Valuation Help - W123 230E Restored by Mark Cosovich at W123 World

[theodore1821]

I have a W123 230E (1982), restored by Mark Cosovich at W123 World and due to a medical problem in the family, have decided to sell a great classic that we would otherwise have kept. I would be grateful for any help in coming up with an accurate valuation.

I know that really good W123 saloon cars are all now over £10k and sell quickly, while those below £5k are mostly just projects. I have seen fully restored fuel injection saloon cars sell at prices over £20k (not to be confused with normal used vehicles, no matter how well cared for). I also know that a lot depends on the general bodywork condition and mine has a few minor dents, chip marks and rust spots (I could not afford a full bodyshop respray). I know that prices for all W123 Classic are rising yearly, so with all that in mind, I would be grateful for your thoughts on my 230E's valuation. Details and photos below:

Classic Beige Mercedes W123 230E Automatic, Electric Windows and Sunroof. All work carried out by Mark Cosovich at W123 World, “Home to the finest saloon car of the 20th Century, where we service, repair and restore Mercedes-Benz W123 Series cars.”

Drives very well – the motor fitted is very strong and there is superb performance.

Fully detailed, engine fine tuned, a very smart car, goes very well and is super quick.

Massive valet carried out by a specialist valet/detailer.

All engine bay cavities cleaned out and wax preserved.

Inner engine bay painted/detailed and front apron also painted correct colour.

Servo/steering box painted.

All drains/cavities have been steam cleaned and injected with body wax.

MOT and tax till Mar 2016.

Only genuine Mercedes parts used in this restoration.

Here is a comprehensive list of all work carried out on this car:

Used M102 230E motor fitted – very little usage since full rebuild by John Haynes Auto Technics (approx 2,000 miles), complete with injection unit and all manifolds.

Parts/Sundries fitted to replacement motor:
• Fuel relay replaced with s/h fuel relay
• 1 gallon 20/50 classic engine oil
• M.B. oil filter
• Air filter
• Power steering filter
• 4 Spark plugs
• New cam box gasket
• 4 exhaust O rings
• Anti freeze
• Set of handbrake shoes
• Rear Anti roll bar links x2
• New automatic radiator (genuine M.B. part shipped from Germany)
• Engine mount damper
• New M.B. battery
• New W123 World front number plate
• Beige paint for engine bay/front valance
• Satin black paint for engine/ancillaries
• Front exhaust pipe gasket
• New Thermostat and gasket
• Power steering belt
• Front headlight s/h x2 (genuine M.B. parts)
• Battery tray and clamp
• Front lower ball joint gaitor
• Oil pressure pipe
• Engine bay hose clips
• Automatic transmission fluid
• Power steering fluid
• Exhaust/gearbox clamp/bracket
• Front number plate holder/fittings
• Tin brushing paint for front apron
• Pair s/h wiper arms
• Pair new blades
• Sundries/lubricants/hoses/fitting clips for wiper linkages.

Bodyshop Repairs:
• Rear boot lid: Removed all trim, repaired dented area, re-spray, refit all trim and replaced damaged parts from used stock
• Removed rear windscreen (specialist windscreen services/refit £90)
• Cleaned out corroded area, applied rust inhibitor to corrosion, repaired and stabilised corrosion, primed/repainted rear panel. Removed rear parcel shelf/valet
• Cleaned rear screen gasket/chrome trim
• Resealed and re-fit rear screen
• Removed broken mudflaps and corroded retaining clips, repaired damaged areas and repainted.

Miscellaneous:
• Removed/cleaned/stripped all 4 wheel embellishers, painted to match car
• Additional paint for front apron/wheel arches/wheel embellishers
• Removed and replaced faulty heater control unit and replaced damaged heater controls in car
• Heater control unit s/h
• Removed and serviced sunroof door (seized), removed broken side fibre strips/cleaned all area, applied rust inhibitor, serviced runners, painted to match, refit new fibre strips
• Switch in car found also to be faulty, removed and replaced with s/h unit switch
• Sunroof fibre strips x2
• Removed faulty rear driver's side wheel rear brake calliper and refit from stock/road test/bleed brakes
• Serviced/exchanged rear caliper
• Driver's seat removed/replaced seat base.

Engine bay work:
• Cleaned/degreased engine-bay
• Removed hand-painted grey paint/corrosion
• Rust converter applied/primed and painted correct colour
• Prepared/primed/painted front valance/motor valance, lubricated/refit with correct fittings.

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[silver CL55]

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NT

 

[television]

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[theodore1821]

Thank you both for the heads up, please try this link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132435974@N03/shares/VFLBiH

 

[theodore1821]

Apologies, here is the correct link:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/132435974@N03/shares/976U89

 

[television]

Wow that really is mint, how does one price this. It is a specialized car and not someone buying them every day. It must be best to advertize it in the Mercedes Enthusiast mag and just wait for a buyer, some retail outlets will take them on sale or return.

 

[toby1]

You already seem to have a grasp of values as you've done your research. I'm sure you can find an asking price within your ranges.

 

[theodore1821]

Wow that really is mint, how does one price this. It is a specialized car and not someone buying them every day. It must be best to advertize it in the Mercedes Enthusiast mag and just wait for a buyer, some retail outlets will take them on sale or return.

Thanks for the compliment - there are aspects of the car that are 'mint' but I probably won't describe the whole car as mint when I come to selling it. We did as much restoration work as a reasonable budget would allow and basically saved it from being scrapped - we rescued it from a mechanic who had been working on it for 3 years (yes, 3 years!) and put it where it belonged with Mark Cosovich at W123 World. They did wonders to bring the car back to its former glory and it really is a pity that we have to let it go. It drives like a dream.

The photos don't show all the minor dents, chip marks and rust spots and as I said in my OP, it seems that bodywork condition is key to getting the best valuation for a W123 - so unfortunately, these aspects of my car will bring the valuation down significantly.

I'll keep the Mercedes Enthusiast mag in mind when it comes to selling my car - thanks for the suggestion. There's also a Classifieds section on the MBO forum, I believe.

You already seem to have a grasp of values as you've done your research. I'm sure you can find an asking price within your ranges.

It's nice to think I could get an asking price within my ranges but would be good to hear from any other W123 sellers who have sold or are currently selling similar restoration projects, that can confirm the figures, as I've only seen a limited number of examples in the market to go by.