sime42
New Member
Hello all
I'm quite new to this forum and this is my first thread. Apologies if I run on a bit!
I owned a 1985 W123 230E saloon for the last 5/6 years, and loved it! I know this model has many fans so I can safely say that in my opinion this is one of the finest if not the finest car to have ever been produced. However, due to financial and practical reasons I had to replace it, (I'm a tree surgeon/gardener/handy-man so really needed an estate and the 2.3ltr petrol engine was proving to be far too expensive, especially doing the kind of short trip urban driving that I do for work). I hated to sell it. But being as in love with it as I was, I was pleased to find a similarly enthusiastic Mercedes fan to sell it to. (As a side note; I hate the idea of these cars being scrapped when I'm sure they still have years of life in them). Anyway I replaced it with a 1995 W124 E280 estate, which I'm hoping will be the next best thing to the W123. I'm slowly starting to love it now, even though I still dearly miss my old car. I know the 280 engine was not the ideal option from the economic point of view, but I am finding that it is actually more economical than the 230. And the space in the back, with seats removed is huge.
Anyway, the main point of this post was supposed to be to talk about workshop manuals. I always like to be able to do as much mechanical work as I can, (motivation allowing!). I've been looking for manuals but not had a great deal of success. I've found 2 or 3 so far but they all seem to have mixed reviews. And the Haynes only goes up to 1993 anyway. I've ordered a Brooklands book to start with, so I'll see how that is. The version I had for the w123 was quite good I thought. Any thoughts anyone? What do you all find to be best?
The other thing I've seen is these CD/DVD workshop manuals, (Mercedes EPC/WIS) etc, As used by Mercedes, the company, themselves in the factory and service centres, supposedly. There are a few on Ebay and various other online sources. Are these any good? What do people think of them generally? Are there bettter or worse versions to look out for?
Any thoughts, ideas or opinions gratefully recieved.
Many thanks
Simon
I'm quite new to this forum and this is my first thread. Apologies if I run on a bit!
I owned a 1985 W123 230E saloon for the last 5/6 years, and loved it! I know this model has many fans so I can safely say that in my opinion this is one of the finest if not the finest car to have ever been produced. However, due to financial and practical reasons I had to replace it, (I'm a tree surgeon/gardener/handy-man so really needed an estate and the 2.3ltr petrol engine was proving to be far too expensive, especially doing the kind of short trip urban driving that I do for work). I hated to sell it. But being as in love with it as I was, I was pleased to find a similarly enthusiastic Mercedes fan to sell it to. (As a side note; I hate the idea of these cars being scrapped when I'm sure they still have years of life in them). Anyway I replaced it with a 1995 W124 E280 estate, which I'm hoping will be the next best thing to the W123. I'm slowly starting to love it now, even though I still dearly miss my old car. I know the 280 engine was not the ideal option from the economic point of view, but I am finding that it is actually more economical than the 230. And the space in the back, with seats removed is huge.
Anyway, the main point of this post was supposed to be to talk about workshop manuals. I always like to be able to do as much mechanical work as I can, (motivation allowing!). I've been looking for manuals but not had a great deal of success. I've found 2 or 3 so far but they all seem to have mixed reviews. And the Haynes only goes up to 1993 anyway. I've ordered a Brooklands book to start with, so I'll see how that is. The version I had for the w123 was quite good I thought. Any thoughts anyone? What do you all find to be best?
The other thing I've seen is these CD/DVD workshop manuals, (Mercedes EPC/WIS) etc, As used by Mercedes, the company, themselves in the factory and service centres, supposedly. There are a few on Ebay and various other online sources. Are these any good? What do people think of them generally? Are there bettter or worse versions to look out for?
Any thoughts, ideas or opinions gratefully recieved.
Many thanks
Simon
