1986/7 230E Auto

[Tiff]

I'm interested in why you say that ???

My Ponton is LHD and I never had any problems driving it here - great fun stopping at tolls ( Forth Bridge mainly ) and jumping up out of the sunroof to pay No seatbelts in a '57 car so easy to do

I have driven loads on the continent , but always rental cars (or scooters in Italy) without any problems , other than the usual first short while getting used to driving on the 'wrong' side of the road .

What am I missing ?

LOL, I used to love spinning my Dodge Challenger through 180 degrees to go backwards through Mc Donalds drive thru


Citroen SM's.. SM is apt here.. a mix of mad Frech plumbing, tallied with Italian electrics..

 

[312 Sprinter]

I had no end of problems with the Barchetta, from the daily run through the Tyne Tunnel, to not being able to see past a truck to overtake, to visibility when heading down narrow streets and parking etc, overtaking stationary buses and the like.

RHD, at least, in France, is much easier because the roads are generally wider.

I have a small camera on the windscreen pillar of both the Volvo and the Sprinter. It is plugged into the AUX output on the satnav. I can select AUX and it shows me the road ahead on the sat nav screen so I can start to pull out on a Route Nationale and not get squashed by a truck.

It freaked out the windscreen people when it went in for a new screen. They thought they were on some consumer programme!

 

[ss201]

I used my 1989 W201 2.6 for 18 months and 50k miles for work on a mileage allowance. Bought it with 130k miles and FMBSH. Had it converted to LPG for £1k at 140k miles. Other than regular servicing by a trusted MB specialist, the only thing that let me down was a dizzy cap (stupidly replaced a genuine M-B part with a Beru one) and a voltage regulator on the alternator. Kept on top of it by replacing parts when showing wear (ball joints, wishbone bushes, other minor bits). Net result, the car paid for itself three times over with what I made in tax free mileage allowance and LPG fuel savings (gave me the equivalent of 50 + mpg).

I don't have the job any more, but I still have the car. Have just used a portion of what I "made" to pay to have the suspension completely rebuilt/replaced. It is now 21 years old, has 197k miles, not a speck of rust anywhere and should be good for the next 21 years.

I get numerous compliments about the condition, I still love driving it and it doesn't look like any plastic eurobox. Zero depreciation too!

My work colleague bought a used 3 year old BMW 320 diesel for the same purpose. Paid £10k for it, put 100k miles on in 3 years, had to replace a blown turbo after 120k miles (cost £1k). Got £2k back in p/x when he replaced it last month.

I'm 100% with Pontoneer on this one. Who says running an old Merc for business isn't a good idea? Just have to make sure you get the right car in the first place.

 

[Tiff]

Jeez, after reading this it could put you off a 230E!! Bit harsh I'd say..

German Test BMW 525i - Audi 100 2.3E - Mercedes 230E 1988 - a set on Flickr

 

[c2raig]

Argh!! It's too small to read on my BlackBerry!!

I will be driving the 230E this week, returning to the UK for a week or so on Tuesday

 

[c2raig]

I've ran 250 miles in this car on trial. I've seen enough and bought it today.

Bodywork is a little frilly but very serviceable, and I fully intend to sort this out completely, I was tempted to opt for the "faded glory" appearance, but it goes too well for that. Superb runner, it turned 98k today. Smooth, tight, trim and the auto box changes beautifully, all the fluids are fine and dandy and it has no rust under it. I have the bill from the supplying dealership for the schultzing at four years old. People did this in the eighties, apparently. Much faster than I was expecting, resulting in me crashing it into a fence on a wet road tonight...

What an awesome car. Pictures to follow.

 

[312 Sprinter]

A picture speaks a 1000 words.......

 

[Tiff]

You crashed it already??!!

 

[c2raig]

Nothing serious!! Car is fine, not a scratch, fence is.... dislodged from the ground. Not used to powerful/RWD/auto box changing gear mid corner, absoloutely my fault and now learned not to push it in the wet

 

[c2raig]

Quick question, what would be the best engine oil to use for this lovely old smoker? I've heard mixed reports, and unfortunately I have 20 litres of Mobil 1 in my garage :/

 

[Tiff]

Mobil 1 is a bit of overkill for a 230- too thin .. I'd just use a good quality 10w40 semi synthetic.

 

[312 Sprinter]

I reckon it'll run just fine on Mobil 1. I used to run a 1985 210 petrol van on it with, in essence, the same engine as your 230 and it liked it.

 

[c2raig]

I'm worried if I use Mobil 1 it'll show up any leaks that thicker oil wouldn't seep through?

 

[mattc]

I'm worried if I use Mobil 1 it'll show up any leaks that thicker oil wouldn't seep through?

might as well find where they are (if any). That will tell you what remedial work might need doing..especially as you are talking of putting some miles on it.

 

[312 Sprinter]

I'm worried if I use Mobil 1 it'll show up any leaks that thicker oil wouldn't seep through?

I'd go round and tighten up the sump bolts, they're always loose. Make sure the breathers are all clear.

The oil isn't thinner when it is warm, and Mobil 1 is one of the best lubricants there is. Run it say I.

 

[c2raig]

In that case, I'll run on Mobil 1!

 

[c2raig]

Incidentally, I've now done 700 miles in it (fairly locally) since Tuesday, and it's not missed a beat.

 

[312 Sprinter]

Incidentally, I've now done 700 miles in it (fairly locally) since Tuesday, and it's not missed a beat.

It'll thrive on use, just make sure all the fluids in it are fresh and high quality.

 

[c2raig]

It loves it, ATF is brand new, although its had a recent oil change, I want to do it for piece of mind. PAS etc etc all on the mark, got two new tyres on order for the back (they're OK but not new) and I've got the dtuff to tidy the body up, just need some rattle cans for the paint!

 

[312 Sprinter]

It loves it, ATF is brand new, although its had a recent oil change, I want to do it for piece of mind. PAS etc etc all on the mark, got two new tyres on order for the back (they're OK but not new) and I've got the dtuff to tidy the body up, just need some rattle cans for the paint!

I did wonder if your fence escapade was the result of tyres having gone rather wooden with age. Might be worth having a look at the manufacturing dates on them.