Done it again — W123 230TE Restoration - UAE

[Delibes]

After a short-lived affair with a 6.9 as a daily driver, I could not reach an agreement with the owner on the price and found myself in the market again for a set of wheels in the UAE. While touring the Industrial Area in Al Ain, I noticed a familiar face...



What a find! I noticed that it had not moved for a while. Peeking into the interior, noticed the mileage (444,000km, about 287k) and the overall bad shape in the interior. In its defense, the car was 99% rust free. But there was this...



A sticker from the municipality! Later on I found out the car was heading for the junkyard if it was not moved from its current spot in the next three days. As I tried to decipher the Arabic message, a smiling man approached me.



"Salam Aleikkum!" —he said in a cheery tone. He happened to be a Mercedes mechanic and the current owner of the wagon. I asked if it was for sale, and he offered it to me for $1100. Apparently, it ran, so the next day I scheduled a test drive.

I soon found out that most of the rubber was gone and the brakes were weak; besides that, the car seemed solid and free of any pre-purchase red flags. Differential was a little bit noisy, but within tolerable levels. Engine and transmission were flawless. I gave him my business card and told him I'd call him that afternoon.

The Chairman at the Museum had a brilliant idea, yet a risky one. The owner would not budge under $1100, most likely because of my European provenance (Westerners = big money). So, following his advice, I phoned an offer of $550 that was immediately —yet politely— rejected, and proceeded with the Machiavellian plan: to send one of our workers, a friendly Pakistani kid, with an offer of $680 "for scrap". He accepted.

And thus, I am now part of the Cheap Wagon Club with a running, driving, braking 230TE in need of some rubber bits and a lot of cleaning.

[Mölyapina]

Nice score and a good story on the acquisition .

[DieselPaul]

M102 powered W123 is a really neat car to drive.

Nice find!

[Delibes]

First order of business is to be able to seat in it. Springs on the driver's seat had collapsed, but luckily I still have one of the seats from the 450SEL 6.9.

First, we remove the front seat. Four 10mm bolts on all four corners of the tracks, and a 10mm bolted to the transmission tunnel track.



Close enough! Still, I will buy a correct upholstery kit or good used covers in the near future. Notice the awful wear on the driver's seat back and armrest!



Pool noodles are your friends. Mercedes-Benz sells a similar product for an astronomical price, neatly packaged and with the MB logo. I'll save my money to put into other parts! Two full pool noodles will be enough for one seat.



Tried and tested several times until I found a good comfort level somewhere in between a collapsed mess and a church pew.

[Stretch]

Nice one Miguel

When you have the time photographs of the plumbing around a M102 in a W123 will be of great help.

But until then - check that single row timing chain!

[Delibes]

Finally got back to the Museum. Good battery, one turn of the key, and came back to life on the first crank. Will soon start ordering parts... thinking of a SLS delete (car's a beater, and the Arabian Desert is NOT a good place to get stranded) and a few suspension bits.

Parts request here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/374177-anyone-parting-w123-wagon.html

[Delibes]

Put it on the lift today to start a parts order. Had a nasty surprise; besides the noisy differential and collapsed suspension, the car has a blown head gasket. Previous owner hid the problem too well on the pre-purchase inspection

Car runs, shifts and drives pretty well; 10 minutes running and it starts overheating. Electromagnetic fan clutch works properly, as does the water pump and electric fan. I'm bummed, but we have a competent mechanic in house and the gasket kit is about $50.



Not too much of a headache, I hope. Otherwise, there's a 6.9 in the local auction and local buyers are petrified at the collapsed suspension

[Stretch]

Originally Posted by Delibes

Put it on the lift today to start a parts order. Had a nasty surprise; besides the noisy differential and collapsed suspension, the car has a blown head gasket. Previous owner hid the problem too well on the pre-purchase inspection

Car runs, shifts and drives pretty well; 10 minutes running and it starts overheating. Electromagnetic fan clutch works properly, as does the water pump and electric fan. I'm bummed, but we have a competent mechanic in house and the gasket kit is about $50.



Not too much of a headache, I hope. Otherwise, there's a 6.9 in the local auction and local buyers are petrified at the collapsed suspension

My experience with the M102 engine has taught me - head gasket failure more often than not due to dissimilar metal corrosion. The alloy head just doesn't like being on a ferrous block. Couple that with poor maintenance / incorrect coolant and hey presto you get trouble.

If you are unlucky things such as the pins for the timing chain guides will also be corroded in place.

I would expect the valve guides to be shot - just because it has been round the block! You are possibly looking at a head refurbishment if you want this car to be reliable.

If the engine has over heated then the head will need to be skimmed.

(More tips are available on request - I don't want to bring you down)

[ROLLGUY]

Miguel, how is this project going? It is good to hear that you are back in the wagon club. It is hard to imagine you NOT owning a wagon.

[panZZer]

Be sure to snag that wheel and slip it into your suitcase!