Mercedes W123 300 td

[Smolensky]

Afternoon all,

I haven't been on here for a long time, but I'm thrilled to be able to say I've finally managed to get my dream/car. I'm currently looking for a supplier for a few parts for the engine. I'm currently looking for a new alternator bracket and a tensioner. I'm not sure if anyone could please point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance :-)

[Mr Tidy]

Welcome and congratulations.

Sadly I can't offer any advice though!

[alabbasi]

Look on the Benzworld or Peachparts forum. There's no shortage of W123 owners with parts cars that can sell you an alternator bracket and tensioner.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Lovely cars.

[Rollin]

https://www.ilcats.ru/mercedes/?function=getModels...

Nice car. I have a 200T

I use the above site to search for part numbers and then do a search on that. You could also ask a dealer.

I try to only buy genuine Mercedes parts now, if available. Sometimes this requires a lot of investigation. I've got parts from Russia and Iran in the past

Benzworld is a good resource for advice.

[Dapster]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Lovely cars.

I love a W123!

My old man had a pov spec 200 back in the day - classic white, blue cloth, NO EXTRAS! Keep fit windows, 4 speed manual, steel wheels. However you felt like royalty when driven about in it - Mercedes was in a league of its own back then - a trip to the dealer was like a proper treat for good behavior!

[Mr Tidy]

I had a W123 280e Auto back in the early 90s and it felt better built than any other car I have owned although my 190e was pretty close.

My 280e had velour seats, 4 x electric windows, electric sunroof and cruise control that didn't work!

But it was my first Mercedes so that was a box ticked.

[biggbn]

Had a base 200 saloon and a base 240td, both utterly brilliant cars. A 280te would be one of my ultimate daily drivers. Enjoy!!

[anyoldcardave]

Find the banger racers, they are tearing these apart wholesale to send them round the track.

[Jader1973]

Pelican Parts in the US have a lot of bits.

There is also Niemoller in Germany who have the parts catalogue drawings which makes finding genuine part numbers easy.

ETA I’m told https://spareto.com/ are good for parts.

This is my 280TE (in dire need a refresh at 427k km).

Edited by Jader1973 on Tuesday 9th September 11:35

[scotlandtim]

A man after my own heart.

A fine choice.

There is really only one place you need to know about, on the back streets of Braunsweig, Lower Saxony.

Owned by Gerd Bettin - everyone calls him Bettin.

He has everything you will ever need, and there's nothing he doesn't know about these cars. Shelves stacked from floor to ceiling with spares.

One proviso - he doesn't speak a work of English, so you're best planning a road trip, or finding a german speaker to phone him as you'll get nowhere otherwise.

Well worth taking your car to him though:


Braunschweig
Bettin MB Oldtimer
Am Bülten 47,

Tel. [phone]

Gerd kann und macht so ziemlich alles an Altdaimlern und hat ein nicht zu unterschätzendes Teilelager. Auch wenn es dort zunächst chaotisch aussieht, wird dort gute und solide Arbeit zu fairem Preis gemacht. Samstags ist unter Anleitung "freies Schrauben", montags ist geschlossen.

[80quattro]

Smolensky said:

Afternoon all,

I haven't been on here for a long time, but I'm thrilled to be able to say I've finally managed to get my dream/car. I'm currently looking for a supplier for a few parts for the engine. I'm currently looking for a new alternator bracket and a tensioner. I'm not sure if anyone could please point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance :-)

We have a specialist in old Benz stuff here in Northamptonshire called H.A Locke on 01933 313077. Albert and Andy are father and son and they haven't changed their business practices since about 1990... however, their knowledge is outstanding for these, and they sell parts back to MB Germany for restorations.

[niva441]

Also Mark Cosovitch in Swansea, if he's closer to you.

[alabbasi]

Jader1973 said:

This is my 280TE (in dire need a refresh at 427k km).

That looks a lot like my old one. It's a 'taxi soec" 280TE, very base spec with only power steering, central locking and sunroof (not even a lock on the glove box). It was a 3 pedal car.

The kid who bought it dropped in a BMW engine and 5 speed manual from an E36 328i.

