Hi,
I have a 1976 230.4. It was purchased by my mother for six hundred dollars and, at the time, it seemed like it was in good shape. When it was towed to our house though, we found out otherwise. In addition to not running, it has rust on the hood, a hole in the floor pan, ratted out interior, rotted window seals, and a slew of missing trim items.
My question is; Is this car worth restoring? My father and I were thinking of a resto-mod kind of thing, but we're not sure if even that would be worth the effort. What is a beater 230 going for? My mom loves the thing, so we would kind of like to keep it.

Any help would be great.

-Brokendreamboat

You're kidding . . . aren't you ? ? ?

No, I'm not
I just want some solid advise so that my mom will consider selling if it is hopeless.

Sounds like the ONLY way you could fix it into a somewhat respectable car without hozing yourself would be to get a parts car . . . BEFORE you do anything . . . look at BOTH cars to see which one should get the parts . . .

Even if you could do all the labor yourself, you would probably spend much more to 'restore' it than it would cost to find and buy a nice 230. If the engine isn't seized or the tranny shot, it might be worth fixing up as a driver, but I'd forget about resoration.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Few Mercedes sedans are good restoration candidates from a financial perspective. For the cost of even a half-hearted restomod, you could buy a nice late-eighties/early nineties w124 sedan in good condition that will outperform a 230 in virtually every category in greater comfort.

Let it go.

Restoration or even major improvement is hopeless financially. These are not popular cars even when in good shape.

It might be worthwhile, and definitely a learning experience, to see if you could get it running and maybe driving. You might be lucky and get away with fresh gas, plugs, points, some oil, plug wires and a battery. You might get it driving with some work on the brakes. Then it would at least be worth more than sitting.

Does your mom like to garden? It would make an interesting centerpiece in a flower garden.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

HA, HA, HA! I can run that by her, but I don't think that there is enough room in the yard!:p

My father and I have checked the entire ignition system from the coil to the plugs, and eveything checks fine. It cranks but it doesn't start up and run. We were thinking that it's in the fuel system, but we haven't checked that because we don't know much about it. We are searching for info on it.

When we opened the trunk, there was a head gasket in it, so we think that whoever the dick was that half assed a few other things on the car, also messed with the engine. We've already found a few vacume lines that were crossed.

-brokendreamboat

From what you've indicated . . . you'd be BEST off to sell it to someone for a parts car and find something WORTH putting the time and effort into . . .

Now, you have the parts car-just need to find a good one to mess around with...

The gas itself is probably full of water and not worth it...AND your gas tank is probably rusty.

And I would guess that there is now rust in your carberator due to your trying to start it, I don't think these had any fuel filters on them.

__________________
Ed
1981 300CD (Benzina)
1968 250 S (Gina) 266,000 miles!
1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 (Guido)
1976 Jaguar XJS-saved a V-12 from the chevy curse, what a great engine!
1988 Cadillac Eldorado (better car than you might think!)
1988 Yamaha Venture (better than a Wing!)
1977 Suzuki GS750B
1976 Yamaha XS 650 (sold)
1991 Suzuki GSX1100G (Shafty Gixser)
1981 Yamaha VX920RH (Euro "Virago")
Solex Moped
1975 Dodge P/U camper


"Time spent in the company of a cat, a beer, and this forum, is not time wasted!"

Drain all the fuel out of the tank and replace with fresh, and make sure the filter on the fuel pump isn't plugged and that you get fuel delivered by the pump.

Also, verify that the plug wires are in the correct order -- spark to the wrong cylinder is always a problem.

I would only restore it for pure love, it's not worth much. I'm debating the 220D -- nice car, but needs an engine overhaul and major body work, and it won't every be worth more than $1500.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

If you're gonna restore it . . . I've gotta bunch of 20 dollar bills that I'll sell ya for a 100 bucks each ! ! !

Hmm...Are those twenties green? 'Cause I love the color green!

-brokendreamboat

Well, I did it. She finally realized that it would be better to sell it to someone that could use it rather than letting it rust away in the garage, so I put a post in the classified section. It will be kind of sad to see it go though.

Anybody want a parts car?
Check out my post!
Thanks,
brokendreamboat

Unfortunately . . . your car is worth more by the POUND . . .