RE: SOTW: Mercedes 230TE
Discussion
mcdk2 said:
I saw a 5th gear episode where they ran an old diesel merc like this on chip oil. Always been tempted to buy a banger and try it. Would it work with any diesel?
You MUST declare it to the tax man of course....
No need to declare to HMRC unless you use more than 2500 litres pa - rules changed a few years ago.You MUST declare it to the tax man of course....
I can confirm that W124 diesels love the veg. My own 250TD does about 7.5 miles to the litre on the free chip oil I collect from a few local pubs. 80 mph (where legal) is very satisfying on free fuel. My shed cost £400. Some superficial rust, and I spent a bit more sorting front suspension, BJs and brakes for the MoT but it carries five people and three large dogs in some comfort and a fair amount of style for a sub-£1000 car.
While it won't win any sprints it is a very solid car to drive and has plenty of road presence.
soxboy said:
Does anyone know how long it would take to change a head gasket on one of these (E280)?
Not that long if you know what you're doing. Half a day. Obviously, if you don't then it's another matter. There is a bill in my car's history for this and from memory it is less than £500. Make sure you use a Merc replacement gasket.I just bought a 400E W124 4.2 litre V8 for the wife. A mere 147K miles on the clock.
Getting to know the mechanicals now.
The V8 is the animal to go for where fuel is cheap (unfortunately the UK never got the 4.2 amd the US never got the 4 pots). Definately cheaper to run this 4.2 litre V8 here than the 230 4 pot is there.
Transmission seems sluggish, kickdown may not be engaging, may have to adjust the bowdon cable.
Great durable cheap buy over here, but despite the 400E being hailed as a mini-500E when launched, it's not a sporting saloon like a E34 5 series
Getting to know the mechanicals now.
The V8 is the animal to go for where fuel is cheap (unfortunately the UK never got the 4.2 amd the US never got the 4 pots). Definately cheaper to run this 4.2 litre V8 here than the 230 4 pot is there.
Transmission seems sluggish, kickdown may not be engaging, may have to adjust the bowdon cable.
Great durable cheap buy over here, but despite the 400E being hailed as a mini-500E when launched, it's not a sporting saloon like a E34 5 series
I know I've said the same thing in posts on here a number of times, but I had a 1991 Mercedes 200TE... the engine was a bit weedy but the car was fabulous. It was my parents family car for about 10 years and got it off my dad when he (mistakenly) bought a late 90's Merc (C250 I think) instead - something he bitterly regretted. The 200TE sadly was traded in during the scrappage scheme to get my (then) other half a new car. There were several very expensive problems which needed attention and it was too far gone to make it viable to sort it.
I can't tell you the pleasure I got from driving that thing, for so many reasons. Firstly the practicality.. it was basically the tardis (same colour too). I remember fondly being able to fit a HUGE Sun Microsystems server in the boot, on a pallet, without even having to put the seats down and then loading the car up with 4 systems guys to help unload and unbox the server. Our van at work (only two seats) was no match for the Merc!
Secondly it was comfortable, and quiet. It wafted. It never made much noise. It was happy doing 80MPH and you could hold a conversation quite easily without raising your voice. It munched its way around modern, potholed roads effortlessly.
Thirdly - everything worked. Despite nearly 200K on it, everything worked like it should and even the (regularly criticised) manual gearbox was perfect and precise.
You always could chat to other same-era Merc owners. I can remember several encounters - being enthusiastically waved at by a mum and two kids in their gold 300TE on a motorway, or having a chat with a lady who parked next to me in her 230TE at the supermarket... always seemed to have very happy, friendly owners!
If I had the space I'd have another tomorrow.
I can't tell you the pleasure I got from driving that thing, for so many reasons. Firstly the practicality.. it was basically the tardis (same colour too). I remember fondly being able to fit a HUGE Sun Microsystems server in the boot, on a pallet, without even having to put the seats down and then loading the car up with 4 systems guys to help unload and unbox the server. Our van at work (only two seats) was no match for the Merc!
Secondly it was comfortable, and quiet. It wafted. It never made much noise. It was happy doing 80MPH and you could hold a conversation quite easily without raising your voice. It munched its way around modern, potholed roads effortlessly.
