230 ce help wanted
- Thread starter wiggy
- Start date
Spike
Senior Member
Hi Wiggy,
It would help if you can provide some more info about the car.
I have a 230CE and you may find that it is a littl underpowered. Ideally I would choose a 300 or 320. That said, its a great car with a fantastic ride capable of really eating up the miles as it will sit all day at over 100mph with no problems at all. The W124 was probably the last of the really over engineered MB's and should soldier on for many more miles if looked after.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR....
There are no real problem areas of the 1991 model. It should have a duplex cam chain so no issue there, One point to look is checking the CAT for soundness. It doesnt actually need a CAT but it has one fitted and a new one costs around £400. Get underneath the car and have a good look. While your down there have a good look for rust especially around the wheel arches front and rear.
Ideally the car will have full history either main dealer or MB specialist, Aircon that works (no aircon lowers value by at least £500+) make sure all the electrics work properly, sun roof, windows, seat belt presenters electric seats etc.
Make sure no warning lights are on, try and test the ABS and make sure it actually works and no-one has removed warning bulb.
Other obvious things to check is that engine ticks over smoothly and accelerates cleanly with smoooooth changes up and down if an Auto.
Price on these cars is all about condition and specificstions. A scruffy 1991 230CE with no aircon, cloth seats in an undesirable colour with little history can be picked up for less than 2k. The same model with nice paint, good history with lots of extras will often fetch the wrong side of 6k.
To give you an idea how I have got on with mine, click the link below.
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4211#post4211
In any event, if its a good 'un and you go for it you'll never look back because they really are lovely cars.
It would help if you can provide some more info about the car.
I have a 230CE and you may find that it is a littl underpowered. Ideally I would choose a 300 or 320. That said, its a great car with a fantastic ride capable of really eating up the miles as it will sit all day at over 100mph with no problems at all. The W124 was probably the last of the really over engineered MB's and should soldier on for many more miles if looked after.
THINGS TO LOOK FOR....
There are no real problem areas of the 1991 model. It should have a duplex cam chain so no issue there, One point to look is checking the CAT for soundness. It doesnt actually need a CAT but it has one fitted and a new one costs around £400. Get underneath the car and have a good look. While your down there have a good look for rust especially around the wheel arches front and rear.
Ideally the car will have full history either main dealer or MB specialist, Aircon that works (no aircon lowers value by at least £500+) make sure all the electrics work properly, sun roof, windows, seat belt presenters electric seats etc.
Make sure no warning lights are on, try and test the ABS and make sure it actually works and no-one has removed warning bulb.
Other obvious things to check is that engine ticks over smoothly and accelerates cleanly with smoooooth changes up and down if an Auto.
Price on these cars is all about condition and specificstions. A scruffy 1991 230CE with no aircon, cloth seats in an undesirable colour with little history can be picked up for less than 2k. The same model with nice paint, good history with lots of extras will often fetch the wrong side of 6k.
To give you an idea how I have got on with mine, click the link below.
http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=4211#post4211
In any event, if its a good 'un and you go for it you'll never look back because they really are lovely cars.
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #3
Thanks mate, that has been most usefull, its not an air con model and the cat was removed due to rattlin??!! and is now hollow down pipe, I was thinking a little underpowered and lackin in areas, £3200 on a "J" 133k miles partial history looks nice......good bad, worth a little tickle??
Spike
Senior Member
Cat rattling is common, may just have been the heat shild rattling but taking off the cCat will do just as well.
At £3200, definately worth a look, but also consider having a look/drive in a 300CE they may be a little more money but a more relaxing & brisk drive.
Its free to join but if you cant see pics, here's a pic of mine to start you off.
At £3200, definately worth a look, but also consider having a look/drive in a 300CE they may be a little more money but a more relaxing & brisk drive.
Its free to join but if you cant see pics, here's a pic of mine to start you off.
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #6
looks very straight and very nice spike, will give you the full SP in the am when i am fully awake and sober hopefully before i go and check it out.....cheers for your help, much appreciatted. Wiggy
- Thread Starter
- Thread starter
- #7
looked at the 230 earlier, checked auto trader site before i left and spotted a 300 just 5 mins away looked at the 300 first, bit rough but a good base. then the 230, very nice and very genuine but needing 6 beats to the bar that i heard with the 300, so the upshot is the cash is still on the hip and a 6 pot is the order of the day, thanks for your help spike, even if it has made me rethink my plans....rather rethink now than after the cash has been spent!.....wiggy
heckflosse
Senior Member
If your interested I'm willing to let my '94 (face lift model) E220 coupe go for £4500. It's covered 112000 miles, all history except for 2 lubrication stamps.
I'm located just out side Derby (4 miles from J25 M1)
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=19243#19243
I'm located just out side Derby (4 miles from J25 M1)
http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/viewtopic.php?p=19243#19243
LNM
Senior Member
rattling cat heat sheild. Mine was up on rams before Christmas (gettin 4 new Stunner tyres fitted for 250 spots) and I rattled the heatsheild and it was SOLID; nothing moving or evidently loose. summat still rattlin though...
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