“Come to St. Moritz and drive the Gullwing,” the invitation began, courtesy of the custodians of Mercedes-Benz’s classic collection. “And since you’ll be in Italy for the E 450 All-Terrain wagon launch, why not journey from there to Switzerland through the Alps in our W124 300 TD 4Matic wagon?” It was an offer impossible to decline, and not solely because the iconic 300SL Gullwing holds a special place in automotive history. For many enthusiasts, including myself, the Mercedes-Benz W124 series – encompassing sedan, wagon, coupe, and cabriolet models produced from 1984 to 1997 – represents a pinnacle for the marque. Often lauded as the “engineers’ E-Class,” the W124 embodied a Bauhaus-inspired rationality, prioritizing engineering substance over ostentatious display. It was a Mercedes-Benz where exceptional engineering was inherent, not merely showcased.
Three decades had passed since my last experience behind the wheel of a W124. The question lingered: how well has this esteemed reputation endured?
Settling into the driver’s seat of the 1989 300 TD 4Matic wagon is akin to reconnecting with a cherished old friend – instantly familiar and reassuring. The expansive, yacht-like steering wheel frames an analog instrument panel that remains a paragon of clarity and legibility even by today’s standards. A single stalk on the steering column governs a multitude of functions: low and high beam, turn signals, and the idiosyncratic single windshield wiper, ingeniously designed with a cam mechanism to maximize its cleaning sweep. In the center console resides the shifter for the four-speed automatic transmission, characterized by its somewhat vague gate, allowing manual selection between fourth, third, and second gears.
This particular Mercedes W124 Wagon boasts an intriguing specification, a testament to an era when customers enjoyed greater freedom to personalize their vehicles, selecting individual options rather than being confined to pre-packaged bundles. The front seats, upholstered in durable black MB-Tex vinyl (the standard material even in S-Class models of the time), feature manual adjustments yet are equipped with the uncommon air cushion option – a precursor to today’s sophisticated pneumatic seats. Window operation is courtesy of manual cranks, further emphasizing the car’s straightforward engineering.
Reflecting the preferences of many German buyers of the period, the original owner of this 300 TD opted to remove the model designation from the tailgate. Only the five horizontal louvers on the right front fender, just ahead of the wheel arch, subtly hint at the diesel engine beneath the hood. However, the “4Matic” badge on the tailgate proudly proclaims this as an E-Class wagon equipped with Mercedes-Benz’s pioneering first-generation all-wheel-drive system, now a ubiquitous technology across the automotive landscape.
In the 1980s, all-wheel drive was still a relative novelty in passenger cars. Audi’s Coupe quattro, which popularized the concept 18 years after its initial introduction by the niche British manufacturer Jensen with the FF, had only debuted five years prior to the delivery of this W124 wagon. The first-generation 4Matic system incorporated a locking center differential with two clutches. In typical driving conditions, it directed 100 percent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels. However, if the system, relying on input from the three-channel anti-lock braking system and steering angle sensor, detected a loss of traction, it could redistribute between 35 and 50 percent of the torque to the front wheels.
This 1989 W124 wagon became part of the Mercedes-Benz Heritage fleet in 2009 and has accumulated the equivalent of 156,811 miles – barely considered run-in for a vintage Mercedes diesel. Still, transitioning from the hushed rumble of the modern 2.0-liter four-cylinder diesel in the European-specification E 220 d All-Terrain wagon, which I had driven the previous day, to the characteristic clatter of the 300 TD 4Matic’s 3.0-liter straight-six at idle is quite a contrast. Diesel engine technology has undeniably advanced significantly in terms of refinement and noise reduction over the past four decades.
Modern diesels are also considerably more power-dense. The 300 TD’s turbocharged diesel, despite a 50 percent larger displacement than the E 220 d All-Terrain’s engine, produces only 75 percent of the power and 62 percent of the torque – 145 horsepower at 4600 rpm and 201 lb-ft of torque at 2400 rpm, compared to 195 horsepower at 3600 rpm and 324 lb-ft from 1800 rpm in the newer engine.
This disparity, compounded by the 23-hp, 151-lb-ft boost from the mild hybrid system in the All-Terrain, results in the 300 TD 4Matic feeling noticeably more leisurely in its acceleration. Contemporary road tests suggest a 0-60 mph time of around 12.7 seconds for the 300 TD 4Matic, en route to a top speed of 117 mph. In stark contrast, the E 220 d All-Terrain, despite being approximately 400 pounds heavier, sprints to 60 mph in a mere 7.9 seconds and achieves a top speed of 136 mph.
While the 300 TD 4Matic may not deliver exhilarating off-the-line acceleration, after spending some miles behind the wheel on winding Alpine roads, the reasons for its enduring appeal become clear. The fundamental brilliance of the chassis and suspension is readily apparent. Maintaining surprising momentum through the Alpine passes was effortless, guiding the car through corners with fingertip precision. You can feel the suspension working, the compliance in the bushings, and the interaction of the generously sidewalled 195/65 R15 Dunlop tires as lateral forces build. Once the wagon settles into a corner, it feels remarkably stable and planted, resisting any inclination to deviate from its intended line.
The modest power and torque figures only become noticeable on the steepest and most winding uphill sections. However, anticipating corner entry and preemptively shifting down a gear allowed sufficient time for the four-speed automatic’s hydraulics to respond and the turbocharger to build boost, synchronizing with the diesel engine’s increased revs, ensuring ample power delivery when needed. This experience served as a potent reminder of why driving a classic car can be such an engaging and rewarding endeavor.
The steering, heavier than in a modern Mercedes-Benz, exhibits the characteristic on-center dead spot common in post-war Mercedes models. Yet, once past this initial slackness, the steering proves surprisingly accurate, and the commendably tight turning circle is invaluable in sharp bends. The W124’s relatively narrow width – at 68.5 inches, slimmer than today’s C-Class – afforded valuable extra road space when encountering oncoming traffic, including trucks, buses, and the ever-present stream of motorcycles and supercars on popular mountain passes.
Engine braking proved highly effective on faster downhill stretches, utilizing third and second gear and leveraging the old diesel’s robust 22:1 compression ratio while lightly applying the brakes through faster corners. Despite being a diesel station wagon, the 300 TD 4Matic revealed itself as genuinely enjoyable to drive on flowing roads, establishing a comfortable and pleasing rhythm. The sophisticated multi-link rear axle – originally engineered for the 190E compact, the precursor to the C-Class, and still under Mercedes-Benz patent protection at the time of this car’s production – remains remarkably composed, unfazed by mid-corner imperfections and bumps.
Later, cruising on the autobahn towards Stuttgart after my Gullwing drive, the 300 TD 4Matic effortlessly maintained 100 mph, the diesel engine’s characteristic clatter receding to a subdued growl at 3600 rpm. Even at this speed, wind and road noise levels were impressively low. The primary annoyance stemmed from slower traffic merging into the lane ahead, particularly on inclines; regaining lost momentum in this car requires patience.
By the time I arrived at my Stuttgart hotel, I had covered nearly 480 miles, traversing some of Europe’s most breathtaking landscapes and fastest highways. All this in a car conceived during the era of hair metal, when the Apple Macintosh represented peak home computing technology, and a teenage Elon Musk was employed at a lumber mill in Saskatchewan. Does the W124 still deserve the title of “engineers’ E-Class”? Unquestionably. My journey in the 300 TD 4Matic emphatically demonstrated the enduring intellectual rigor underpinning its design and execution.
