W123. Going for gold.

[nacho man]

someone's done that with an online plate maker and used a wanky font. Definitely change them as they're so obviously 'show plates' some jobsworth MOT tester or copper will have you for them.
 
https://www.fancyplates.com/buy-plates/uk-show-plates/
 
Use this and use one of the 'UK pre 2001' fonts (a or c might look good). 
If they're in keeping with the car nobody tends to ask questions. I like mine plain with no borders or bottom text, as often was the way in the 80s. 

Ordered a set of them. Gotta look better that what’s on.


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[HMC]

Love the order sheet. Not being stalkery (ok maybe a little) have you googled the company/ first owner? Interesting especially as a new merc especially then was a substantial purchase. 

Plus a bit of research gives you your typical overblown classic merc ad 

1. say it’s indestructible

2. go into a lot of detail about the first owners including holidaying habits etc

[HMC]

I cant read the scribbled over bit of the name- a limited company. 
 

Take a look at the dates- May order for September - how long? Presume they built to order. I’d get bored and have to have something with immediate delivery for my limited company ?

[nacho man]

I cant read the scribbled over bit of the name- a limited company. 
 
Take a look at the dates- May order for September - how long? Presume they built to order. I’d get bored and have to have something with immediate delivery for my limited company

Just googled them changed name in the late 80’s but still going.

Insurance firm.

Might send a letter to there head office see if they have any info etc worth a try ain’t it.


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[nacho man]

Also the handbook suggests the hot start thing is the norm?


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[wesacosa]

seem to recall similar things in handbooks to old school cars I had in past. My folks 1990 Nissan Micra was the first handbook I remember which said not to touch the pedal during hot starts

 

fab car by the way. I am totally jealous

[J-T]

3 hours ago, Danterzza said:

Also the handbook suggests the hot start thing is the norm?


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Can’t say as I’ve noticed it with mine, but if that’s what the book says I wouldn’t worry about it. 

Id like to do something about the seat in mine, it’s like a collapsed mattress. Don’t think it’ll be an £800 fix though!

[MJK 24]

An expensive car, back in the day!  Enjoy!

 

[HMC]

A new e class (which this effectively was if you trace the model line back) lists at from 38k new. Add a few extras and the fact it’s not the base engine and your not far away at all.

[nacho man]

Mrs T is not a car person one single bit.

She looked out the window and said “what you parked that heap on the drive for”

I tried to tell her that Lada Gaga has one so must be cool.



And also that John Lennon used to have one.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/23034/imagine-buying-john-lennons-last-ride-a-1979-mercedes-benz-300td-station-wagon

Still no good.

Must try harder.


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[Fumbler]

"Heap" my arse. It's a very comfortable, expensive, brilliantly coloured and styled barge. What's not to like?

[flat4alfa]

On 7/25/2020 at 9:34 PM, J-T said:

Can’t say as I’ve noticed it with mine, but if that’s what the book says I wouldn’t worry about it. 

Id like to do something about the seat in mine, it’s like a collapsed mattress. Don’t think it’ll be an £800 fix though!

Frames were known for collapse and were at one time off the shelf

Aside the seat strength, these cars do (did) granite mileage

That MB breaker at Rushden (if still going) will know what you need 

[flat4alfa]

On 7/26/2020 at 2:30 PM, HMC said:

A new e class (which this effectively was if you trace the model line back) lists at from 38k new

Yes tech has moved on, but still will live half the life span of W123

[Kringle]

@Danterzza hats off to you Mister, it's nice to see something with a bit of class and that looks like a fine specimen.

Is it for daily use?

[nacho man]

No not for daily use, will get regular use and will be used for work quite often.

Gave it a good clean today as been busy last week.

It’s had some bad paint on the front wings at the bottom which is quite noticeable in the direct sun.



It also needs the front two jacking points looking at. They have some fresh black stone chip bashed on. So looking at having that all sorted as the rest is pretty god damn good.














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[nacho man]

Been putting some miles on this lately.

The ride is sublime compared to all my other motors. My route to work goes through a couple of villages and any modern over the speed bumps is crap. This just glides over them.

Economy seems shit. Filled up a few times now and not getting more than 200/220 miles to a tank. Should probably work it out, but seems juicy.

The radio and it’s two speakers are surprisingly good. I wanted to use this loads and love my music. So might try and sort the stereo into a real nice sounding affair. With maybe some retro components, or at least make it look stock.

Something like this?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/122132956107

Or there is a Blaupunkt media player that looks like the old melbournes. But there £300 odd quid. Which is a lot. Been blasting out some Luther vandross tapes at the mo, so no rush. But will probably sort it.



The dog is same colour as it which is nice.

I have never had a car which has got so many positive reactions from people. Which is weird as I though most people would think it’s just a old banger really.

Overall ownership rating so far = enjoyable.


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[Talbot]

9 minutes ago, Danterzza said:

Economy seems shit. Filled up a few times now and not getting more than 200/220 miles to a tank. Should probably work it out, but seems juicy.

