Hi, I recently acquired a 1983 230E 4 spd, a graymarket car up here in Canada. It is beautiful and I am in the process of tuning her up. Could somebody please tell me what the OEM spark plug gap is for this car (My wifes keyboard is french and I can`t find the question mark) I have searched the threads and a lot of people seem to suggest 1mm as a good general setting but I have no point of reference. (No owners manual with the car)

Also, does the 230E have hydraulic valve lifters like the 190E 2.3, similair engine but there is a german (illegible) label that appears to indicate some adjustment.

I would greatly appreciate any help that you could give.

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Almost mint 1983 230E eurospec.
Honda civic for those not so mint moments.

Nicholas230e,

I am not certain of the spark plug gap at the moment, but as I recall if you buy the recommended spark plug listed on the last page of the owner's manual (called "Bedienungsanleitung" if you have the original German owner's manual) you do not need to gap them as they come correctly gapped. I have one of the 1984 230E's I imported "visiting" for the holidays (it belongs to my aunt) and I checked her manual. The plugs listed are:
-Beru 14 K-7D
-Bosch H 7 D
-Champion BN 9 Y

As far as the valves go, they are NOT equipped with hydraulic lifters, and must be adjusted regularly. The little cartoon on the upper structural crossmember and support for the radiator/lights should show the location and dimension of the gap, set cold and hot. The manual also has it listed cold on page 91, under "Ventilspiel" (meaning valve play), (kalter Motor) meaning cold engine, with the values of:

- 0.10 mm for the Einlass (inlet)
- 0.20 mm for the Auslass (exhaust)

If the cartoon is rubbed off or missing for some other reason, the measurement is made between the rocker arm pad and the top of the valve itself, not between the rocker arm and the camshaft lobe.

I hope this helps you, and good luck. Sounds like a nice car. The engine is very robust, as each one I imported (5 total 230E's) has run relatively trouble free for over 200,000 miles. Fuel pump relays seem to suffer in hot weather, which sounds like it won't be a problem for you. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Thanks for the help Jim. Unfortunately I do not have the original owners manual so I will heed your advice.

BTW does any body know where to get a euro lens (passenger side front rectangular) at a reasonable price (imagine that there is a question mark here.)

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Almost mint 1983 230E eurospec.
Honda civic for those not so mint moments.

I'm the proud owner of a 86 230E W124 and I have an eglish version of the owners manual. If you like I can copy and mail. Send me an email and give a week or so.
I had no idea what I was purchasing a few years ago, but I've been fairly satisfied with my 230

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Harrison Humes
'85 230E W124
140K

My car is also a 230E 1988 W124 so it looks like you have a few people here who can help you. I also have the owners manual in english. As Jim has stated the engine is durable, I have had to replace the fuel pump relay, the NY hot weather got to it I guess. I am currently tracking down a fuel smell from the front and a vacumn leak but nothing really major.

Spark plug gap is .032. You can set this slightly wider to say .040 if you want to experiment. This has worked well for a lot of people.

The Euro lenses can be bought right here at partshop (see link above) or www.************************ , the lenses aren't that expensive. If the price is high then chances are you are being sold the whole unit instead of just the lense.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for your advice,

My car is a w123, so I don't think that your owners manuals would be much of a help. I ordered a shop manual specifically for the w123 that includes the 230E. Hope to get it soon.

My baby is looking rather respectable again with her new lens cover that I got real cheap.

Does anybody know which way the timing adjuster plug on the EZL ignition needs to be turned to retard the ignition?

Thanks in advance,

Nicholas

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Almost mint 1983 230E eurospec.
Honda civic for those not so mint moments.

Nicholas,

The adjuster plug in question should be marked for Normal (for regular octane gasoline) or S for high test with a few values in between and on either side, I think. You have to pull the plug out and reinsert it so the correct octane value for the fuel you are using is selected. The plug assembly connects an array of resistors for each combination so that a specific resistance signal is sent to the Elecktronische Zuendleitung (EZL or electronic ignition control). You can artificially increase or decrease the setting by reinserting the plug for a higher or lower octane rating (higher octane equals advanced ignition timing). This subject is discussed in the Hot Rod section for tuning pretty frequently. US cars have a single resistor and they have to change the resistor while Euro cars have the plug you speak of. I hope this helps. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)