Buying a 230 TE estate-advice please!

[Mercedes 190E]

Hi All

I am fairly new to this forum and joined recently for some advice for a friend on a 190E. Anyhow, my current daily driver is a Rover 827i hatchback, which is a vast car and a very useful load carrier. Problem is I now have two Greyhounds who both like to stand up (!) whilst driving, and the Rover doesnt have enough headroom for them.
I have been thinking about getting a large automatic estate for this reason, but budgets are tight, so I am thinking about the last generation E class (Sorry-not familiar with the codes, but its the one that looks like a big 190 !! )

Whatever car I buy is going to have to be cheap, but I dont mind some DIY and am reasonably handy with bodyfiller and spanners, so can anyone give me any advice on what to look for on these cars? I want to try to avoid any problems that would need major money spending on it.

As an aside, I see that there were 230s 200s and 280s-I know the difference in the engine sizes, but which are the best or worst engines and why? (Fuel economy is not really an issue as I dont do that many miles.)

All help and advice greatly appreciated!!

 

[simon_wall69]

230 te will be cheapest apart from the underpowered 200.

Not much goes wrong with them, just check the normal things like for leaks, rear suspension, etc and check that there a none of the normal signs of head gasket wear, etc,. Twiddle the heater controls to check that it will blow hot and cold air as duovalves that control heat do go.

Later cars with the 'e' before the name are the 16v/24v engines. If the e is after the name it is 8v/12v engine.

Try and avoid the manuals as they aren't very good.

 

[hardtop]

the 20ltr 16v is not bad but for a low budget prob best with a w124 merc te or a volvo 740 est

 

[Mercedes 190E]

Thanks guys-so its a W124 I'm after! (Just looked it up on Wikipedia.)
Any reasons to avoid the 280 ?
It is an auto I'm after anyway, and I can understand that the 200 might be a bit underpowered.
Further advice much appreciated !

 

[Bolide]

If you do a search on this forum you'll find lots of W124 buying threads. I don't think it's really suited to buying on a tight budget. Many cars have suffered from poor maintenance and it is expensive to return them to how they should be

If you know exactly what you're looking for there are excellent cars to be had - but in that case you wouldn't be posting the question

A late E220 is a good choice as they're economical and cheap to run. The six-cylinder cars (E280, E320) are in a different league - they are much more powerful, have a lot more torque and an infinitely nicer engine. A good one will waft along like a limo and have a real sense of occasion

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Mercedes 190E]

Hi Nick

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, the tight budget thing is something I have to live with, so which ever car I buy will need to be under £1000-as I said, I dont mind a car that needs work as long as it is solid and the major components are good.
Looked at your site, which has taught me a lot already !

 

[Blobcat]

If your interested in a project then I just haven't time to work on my S123 230TE. It runs great and all it needs for an MOT is the exhaust mod from the downpipe (Weld) and 2 rear bulbs. It will benefit from a new battery as well as it doesn't hold charge very well without being used. When I run it it stays charged but after a couple of weeks it needs boosting. I don't want a great deal for it and would rather see it being used than to sell it to the scrap man or the bin man who wants to buy it to for banger racing. Pictures are in the link on my signature.

 

[Mercedes 190E]

Hmm...tempting. I do like the shape of the earlier cars, but had really set my heart on a 124. just in case, what figure do you have in mind?

 

[Blobcat]

Hmm...tempting. I do like the shape of the earlier cars, but had really set my heart on a 124. just in case, what figure do you have in mind?

Scrap man currently paying £200-£250, I would be happy with £250 knowing it would be going to a decent home rather than the crusher.