Wiw 1984 230e?
 

Hey guy. I'm not a gas car type of guy, but we found this 1984 230E Euro and couldn't pass it up. i know we got a deal on it, but i was wondering what its worth.

its a 84 230E euro with 42k miles on it. its champeign gold. auto, with ABS. the damn car is almost perfect. i'd call it "good" condition. i tryed to get a kelly blue book price but they only go back 20 years. only think bad about it is they old lady who we got it from, her husband picked it up at an auto auction from a salvage yard. meanign its most likely has a salvage title.

what do you guys think its worth?

CA car, rare gas 2.3 w123, I'm guessing no rust, ABS, 42k!!- hmmm...
Euro bumpers and lights? Velour interior, rear head rests?

gray mkt car, unknown history, salvage title?

Without photos it's really tough to say how much. I can't even tell you how much I would pay for a car as you have described without visual verification. Lots of stuff could be wrong with it. Do a thorough check of all systems, take some decent photos then report back. Barring that, sounds like a $1500 car at the most.

I agree - the salvage title just kills it. Remember, these w123 gauges are notorious for stopping, and replacing the gauge cluster is simple. I wouldn't be so certain the mileage is true, especially on a salvaged car.

Somebody wanted a bargain priced MB....
 

Hmmm... A 84 230E.

Most of these cars I've seen were brought over to a price point. The grey market 230E was the cheapest way into MB ownership at the time and they tend to be low on the option content. Usually I see a 4 speed manual, cloth seats, 50/50 on a sunroof, and rollup windows - sometimes just the fronts are power, A/C is usually cobbled up stateside, making that option more difficult to repair...

On the plus side it has the 190E 2.3 engine, so most parts are easily found.

Not nearly as valuable as the diesels, and not very fast, nor economical.
Thus, not in much demand, leading to depressed value.

If you got for a low amount, and the car is nice, then it's a great car to drive and enjoy, but not necessarily a "valuable" car.

Jim

There is one near me that I have test driven before. Not sure of the year, but it is a W123 of course, so early 80's somewhere. Has Euro bumpers, sunroof bubble, factory mud flaps, rear head rests, cloth interior, some type of weird AC compressor that doesn't come on. [bottom passenger side of engine] Car is in decent shape, with decent paint, not much rust I remember, and drove really well. I was actually surprised at the little 4 cyl. Seemed as quick as a turbo 5cy. It was 2nd gear start, and when shifting manual to first to start out, it is a very low gear.
Some guy at the lot named "Lawyer T" [:pimp2:] was asking $1500 bucks {actually was asking $2300, but had it down to $1500 before I left}. That was a couple months ago, and it is still there.
I liked it, but not enough to pay much for it. I would rather have this little 240D with the bad engine......;)

I have a 230CE, a coupe. It is faster than a diesel, gets better mileage than a diesel and is more fun to drive. Mine has MB tex, factory a/c not climate control, roll up windows and no leaky sunroof. It handles better than the diesel because the 2.3L engine weighs less.
The Euro spec 2.3L has more hp than it's US emission choked cousin. It also runs way quieter and smoother than the diesel.
I say go for it.

This is what I would have thought. A good example should be a nice driving and economical little car.

I have no personal experience though.

But the value would not be too high. I would guess half to 2/3 the value of a comparable condition 240.

Tom W

Value is ultimately up to what it's worth to you.
These cars are rare so you won't pass another one in the other direction.
I like the rarity factor which makes it more fun to me.