At last, got myself my second W123!

[DiksmuideSteve]

Dear All,

finally, after a few months, I've placed a deposit on my second W123:

1983 230e with 119k km / 74k miles - one owner from new with FULL MB dealership service history.

Old lady who no longer drives it. Garaged since 1991, effectively a 'barn find' - it has been recommissioned over the last 6 months and returned to a pristine condition. (Not that the lady neglected it, in the first place). Comes with steering servo.

Spare key, still in sealed plastic bag from initial dealership

The colour is what first got me interested, this flat grey. Works beautifully with the beige leather interior.

Not much for me to do to it, perhaps the engine could do with a clean, and I'm sure I can improve on the interior condition. Bodywork is perfect.

Pick it up next weekend from Brussels, Belgium.

It'll always be garaged, and registered as a classic car, driven in the sunny months. Roll on spring!

 

[MercedesDriver]

What a lovely car. Congrats.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Great looking car! Love the Ascot (Lias) (751) Grey colour and super MBTex interior.

 

[alabbasi]

Nice find. I quite like the M102. I'm thinking of converting my 230CE to use an electric fan from a late 90's E or C class instead of that problematic magnetic fan clutch.

 

[grober]

Looks the Biz! I remember these little pink mileage stickers out of the service book stuck on the door A pillar. Piccy of the engine compartment please.

 

[gaz_l]

Looks very nice! Enjoy.

Cheers,

Gaz

 

[DiksmuideSteve]

Great looking car! Love the Ascot (Lias) (751) Grey colour and super MBTex interior.

Just knew someone would come along and give me the colour codes. Cheers!

 

[DiksmuideSteve]

Looks the Biz! I remember these little pink mileage stickers out of the service book stuck on the door A pillar. Piccy of the engine compartment please.

As you can see, it's solid as a rock under the bonnet. No attention given to it in the last 35 years, over and above, a pure MB service. Have a jam jar full of used toothbrushes ready for action!

 

[Charles Morgan]

That will scrub up nicely!

 

[brucemillar]

Fantastic looking car and a fantastic find. The colour is perfect as is that interior. Good health to enjoy it.


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[grober]

You say it has a full MB service history and has done 76K miles? When was the last service done ? The date not the mileage. My concern would be fluids first, antifreeze/engine oil/transmission fluid/ brake fluid and any possible embrittlement of rubber components heater hoses/radiator hoses/ brake flexibles etc . Maybe a bit of surface corrosion on the passenger side where chassis leg meets the bulkhead- leakage from an old battery? Basically looks pretty sound under the bonnet but tread carefully- Its going to be little things- The distributor cap is held on with 2 steel machine screws- into an alloy distributor body! - these often seize due galvanic corrosion if they haven't been off for some time- so penetrating oil and patience is required if you wish to remove the cap to renew/clean up the rotor arm for example.

This link should bring you to a W123 online manual Untitled Document
unfortunately it doesn't include data on the M104 engine but this 190 Manual does.
Untitled Document

Good luck with the new car.

 

[DiksmuideSteve]

You say it has a full MB service history and has done 76K miles? When was the last service done ? The date not the mileage. My concern would be fluids first, antifreeze/engine oil/transmission fluid/ brake fluid and any possible embrittlement of rubber components heater hoses/radiator hoses/ brake flexibles etc . Maybe a bit of surface corrosion on the passenger side where chassis leg meets the bulkhead- leakage from an old battery? Basically looks pretty sound under the bonnet but tread carefully- Its going to be little things- The distributor cap is held on with 2 steel machine screws- into an alloy distributor body! - these often seize due galvanic corrosion if they haven't been off for some time- so penetrating oil and patience is required if you wish to remove the cap to renew/clean up the rotor arm for example.

This link should bring you to a W123 online manual Untitled Document
unfortunately it doesn't include data on the M104 engine but this 190 Manual does.
Untitled Document

Good luck with the new car.

The guy (seller) has done all the hard work for me. Over the last 6 months he has taken it from a 'barn find', to what it is now, including 'engine out' work. MB service was from purchase 1983 to 1991. 8 years and 119,000km. Then 25 years plus in a barn/garage. The seller finds this and gets to work. What you see in the pictures is a perfect storm. Very low mileage car owned and cared for, then due to health, 'forgotten'. A car restorer then gets her back to roadworthy condition. The last MB service was 1991.

 

[DiksmuideSteve]

here's one outside so the foto won't be influenced by the neon glow..

 

[Scott_F]

As you can see, it's solid as a rock under the bonnet. No attention given to it in the last 35 years, over and above, a pure MB service. Have a jam jar full of used toothbrushes ready for action!

A real Mercedes enthusiast would use his own toothbrush !

 

[brucemillar]

A real Mercedes enthusiast would use his own toothbrush !

I would personally lick that clean.

 

[PaulXC]

Very nice !

 

[brucemillar]

Gratuitous picture of my engine AFTER it has been licked by me.


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[DiksmuideSteve]

I really like the idea of spraying the airfilter cap in Lias 751 grey. As it's a grey, I wouldn't go so far as paint the cylinder head, as it's 'grey' anyway but love the idea of colour-coding. Better than this huge black lump.

 

[DiksmuideSteve]

Finally got her home and now tucked up in bed until I sort the paperwork......
Inevitably lots of questions to follow!View attachment 74390 View attachment 74390 View attachment 74390

 

[brucemillar]

I must warn you that Charles Morgan is not worlds greatest fan of colour coded engines ;^) We used to speak a lot and share convivial nibbles over chats about cars. Then I opened my bonnet...........