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  #1  
Old 04-12-2007, 10:35 AM
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What is a '69 230 worth?

I have driven diesel Mercedes for years but don't know much about the gas models. I'm looking at a 1969 230 sedan. Body is good, interior good, bad brakes, engine has good compression but runs rough. Assuming the carbs need cleaned. Needs new exhaust. Manual shift (column), Manual windows, brakes, no sunroof. Anybody know what this thing is worth??

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  #2  
Old 04-12-2007, 11:01 AM
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Honestly, (and I know this will cause a firestorm) the car isn't worth much. It's a "plain-Jane" sedan without much appeal. Good basic car but when you add up the brake work (up to $500 or so with new/rebuilt calipers) the frustration of the carburetion work, the exhaust (another $300) and all the unknowns (suspension, hidden rust, replacing all the hoses and belts) it just doesn't fly.

Looking for a decent daily driver? It'll work for that. Investing any money in it? Not a good idea. If it's given to you, good deal. $500 is the max you should spend for it.
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  #3  
Old 04-12-2007, 11:16 AM
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Let the FireStorm begin

Actually. It's worth exactly what you want to pay for it and nothing else. It is a pretty basic no frills sedan but fintails have a kind of cult following, rather like a 240D. I'm starting to get the idea I need one or two myself.

- Peter.
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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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  #4  
Old 04-12-2007, 11:25 AM
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It doesn't have the tail fins. Looks like my old '74 240D.
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  #5  
Old 04-12-2007, 12:04 PM
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What's it worth?

Quick answer is, not much.

A 69 230 has the old fintail 6 cylinder engine in it, which was quickly replaced by 70 with the M130 6 cyl. Later 230 badged cars were 4 cyl.
The M130 (2.8L) was badged 250 or 250C and the M110 was called the 280 or 280C. No cars were imported into the US officially with injection, all had carburators. My favorite has been the M130 engined W114s. My least favorite W115, was an automatic 73 220D. Needed to get a run to get it up on ramps. Turn on the A/C and I think the car actually went backwards.... My 83 300D gets about the same mileage, too.

Last summer, I needed a head for our coupe, and bought a decent 71 250 sedan for $500.00. This car needed paint and had some rust, but was a pretty solid body, good floors, etc, and a very nice interior. Car had buckets of receipts, good tires, rebuilt head, radiator and newish weber carbs. Pulled the engine for the coupe.

The only W115/W114 models that seem to have any following, are the diesels. The rare and beautiful coupes bring slightly more but not enough to justify spending a lot of money on them. I justify ours, because I have always liked them, and it's a very good, reliable car that my 17 YO daughter is driving on a daily basis. She just loves the car, and her friends think it's pretty darn cool, too.

I've owned a W114/W115 of some variety for the last 17 years, and the M130 coupes are my favorite flavor. Small bumpers, nice chrome, sweet sounding engine. Great fun to drive, and they handle well.

Jim
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  #6  
Old 04-12-2007, 08:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 240diowa View Post
It doesn't have the tail fins. Looks like my old '74 240D.
Sorry. I wasn't paying attention. Not a fintail so therefore probably less collectible.

- Peter.
__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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  #7  
Old 04-12-2007, 09:48 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JimFreeh View Post
Quick answer is, not much.

My least favorite W115, was an automatic 73 220D. Needed to get a run to get it up on ramps. Turn on the A/C and I think the car actually went backwards....

Jim
A friend of mine had one of those low powered 220Ds. He alwasy thought his car was kind of sluggish and must have had an engine problem, until I showed him the factory HP specs and let him drive my gas M110 250C (about double the power or so). It finally dawned on him that he had a inherently slow car. One day he drove his 220D fully loaded with 4 adults up a hill, switched on the AC, and literally the engine completely died. Would not start or even crank again. Suspicion by the mechanic was that it seized due to overheating and/or lack of oil.

