The Best Car Ever Made? Probably. The Mercedes-Benz W124 Was The Most Influential Modern Era Car. 

One of the few automotive channels that can make videos this long without being boring or annoying. There sure was a lot to tell about the incredible W124!

The sedans were nicknamed "V-Boots" where my dad comes from. I was a car crazy teenager when they were released and I remember being shocked when he said he'd rather stick with his W123s. Sure he had a profitable side-business exporting nearly new w123s to his home country. Some of our best father/son times were our numerous trips checking out and buying them. But to my naive mind, newer always meant better. No matter what I said he wouldn't budge. At the time, I figured it was because he was older than your average dad and probably a little too set in his ways. Then again, the W123 vs W124 debate is probably the only thing that'll persist longer than the cars themselves. Fast forward 20 odd years and my father is gravely ill. Thankfully, he'd clung on just long enough for me and my brother to make the trip to see him. Yet it was clear that he needed to be re-hospitalized to have any chance of surviving much longer. Trouble is, he hated hospitals and he wouldn't budge. It's the morning of our last day. My brother-in-law - who happens to own a w124 - is due to take us to the airport. He agrees that we can make a detour to the hospital, IF I can persuade my father to go. I enter my father's room, wake him up and tell him there's a V-Boot outside, waiting to take him to the hospital. His dulled eyes instantly lit up. He raised his head and smiled as he asked expectantly "You've bought me a V-Boot?!" He looked so crestfallen when I explained that it was actually his son-in-law's. I felt crushed. Then I blurted "So you wait till you're on your deathbed before confessing that you'd really like a V-Boot after all?!" That was the last laugh we shared together... And the last ride. Love you Dad

I started watching Bill’s video when I was 9 years old... I’m now on social security. LOL

Love the grumpy sarcasm and wit. Constant complaints in a grouchy south-Floridian voice always gets me. And hey, I learn about some neat cars along the way. Groovy.

"This guy wrapped the original tool kit which is quite cool, in this bubble wrap, which is great because it keeps the moisture in so the tools can rust." LOL , Bill !!!

Bill, you’re a national treasure.

I bought one of these in 1993 and sold it to a friend of mine. He's still driving it today....500,000 miles on it so far and still going strong!

"There's your jack....there's your first aid kit....everything a wounded German needs." LMFAO... classic.

Still one of the greatest cars Mercedes has ever made. This was when engineering called the shots, not the marketing department.

I admire you. You're like a walking, talking automobile encyclopedia. Amazing!

W124 was truly a legendary leap forward! Had a first year 1986 250D model straight from Germany. Sold it at 200K miles - and it never left us stranded.

he is the only one complaining about the weather in Naples... I live in Naples and the weather is just PERFECT... I love this guy

It’s always refreshing to find a car dealer who truly loves cars and knows each model’s history.

My buddy Edgar rolled one of thees on 80 outside of Vacaville. he walked away without a scratch on em. super safe car.

ONLY the best car ever in the only color that counts. Damn bill I am dying here....

"They could ask you for a dollar; or ask you for companionship or love, or whatever children want from you .. ugh .. GOD !" ... ha ha ... GOLD !

This is one of the best channels. Certainly something to keep us going during this never ending pandemic situation. Thanks Bill for the great reviews and hilarious comments.

Classic Benzs are criminally underappreciated

DISCLAIMER: The following program was NOT made possible by the National Audubon Society and the American Bird Conservancy. :)

I went to Europe back in 1990. I was on the autobahn for the first time going 70 in my rental car. Coming up on my tail was a Mercedes like this. Flew by me at maybe 140. I counted the seconds before he reached the underpass. My time was exactly double. Now I own a pristine rust free 93 300E with the 3.2. Love it. 93,000 miles.

AT LEAST THEY CLEANED UP THE GOAT SHIT

Welcome back Bill and a superb car to review. Glad you are free from the goats and the birds.

That interior still looks contemporary, comfortable, and high quality. The materials like the leather and wood trim actually look expensive. A place I wouldn’t mind spending time in.

