1983 Mercedes W123 230E
Discussion
I wasn't looking for a project...
Having only just got the Cortina's engine run in and feeling much more confident in using her I was at home with Mrs. Jim watching the F1 in Hungary when I received a text. The text was from a friend of mine who is into classic bikes and when he said he had a project for me I assumed it was a BSA Bantam even though I can't ride a bike.
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
Edited - the photos links work now
Having only just got the Cortina's engine run in and feeling much more confident in using her I was at home with Mrs. Jim watching the F1 in Hungary when I received a text. The text was from a friend of mine who is into classic bikes and when he said he had a project for me I assumed it was a BSA Bantam even though I can't ride a bike.
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
Edited - the photos links work now
Edited by Retro_Jim on Tuesday 16th August 09:00
Retro_Jim said:
I wasn't looking for a project...
Having only just got the Cortina's engine run in and feeling much more confident in using her I was at home with Mrs. Jim watching the F1 in Hungary when I received a text. The text was from a friend of mine who is into classic bikes and when he said he had a project for me I assumed it was a BSA Bantam even though I can't ride a bike.
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
Edited - the photos links work now
Brilliant project. A family friend used to run nothing but these until they broke then just parked them up in the garden instead of fixing and went to buy another. Must have had 10 sat all at once! Having only just got the Cortina's engine run in and feeling much more confident in using her I was at home with Mrs. Jim watching the F1 in Hungary when I received a text. The text was from a friend of mine who is into classic bikes and when he said he had a project for me I assumed it was a BSA Bantam even though I can't ride a bike.
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
Edited - the photos links work now
Edited by Retro_Jim on Tuesday 16th August 09:00
AndrewCrown said:
Brilliant project... I have full confidence that engine will be ok..
Oh and Jim, you should be able to click those bonnet hinges for the bonnet to go vertical...
Thank you so much for that Andrew - you've save me a fortune in paracetamol and plasters having caught my head on the grill a number of times!Oh and Jim, you should be able to click those bonnet hinges for the bonnet to go vertical...
Edited by AndrewCrown on Tuesday 16th August 23:19
Spinakerr said:
Wonderful pickup, very glad it is being saved.
I have a soft spot for the W123 in all forms, espcially with colour coded wheels. To have the manual, white and blue interior - well that's probably my pick! Good luck & please keep us updated.
Thank you, I'm going to try my best and get it back on the road.I have a soft spot for the W123 in all forms, espcially with colour coded wheels. To have the manual, white and blue interior - well that's probably my pick! Good luck & please keep us updated.
I do like the hint of body colour on the hub caps which I'd like to keep, Mrs. Jim is less enthused by the manual gearbox as she prefers auto which means I'll have to drive it...
I don't mind the white but have considered changing the colour to blue or red with the blue interior but we're a looooong way off doing paint.
The last few days have been spent figuring out more about the mercedes and waiting for some decent rain as we had been asked to keep the hose usage down and Mrs. Jim's water butts are specifically for her tomatoes not manky old mercy which I think is a little harsh! I did however start hoovering the exterior - something I've never had to do before!
I did try to clean and polish a spot on the rear wing which came up better than I had expected
The Mercedes had been parked under a pine tree for years and as such the drainage channels were stuffed full of tree to the point that it had started to compost!
I found a lovely surprise underneath...
Which I assume is the source of water for this lot.
It looks like the water has run along the floor under the wiring which has spared the carpet, if I'm honest I was expecting more chassis rust but with the car in the air I poked around the usual spots and they seem fair sturdy. The jacking points need the rust knocking off but they feel solid
Other than the floor and the drainage channel the other main rust issues are on the bonnet which don't appear to be too taxing to repair
If I take my time and keep the area cooled after welding it won't be noticeable, I had some particularly tricky sections to repair on the door lowers when restoring the Cortina and learnt a lot about patience and heat from welding.
Whilst I was removing the wheels I found this chap who almost put the wheel trim back on himself in protest!
Thank you for reading - I'll leave with some random photos I took of the Merc.
With the weather still hot and hosepipe use is a bit of a no no I figured I would make a start on tidying the interior of the Merc, I don't know how this happened or how I will manage this again but Mrs. Jim offered to help! I haven't been informed how much this will cost me but it was fun having her help me clear out the stuff that had been left in there all this time.
Surprisingly I didn't find any mouse deposits or remains which I had prepared myself for before starting and quite frankly I'm amazed given it had been left outside for years. The spiders were numerous so Mrs. Jim left me to deal with those whilst she stood at a safe distance of several metres!
Our Henry hoover was put to work by Mrs. Jim after I had removed the carpets and the seats whilst I cleaned the interior and searched for rust and again I was expecting to find more than I did but I should make a start on these repairs given we are approaching Autumn and I don't want things to get worse.
Several hours later in the sun we had cleaned everything as best as we could and put the interior back in with a plan to start the exterior once we have had sufficient rainfall to warrant the use of a pressure washer which the Merc sorely needs!
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