The 230E engine of the mid 80's shares a lot of parts and design features with the engine that powered the 190E 2.3 here when it was introduced. I have imported a number of these cars for relatives and all have run well over 150k miles. The fuel pump relay can be a bother in hot weather but other than that I can think of no common issue we have experienced.

We lost the first one, an '82 230E to an encounter with a pick up truck recently. My sister and her son were in the car and an old pick-up lurched out of a side road from the right side, trying to turn left, right in front of her while she was on a rural highway doing around 45 mph. She hit the rear driver's side and pretty much totalled the Benz, but no one was hurt. The pick up spun around and lost a few chunks of rust but appeared no worse overall. She and her son were wearing the seat belts and the car absorbed the energy of the impact as it was designed to after 19 years. The pick-up driver was also not injured. Not badfor an old vehicle. My sister has replaced it with one of the later models (an '84) from another family member who bought an ML430 recently. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)