That is probably the best color combination for that car, definitely one of the best cars you have reviewed.

In Mogador (Morocco) The taxi's are all Merced 1977-1985 W123. The drivers say they have gone over a million miles on the same engine. They were diesel, and it was such a pleasure to know that Germany is the best.

"I thought i would do a quick one" Bill this is nearly an hour long

Hey Bill. Watching from Yorkshire in the UK. Keep it coming sir. This has become one of my all time favourite channels. 👍🇬🇧

My oldest friend is still driving his blue one. Well north of 300K on the odometer.

Why this guy doesn’t have 2 million subscribers... I’ll never know!

Hahahahaha! Before you even said it I was thinking about the 124 being the car every Taxi company in Wurzburg Germany chose to drive. As a 14 year old I had an amazing amount of freedom living in Europe. On the first of every month I would go to school late so I could take the 1,340DM to the bank to pay rent on our apartment. I would then grab a Johnny Taxi to school. They were a group of about 40 men from Algeria that had purchased Mercedes 124 Wagons and Sedans that were operated as Taxis but not legally. They had no Taxi sign, no taxi license, not allowed at the train station or airport. They had no taxi meter so you just negotiated how much a trip would cost before you left. The bank to school was 14DM. At the time you had to be 18 years old to drive in Germany but that was after like 3 years of mandatory drivers school. You know learning all the rules and signs for England, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, etc.... However the lady that lived upstairs from us was older a d needed help getting groceries. So every Thursday I would go to school late. She would have me drive her wagon that was identical to this to the store. Once we got pulled over and she was so intemidating and aggressive the officer was apologizing for stopping us even though it was against the law for me to drive. I learned how to drive in this model Mercedes on the autobahn.

I own a 1994 500E with 45,000 miles on it. The thing is a tank and drives great.

Bill, you should do a bloopers video! The light switch popping off was classic!!

What a truly fantastic review in every respect.... so called professional “ motoring journalists “ should watch Bills review to experience how a REAL IN-DEPTH REVIEW IS DONE !! Absolute MASTERCLASS!!

Bill, what happened to the white Mercedes wagon you bought a few years ago to personally restore ? Would love to know, as that was a great find !

I just heard you say you needed a quick video to offset your trip to NC, so you just decided to do a QUICKIE to get us by until Monday. I checked the player, and you were five minutes into a 53-minute video. Luv It. There is a kindred soul in my area of cars (even the cheesy 70s American cars)... Plus when I google certain models I know; but, want to Search-Deeper, you've often covered it already! I know the technology, but you give me a little background on development and such. When I am drinking a little Bourbon in the morning and a bong hit or two, I am thankful when I come across you (a subscriber). Keep it up!

Bill congratulations nice edit only 7 minutes short of 1 hour

Someone once told me these were the last of the Mercedes built to a specification as opposed to a price point. These still sound like a vault when you shut the door.

For German cars, the "T" usually stands for "Touring" and the "E" stands for "Einspritzmotor" which means fuel injection motor. My neighbour has one of these "touring" versions in a metallic red colour, but he had the really fancy (and hideously expensive!) "300 TE 24" version with 24 valves. My uncle had a 250d diesel version (we used to joke that he was a taxi driver because those W124s were used extensively as taxis in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany etc), which was very slow but ran like a tank.

Great video!!! I have a 95 wagon and convertible E320s, both seemed to be lemons but doing great now! Worth every penny, keep up the good videos! You should do a w126 and or 123 review as well

$61,000 THIRTY years ago, Holy Shnikeys! I think my parents bought their first house for that lmao. Also, Bill, the part where you pulled the seat up and you said Dalton DID clean it, but he still stucks. Omg, too funny. On behalf of Dalton and all car detailers, you can kiss our ass haha. Just fantastic content as usual. The color commentary completes it and completes me.

61k was a shit load of money in 93.. its got like a Plymouth Sundance worth of options! lol. we love to see it

21:13 Bill is disappointed tools are not rusty 😂

i met colin baker,dr who no 6,he drove an old green merc estate from 93 and this was 2007,he loved it too,top bloke!!

