W123 Saloon really wanted

[HowardD]

Excellent! Regarding the faults:

1. My W123 didn't have a front armrest - I got one from Mark Cosovich. Very easy to fit - PM me for details if you decide to buy one.
2. If all the dash lights are gone, it's probably a faulty rheostat - you can just bridge across as you'll want it on full brightness anyway. Individual bulbs are fairly easy to change - just take off the lower panel and push out the cluster from behind. You can buy the bulbs from Halfords.
3. The boot only has one bulb.
4. The seat squeak on my car was caused by the vinyl rubbing on the plastic cover where the seat back adjuster is mounted. Cured with a smear of vaseline.

Does the cruise work? They've nearly all failed by now.

Thanks for the info.

I dont know if the cruise control works. How could I have not asked the seller that? I assumed it would.

Dash lights are failed rheostat and I'm going to get help to do exactly what you said about bridging. I will probably break something if I try to do it.

Thing about the boot light - I thought this one had two separate lights - both at the edge of the boot lid. I was tired when I saw the car, and first assumed they were the registration plate lights.

I do want an arm rest, but I dont know if I'll be able to find right colour. Although I've been told the blue cloth interior is common.

Picking it up on Friday. 3 days and counting.

 

[stever]

Mark will re-trim the armrest to your spec (mine is a perfect match). Boot lid light is on the left hand side, on the inside of the lip. Number plate lamps are separate.

 

[HowardD]

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/members-gallery/75518-w123-230e-has-arrived.html

It's arrived. Big list of things I want to do. My girlfriend hates it , but our girls like it.

Its a 1982 230e with 63,000 genuine miles. It looks straight and original and I'm very pleased. It came with a big folder of bills and the seller was a decent retired gent.

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Conngratulations, saw the pics in the gallery, looks like a decent well looked after example.

Well done :bannana:

 

[Will]

Looks fantastic

Will

 

[EDZ649]

Congrats on the new car, looks great!

 

[andy_k]

looks great - enjoy

 

[HowardD]

First impulse purchase!!

The original one is slightly damaged and this one looks great.


So far, apart from the minor bodywork attention it needs, I've listed the following things that need attention.

• The old tyres are legal, but look ancient. 4 new tyres needed
• No immobiliser (urgent)
• Electric aerial wont go down
• Wing mirror glass tarnished and nearside electric glass goes up and down, but not left to right. Both wing mirrors are tatty
• no armrest between front seats
• Dashboard lights rheostat does not work
• Roof lining has a small tear by the sunroof
• Stereo is rubbish - I dont think it's the original and I'd like to replace it with a modern(ish), but discrete Mercedes unit

And, the list begins.

 

[Druk]

Lovely colour. Very nice.

Wing mirrors come to bits easy. Be careful who does any re-chroming though. They are cast from pot metal stuff and not everyone is good at it. I had two done. Platers wrecked one of them. They are the same chrome as the same year R107 SL if it's any help.

Top pic shows how to remove mirror glass. Rest are for manual mirror SL.

 

[Bear]

Congratulations on buying a proper Merc If the dash dimmer wont cure itself by turning the knob back and forth a few times try this

Unity - mercedes - dash dimmer

 

[retrodave111]

howard, if you are stuck, i will have the parts for you, as bear and druk, will know, dave

 

[HowardD]

Lovely colour. Very nice.

Wing mirrors come to bits easy. Be careful who does any re-chroming though. They are cast from pot metal stuff and not everyone is good at it. I had two done. Platers wrecked one of them. They are the same chrome as the same year R107 SL if it's any help.

Top pic shows how to remove mirror glass. Rest are for manual mirror SL.

Thanks for that page. Where does it come from?

The chrome is in good condition. But the glass is tarnished, and the mirror unit is covered in what looks like a handpainted thick black paint.Like a poor attempt to repair it.

 

[HowardD]

Congratulations on buying a proper Merc If the dash dimmer wont cure itself by turning the knob back and forth a few times try this

Unity - mercedes - dash dimmer

That's a very handy guide. I've got a replacement rheostat, just no confidence to fit it yet.

 

[HowardD]

howard, if you are stuck, i will have the parts for you, as bear and druk, will know, dave

Thank you. I've sent you a PM

 

[nick mercedes]

That's a very handy guide. I've got a replacement rheostat, just no confidence to fit it yet.

Pull out cluster, use 10mm for oil feed, unscrew speedo cable, unplug multiplug and any other plugs, unscrew rheostat, wiggle a bit to get off, and then reverse to box back together.

Really easy job.

 

[HowardD]

Mini update. Had it for a week today. Few things need sorting out; so far:

Done
4 new tyres - The old ones tread, but looked ten year old. 4 Good years GT2's - look like a mid range tyre, cost £126 fully fitted. (Kwik-fit Bracknell wanted £340 )

Done
Thatcham Immobiliser.

Done
New steering wheel, in leather and zebrano. looks and feels awesome.

Done
Swapped the Clarion 916 r/c for an Audio 10 CD. Wanted fm, and not something too modern and out of place. The Audio 10 looks just right.


To Do

• roof lining has a tear by the sunroof
• electric aerial doesn't work
• front centre armrest required
• at least one hubcap is badly scuffed
• both mirrors look tatty
• waxoyling
• minor surface rust
• new speakers

Wish list

• Leather interior (might end up being a retrim)

Pictures soon.

 

[Koolvin]

Check out whitenemesis re-trim in the interior section - fantastic work

 

[jaymanek]

Mini update. Had it for a week today. Few things need sorting out; so far:



Done
New steering wheel, in leather and zebrano. looks and feels awesome.

Done
Swapped the Clarion 916 r/c for an Audio 10 CD. Wanted fm, and not something too modern and out of place. The Audio 10 looks just right.

Sounds just like what ive done to my new W123 coupe!

 

[HowardD]

Sounds just like what ive done to my new W123 coupe!

I copied the idea of the Audio 10 from you. .

I knew it needed a modern stereo, but nothing bling, and I cant justify the cost of a Becker. The Audio 10 really looks discrete and it has a mercedes logo too. Happy days.

 

[HowardD]

Check out whitenemesis re-trim in the interior section - fantastic work

Just seen it. It looks stunning. I'm so tempted - but I must resist, must resist!