Bert
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  #8  
Old 04-13-2007, 07:08 AM
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gimme a low-tech 240D
 
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The plain jane 114/115 is highly desirable says me, same as 110 body style is preferred by many over the 111 "S". Nothing decadent and probly the most timeless sedan design is the 114/115. Dunno why everybody thinks the deluxe versions are the only vintage MB's worth owning, i really dont. Without hesitation I'd throw a couple grand into one of the old plain jane sedans and treat it like a daily driver, knowing the mechanicals are simple and parts are easy. And I'd swap my w123 240D's for 4-spd 220D any day of the week.
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'83 240D 4-spd
'77 280SEL 4-spd
'74 280/8
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'63 220Sb 4-spd
'63 190c 4-spd
'61 220Sb 4-spd
'60 190b 4-spd
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  #9  
Old 04-13-2007, 09:25 AM
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I agree with you Dog about the 114/115's. I still own 2 114's and I've had a few 123's. I like the 114 for it's handling and the classic Benz looks (rounded fenders and how can anyone not love the looks of that rounded hood during a night time drive?).

Daily driver is what I said the car should be. I don't think I would put $2K into a 230 though. Not one which is as lacking in amenities as that one is. Manual windows, manual brakes, no sunroof. Sounds about like an old 4 door Nova, six cylinder three speed. Might be nostalgic but that's it.

Lot's of good "better" sedans and coupes out there for the price.

You've seen the pictures and descriptions of what I do because I love the 114 body styles. I don't think I'd invest the money in a 230.
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  #10  
Old 04-13-2007, 02:10 PM
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gimme a low-tech 240D
 
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Yeah but they never made em with manual brakes. All 114/115's had power assisted 4-wheel discs. And unless the car's a pillarless coupe then electric windows are not really an asset. Sunroof is probly worth holding out for but the 4-spd column shift compensates for this.

Figure the 230/8 worth $800- $1200 at bottom price, then double that figure for once in lifetime maintenance like valve seals, center support bearings, bushings etc to bring it up to par. To be honest there is no "investment" value in any of these sedans, not even 108's. Greatest value is USE VALUE - sheer enjoyment at owning and driving one. And everybody should own a 114/115 at least once in their life.

These are incredibly nimble and tastefully designed little sedans. The only reason to retire one would be on account of it rusting to smitherines, otherwise chucking money into one strikes me as worthwhile. Nothin like throwin money into an old Chevy. Am still amazed that anybody here (not you Mike) considers brake and muffler work to be "terminal" and fatal deal breaker. Just my opinion, but the economy model Benz is better then top of the line deluxe edition, more trouble free and less over-engineered.
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  #11  
Old 04-13-2007, 09:59 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 240Dog View Post
And unless the car's a pillarless coupe then electric windows are not really an asset. Sunroof is probly worth holding out for but the 4-spd column shift compensates for this.
I agree 100% with Dog on this one. I would say that crank windows are a premium vs. power that are not working (and most are not) of all the repairs on my 114 that I have made, parts for the power windows has been the most costly.

Brake work on the other hand has been cheap. New calipers can be had for $65.
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  #12  
Old 04-14-2007, 08:34 AM
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For me, the manual-shift, even on the column, is a bonus. In the US, Mercedes manual-shifts were becoming the exception by the late '60s, and the column-shift manual is rare on these cars. Freak out your friends, who'll at first think it's an automatic!

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #13  
Old 04-14-2007, 04:22 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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the column shift usually accompanied the rare bench seat option.

good for sitting next to your honey.

tom w
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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #14  
Old 04-14-2007, 07:05 PM
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Most post-65 Mercedes manuals I've seen have been floorshifts. Several years ago, I got the chance to test drive a '69 W108 280S with a manual column-shift. Very unusual!
The owner of the shop where I worked asked me to move it because he couldn't get it into reverse! That car had bucket-seats. Were those, or the W114/115 even availible with bench seats?

My '61 Ponton 180b had the front bench, while my '60 Fintail had buckets, but came with a matching fitted leather cushion to convert the center tray into a third front seat, using the up-raised armrest as the seatback.

Happy Motoring, Mark
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  #15  
Old 04-14-2007, 07:50 PM
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114,115,108 never had front benches. The "bench" to which you refer was the center squab and raised arm rest feature that supposedly made it feasible for a third passenger to sit sandwidged between the driver and passenger. My 71 280S had that but I never used it for that.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S
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