I own a 1995 s124 with the M104 engine. In regards to the head gasket, the issue is usually an oil leak, not mixing or pressurizing cooling systems like most other failure modes. The updated gasket fixes this problem. Also, the green "horseshoe" gasket for the upper timing cover will leak on the passenger side. Both are doable jobs for the DIYer.

It would drive me crazy waiting for those driveway gates to open!

Watching Bill's videos are the BEST way to start my day here in the UK.

Pretty car. I always wondered what an LS430 wagon would look like.

The point of a smaller right mirror is cyclist safety (keeping 1,5m or more when you pass one on the road) quite a lot of german cars form 90 and 2000's have this

Chest swelling with pride that I've got a pristine 1994 W124 in my driveway as I watch this. THANK YOU, Lord!

Huge credit to the previous owner. That is wonderful condition.👍👍👍💞

God. That car makes miss a time I never got to experience. I owned a W123 and I absolutely LOVED it and I miss it greatly. Sadly had to sell it. Love this channel, super funny ass commentary that makes it special.

I made a mistake selling my W124 wagon with 4matic, I miss it a great car.

Thanks for the early 1 hour saturday night show " Bill 's Show of courious cars " For this car you can take the old song from Ashford & Simpson : Solid as a rock

Bill, you are Great! Love the W124 storyline.

The W124 is absolutely one of the best mass produced cars of all time. The W140 is famously up there but the pros it has over the W124 are somewhat offset by the added complexities that they have. The build quality of the W140 is just incredible and in some areas it's hard to wrap your head around the amount of overengineering that came with it. I should know, I have one parked up on my driveway with an electrical fault 🤣 almost making me wish I had another W124 for their more simplistic approach!

Bill I actually daily a 1988 Mercedes benz 300 TE.. im the 3rd owner only 107000 miles. Clean car I love it

1993 Mercedes-Benz 300TE -- I wish the year, make, model was in the title or description. Excellent video!

Wonderful commentary on this one, Bill. I'd love to own the vehicle. Thanks for putting this video together. What the hell - drive it to N.C.! ... :-)

My kids loved the rear facing 3rd row. We had the 300TD (1991 Euro version) which took this wagon idea to a different level.

Bill, thanks for the videos, you're always entertaining. To your question about why the side view mirrors are different sizes, there's an answer for that, and the reasoning is typically German; the right hand side mirror is taller and narrower than the left hand side one because the outer edge of the right mirror is exactly the same width as the widest part of the side of the body. Why? To help you negotiate tight spots and narrow streets or parking tight to a wall without scraping your car's side. The driver's side mirror doesn't need this function (you can open your window and peer out), so it's longer, to give you a wider view. Only the Germans would think of something like this.

Bill, was this car for sale, and if so what is the price, or what did it sell for? Thanks, and keep up the GREAT reviews, i look forward to them all!

Not a German but I think I can provide a reason why the stubby rear view mirror...the embassy got the baby 190 E which was really well put together and was hard to stall as a novice stick driver when I was allowed to take it for a hoon, compared to the weak Ford Sierras of the time. So the story goes, according to Vincent the chauffeur, in Europe that extra rear view cost more as an option on many run-of-the-mill cars so many people did not get them since they were a luxury. So Mercedes made it smaller to reduce the chance of the uninitiated banging it on narrower roads. I remember a lot of 3 series Beemers never had that mirror.

Loved when the headlight button came off. Thanks for not editing that out.

Thanks for this great review of one of my favorite cars, iconic workhorses, when properly serviced and maintained and looked after.

I think that it is the best family car design you can imagine. 😊

I just love to listen to this guy.Superb review.Just superb.I cannot find a better word.Thank you, sir.

I used to own and drive a W124 and its little sister the W201 for many years. Indeed great cars if you maintain them well! They are very easy to work on and 'technical' parts are still readily available.