Thirdly - everything worked. Despite nearly 200K on it, everything worked like it should and even the (regularly criticised) manual gearbox was perfect and precise.
You always could chat to other same-era Merc owners. I can remember several encounters - being enthusiastically waved at by a mum and two kids in their gold 300TE on a motorway, or having a chat with a lady who parked next to me in her 230TE at the supermarket... always seemed to have very happy, friendly owners!
If I had the space I'd have another tomorrow.
Edited by Chicane-UK on Friday 25th November 23:50
mcdk2 said:
I saw a 5th gear episode where they ran an old diesel merc like this on chip oil. Always been tempted to buy a banger and try it. Would it work with any diesel?
You MUST declare it to the tax man of course....
As people have said, you can use upto 2500 litres of 'alternative' or 'non-duty paid' fuel per year and not need to declare anything to anyone.You MUST declare it to the tax man of course....
Older (non common-rail/TDCi style) diesels are all good to try this with - newer diesels I'd tread VERY carefully with (because if you wreck the diesel pump or injectors, you'll be WELL out of pocket).
The main thing with veg-type oils is that they're more viscous - esp when it's colder (below 8 degrees esp) which can be a problem (fuel lines and filters get clogged). You will need to clean lines more and people usually suggest mixing in 'proper' diesel in the winter months (50/50 when it's coldest).
Otherwise most older diesels will run on almost anything which goes 'bang' - just clean-it-up before you use it.
p.s. the real issue is getting the stuff - Veg Oil costs MORE than diesel from most sources now and chipshops know the value of the stuff and don't give it away either (or worse, they mix-in other oils - such as fish - and even water which isn't a good idea!)
I know someone who has access to chip oil and all the bits he needs to do this - and he's not the sort to miss an oppo and yet he's never bothered so I'm guessing it really isn't worthwhile for most people.
There's nothing like coming out of a supermarket with a bottle of oil, putting it into the car and driving off tho
With fuel at £1.40/litre I reckon I save about £1.15 for every litre of used chip oil I put in the tank. I have to buy a few filters and it's about 10% less mpg, which accounts for the difference. I typically collect about 100 litres a month, so I'm saving around £1300 a year.
You are really looking at diesels pre-2000 with a Bosch or Nippon-Denso injector pump. Lucas pumps will die on veg oil.
Get over to the forum on vegetableoildiesel.co.uk for more on veg oil use and making biodiesel at home.
You are really looking at diesels pre-2000 with a Bosch or Nippon-Denso injector pump. Lucas pumps will die on veg oil.
Get over to the forum on vegetableoildiesel.co.uk for more on veg oil use and making biodiesel at home.
r129sl said:
soxboy said:
Does anyone know how long it would take to change a head gasket on one of these (E280)?
Not that long if you know what you're doing. Half a day. Obviously, if you don't then it's another matter. There is a bill in my car's history for this and from memory it is less than £500. Make sure you use a Merc replacement gasket.twoblacklines said:
Someone I have on FB tells me the E300TD engine is good for around 300hp with a big turbo, FMIC and some other basic bits and peices. He has put one in a ford blazer, but seen as an E300TD is around £1500 this seems a remarkable barge!
We never got the w124 300TD with a turbo in RHD, the position of the steering rack meant they only made the RHD version in NA form.SuperHangOn said:
r129sl said:
soxboy said:
Does anyone know how long it would take to change a head gasket on one of these (E280)?
Not that long if you know what you're doing. Half a day. Obviously, if you don't then it's another matter. There is a bill in my car's history for this and from memory it is less than £500. Make sure you use a Merc replacement gasket.I loved my old E280 estate and the Mrs and I were only talking about the overnight drive back from Barcelona to Calais we did many years ago.
Car loaded to the hilt, 4 kids, top box. Went like an express train. Left at 9:00pm, Waiting for the ferry at 8:00am. Bloody fantastic.
Now I'm going to have to look for another one!
Car loaded to the hilt, 4 kids, top box. Went like an express train. Left at 9:00pm, Waiting for the ferry at 8:00am. Bloody fantastic.
