Where do I start

[DJK]

Hi,

I have just found, and joined this forum, and hope that I can get a few very quick pointers from the exisiting members.

Having has a sucession of restoration projects, Land Rover SIII, Triumph Spitfire etc. I am now the proud owner of a Mercedes 230 TE, 1982, and the reality of ownership (5 days) is just sinking in.

I do not want to restore the vehicle to concours condition, it's primary job is to takeover from the SIII Land Rover as the family work horse (towing boats etc.). Having had a quick look around her I can see right away that I need the following bits:

Front O/S wing, Tailgate, front NS & OS door cards and two 14" alloy rims (all imperative), I could also do with (if the price is right) a bonnet, rear NS wheel arch pannel and drivers seat.

Although I heard the engine run when I picked her up, I have yet to put a new battery in, there may be more bits to do once this has been done.

The car doe's have some service history and has only done a genuine 136,000 miles so I am hoping that there will not be too much to do.

I am expecting to do nearly all the work myself so the help I am looking for is where to find the best deal on parts, new MB, patern or used and I there is anyone who can offer edvice on where to start and problems to look for on this type of MB.

Many thanks.

David
(Burnham on Crouch, Essex)

 

[Paul]

Just thought I would welcome you to our site. I hope you'll find it very imformative, and very friendly.

 

[jaymanek]

Hi there mate,

I have a 123 and have restored her recently, ill just give you a few brief pointers but if u need more info, just ask.

- Wings and doors are in the region of £200 from a dealer each. Pattern wings are £20 and doors £50. Pattern wings need a lot of adjustment to get them to line up, but not that difficult as they are much thinner than MB stuff. Doors are ok, but same again, wont line up perfectly and you will lose that solid Mercedes thud when closing the door. I had to change a few panels and i regret not buying original MB doors as they are noisier on the motorway and just not as solid.
Saying that though, it sounds like you dont want to spend thousands, so stick to patter stuff available from Euro car parts, German Swedish French or any other places like that.

The 123's are great motors, infact i get a bigger grin factor in my 123 than in my CL420!

I have a 'spare' 123 saloon with good interior and a lot of good parts. Let me know if u need anything.

Apart from body panels, a lot of parts are cheaper from the dealer than second hand or non original, always check. There are a lot of breakers around the country. I generally use Dronsfields at 01457 871717.

There is a really good 123 forum aswell. Im at a mates so dont have the link, but do a search on google for ' 123 club forum msn'....

Anything else, just ask...

Cheers

Jay

 

[Bear]

The link Jay was trying to give you is http://communities.msn.co.uk/W123Club

If you want decent salvage doors for your 123 try Mark Cosovich on 01792 846888 he's based in Swansea but will ship anywhere in the country next day.The last time we spoke at the Enfield show in the summer he was selling 123 doors complete with glass for £75.Mark is a specialist on the 123 and always has alot of spares in stock.

Pete

 

[DJK]

Thanks for all the help and pointers so far, really appreciated.

The big plan is to get the 230TD on the road as the workhorse and then look for a good condition SLC for best as it were, but that will only be once the 230 is roadworthy and in use, and I have managed to sell the Land Rover SIII that started me back into car renovation again after 20 odd years of playing with boats.

Once again thanks to everyone, I am sure I will be posting some realy dumb questions in the weeks/months to come.

Regards
David

 

[Kinky]

David - don't worry about that.

I'm the one who asks the dumb questions round here

K

 

[Ian B Walker]

Once again thanks to everyone, I am sure I will be posting some realy dumb questions in the weeks/months to come.

Regards
David

Dave, there is no such thing as a dumb question in this forum, every one helps everyone else (although a little tongue in cheek at times). We are what we are, A Group of Mercedes Enthusiasts here to help each other.

Ian

 

[DJK]

OK, so I'll put it to the test then.....

Can I facelift a w123 to a w124? i.e. lights, bonnet etc. or is it a real BIG or impsible job. I seam to remember hearing somewhere that it might be possible?

Thats the last dumb question for this year!

David

 

[jaymanek]

Ive seen it done, but to be honest i really think the 123's are better looking cars. They have much nicer lines look classic. Teh 124's are boxy and boring IMO (no offence anyone!).
If you want a 124, it'd be cheaper to just go out and buy one!

Jay

 

[DJK]

Hello again!!!

Right I've started to work on the beast, put a new battery in and she fired up first time!!

When I picked her up I was told that there was a problem with the engine, starts ok but after a fe minutes on tickover she starts to stutter and then stalls and wont strat again for 4/5 minutes.

Now to me that sounds like fuel starvation! Process of elimination went like this:-

Electrics must be OK to start and run OK at first
Fuel must be OK and clean? as it would happen right away
Carb jets must be OK for the same reason

Therefore is there either a blocked fuel filter? does the W123 have such a thing (told you I was new to Mercedes - might also help if I get a manual, looking for one on CD if any one has one) or is the tank breather blocked?

The tepreature has just dropped below zero here so it will have to wait till tomorrow before I go out again and try to start and run her with the filler cap off (that will eliminate the blocked breather).

Any ideas.

Dumb question No. 1 for 2004.

 

[jaymanek]

Hi,

My 200 petrol doesnt have a fuel filter at all. Not sure if yours will either. Someone may have stuck one in though, but shud be easy to find..

Jay

 

[pluggers]

Just a thought here,what about the auto choke if it has one. going off too early???

 

[jaymanek]

yeh my autochoke gets stuck after its been standing for a while, well worth a check

 

[DJK]

Thanks for the ideas guy's but I don't think it's the choke. The car starts and idle's for a good 10 minutes before the problem occurs, the tempreature gets to about 80 degrees so the engine is warm, and so is the heater.

During this peiod I can rev the engine OK and drive the car backwards and forwards OK, albeit on the driveway.

I have been told that the 230TE has a fuel filtre besides the fuel pump near the rear OS wheel so I'm going to look there tomorrow. When I picked the car up it had been standing for a good year and the fuel level was non exisitent, so it maybe that the fuel pump has picked up some sludge from the bottom of the tank and that it's stuck in the filtre decreasing the flow to the engine.

So it's a bit like trying to fill a gallon jar at a pint a minute when it's loosing a pint and a half a minute, well it sound reasonable to me. However if anyone has any alternative ideas please let me know.

Many thanks all, more later....

David

 

[pammy]

David - don't worry about that.

I'm the one who asks the dumb questions round here

K

Dave a BIG welcome to the group ... As you can see from K's reply, we like a bit of a giggle. I'm still new myself and one of the few girlies and can also do the dumb question bit

K - I would LOVE to jump in on that one - such an opening - but as it's my first day back from being away - I won't, I'll be nice and say Happy New Year instead:bannana: Hope you had a good time

 

[DJK]

Pammy hi...Thanks for the welcome.

Just to let you all know that a W123 230TE "does" have a fuel filter as I believe the saloon does as well.

I found it, with a lot of help, above the fuel pump just in front of the rear off side wheel.

Not having time to get a replacement I used the compressor air hose to "clean" the old one out. What a difference in flow rate that made.

Having rebuilt everyuthing I now find the car wont start, does anyone know how, or if, I should bleed the fuel system.

As they say "one door closes and another one opens (but they didnt say that behind every door is a problem just waiting to catch you and take more money from you).

More later.

David

 

[kalseddon]

i have the same problem as soon as it hits 80 degrees it is similar symtoms to a misfire
so were abouts is the choke on an 84 230E

 

[Mercsys]

...what the VIN, Ill pull up the SPC for the fuel...