I have a 1993 300TE (non-4 matic) with +226k miles on it. Drained the differential yesterday and installed Liqui-Moly (non-synthetic) Hypoid Gear Oil. Topped off hydraulic system (SLS) using Febi fluid. I don't have to smog it for another year so I intend on getting over 300k miles on it. I'm not willing to cut the umbilical cord on it! White with gray interior. 2nd 300TE I've owned.

i´m a mercedes colector and i have three of this cars ,the w124 ,that was released in 87 and sold till 96 ,i have a 4 door saloon with a 300 turbo diesl engine ,also the C124 3.0L 24 valves coupé also a 2.0L gasoline engine ,this last was in mint condition and from 92 and only bought it because it had the regular equipment and it was ok as in h.p. not much but excelent , also have to say that in the last year of production it was considered the best car in the world with the 250D engine , for many reasons. I have a C-class i bought for 1.000€ in mint condition with the so well talked about 250D engine, with full extras , it becomes faster with this lighter body also have one bought in late 90´s that is all equiped with a 2.5 gasoline engine, black leather seats wood trim everywhere, it cost me with 5 years 4.000€ . I agree with the title but i heard it since the w114, w115 and w123 again ,now the w124 but after all said i still have in perfect condition several diferent variations of the w114 , w115 and w123 , coupés, four door with diferent equipment as it was produced since 1968 till 1975while the w123 tinier body was sold like the 200D and 300D both equal finishings but one larger and longer and other more compact as not like some think the w201 wasn´t the first compact car as it as been like this since late 50´s till today ,there was always a more compact body and a longer one, the more evident to the eye his the trunk size but not only, only couldn´t find at aceptable price a 500E porshemercedes V8, all made by porshe in the w124 body when porshe was in a bad situation and told they almost closed the doors, but what a time to buy Porshes, don´t know how mnay i bought as i sold them for the dozens of them only expensive being the mid 80´s 911 turbo the favorite 911 for all porshe lovers after it came the liquid cooled engine that i found it starnge and said i wouldn´t buy any but in 98 i drove a carrera 4 and had to have it as it was a fun car to drive with 4x4 , but mercedes went not that good when Daimler stoped producing Mercedes , in the 2000 years but the C-class that came out by that time was still projected by daimler and till today with 24 years or less, cars or vans ,some never had a problem yet only the regular maintenace like new brake pads ,tires not much at all

19:31 Thanks for the Canadian content Bill, that Pontiac wagon in the stock photo has what appears to be an Ontario plate, could be some Degrassi kids coming home from the one of the TV show's episode. Drake was once a cast member of a later Degrassi the Next Generation series.

I have a 92’ W124 coupe for 20 years now, and a 93’ W124 conv. Great cars. Winter in New York now, but think I may pull one out of the garage and take it for a spin.

Your videos should be at least an hour long. You are one funny bloke. Thanks for the laugh mate.

My father had a S124 250 TD and then a S124 300TD back in 86-87. So I love these cars. great review, you spoke about all that made these cars what they are. Great design, engineering and innovation. Sadly here in Europe they're really getting collectible, so my dream of owning a clean and early S124 is getting further and further away. W124-Sedan S124-Estate C124-Coupe A124-Convertible

Beautiful wagon and color

Another awesome video filled with interesting factual historical data. I remember these cars back in the day and I always gave them a second look. Today it’s almost as good as my Hyundai Sonata:-)

Mercedes-Benz dealership service departments used to use the 300TE to transport their service customers and my '86 420SEL was in for service and I needed transportation and so I got to ride in one of these and it was my first time in an E-Class and WOW!!!! I was completely taken aback by the ride that was dramatically different from my S-Class, and just how 'tight' the car felt. I've always heard that the W124 chassis was the stiffest body structure that Mercedes-Benz produced back then. I'd have a W124 today albeit I'd prefer the diesel version. Amazing cars! BTW Bill, in terms of reliability, a friend of mine who works for Mercedes-Benz (NOT a dealership) in Southern California told me about two years ago that if I (or anybody) were to buy a brand new Mercedes-Benz that at the end of the warranty, get rid of it as it'll become an endless money pit.