Now I'm going to have to look for another one!
dbdb said:
Fullmeister said:
Skyedriver said:
Does nothing that a newer (built up to 1998) Volvo 940 Estate cannot do better and cheaper too
Apart from the class and feeling of total superiority of course ....surveyor said:
Looks a tad expensive to me..
Was tempted with a bid on this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170728536563?ssPageName=...
£510 - holy moly is that a good deal or what?Was tempted with a bid on this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/170728536563?ssPageName=...
I suspect the front seats are tatty - no pic but the rear pic suggests the drivers seat has a cover on it?
Throw on 6 months Tax and you're rolling for <£650 which still seems a good deal to me.
Edited by johnpeat on Saturday 26th November 20:19
Marquis Rex said:
dbdb said:
Fullmeister said:
Skyedriver said:
Does nothing that a newer (built up to 1998) Volvo 940 Estate cannot do better and cheaper too
Apart from the class and feeling of total superiority of course ....SOLD
A chap viewed the car at the start of the week with his mechanic friend, agreed to buy it on the basis of paying the balance and collecting within 14 days, but failed to come up with the £200 deposit. I put other people off coming as he kept promising to drop it round (he's only 2 miles away), but I decided yesterday to make it available for viewing (becoming SOTW did raise interest although I'd already had people wanting to see it). I wasn't around yesterday for anyone to see it but a local chap came at 9 this morning, viewed it, took it for a 25 minute test drive (coming back with his son squashed in the boot - to test the rear suspension apparently) and agreed to buy it. He paid in full and collected it within a few hours, meanwhile I've had calls from as far afield as Ireland about it, and another local guy wanting to trade in 2 Tag Heur watches for it. The first chap was gutted to miss the car, but then I fell I wasted my time showing it to him when he wasn't in a position to even leave a deposit. It's so much easier to sell £10,000 cars than £1,000 ones!
The full story of the car (which I've told to the buyer) was that I used it for the "Home 2 Rome" banger rally in 2008.
Having entered I required a car costing no more than £100 (but no limit to spending on making it safe & roadworthy) - I put the message out in the trade and a contact said he had something that had been stood for 2 years and would need a radiator and an MOT, but I could have it for £100 if I sent him pictures of it on the trip - this Mercedes. I wasn't sure about something stood and not MOT'd but nevertheless travelled the near-400 mile round trip and trailered it back. After fitting a radiator it passed the MOT, I serviced it and drove it around for a few weeks to see how it was - this lead to the replacement of lots of parts (about £500-600 worth from memory). I found a set of wheel trims kicking around on a car that was going to be scrapped locally, which smartened it up a bit too.
I also fitted red neon strips across the front and rear underside, green ones to the sides, a full-fat air-horn with 6 trumpets that played Dixie, a siren that played 5 different emergency noises or animal noises, wired a fridge into the boot, a scrolling red LED sign to the rear window, a 240V inverter, a phone kit and so on. I spent 3 days wiring everything in carefully, with proper fuseholders etc and making it all neat & tidy. It was then valeted, event decals were applied, safety vests put in the glovebox and off we went - in the tidiest genuinely-qualifying car on the event by far (most are lucky if they make it to the end, and that's where they die if they do), but with no breakdown insurance and the very real risk that if it broke down it wouldn't be worth fixing or re-patriating.
You will see it in the 2008 picture gallery of the event - click here and there's a clickable thumbnail on the first page (bottom right), which was the "Cowboy & Indian" fancy dress day after the Menton/Monaco night, and a few others if you can be bothered to scroll through the pages. The rest of the trip and story is basically covered in the advert, so you already know the jist of it.
When we arrived in Rome, Amex Platinum's Concierge service had sorted us out a room in the lovely Hotel Accademia, on Via Della Stamperia, about 80 metres from the Trevi fountain and right opposite an armed-guarded government building - the Residenza del Consiglio de Ministri (literally "residence of the council of ministers"). I'm not sure a be-neoned stickered-up old Merc playing Dixie is what they normally expect to turn up, unload and then take advantage of their valet parking service but that's what they got
There was something amusing about 40 Euros a night parking on a £100 car too...
