{"title":"Buying Guides","description":"\u003cp\u003eModel by model: variants, weak points, market prices on the German market and the inspection checklist to tick off.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"buying-guide-mercedes-w123","title":"Buying Guide Mercedes W123","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVolume 3 of the series.\u003c\/strong\u003e 19 pages on buying a W123, from my own research at shows, at auctions and in workshops. Edition 1, as of August 2026. Written in Germany, where most of these cars come from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e„You cannot kill one of these“ is the sentence I hear about the 123 more than about any other car. It is roughly true, and that is exactly what makes it dangerous. Anyone who believes they are buying an indestructible car stops looking properly. Between an honest 240 D and a freshly undersealed cover up car there can be 15,000 euros that you pay after the purchase.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is inside\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe W123 in outline: series, production figures and the September 1982 cut off\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVariants and engines: every series model of the German market, plus estate and coupé\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe turbodiesel trap: why almost every turbodiesel saloon in Europe is a US import\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhich variant suits you, and the two I stay away from\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo pages on body and rust, including the rear semi trailing arms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngine, gearbox, suspension and steering, with valve clearance and oil pressure as their own check points\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe vacuum system: the blind spot of most buying guides\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParts availability and a cost table with parts \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e labour time, so you can do the sums for your own workshop rate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarket prices by model and condition on the German market, as of August 2026, with the method laid open\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspection checklist with 38 points to tick off, to print or to use on a tablet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest drive, negotiation, purchase and what comes after\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePDF, 19 pages, in English. Available for download immediately after payment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA note on the prices\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe price chapter describes the German market. Germany is where a large share of these cars are bought and exported from, so the figures tell you what the car costs at the source. They are not a price guide for your own country. Everything else, the weak points, the checklist and the running costs, applies wherever the car stands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat this guide is not\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is not a substitute for an inspection in person, and it is not a professional valuation. For the coupé and the 280 E that goes double: take someone with you who knows the model. The guide makes sure you both know what to look at.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Svens Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55135328928073,"sku":"SG-EN-W123","price":29.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"buying-guide-mercedes-w124","title":"Buying Guide Mercedes W124","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVolume 2 of the series.\u003c\/strong\u003e 16 pages on buying a W124, from my own research at shows, at auctions and in workshops. Edition 1, as of August 2026. Written in Germany, where most of these cars come from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e„The last real Mercedes“ is a sentence I hear about the W124 more often than about any other car, and usually from people who are about to buy one. That is where it becomes dangerous: anyone who believes they are buying an indestructible car stops checking properly. The range runs from a 2,000 euro winter car to a 500 E well beyond 100,000.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is inside\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe W124 in outline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBodies, engines and special models: saloon, estate, coupé and cabriolet in one table\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhich W124 suits you\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody and rust: the weak point map, from the underseal to the cabriolet hood hydraulics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngine, gearbox and suspension, including the self levelling system\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterior and electrics, with the wiring loom chapter as compulsory reading\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParts availability and typical repair costs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarket prices on the German market, as of August 2026, with the method laid open\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspection checklist to tick off, to print or to use on a tablet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest drive, negotiation, purchase and what comes after\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePDF, 16 pages, in English. Available for download immediately after payment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA note on the prices\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe price chapter describes the German market. Germany is where a large share of these cars are bought and exported from, so the figures tell you what the car costs at the source. They are not a price guide for your own country. Everything else, the weak points, the checklist and the running costs, applies wherever the car stands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat this guide is not\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is not a substitute for an inspection in person, and it is not a professional valuation. The higher the price, the more you need expertise on site. From the coupé and cabriolet upwards, and certainly for a 500 E, take someone with you who really knows the model.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Svens Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55135332008265,"sku":"SG-EN-W124","price":29.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"buying-guide-mercedes-190-w201","title":"Buying Guide Mercedes 190 (W201)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVolume 1 of the series.\u003c\/strong\u003e 17 pages on buying a 190, from my own research at shows, at auctions and in workshops. Edition 1, as of August 2026. Written in Germany, where most of these cars come from.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEleven years of production, four engine families, plus special editions and two homologation specials. Between an honest example and a well prepared cover up car there can be 10,000 euros of hidden cost on a W201. Almost all of it can be seen beforehand during a thorough inspection. That is exactly what this guide is built for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is inside\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe W201 in outline: figures, context, why the model is climbing again\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVariants and engines: every series model of the German market in one table, plus the equipment that makes the price\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhich variant suits you\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBody and rust: the weak point map\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEngine, gearbox, suspension\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterior and electrics\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParts availability and typical repair costs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMarket prices on the German market, as of August 2026, with the method laid open\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInspection checklist to tick off, to print or to use on a tablet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTest drive, negotiation, purchase and what comes after\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePDF, 17 pages, in English. Available for download immediately after payment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA note on the prices\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe price chapter describes the German market. Germany is where a large share of these cars are bought and exported from, so the figures tell you what the car costs at the source. They are not a price guide for your own country. Everything else, the weak points, the checklist and the running costs, applies wherever the car stands.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat this guide is not\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is not a substitute for an inspection in person, and it is not a professional valuation. On an expensive 16V, take someone with you who knows the model. The guide makes sure you both know what to look at.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Svens Garage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55135335252297,"sku":"SG-EN-W201","price":29.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/svensgarage.de\/collections\/buying-guides.oembed","provider":"SVENS GARAGE UG","version":"1.0","type":"link"}