Klaus
Some cars are bought after months of searching. This one was bought with a leap of faith. We purchased this 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300E sight unseen from San Jose, California after a phone conversation with a young man selling it on behalf of his grandfather, who had recently lost his eyesight.
Favorite Feature
The car was everything we hoped for—a pristine, single-owner California example. Well... almost. It was absolutely immaculate inside and out, except for one amusing detail: it had little dings scattered all over it. We eventually realized they were likely the result of its owner continuing to park by touch. It became part of the car's character and one of our favorite stories. Our goal wasn't simply to own a W124 —we wanted to prove its legendary reputation for durability. So we set ourselves a challenge: buy the car and drive it across America on a total budget of less than $5,000, including the purchase price.
Best memory
The adventure began in California and quickly became one we'll never forget. On just the second day, the transmission started shifting oddly. A quick stop revealed it was simply low on transmission fluid. We topped it off, our hands covered in sticky ATF, laughed it off, and kept driving. From there, the car never missed a beat. The only warning light for the rest of the cross-country journey? "Add windshield washer fluid." That's classic W124. New Year's Eve in Nashville was the perfect celebration after thousands of miles on the road—a fitting reward for a car that proved exactly why these Mercedes have earned their reputation as some of the most durable automobiles ever built.
Events attended
Katies cafe
Modifications
- None
Ashburn, VA