Anyway, my brother got it MOT'd and gave it back in June, I carefully removed all the paraphenalia recently, had it valeted and put it up for sale last week. It's now gone to a Mercedes enthusiast to be used regularly and soldier on for many days to come no doubt. It'll be nice if I do see it knocking around locally too.
So, am I a true petrolhead or a robbing b@stard car dealer who just sold a car for ten times what he paid? You decide!
A chap viewed the car at the start of the week with his mechanic friend, agreed to buy it on the basis of paying the balance and collecting within 14 days, but failed to come up with the £200 deposit. I put other people off coming as he kept promising to drop it round (he's only 2 miles away), but I decided yesterday to make it available for viewing (becoming SOTW did raise interest although I'd already had people wanting to see it). I wasn't around yesterday for anyone to see it but a local chap came at 9 this morning, viewed it, took it for a 25 minute test drive (coming back with his son squashed in the boot - to test the rear suspension apparently) and agreed to buy it. He paid in full and collected it within a few hours, meanwhile I've had calls from as far afield as Ireland about it, and another local guy wanting to trade in 2 Tag Heur watches for it. The first chap was gutted to miss the car, but then I fell I wasted my time showing it to him when he wasn't in a position to even leave a deposit. It's so much easier to sell £10,000 cars than £1,000 ones!
The full story of the car (which I've told to the buyer) was that I used it for the "Home 2 Rome" banger rally in 2008.
Having entered I required a car costing no more than £100 (but no limit to spending on making it safe & roadworthy) - I put the message out in the trade and a contact said he had something that had been stood for 2 years and would need a radiator and an MOT, but I could have it for £100 if I sent him pictures of it on the trip - this Mercedes. I wasn't sure about something stood and not MOT'd but nevertheless travelled the near-400 mile round trip and trailered it back. After fitting a radiator it passed the MOT, I serviced it and drove it around for a few weeks to see how it was - this lead to the replacement of lots of parts (about £500-600 worth from memory). I found a set of wheel trims kicking around on a car that was going to be scrapped locally, which smartened it up a bit too.I also fitted red neon strips across the front and rear underside, green ones to the sides, a full-fat air-horn with 6 trumpets that played Dixie, a siren that played 5 different emergency noises or animal noises, wired a fridge into the boot, a scrolling red LED sign to the rear window, a 240V inverter, a phone kit and so on. I spent 3 days wiring everything in carefully, with proper fuseholders etc and making it all neat & tidy. It was then valeted, event decals were applied, safety vests put in the glovebox and off we went - in the tidiest genuinely-qualifying car on the event by far (most are lucky if they make it to the end, and that's where they die if they do), but with no breakdown insurance and the very real risk that if it broke down it wouldn't be worth fixing or re-patriating.
You will see it in the 2008 picture gallery of the event - click here and there's a clickable thumbnail on the first page (bottom right), which was the "Cowboy & Indian" fancy dress day after the Menton/Monaco night, and a few others if you can be bothered to scroll through the pages. The rest of the trip and story is basically covered in the advert, so you already know the jist of it.
When we arrived in Rome, Amex Platinum's Concierge service had sorted us out a room in the lovely Hotel Accademia, on Via Della Stamperia, about 80 metres from the Trevi fountain and right opposite an armed-guarded government building - the Residenza del Consiglio de Ministri (literally "residence of the council of ministers"). I'm not sure a be-neoned stickered-up old Merc playing Dixie is what they normally expect to turn up, unload and then take advantage of their valet parking service but that's what they got
There was something amusing about 40 Euros a night parking on a £100 car too...Anyway, my brother got it MOT'd and gave it back in June, I carefully removed all the paraphenalia recently, had it valeted and put it up for sale last week. It's now gone to a Mercedes enthusiast to be used regularly and soldier on for many days to come no doubt. It'll be nice if I do see it knocking around locally too.
So, am I a true petrolhead or a robbing b@stard car dealer who just sold a car for ten times what he paid? You decide!
vidfletch said:
A basic function such as lowering the rear seats in a car designed to carry loads didn't need such a ridiculous method to perform that task. Utterly stupid it was.
Backrests
- Doors open -> Backrest unlocked
- Doors closed -> Backrest locked
- Park in tipped squabs
- Tipped squabs lift out and backrests lock to their hinges
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