a premium car after all....
Other remarks...
- footbrake is easy to master (works well with an auto)
- dont get a manual (horror!!)
- wide availability so can be choosy (if not nice ...walk away, theres so many to choose from)
- wide availability also means it is well supported by workshops around malaysia (its a bit like an e30 ... potong parts, recond parts, 2nd hand parts all available)
- get newer e class version, they got better/more efficent engines (E200, E220, E280)...even better , get a 6 pot...torque on 260/280 is very nice and useful to lug heavy body around
- check out 'Masterpiece' species (got better option list)
- dun get funny colour (exterior or interior) difficult to sell
- if getting older version, look for those already converted to e-class look (its like an mtech II kit consists of front and rear bumber + side cladding very nice ..gives a 2 tone look
)
- they are all high mileage/old cars ...but dun be afraid....engines are designed to last and last ...mine had 180,000+ MILES on the clock when I got it!! BUT everything worked, no trim rattling (all the interior trim etc. was there) ....one word + SOLIDDDDDD!!
