New Merc owner looking for ideas on 230E 1988

[drayon]

Hi there, recently i purchased a 1988 230E in Australia. This is my first benz. I managed to get this machine for an unreasonably low cost. it has 93k on the clock and appears to have been extremely well looked after.

Anywayz, everytime i look at the vehicle i can't help but to feel that it looks too plain and boring, visions of old grey haired business mans car disturb me to no end. I get the same impression when i drive it, feels like a big heavy and docile tank. I know this is a baby merc (2.3liter 4 cylinder) . Once the machine gets going, 80km/h+ the silky smooth ride is very enjoyable.

Cosmetically, im wondering if anyone would care to suggest a few upgrades i could make to the vehicle to make it look a little less plain and boring on the exterior? I notice the bumpers on newer merc's are white if the main body is white, this looks very nice to me. However my bumpers are black with a white body, perhaps this is one aspect that makes my machine look so ordinary?

Are there any other trimmings which could be added to give the car a bit more attitude but still retain the classiness?

I don't care much for all those AMG skirting's, i think those body parts are more suited to sports cars or BMW's.

Im looking at some new wheels, i have a few in mind. Im not a fan of chrome, i love stainless steel, brushed metal and gun metal grey finishes.

The only thing on the interior i wish to change is the wood grain center console and gear stick. I cannot stand the sight of wood, never have doubt i ever will. I guess im a stainless steel and glass type of person love that industrial hi-tech style Id like if possible to find a replacement console / gear stick that has the 'carbon fiber' finish. My interior is a dark blue, so i think this carbon fiber finish would look superb.

I will provide a link to a few pix of my machine. Perhaps we could get a few ideas flowing.

best regards

http://144.136.236.250/~ketracel/images/230E1988sidepic.jpg

http://144.136.236.250/~ketracel/images/230E1988Closesideon.jpg

http://144.136.236.250/~ketracel/images/230E1988frontside.jpg

These are the wheels i like

http://144.136.236.250/~ketracel/images/wheels5hole15-18.jpg

thanks in advance ;-)

 

[Mikesmerc]

I also have the same car but in red, but my bumpers and mirrors are color coded except the black bump strip. I think it freshens it up a bit.
Nice clean car and good choice of alloys, flat face alloys look like hub caps.
Thats my opinion
Regards
Mike

 

[drayon]

thanks for the reply.

Is there a color coded bumper retrofit available? I notice on some of the 1990-93 models the lower end of the doors are either the same color as the body of a slightly different color shade. Is this a plastic panel retrofit?

I have heard of ppl replacing the amber indicators with clear ones, would this make much cosmetic difference?

Im actually in 2 minds right now. Either i spend some money on the machine to make it look a little cooler or keep it standard an use it as capital toward another vehicle (something that is not in a sleeping coma). In retrospect i think i should have considered a min of a 300E, however my 230E really is a show stopper in terms of condition for the price i paid.

 

[Mikesmerc]

I would just get the ones you have painted. The door panels came standard on the later models, but I wouldnt bother trying to fit them as I dont think it would make a drastic improvement where as the bumpers painted would.
Regards
Mike