How badly do these rust?

Normally front wings, front crossmember, rear wheelarches and under the rear screen on some. Coupés can rot along the sill / rear quarter join, but it's unusual.

Check the carpets are dry, the water pump isn't noisy or leaking, and there isn't too much play in the steering. W124s use steering boxes and I think you're allowed up to 20mm free play at the wheel, but you really want less than that!. Gearboxes can be weak, listen out for excessive whining from 1st and 2nd gear - that'll be one of the clutch packs worn out. Rear diffs can be noisy as well, but normally last forever provided there is oil in them, obviously.

Economy, you'll get about 23 mpg in town, maybe 35 on a run, driven gently.

The 320-24 is the one to have, but you won't find one for sensible money.

Oh, and ditch the mick plate if you get it.

... and like all Mercedes diffs they tend to sweat oil a little so you really want to check that from time to time.

It's also a lot more expensive to run, but at least it should be noticeably faster than the 230...

AOL, although I'd be a bit wary of a car that has had a new engine - I'm not aware of any problems with that unit so unless he got a bad 'un, the problem was sitting behind the wheel...

Thanks Pete and Timo Photos look OK for that one, but I know a wet car can hide the sins very well. Maybe it came from the island like that with the plate on (no really).

I expected something big to be slow as a 2.3 without a turbo.

It's not going to be that slow (the 230 was supposed to be the best compromise engine if you didn't fancy the six cylinders, which are a lot more thirsty) and the engine normally goes on forever, hence me wondering about the way this one has been treated.

Just guessing, but 'not a lot' and 'quite' would appear to be the correct answers.

Shame really, stylish, large, good sized boot, arround the age of cars I like. But see, I haven't made an offer, I am trying to be practical.