After 16 years hibernating...

[B325YUD]

...the wagon finally moved under its own power last Sunday!

While it was outside it got a quick wash-down to remove the worst of the dust and spider-crap, and it came up quite nice, if I say so myself.

 

[trapperjohn]

Very nice indeedy.

 

[renault12ts]

That looks good. Tell us more.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Great looking car. Did you have to do much with it?

Would love to hear the story behind it...

 

[B325YUD]

That looks good. Tell us more.

Thanks, I'll sort out some more photos at the weekend.

Short history: it's a 230TE ordered in January 1985 with the optional alloys and (manually-operated!) sunroof, registered in May of that year. Apparently they twisted the dealership's arm to get the Blaupunkt radio-casstte player in place of the OEM one, but that was the only "deal" they got on what cost them about £18K I think. It was owned by an elderly lady who didn't drive, so her son did the chauffering to the tune of 19,207 miles in ten years. In 1995 he got a company car and the Merc was parked up in the garage on the side of her house (luckily), and there it sat until earlier this year when she had to prepare to sell the house.

I don't believe they did anything to it in the intervening years, other than keeping some dust sheets over it for most of the time. Probably luckily, they didn't even try to run it up every month or so as some might have been tempted to do. The tyres, which are the original Michelin XVS ones, went a bit soft but not actually flat: unfortunately because the car never moved an inch they have taken a bit of a set, so I suspect they may not be useable.

The spare has not ever been taken out as far as I can tell, and the interior still has that new car smell! It has the extra rear-facing seat in the luggage compartment, and the mesh screen and retractable cover.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Wow, that sounds like a fantastic find. Looks and sounds box fresh, what a story too!

 

[Cabe]

"Barn finds" rock, sounds like you have a sweet one there.

 

[BoyracerAU]

Wow! How nice is that! I would've bought that in a flash too. Congrats!

 

[219]

That looks in lovely condition .

There was no option of electric sunroof on the estates ( nowhere to put the motor ) .

The rear end looks to be sitting a tad low ? You can adjust the link between the rear anti roll bar and the valve for the self levelling suspension to correct this - it may even have stuck after all this time .

New tyres will certainly be advisable , but you are probably running 185 or 195/70 x 14 , I think H rated on the 230 , from memory , and these are not so easy to source nowadays in a decent brand .

If you have not already done so , also change all fluids : engine oil , coolant , ATF , PAS , self levelling ( MB ZHM mineral oil ) , brake fluid , diff oil . Also check all coolant hoses and drive belts since they may well have perished after standing for so long .

I'd also look at flexible brake hoses and possibly even getting the calipers overhauled after the car has been lying for so long - I once had a catastrophic brake failure after starting to use a car which had been standing for a similar length of time - this was my Ponton with drum brakes and a seal in one of the wheel cylinders just 'went' - thankfully , I was slowing down for traffic lights and almost managed to stop by pulling on the handbrake before 'nudging' the back of the Rolls-Royce in front ! Could so easily have been expensive but no damage to either vehicle and was complimented on my car by the gent in the RR

Since that incident , I have been paranoid about brakes and always go over the full system carefully on any car I buy .

Good luck with your car .

You should still be able to order the Haynes manual on the W123 which has a lot of useful info .

Your new best friend is Mark Cosovich , the UK's leading W123 specialist - tel 01792 846888 or 07714 089936 . Mark restores these cars and can even source some parts no longer available from MB !

 

[A210AMG]

Thats great

My Dad had a couple of them, a 200T manual and a 230TE both estates I remember one number plate was DBA 106Y. He loved these cars. More pictures of the inside please.

Great find

 

[trapperjohn]

JK will be after buying it off you. Apparently he has a taste for these.

 

[219]

Never mind JK , Charles Ironside will be knocking on his door !

Can you imagine what he would ask for a 'timewarp' condition W123 estate with under 20K on the clock ?

 

[trapperjohn]

Very probably reading this thread as we speak. Anyone got a photo of Charlie Ironprice incase he turns up at B325YUD's door. Or would that infringe just about every law in the land.

 

[219]

Oh , and MB Poole , formerly Jackson's , are Classic parts specialists for the UK and can obtain ( even hold in stock ) a surprising amount of parts that other dealers will tell you are no longer available .

 

[219]

Anyone got a photo of Charlie Ironprice incase he turns up at B325YUD's door.

Happy to oblige

 

[trapperjohn]

Most apt. Sell to me or the car gets it.

 

[MD5]

Even the mudflaps look great - what a fanatastic find!

Of course, now the deterioration starts!

 

[Howard]

Love these old cars , my dad also had one back in the days ( mid/late 80's ) ...

280TE , dark blue , blue velour interior. Registration was ROY 477W.

Good find , hope you enjoy her .

 

[C43AMG]

Yes and congratulations, what a great find. Great information Derek. Your a good lad, just what this forum is all about.

 

[finisterre]

So you like it then?