Watching this from Europe. Do you guys ship to Europe? Cars on this channel are in spectacular shape!

Just picked up last year 95 e320 91k klms 60k miles. Lovin it!

Tha is Bill . One of my favourite cars . Loved it when the knob fell off ! You keep me going in these odd times

I wonder what is the best whiskey against Covid? The situation in Estonia is getting out of hand and I need something to feel secure.

My grandpa had the same car same color, but not touring. He had the normal 4 door Sedan version from 1993.

I love watching your videos!! Such an interesting and funny person.

Always love when you take these older vehicles out for a drive brings back lots of memories. You do very well describing what you are experiencing. Next best thing to driving them myself. You grossed me out so much in this video with some of your descriptions! But it was in a funny way, made me laugh. And I agree with so many of your views! I too have been frustrated by special interfering with good engineering! So many people out there trying to bind up good ideas.

Absolutely brilliant video Bill, loved the Tubbs call on the cell phone

I owned the 280TE from '93, original from Swiss. From the outside it was not as beautifully as this one in the movie but hey, what a great car! Especially compared to its age. I did some work on it and with some good maintenance this W/S124 series still driving better/more comfy than a lot of modern cars! Great engines en comfy on the road. The seats however where not that good, change these to the full leather ones and another world is what you discover. But it became to expensive to drive anymore so I sold the car last year :( To have an extra hobby in the Netherlands is no-go, the government taxed this car like a normal daily, if your car is 40 years or older than there is no road tax anymore but they WILL charge you for pollution on this old dino's. Strange world if you think about the US.....fuel is so cheap and engine displacement so big, how can that be the case??? Half the planet want's 0-emission and the US is continuing their own plan haha. So driving this older fuel consuming cars like this Benz is a real pleasure in the US....in most parts of Europe not so!

Your uploads make my day

Bill, I simply love your car features! To my mind I’m listening to Cheech!

I'm glad you put a question mark in the title.No German car can ever be the best car ever.

Fabulously entertaining and informative

New Magnaflow catalytic converter welded on, new Bosch starter, new Graf waterpump, new thermostat and Continental serpentine belt. No, I still haven't cut the umbilical cord to this car. Mechanic that did the alignment asked if it was my Grandpa's car. He asked why I still owned the car with that many miles on it. 😮

Totally agree with you Bill, W124 was one of the best, here in Europe the W201 190e was a close second haven’t seen you review a 190 yet though. What are your thoughts on the 190 ?

All very true Bill!, the W124 was the most successful Mercedes model produced in terms of sales numbers produced to this day. Great car I had a dark green '95 wagon wish I still did!

This thing is a gem 💎

Hi Bill. Nice rewiev. But just to let you know: The net is not for children but for dogs you transport in the back of your car. It’s the law in Germany.

I’m sorry I missed this one for sale. It’s a beautiful car.

I wanted a W124 as my first car, but I couldn't find a clean one for $5,000 to save my life. They're either $$$, or clapped and ruined beyond salvageability. Especially here in Kentucky. Ended up with my Lexus instead, which I adore. Eventually I'll own a W124, but I'm 19, and UPS doesn't pay me enough to properly maintain a Mercedes-Benz. Hopefully this example goes to a good owner!

In Germany we used the word "Kombi" for StationWagons. But not sure where this word come from, or what brand had it first. I love the old Benzes. Timeless and build to last

Fergus Dublin Ireland You're love for Mercedes-Benz is evident, in the way you call it by its full name and so much else! Im gonna buy a 1990 190E 2.6 V6, or an E320 or a 420SE shortly, but which to buy????? Maybe you can tell me what you think Bill. Thanks, Ps, I love the Jaguar XJ8 4.2 from 86' I think God himself, must have designed it Keep Vloggin Bill and thanks for all you do! Fergus Dublin Ireland 🇮🇪

You're like a cold beer on a cold day.... not healthy for the body but so damn enjoyable.... trina say I love you man.... I watch the videos on loop until I run out battery....

The 90s is a decade to be missed, yes there were issues back then but it was such a simple time and a great time.