Merc 230e

[emma]

Hello everyone can anyone help please? Ive been offered a 85/C merc 230e,its done 150.000 m1les and been stood for a year and not been started up since,it needs body work and bits of trim.I dont know if it will start and what the engine needs either,Im thinking of restoring it as i love old mercs.I can get it for a £100 is this a good price and is it worth doing?

 

[shirubaby]

If your buying to sell it after it's being restored...then forget it...you'll never get the money you spend on it...and as an understanding merc nut...I know...I bought a 500se for £255. 9 months down the line I've spend quite a lot of money and time on her (notice I now identify it as her )...I would never get that money back...but I figure what the hell! Here's my chance to own a luxury mercedes when I'm 30 and drive a powerful v8 before climate change forces everyone into electric cars...if you feel the same way I do...then go for it....

But you gotta have time...time time time....most people I know have the money to restore cars...slowly...but it's the time thats the killer.

Shiru
I guess this response is no help . But it's somehting to think about, no?

 

[shirubaby]

£100 is a night out in London...AND I'd rather work on my car...sad!

 

[Bolide]

Worth it?

Is it worth doing is a tough question. On a financial level the answer must be no, but if the car rings your bell then money may not be the deciding factor

I'll just sound a couple of notes of caution: is the car the right spec? Right year, right colour, right interior, right engine size? If it is, consider buying it. If it's not, spend a bit of time searching one out so that when the car's finished it will be exactly what you want

Also, with this car, you're starting at a disadvantage because it doesn't run and has no tax or MOT. That means you're committed to spending an open-ended amount of money just to make it driveable. It might be better to buy a running car with 12 months MOT and smoke around in it for a while and if it's not right you can sell it


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

Hello everyone can anyone help please? Ive been offered a 85/C merc 230e,its done 150.000 m1les and been stood for a year and not been started up since,it needs body work and bits of trim.I dont know if it will start and what the engine needs either,Im thinking of restoring it as i love old mercs.I can get it for a £100 is this a good price and is it worth doing?

I spent 17 years and 3 wives on one car, was it worth it, I learnt a lot about wives, not sure about the car.

Malcolm

 

[DAD190E1990]

I have done my fair share of restoration work and learned an awful lot about the two ways to do it: there is the cack-handed, half-arsed approach in which case you might do more good finding the first single mum you see in the street and simply give her the money. There is the bare shell, bit's strewn all over a double garage approach and you need a few grand AND the ability to do 60% of the work yourself using hired specialised equipment. If this does fit your bill then you can revel in big axle stands that allow 4 ft of working space under the car, new looking suspension parts and the satisfaction of a rebuilt engine and transmission. Make lots of space and be as organised as you can. I find planning it in 3 big stages is a help and it keeps the job focussed on each stage instead of feeling overawed and stuck down in the project. If you need any specific restoration advice, please feel free to send a PM.

Good luck and be sure to base your decision off what you know you are capable of doing yourself and what you will have to pay out for having done.

 

[ddentrec]

Hello everyone can anyone help please? Ive been offered a 85/C merc 230e,its done 150.000 m1les and been stood for a year and not been started up since,it needs body work and bits of trim.I dont know if it will start and what the engine needs either,Im thinking of restoring it as i love old mercs.I can get it for a £100 is this a good price and is it worth doing?

I have 2 W123 models (1984, 1985), and am currently restoring a 1985 280TE from a completely bare shell.

1. For around £650 you can get a fair W123 230E with an MOT off eBay-may be better value to start your project.
2. If you want to restore, find an example with good sills (area inside car, below doors-esecially between drivers seat base and body): chronic rust here will costs hundreds to fix.
3. In my view, you should not pay more than £100--even without any serous rust problems--and get it delivered for free!
4. W123 are worth restoring: but do not expect to make any money! My 280TE originally cost me £350: so far I have spent £1,000 and all I have is a perfect grey shell in my garage. In have estimated the whole project will cost £7,000. But then I will have the best concours W123 280TE in the UK with air and leather!

Good Luck -- e-mail me for any more advice/tips/spares

 

[emma]

Thanks everyone for your help: Unfortunately some idiot has smashed all the windows in and they have dented the bonnet also.Im gutted i really am.this happened over the weekend in my works carpark. i will look for another one.

 

[shirubaby]

Thanks everyone for your help: Unfortunately some idiot has smashed all the windows in and they have dented the bonnet also.Im gutted i really am.this happened over the weekend in my works carpark. i will look for another one.

Dont be,

I might well have been a blessing in disguise Someone up there is trying to save you some money?

 

[Bolide]

W123 on eBay

Emma

Check this out:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz...4597156607QQcategoryZ9855QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

The restoration's been started and it looks quite bright. Velour interior which means it could be very worn & rotten


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[slk280rc]

W123s have their fans, but unfortunately they are worth almost nothing these days. The shabbier W124s are going this way too. And its also true that the older (W114/5) saloons are worth very little too.

You can lump the W114/5 and W123s together, for cost purposes. As with all older cars, it goes on condition. Corrosion/paintwork is the biggest single thing which affects value. Running properly and having an MoT is the next biggest.

I'm afraid the 230E you describe, is worth anywhere between -£50 to +£20. I recently read an article, mentioning that scrappys are now being selective on what they take in, they are much more keen on insurance write-offs than 'time expired' cars. So, you'd have to ring round a few of them to see who would take a non-running, MoT expired Mercedes in, without charging you for the pleasure.

If you want a car which has value, look at the coupés, as the above eBay item shows.

 

[stever]

I think that W123s are worth a lot or nothing, and never in between.