Hello, and what is my car?

[mjhmjh2]

Hello,

After a few years of procrastinating combined with monday morning ebayaying I've just 'accidentally' bought a 1987 250TD mercedes.. yay

I phoned my present insurer who asked "what model", err a 250 TD. Sorry we haven't got one of those was their reply. I was offered the usual classes to pick from.

After having sat down for what seems like an age recently I thought I had the models sussed, the newer ones being C class etc etc, followed by a number which represents engine size. The older ones though I could never quite work out, a 190 with a 2.5 engine, a 200 with something else and talk of W123 and W124.

So please help me, what is my car? Here is a link to it...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300147725830

Thank you
Matthew

 

[Legoman]

if im right its an E200 W124 estate with a 2.5l turbo diesel engine

 

[verytalldave]

I wouldnt give them any reponse if I was you. I would not place myself in a position where an insurance company relied on my opinion or choice to provide insurance. What if after an accident they pronounced that the car is NOT as orginally proposed and declines to pay out? Not an impossible scenario as many would testify. I would find a company that DOES know the specific model. Cant be too difficult. Its not that old old after all.
Most insurance companies have access to a database that lists all UK registered cars anyway.
When I phoned my insurance company to change over to my new car, all I had to give them was the cars registration number. From that they knew everything - type - make - colour - even my mothers maiden name.
Perhaps the last bit was a slight exaggeration, but you get my drift.

 

[Bolide]

if im right its an E200 W124 estate with a 2.5l turbo diesel engine

Nearly - no turbo

It's a 250TD - if the insurance company don't have one listed they should look up E Class rather than W124 - although the cars weren't "officially" E Classes till 1993

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[mjhmjh2]

I just went over to a company (RAC) and just gave them the reg no - they filled in all the other details. I'll cancel the other company when I've got rid of the other car.

It's not the turbo model this one - its a Normally Asmatic.

How do I tell for sure what the model is when I have the car in my hands as it were?

 

[jberks]

The chassis number will start W124...... (or W123....) but probably W124. Its an E class anyway. They only put that engine in the E, but they didn't call it an E class 1993.
The SLs and S's had letters but the E just had numbers - so we had a '250' and a '280E' but the 'E' on that one meant it had fuel injection - both were W123s - all very confusing.

 

[mjhmjh2]

Nearly - no turbo

It's a 250TD - if the insurance company don't have one listed they should look up E Class rather than W124 - although the cars weren't "officially" E Classes till 1993

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

nice one - thanks very much Found it on parkers now, in that engine config, 90 bhp, produced 01/05/86 to 01/02/90. It doesn't appear to be on wikipedia though - well not that specific one in their W124 table which is what I think through me. They do mention the 250D, but not the 250TD (Touring rather than turbo which seems to confuse a few people too)

Thanks again

 

[mjhmjh2]

The chassis number will start W124...... (or W123....) but probably W124. Its an E class anyway. They only put that engine in the E, but they didn't call it an E class 1993.
The SLs and S's had letters but the E just had numbers - so we had a '250' and a '280E' but the 'E' on that one meant it had fuel injection - both were W123s - all very confusing.

arrrrr, I'm confused!

Ahh well I hope the car is good - I bought it on a whim. I might even finally get around to being a veggie power convert (was registered as a fuel producer up until a few months ago when I was deregistered by HMRC)

Anyone got a service book / haines manual for one?

Thanks again
Matthew

 

[jberks]

the 250TD (Touring rather than turbo which seems to confuse a few people too)

Ah yes, the 250T was an estate and E was injection. (there was a 280TE) Then along came turbos and all cars became fuel injected so the E stopped meaning anything and the T was confusing. !
I guess this is why we now have letters for all models. For a while all E classess were E's anyway (200E, 230E,280E 300E etc - meaning injected), so they just moved the E from the end of the badge to the beginnning and created the E class.

 

[mjhmjh2]

I'm sure I'll create loads more confusion in my own head before I'm done!

Hmm, I just read that the 250 TD didnt have a turbo because the steering box got in the way on RHD cars... Hmm, I'm quite handy with a welder could knock up a new manifold that could relocate it, then I'll need a new diesel pump etc etc... Damn I promised I wasn't playing with my 'everyday car'.. ok maybe just a veggie oil conversion.

Where's the best place to ask about past experience on SVO? I'm on a number of alternative fuel lists, but I guess someone here has asked already.

Thanks again again!
Matthew

 

[lakeside]

These engines will run happily on up to 50/50 veggie oil in summer with no modification.

 

[supercharger]

i have a spare haynes manual if your interested drop my a pm or mail me at hanahmh2002@yahoo.co.uk


supercharger

 

[television]

I know that there is an 210 E 250TD but I do not know of a 124 250TD the 210 did start in 1986

 

[Bolide]

I know that there is an 210 E 250TD but I do not know of a 124 250TD the 210 did start in 1986

The 250TD is quite possibly the best W124 ever built. Great engine, simple car, superb build quality, reliable, long-lived. But slow!

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[kth286]

The Russian site lists the 124185-250TD up to 1989 and it has a turbo engine.