Purchased this beauty yesterday...
 

Hey folks,

So I've been vaguely looking around for a new Benz to play with for some time now, and finally I picked up this example. She's a 1984 230E, been in the same family for 17 years, rides pretty well, and generally fairly tidy.

She's a little rough around the edges, needs a bit of TLC, but I'm fairly pleased for the small sum I paid for her.

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What do you think? :)

Interesting, I expected this to be a post about a diesel when I saw the year 1984, but you got a gasser, cool. Some body work, some interior work, looks like you've got something to keep you out of the bars and casinos for awhile. What did the previous owner have in the way of service records? How did you come across it?

Neat cars, most 230E's were imported by a Columbus, Ohio importer, Bill Dovell Motorcars. He imported so many if you go on fueleconomy.gov he is listed as a manufacturer for 1984.

The import plate in the door jamb should say who brought it in.

The 230E has the classic charms of the the 123 and the relative refinement of the M102, really neat cars. Hope to see more of your restoration!

Glad you guys like it. Yeah, I've never seen a 230E in these parts - they're always diesel.

Spent a good amount of time cleaning her up the past couple of days. Interior is looking a lot tidier, cleaned out some of the forest that has been growing in the guttering, and took her for a good drive today.

Couple of photos of her parked up:

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Nice one.

Word of caution. Remove this trim =>

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And it will break and will be expensive to replace!

Thanks!

Turns out my car is a German import after flicking through the service manual etc. I think it was imported to Canada in the mid 1990s.

I've fixed a few things on her already. Managed to acquire a new glovebox lid so sorted that, grab handle for front passenger, missing fuel cap replaced. Just bought some new brake pads too - just need to fit those.

Main thing now is to get a replacement glass for the drivers side headlight. Just replaced the bulbs in it, so at least it works now, and fashioned some sort of perspex cover for the time being. Better than nothing! The other issue: the previous owner snapped the plastic hood release from the front grill. So now there's a hacksaw hole in the front grill! Need to get a new grill and that plastic release. Shouldn't be too much of an issue I don't think!

A couple more pictures:

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Oh yeah. What's the car's history?

Nice one. An uncle of mine had a manual 84 230E when I was younger. Quite a peppy vehicle as I recall. You should have no trouble replacing the grill insert or pull handle. I just put a new one on my car last week. Cost about 2 bucks online as I recall.

One thing I'd suggest is start doing a very thorough check all over the car for rust. If it's been in Canada or the north for any time that could be an issue.

- Peter.

It does have some rust here and there. Something to halt the spread of now, and then sort out properly later.

Cars history: it was first registered in Germany and imported to Canada sometime in the 1990s from what I can tell in the service history. Looks like it lived its first decade or so in Bavaria. I guess it doesn't get any more German than that!

I'm gradually sorting out the teething issues. Fixed a few bits of trim here and there, the exhaust had a bit of a rattle when going up through the rev range, but it looks like when the catalytic converter was fitted they didn't tighten it up enough. I was playing around underneath it this morning and the bolts were half off! All nice and tightened up now.

Next on the agenda: new brakes. Bought the parts, just need to fit them. I've done brakes before on Peugeots, but not Mercedes. I guess it can't be too dissimilar though. Any decent How-To videos around for me to watch first? :)

Also ordered a replacement headlight lens for the drivers side.

I want to make the front end look tidier too. The plastic hood catch missing is a simple fix, and the hole cut in the grill to open the hood is a complete eyesore. Just got to find a person locally who is breaking a W123 and I should be all set too.

I used to live in Lebanon, so I fell in love with the old Benz taxis there. W114s/115s and W123 mainly, so this one will be getting a few Arab taxi accessories (nothing too ridiculous though!)

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Started on the front brakes this morning. One of the pads doesn't want to come out, but I have the other three out. The level of negligence of the previous owner is quite shocking. Here's a nice comparison between old and brand new!

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Shift away from the caliper and pop it up from the bottom

That's a very neat car. If I was ever going to get another gasser W123 it would be one of those.

Could you expand on that? I'm aiming to have the thing done by tomorrow lunchtime and one of the inside pads is still wedged in. I do have a pry bar/breaker bar to lever the piston back but there doesn't seem like there's space to get between the piston and the old pad.

Ideas greatly appreciated :)

Here is the latest from Olivia the 230E.

Just finished replacing the brakes and took her out for a test drive. The guy I got the brakes from also had a replacement W123 front grill, so I nabbed that as well. Looks a lot better (and of course I replaced the hood catch handle).

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Just awaiting the replacement headlight lens and I'll be all set. I've been tracking the package as it travels the world to get to Vancouver. It started in Latvia, then visited Lithuania, after that was Germany, then Cincinnati for the day, and now it's recently landed in Canada this morning. Fingers crossed it will arrive today...

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The car looks great, do you have any plans for it at all?