1989 Merc 230E Auto

[idiotboy]

Hi

On my quest for cheap auto and being outbid on a Volvo 240 my attention has been directed towards a car local to me for sale.

 

Car in question is a 1989 Merc 230E Auto with 161K on the clock, MOT to Jan and £450. Does anyone have any experience of these and can anyone give me advice on what to look for to prevent me buying a right munter.

 

Cheers

 

Matt

[idiotboy]

Hi

On my quest for cheap auto and being outbid on a Volvo 240 my attention has been directed towards a car local to me for sale.

 

Car in question is a 1989 Merc 230E Auto with 161K on the clock, MOT to Jan and £450. Does anyone have any experience of these and can anyone give me advice on what to look for to prevent me buying a right munter.

 

Cheers

 

Matt

[Junkman]

Generally, they are shite enough to qualify.

The mechanicals are indestrucable and spares are available like water.

However, rust is an issue. A bigger one, than on contemporary Fiats.

[Junkman]

Generally, they are shite enough to qualify.

The mechanicals are indestrucable and spares are available like water.

However, rust is an issue. A bigger one, than on contemporary Fiats.

[AndyW201]

As mentioned, look out for rust. All four jacking points underneath, and the four in the sills. Check the very front of the inner wings, just behind the headlights.

Check the metal panel underneath the rear screen, including from inside the boot. The screen seal can go on these, and water runs in to the panel, and eats its way out. Drips running down the inner rear arches will give it away.

Crusty front wings aren't such a problem. New and used replacements are readily available and are bolt on.

 

The 230 should be the M102 engine, as fitted to the 190 in smaller form. In which case, largely bulletproof, but look out for nom nom nom'd headgasket. Do the usual checks. 4 speed autoboxes are bulletproof, but check fluid colour and kickdown operation. Rear axles can whine but TADTS! They will run on forever with a whiny diff.

 

But in all, one of the best built old saloons you will find. You'll love a good one, but hate a bad one...

[AndyW201]

As mentioned, look out for rust. All four jacking points underneath, and the four in the sills. Check the very front of the inner wings, just behind the headlights.

Check the metal panel underneath the rear screen, including from inside the boot. The screen seal can go on these, and water runs in to the panel, and eats its way out. Drips running down the inner rear arches will give it away.

Crusty front wings aren't such a problem. New and used replacements are readily available and are bolt on.

 

The 230 should be the M102 engine, as fitted to the 190 in smaller form. In which case, largely bulletproof, but look out for nom nom nom'd headgasket. Do the usual checks. 4 speed autoboxes are bulletproof, but check fluid colour and kickdown operation. Rear axles can whine but TADTS! They will run on forever with a whiny diff.

 

But in all, one of the best built old saloons you will find. You'll love a good one, but hate a bad one...

[Albert Ross]

Rattly hydraulic tappets and smoking..... Broken front springs are a pain in the arse. The last one I did broke my compressors. Electronic autobox failure.

[Albert Ross]

Rattly hydraulic tappets and smoking..... Broken front springs are a pain in the arse. The last one I did broke my compressors. Electronic autobox failure.

[idiotboy]

This is going to sound like a mad question but how do you check the colour of the AFT fluid? Do they have a dip stick or something?

[idiotboy]

This is going to sound like a mad question but how do you check the colour of the AFT fluid? Do they have a dip stick or something?

[Albert Ross]

I would expect a dipstick, The fluid colour should be like a good Rioja. Take a white rag to wipe the dipstick on, and sniff it. If it smells toasty, walk away.

[Albert Ross]

I would expect a dipstick, The fluid colour should be like a good Rioja. Take a white rag to wipe the dipstick on, and sniff it. If it smells toasty, walk away.

[AndyW201]

Looking into the engine bay, the ATF dipstick is at the back of the rocker cover on your left. It's a big red handle with 2 clips on the side. Being a 1989, it'll be the old reliable 4 speed auto rather than the later troublesome 5 speeder.

[AndyW201]

Looking into the engine bay, the ATF dipstick is at the back of the rocker cover on your left. It's a big red handle with 2 clips on the side. Being a 1989, it'll be the old reliable 4 speed auto rather than the later troublesome 5 speeder.

