1984 230E. Ever sold in the US?
 

My friend and I came across a 1984 230E at an auction. The car has rear seat head rests on it (rare... only the flagship W126 500SEL had it that year in the USA as far as I know). Anyway, here's the killer: the car has 49K miles. I took the VIN, got the vehicle history report and indeed, it seems valid. Here's the mileage history:

Date: Mileage:
04/27/1985 97
03/11/1987 6,842
12/13/1989 27,000
05/06/1998 49,394

The interior is all messed up with lots of dirt. It has an automatic transmission. The engine is even worse, all covered up with grease, oil and everything else you can imagine. All this on a car with just 49K miles? Engine was obviously a four cylinder engine. It also has some rust on it.

The questions: (1) Was this car ever sold in the US? (2) Does anyone know how much power the engine has? (3) Could the mileage be real, and if so, how can a car with such low miles be in such condition? Hmm....! I'd like to see what people have to say on this one! Maybe someone here would want to buy it or something.

When cars sit they get dirty! It is a rare car if the price is right I'd buy it clean it up a lot and sell it on ebay.

1) Not sold by MB in the US

2) Nitske says 136 hp DIN

3) No idea.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

This is what I remember, don't quote me. The 1984 230e should be a W123 body. The first W124 230e was introduced in 1985 produced in the end of 1984. I'm assuming the one you are looking at is a W123. The earlier years of this car was called a 230 which had a carburator and the 230e was the fuel injected model. This car is more than likely a grey market car imported from Germany possibly. Cloth or velour interiors were more common in these cars than leather. Small chrome bumpers, no yellow fog lights-euro one piece lens, km/h only speedo, manual windows, etc...

Indeed this one is a W123 body. It is yellow in color and has a velour (vinyl?) interior. The speedometer is in miles though and it has power everything as well as US-style headlamps! Yes, what a mixture.

The W123 230 was introduced in 76 with the M115 engine carried over from the W115 230.4. The 230 was replaced by the 230E with the M102 engine in 81. The 230 was available in the US in 77 and 78. It was a low end car by MBUSA standards having a standard and optional equipment range similar to the 240D. I don't think the US 230 was offered with MT.

The 230 was available as a 230 sedan, 230C coupe and 230T wagon. Likewise the 230E was available a a 230E sedan, 230CE coupe and 230TE wagon.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

Velour is cloth very nice, and rare to.