W123 specialist in South London

[brunotxu]

Hello everyone, finally managed to get my hands on a beautiful W123 estate...which is need of some serious tlc, like most of them! Can anyone recommend a specialist in S London? Thanks

 

[olly398]

James Leigh have been good with my C220 not sure about the older ones though.

 

[Screwdriver]

I'd like to second this request for experience. I also have a W123 and its needs a complete brake system overhaul. Thanks!

 

[vijilants]

Hello everyone, finally managed to get my hands on a beautiful W123 estate...which is need of some serious tlc, like most of them! Can anyone recommend a specialist in S London? Thanks

Bodywork or mechanics ?

If it is mechanical you could try Merc Repairs Ltd, 3 - 5 Hastings Road, Croydon CR0 6PH....tel 0208 406 7866

 

[neilrr]

Apart from the Welsh bloke who does nothing but W123s I don't think there is anyone who could be called a specialist in 123s, they stopped making them 30 years ago!

Any busy indy should see (or have seen) enough of these to know his way around one. Pretty much ancient technology these days & I'd guess any problems that they developed over time would be well known by now.

 

[Screwdriver]

I'll give Merc Repairs a visit. Thanks!

 

[a111r]

Which bits need fixing or attention?

Some of their appeal is down to their basic qualities >>> off to Africa.
Whether you had a choice or not.

 

[Screwdriver]

Not sure I follow. My rear bearings and brakes appear to need overhauling.

 

[vijilants]

There is nothing complex or complicated in W123s if you are handy with a set of spanners (apart from the central locking when it fails) and even that isn't soo bad as long as you can trace out the air leak.

More often than not they are very easy to work on. I owned one for 10 years and the only time it ever saw a garage was to have the valve stem oil seals replaced and a new steering box. Everything else I did myself.

The reason as to why a lot of W123s landed up going off to a lot of developing countries was because they were tough and were straightforward to repair.

As for your rear brakes and bearings, any half decent mechanic should be able to attack that job without a problem. The only painful part can be the handbrake part of the brakes within the inners of the rear disk.

 

[daves624]

James Leigh have been good with my C220 not sure about the older ones though.

James Leigh pretty good with B Classes too.

 

[Mike Walker]

@brunotxu - where about's in South London are you based?

 

[JohnBell]

Keys Mercedes in Bexleyheath come recommended.

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

AMC Wandsworth

Chat with the boys at AMC Wandsworth.

They mainly do "young chicks" up to 20 years old, they may feel brave enough to scope out the work for you or, more likely, be able to point you towards a probably retired Engineer who does ad hoc work on S123's.

An S123 is the Estate, a W123 is the saloon.

Good luck - great cars - beautifully made and certainly good for 300 - 500k miles, if the owner can be bothered.

Would love to see a photo sometime.