Edited by alabbasi on Tuesday 9th September 15:11

[Jader1973]

alabbasi said:

That looks a lot like my old one. It's a 'taxi soec" 280TE, very base spec with only power steering, central locking and sunroof (not even a lock on the glove box). It was a 3 pedal car.

The kid who bought it dropped in a BMW engine and 5 speed manual from an E36 328i.

Edited by alabbasi on Tuesday 9th September 15:11

I had no idea they did manual 280TEs. I assume it is mainland Europe spec given it is LHD?

Mine is unusual because it doesn’t have a sunroof but does have headlight wash/wipe. I’ve not seen another one like it come up for sale in Australia.

[Dapster]

Jader1973 said:

alabbasi said:

That looks a lot like my old one. It's a 'taxi soec" 280TE, very base spec with only power steering, central locking and sunroof (not even a lock on the glove box). It was a 3 pedal car.

The kid who bought it dropped in a BMW engine and 5 speed manual from an E36 328i.

Edited by alabbasi on Tuesday 9th September 15:11

I had no idea they did manual 280TEs. I assume it is mainland Europe spec given it is LHD?

Mine is unusual because it doesn t have a sunroof but does have headlight wash/wipe. I ve not seen another one like it come up for sale in Australia.

UK market 280 W123s were automatic with 5 speed manual as a no cost option, but hardly any were specced with the manual

https://engineeringsocialgeek.wordpress.com/wp-con...

In fact, all 4, 5 and 6 cyl cars were available in manual although certain markets would not have got them. The prefacelift R107 was available as a manual with the V8 but not the S class with the same engine



https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/139-1973-m...

[alabbasi]

Jader1973 said:

I had no idea they did manual 280TEs. I assume it is mainland Europe spec given it is LHD?

Mine is unusual because it doesn t have a sunroof but does have headlight wash/wipe. I ve not seen another one like it come up for sale in Australia.

Yep, this one was a 4 speed manual but they were also available with a 5 speed. I bought mine out of Oregon and shipped it to Texas. It was likely bought by a serviceman and imported into the US when he returned.

It didn't have A/C so it wasn't driven much during the summer but it made for a good hauler for those trips into downtown where it would suck to drive my crew cab LWB F350.

Only the 4 speed manual gearbox was offered with a V8 and only the M116, 3.5 V8 got that option. You could get the M116 3.5 with a manual in the W107 (SL / SLC), W108/9 and the W116 S class up until 1980. The manual V8 option was dropped when the W126 was introduced and MB redesigned the M116 engine to a 3.8 alloy block.

I've had both a 73 350SE and a 73 350SLC with the 4 speed manaul.

[Rollin]

Dapster said:

UK market 280 W123s were automatic with 5 speed manual as a no cost option, but hardly any were specced with the manual

https://engineeringsocialgeek.wordpress.com/wp-con...

In fact, all 4, 5 and 6 cyl cars were available in manual although certain markets would not have got them. The prefacelift R107 was available as a manual with the V8 but not the S class with the same engine

Odd...My 200T has a five speed manual which that price list states was standard equipment.
I've seen automatic 200T's...fair enough. But I've also seen 4 speed manual 200T's. Why would you spec that?

[Dapster]

Rollin said:

Odd...My 200T has a five speed manual which that price list states was standard equipment.
I've seen automatic 200T's...fair enough. But I've also seen 4 speed manual 200T's. Why would you spec that?

Yes the price list is from '83 with the post facelift cars which would have the 5 speed. The early cars would have been 4 speed - my dad's 200 was an '81 X with a 4 speed manual for example

[catso]

Dapster said:

Rob 131 Sport said:

Lovely cars.

I love a W123!

My old man had a pov spec 200 back in the day - classic white, blue cloth, NO EXTRAS! Keep fit windows, 4 speed manual, steel wheels. However you felt like royalty when driven about in it - Mercedes was in a league of its own back then - a trip to the dealer was like a proper treat for good behavior!

Indeed, have memories of borrowing my Dad's 230, (off) white with blue cloth (super-firm seats), wind-up windows, painted hubcaps on steel wheels but it was an auto and did have a sunroof so maybe a tad more 'deluxe' ?

Memorable moments include the fan belt breaking on the motorway and the sunroof sticking in the open position and getting soaked for the rest of the journey.