[HMC]

yep, theres a dipstick it has a red top and is between the bulkhead and the rear of the engine block. Those mb automatics usually start off in second, so dont worry if it only shifts up twice before reaching top. As has been said, watch for a rattly top end, this age has a duplex timing chain so you can more or less forget that. Its a cross over year the 89 models, so do check for rotten jacking point on the sills but on a pre facelift it woulld be an mot fail, post facelift have plastic fairings and hence cannot be scrutinised by the mot tester (and often missed when buying- pop the covers off) most tend to have some rot there at this age, but they are tough old girls, the best one i've had, had 220,000 miles on it and drove brilliantly

[HMC]

yep, theres a dipstick it has a red top and is between the bulkhead and the rear of the engine block. Those mb automatics usually start off in second, so dont worry if it only shifts up twice before reaching top. As has been said, watch for a rattly top end, this age has a duplex timing chain so you can more or less forget that. Its a cross over year the 89 models, so do check for rotten jacking point on the sills but on a pre facelift it woulld be an mot fail, post facelift have plastic fairings and hence cannot be scrutinised by the mot tester (and often missed when buying- pop the covers off) most tend to have some rot there at this age, but they are tough old girls, the best one i've had, had 220,000 miles on it and drove brilliantly

[warren t claim]

As mentioned previously, front springs are a weak point, look under the rear of the car for corrosion around the rear subframe mounts, electric windows can fail, boot springs can shear off, electric sunroof motors are a pain to put right, central locking is vacuum operated and can sometimes leave you unable to open the fuel filler cap as well.

[warren t claim]

As mentioned previously, front springs are a weak point, look under the rear of the car for corrosion around the rear subframe mounts, electric windows can fail, boot springs can shear off, electric sunroof motors are a pain to put right, central locking is vacuum operated and can sometimes leave you unable to open the fuel filler cap as well.

[dollywobbler]

Mercs seem to either be really impressive or fantastically dull. The 230 is a nice engine. Enough poke so you don't hold up traffic but not as thirsty as the bigger engines.

 

Based on my W123 experience, I'd say check the sills on the inside as well as out and for dampness in any of the footwells. The sills on mine were solid on the outside but utter cornflakes inside.

[dollywobbler]

Mercs seem to either be really impressive or fantastically dull. The 230 is a nice engine. Enough poke so you don't hold up traffic but not as thirsty as the bigger engines.

 

Based on my W123 experience, I'd say check the sills on the inside as well as out and for dampness in any of the footwells. The sills on mine were solid on the outside but utter cornflakes inside.

[warren t claim]

On a W124 it's always a good idea to check for evidence of the owner using the bonnet to inflict serious head injuries on some coke-fueled mongtard who thought it would be clever to impregnate the W124 owners ex wife and leave her to have a miscarriage in the middle of nowhere and deny all knowledge of ever meeting her. Faults with the indicators and wiper relays are common as well but fortunately C Class relays fit straight in.

[warren t claim]

On a W124 it's always a good idea to check for evidence of the owner using the bonnet to inflict serious head injuries on some coke-fueled mongtard who thought it would be clever to impregnate the W124 owners ex wife and leave her to have a miscarriage in the middle of nowhere and deny all knowledge of ever meeting her. Faults with the indicators and wiper relays are common as well but fortunately C Class relays fit straight in.

[CreepingJesus]

Quite fancy one of these myself, while there's still some cheap ones left. Some good advice here, but if I might derail slightly for a mo; a question.

I've seen one or two tired looking examples, with the rear wheels in negative camber (i.e leaning in towards the car at the top) without apparently carrying a load. Is this just a symptom of worn springs and shocks, or something like bushes?

[CreepingJesus]

Quite fancy one of these myself, while there's still some cheap ones left. Some good advice here, but if I might derail slightly for a mo; a question.

I've seen one or two tired looking examples, with the rear wheels in negative camber (i.e leaning in towards the car at the top) without apparently carrying a load. Is this just a symptom of worn springs and shocks, or something like bushes?

[warren t claim]

Quite fancy one of these myself, while there's still some cheap ones left. Some good advice here, but if I might derail slightly for a mo; a question.

I've seen one or two tired looking examples, with the rear wheels in negative camber (i.e leaning in towards the car at the top) without apparently carrying a load. Is this just a symptom of worn springs and shocks, or something like bushes?

 

Didn't notice it on mine

[warren t claim]

Quite fancy one of these myself, while there's still some cheap ones left. Some good advice here, but if I might derail slightly for a mo; a question.

I've seen one or two tired looking examples, with the rear wheels in negative camber (i.e leaning in towards the car at the top) without apparently carrying a load. Is this just a symptom of worn springs and shocks, or something like bushes?

 

Didn't notice it on mine

[idiotboy]

Sadly there were 30 Africans in front of me in the queue for the 230 so that's a no go.

 

Arse!

[idiotboy]

Sadly there were 30 Africans in front of me in the queue for the 230 so that's a no go.

 

Arse!

[HMC]

re the negative camber- all uk market estates had citroen derived self levelling rear suspension, (optional on some saloons too) which is brilliant but when it goes wrong can give those symptoms. w124's also have a multi link rear which again is fine except when various bushes wear, leading to odd camber of the rear wheels, or a wandery rear end over undulations at speed.

[HMC]

re the negative camber- all uk market estates had citroen derived self levelling rear suspension, (optional on some saloons too) which is brilliant but when it goes wrong can give those symptoms. w124's also have a multi link rear which again is fine except when various bushes wear, leading to odd camber of the rear wheels, or a wandery rear end over undulations at speed.