1985 W123 230E Advice
 

Hello Everyone,


I am playing with the idea of a 1985 Euro 230E. My beloved 300D Turbo has developed too much rust. Does anyone have an idea of fuel economy in these rare cars? It's an automatic. I do A LOT of driving. With the price of diesel so over the top I am wondering if it will amount to the same cost despite the 230's poorer fuel economy. I will not give up classics! Does this car have the engine from the US 190E 2.3? Are valve adjustments needed?

That car has a 4 cylinder engine that is the same as the 190E 2.3.

A 190E automatic can approach 30mpg on the highway.

Figure your car has more weight and frontal area, so your results will be less.

How much is a variable, but I'd start at 10% less.

Jim

be aware it's not quite the same 2.3 as the others you've seen. i know the euro 110 and 117 motors are higher compression, no info to suggest the 2.3 is different. if it's got the serp belt, then it's a step up from the only 230e i saw, it had 3 belts and all the other stuff 1st gen 102s that got here. i would hope you have a good resource for gray market parts. i'd hate to have to fix the ac on that car. good luck, chuck.

I've been told by many sources that mpg is similar to your 300D, mid to low 20's. Performance is up a little bit but also similiar. Neat cars IMO.

The W123 is generally known as one of the best cars that M.B. or any other manufacturer ever produced. A properly sorted out and maintained W123 will outlast any modern model.
In Africa and the middle east the W123 and W124 are still the taxi of choice particularly the diesel engined models.
W123 230 engines were designed for leaded fuels and no Kats. They run optimally on premium unleaded fuel. They will not give the economy of a W201 or any later contemporary vehicle. Depending on the year the car will either come with K or KE jet injection - most are the simpler K jet. M102 engines are overhead camshaft and don't require valve adjustments. (A M102 engine is a M103 engine missing two cylinders)
You have access to the internet so you will find that all parts are available for these models.
In Australia there are still thousands of W123's being used as daily drivers.

A 230E automatic will get low 20's in mpg on the highway. The engine struggles to move the car, and that wastes fuel. If you must stay in the w123 realm, then the 230E is a good pick, but if you're worried about better mpg, you should consider a move to the w124 or w201 body style.

The older M102's do not have valve tappets and do need valve adjustment. It wasn't until 1985 and W124 that they converted the M102. But the older M102 is probably one of the best gasoline engine ever produced with some seeing well over 300,000 miles on the clock. I own a 1983 230E that was missing it's dials when i got it but i suspect it has around 200,000 miles on it and there is no letting up.