The year was 1991, and a lucky & hard-working individual had just hit record sales on his AMWAY account. And what does one do with that fresh high earning? Spend it on an S124 300TE immediately of course, the 300TE needed to be equipped with a mobile phone to keep those AMWAY sales at the top! OK… maybe that isn’t the exact story on how this 300TE came about; but that’s how I would picture someone driving this wagon in the early 90s. Once viewed as a “Success Symbol,” S124 has a timeless design. Even in 2023, a S124 still has that “road presence” on every rare occasion that I see them on the road.
The first thing that caught my eyes on this featured wagon is its Palomino (brown) interior. While many cars from this era came with grey interior, it is refreshing to know that one person, who has an impeccable taste, spec’d this wagon with brown interior to stand out from the rest of the crowd. I also love the rear-facing third row seating that this model has! To add more of his personal touch, Jay-P (the lucky owner of this wagon) added tweed pattern brown Hartmann suitcases, a Burberry umbrella, and a Burberry travel pouch in the cargo area. It is safe to say that this wagon and its owner lives up to the Petrolicious’ mantra sticker in its rear window: “Drive Tastefully.”
Introduce yourself.
My name is JP Modesto, I’m an entrepreneur and Dad of 3 from Arcadia, California.
WHY A WAGON?
I have this 1991 Mercedes Benz 300TE S124, black on Palomino interior, which I acquired about 5 years ago, although I do believe that owning one was subliminally embedded in my head long ago since I was a kid. Growing up, my family always saw the Three-Pointed Star as a measure of success and station wagons in particular was a symbol of class and sophistication often driven by the “old rich.”
I love wagons because of their ability to drive like a sedan and haul like a SUV. Driving a wagon allows me to comfortably Uber the kids to school and their Muay Thai classes. I can also fold the rear seats down and haul boxes of merchandise for my reseller/eBay business to and from warehouses or transport DJ equipment when I have an occasional DJ gig (I’m a retired DJ). Some may say I can drive a SUV or a minivan to accomplish the same goals and they may be right, but I look fresher doing it with a wagon.
Did you consider a different WAGON instead of this one?
Yes, I have a very slight addiction to station wagons. Along with this S124, I also own a 2003 Lexus IS300 SportCross Wagon and daily drive a 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 S212 Wagon. Before my current daily driver, I also owned two Acura TSX Sport Wagons at the same time.
What was your original objective with your car and has that objective changed?
My main objective for this car was to drive it around town on weekends which is what it’s primarily used for, but I would say it doesn’t get driven enough as I have other cars in the collection that also needs to get driven.
What style would you say best describes your car?
I love the black exterior on Palomino colored interior which reminds me of 90’s luxury and because of that, I decided to pursue a classic British theme, so I just kept the car clean and original. No tints on the windows, no huge stickers, no loud modifications. It’s lightly modded with a simple drop, Nardi Steering wheel and AMG monoblock wheels. I’ve added my finishing touches with a set of period correct Hartmann luggage, MB parking pole and Burberry umbrellas.
Who assisted in the planning/building/modding of your car?
There’s really not much done to call it a “build”, but I’d like to give props to Arman Mariano and Chris Pablo who had 2 of the dopest S124 wagons at the time when I purchased this car. They definitely inspired me to get a S124.
What do you feel makes your car unique/special in your eyes?
There are lots of beautiful S124 wagons in SoCal and by no means is mine the best example. However, I do love how my S124 has a super clean Palomino interior that hasn’t faded after over 32 years, and I’ve been told that that the umbrella and luggage are great accessories and have become my trademark finishing touch that can also be seen in my other cars.
What is your favorite part/feature/function of the car?
My favorite feature on Benz wagons is the rear facing 3rd row seats. My kids love sitting in the back during short trips and we use it as our little lounge/hangout spot during ice cream runs.
If you could pick one thing you aren’t satisfied with about your car, what would it be?
Hands down it’s the rear Self-Leveling System (SLS). I’ve replaced the cylinder and had a few mechanics help adjust it to even the ride height, but it eventually just raises up over time after adjustment. That’s why the stance has a slight rake towards the front. A lot of people do an SLS delete and install regular shocks or get air bags, but I prefer to keep it as is or maybe I’ll raise the front a little to even out the height between the front and rear suspension.
What has been the biggest obstacle you’ve faced while building this car?
The hardest thing is finding a clean example. In my opinion, the hardest thing to accomplish is to find a good car to buy. The better example you acquire, the easier the restoration and build process will be and vice versa. Everything else is attainable with proper resources and time.
What one word best describes your car?
Class.
What is your final goal with this car?I’ve decided to let her go this year. I’ve already sold my 1972 Mercedes Benz 250 W114, and I plan to sell this wagon to buy a dream car, a Porsche 911. I was hesitant and sad with the thought of letting my cars go but I think it’s good to not resist growth and pursue opportunities to create new memories and adventures. With that said, my final goal is to enjoy the wagon before she’s sold. Thank you Avantturous for featuring my car and capturing a snapshot that I can look back to in the future.