I'd expect no more than high-20's from this.  Not sure how big the tank is, but being a saloon, it's vertical behind the rear passenger seat and is smaller than the estate one.  Depends how much you're putting in for 220 miles.  if it's about 36 litres, you're ok.  If more, that's less good.

[BorniteIdentity]

11 minutes ago, Talbot said:

I'd expect no more than high-20's from this.  Not sure how big the tank is, but being a saloon, it's vertical behind the rear passenger seat and is smaller than the estate one.  Depends how much you're putting in for 220 miles.  if it's about 36 litres, you're ok.  If more, that's less good.

I think they’re 55 litres for the saloon and 70 for the estate/extended range (an option on the saloon). 

230e is Einspritzung- Injected. Single point. If you are indeed getting 18 to the gallon then something’s not quite right! Does it look/smell like it’s running rich? There is mixture adjustment but it’s been a long, long time.

It’s worth taking it to someone like Albert Lock at Rushden (as mentioned by @flat4alfa). He knows these things inside out and back to front, plus he’ll have any bits you need too. 

This is lovely. I really really want a 123 before the ship completely sails. 

[HMC]

+1 on the loveliness factor.  For me these are the ultimate Benz. Your can keep your gullwings and give me this. 10 years ago I had a coupe, saloon and estate and life was GOOD 

Now I have a beaten Up MPV.  I’ve got the memories. 

[Tadhg Tiogar]

On 7/24/2020 at 10:51 AM, Danterzza said:

So far so good.

3100rpm seems a bit high for 70mph. That's the same as the 3HP22 in the CX. I thought Merc fitted 4-speed automatic boxes rather than 3-speed? 

[nacho man]

It is 4 speed auto.

They feel a bit like a 3 speed as they start off in second unless you boot it from the get go.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

Just now, Danterzza said:

It is 4 speed auto.

They feel a bit like a 3 speed as they start off in second unless you boot it from the get go.

The ratios may explain why you'll only get mid-20s mpg out of it. W123s were never particularly economical, except for the diesel....which was just slow.

[nacho man]

31 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

I think they’re 55 litres for the saloon and 70 for the estate/extended range (an option on the saloon). 

230e is Einspritzung- Injected. Single point. If you are indeed getting 18 to the gallon then something’s not quite right! Does it look/smell like it’s running rich? There is mixture adjustment but it’s been a long, long time.

It’s worth taking it to someone like Albert Lock at Rushden (as mentioned by @flat4alfa). He knows these things inside out and back to front, plus he’ll have any bits you need too. 

This is lovely. I really really want a 123 before the ship completely sails. 

It’s going in to my local man for a full service,  so far got, oil, oil, fuel and air filters, plugs, leads, dizzy cap, rotor arm. Auto box filter and fluid, radiator, coolant, diff oil, drive belts, 

Will see if this helps it, if not will get it off to a specialist to sort the hot start issue, will also measure the economy to see where we are at. If not I have seen that Albert Lock come up in searches for specialists for these. Northampton is only a hour away roughly from me.

Also bornite I have a ace, our very own vulgalour, hand drawn pic of the super Sierra, I think it should be passed onto you. If you want it pm me your address. 

[BorniteIdentity]

Nice one. Despite it being fuel injected, press your man to look into mixture. It can be adjusted. Might be worth investigating before it goes or perhaps investing in an HBOL. 

[HMC]

Yep that’s normal for the speed/ revs. Similar also for first gen w124 4 cyl petrol autos. Try 3.4k rpm at 70 for the 4 cyl auto variants. You’ve got to go manual to avoid that.

By 1984 4 speed manual w123 was the standard transmission with 5 speed manual and 4 speed auto cost options. My 200 carb 4 speed would sit happily at 90 but the engine would be thrashing away some way over 4K rpm. Relaxing enough if you averted your eyes from the tacho.

[J-T]

Mine’s a 230E and I’d say it’s pretty good on fuel for what it is. Granted, I’m comparing it to 3.2 V6 Alfa so it’s a bit like saying drowning is pretty good compared to death by stoning. I’ve never worked out the numbers but I get more miles out of £20 in the Merc.

I think it’s Bosch K Jet, so there’s a bit of adjustment in it 

[sierraman]

A £10,000 car in 1984 but a radio t.b.c. Brilliant. 

You were buying luxury in the sense of quality in those days with a Mercedes. I’m guessing you could have got a 3.4 XJ6 for the same money but the Mercedes would have still been plodding on when the Jag fell to bits after a few years.

[sierraman]

On 7/25/2020 at 5:17 PM, Danterzza said:

Also the handbook suggests the hot start thing is the norm?


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I had a Sierra years ago, don’t know if it was the prescribed way of starting it but you had to start it with a half throttle. Probably the autochoke was fucked.

[xtriple]

Injection tuning is done with a long alen key down a hole/tunnel thing, I seem to remember that it could be accessed through the air box via a plastic bung.

 

I could be wrong: it was a LONG time ago I last played silly buggers with the injection on these.

[Peter C]

My 230E has a 5 speed manual ‘box and driven sensibly it will return an easy 30MPG and up to 35 on a gentle run.

But a lot mess if I do this: