Hello,
Model: Mercedes 200D
Year: March 1979
Mileage: 114k
Tax: end of September
MOT: April 2013
Location: Bournemouth
Price: £900
Contact: PM, or 07859 195 055 at any time
Story: I've been after a diesel W123 for years - for as long as I've been driving, at least. Insurance costs coming down means I've finally been able to afford one - and I needed a car this summer, so I bought this W123 a few months ago with the intention of using it for the summer, then putting it away over the winter as a super-long-term project (planned a total nut-n-bolt restoration and engine/box from a cheap rotten 300D I had my eye on). However, about a month ago my fiancée was offered a job... in New Zealand... so off we go in the Spring - and unfortunately I can't take it with me! I've done about 1,500 miles in it and loved (almost) every minute.
Specification is - 2.0 litre om615 diesel engine, 4-speed manual, manual windows, heated rear screen, power steering, central locking... and that's about it. It's also got front and rear foglights, which I presume are standard.
It's done about 114k miles. It has tax until end of September and MOT until about June/July (I'll check).
I bought it off the forum - the previous two owners are on here. It has service history up to about 100k miles, showing regular oil changes every 5k miles. I've been in contact with the previous owners who have assured me that it has been serviced in the meantime. Generally the mechanical condition is good - the car starts immediately even on the cold summer mornings, hardly smokes on startup and doesn't smoke at all when warm, even on hard acceleration (not that this car could ever be described as being capable of accelerating hard...). At some point this car contracted 'diesel bug' - the tank has been cleaned out, and I've replaced the fuel filters and been using some biocide just in case - there's no sign of the bug any more. I have bought a full service kit for the car, too, just haven't got around to doing it, so it's included.
Unfortunately when I bought it, some undisclosed issues manifested themselves:
1. The car wouldn't go over 50mph (not a fun drive home... had to call recovery)
2. All the glowplugs were burnt out and the car wouldn't start from cold, and the wiring was incorrect
3. The primer pump was bodged and letting air into the system
I've fixed all these issues - a fuelling issue was causing the lack of power, I installed a new primer pump, and I got a garage to install new glow plugs and wiring. Unfortunately the garage also made a balls-up of the wiring, causing the first glow plug (which was not Bosch, even though that's what I asked them to install) to burn out. I've re-wired them properly, finally, bypassing the first plug - and now the car starts first time, every time, with hardly any smoke (incidentally, being March 1979 means it's just about exempt from emissions testing (came in August '79), only needing a visual smoke test). Included in the sale is a set of four new Bosch glow plugs.
There are also some minor issues:
1. Neither the sidelights, nor the hazard lights, are working. I'll see if I can fix these before I sell it, but no promises!
2. The front passenger window is stuck and rattles a bit - I would think it needs a new winder mechanism.
3. There's some minor suspension noise, a soft knock from the passenger front. It's so minor that my local friendly mechanic thinks I'm imagining it. Maybe I am. You can decide on that one!
4. Rusty front wing, pictured, needs welding up or replacing. The front valance looks worse than it is - it's not rusted through, just rusty.
5. Gearbox is a little noisy in third - diff was a little noisy but I changed the oil and it's pretty quiet now.
6. The throttle cable had been repaired with an electrical connector, which I discovered when it started coming loose last week - grumble. I've tightened it up and the car is still driveable, although I wouldn't want to take it on a long journey. I've ordered the correct part from Mercedes which I'll fit as soon as it arrives.
The stereo isn't included unless you really want it. I plonked some speakers in the passenger footwell just to test the wiring, and it works - no radio as there's no aerial!
The exterior of the car is pretty good, bar the rusty wing and valance. The paint on both front wings and one rear wing doesn't quite match, so these bits have been replaced and/or repainted. The paint is Colorado Beige which I've had mixed in Halfords (a good match) just to test it. There's one little ding on the bonnet, one on the boot. The interior is very good - one little bit of broken trim down the side of the driver's seat - I'll try to repair this. The door seals are a bit cracked but don't seem to be letting any water in.
The body is in good condition - it's had a couple of patches done underneath, but it's generally very solid all round (hence me wanting to use it as the basis of an engine swap). It's hard to take pictures of the underside of a car with a phone camera, but I've attached some anyway. The bottoms of the doors are rotten but that's about it - I guess nobody waxoyled them.
Now for some pictures:
(PO's photo - he kept the body-colour hubcaps; I bought new ones but haven't got round to painting them yet). The colour is more realistic in this photo than of mine (resorted to phone camera as mine is buggered)
And also, some videos:
The first one is of me starting the car after it has sat for two weeks (I was on holiday). As you can see, it started right up, even on only three glow plugs. The only reason it died was because I had accidentally turned the 'cold start' button off (turning the little knob at the start of the video... it was already on 'cold' and it turned it off... whoops)
The second one is engine idling and revving (cold ish).
Third is a short test drive around the block.
The way this car drives has really surprised me - it's the best thing about it. I was expecting the magic-carpet ride, but I wasn't expecting the ergonomics/driving position to be so good. It's got headrests that you can actually rest your head on! For a motorway car, it's fantastic (so long as you don't mind cruising at 60-65). It's more comfortable than any car I've driven, which includes many modern luxury saloons. The handling is impressive - not just for a big, comfortable 70s saloon, but just impressive full stop - very tight, balanced handling. The brakes are also exceptionally good. These three things just go to show how well-designed these cars are.
And I think that's about it. For some reason the new V5 still hasn't arrived - I'll order a new one tomorrow. The car is at a relative's house in Bournemouth - I'm currently working in Gloucestershire until early September, so until then I'm only available at weekends. All in all, it's a pretty good car with long MOT - a few little niggly issues to sort out and use as a daily driver, run on chip fat or biodiesel, or as a good basis for engine swap/modification. I will definitely buy another one when I get back from New Zealand, it's a stunningly good car.
Model: Mercedes 200D
Year: March 1979
Mileage: 114k
Tax: end of September
MOT: April 2013
Location: Bournemouth
Price: £900
Contact: PM, or 07859 195 055 at any time
Story: I've been after a diesel W123 for years - for as long as I've been driving, at least. Insurance costs coming down means I've finally been able to afford one - and I needed a car this summer, so I bought this W123 a few months ago with the intention of using it for the summer, then putting it away over the winter as a super-long-term project (planned a total nut-n-bolt restoration and engine/box from a cheap rotten 300D I had my eye on). However, about a month ago my fiancée was offered a job... in New Zealand... so off we go in the Spring - and unfortunately I can't take it with me! I've done about 1,500 miles in it and loved (almost) every minute.
Specification is - 2.0 litre om615 diesel engine, 4-speed manual, manual windows, heated rear screen, power steering, central locking... and that's about it. It's also got front and rear foglights, which I presume are standard.
It's done about 114k miles. It has tax until end of September and MOT until about June/July (I'll check).
I bought it off the forum - the previous two owners are on here. It has service history up to about 100k miles, showing regular oil changes every 5k miles. I've been in contact with the previous owners who have assured me that it has been serviced in the meantime. Generally the mechanical condition is good - the car starts immediately even on the cold summer mornings, hardly smokes on startup and doesn't smoke at all when warm, even on hard acceleration (not that this car could ever be described as being capable of accelerating hard...). At some point this car contracted 'diesel bug' - the tank has been cleaned out, and I've replaced the fuel filters and been using some biocide just in case - there's no sign of the bug any more. I have bought a full service kit for the car, too, just haven't got around to doing it, so it's included.
Unfortunately when I bought it, some undisclosed issues manifested themselves:
1. The car wouldn't go over 50mph (not a fun drive home... had to call recovery)
2. All the glowplugs were burnt out and the car wouldn't start from cold, and the wiring was incorrect
3. The primer pump was bodged and letting air into the system
I've fixed all these issues - a fuelling issue was causing the lack of power, I installed a new primer pump, and I got a garage to install new glow plugs and wiring. Unfortunately the garage also made a balls-up of the wiring, causing the first glow plug (which was not Bosch, even though that's what I asked them to install) to burn out. I've re-wired them properly, finally, bypassing the first plug - and now the car starts first time, every time, with hardly any smoke (incidentally, being March 1979 means it's just about exempt from emissions testing (came in August '79), only needing a visual smoke test). Included in the sale is a set of four new Bosch glow plugs.
There are also some minor issues:
1. Neither the sidelights, nor the hazard lights, are working. I'll see if I can fix these before I sell it, but no promises!
2. The front passenger window is stuck and rattles a bit - I would think it needs a new winder mechanism.
3. There's some minor suspension noise, a soft knock from the passenger front. It's so minor that my local friendly mechanic thinks I'm imagining it. Maybe I am. You can decide on that one!
4. Rusty front wing, pictured, needs welding up or replacing. The front valance looks worse than it is - it's not rusted through, just rusty.
5. Gearbox is a little noisy in third - diff was a little noisy but I changed the oil and it's pretty quiet now.
6. The throttle cable had been repaired with an electrical connector, which I discovered when it started coming loose last week - grumble. I've tightened it up and the car is still driveable, although I wouldn't want to take it on a long journey. I've ordered the correct part from Mercedes which I'll fit as soon as it arrives.
The stereo isn't included unless you really want it. I plonked some speakers in the passenger footwell just to test the wiring, and it works - no radio as there's no aerial!
The exterior of the car is pretty good, bar the rusty wing and valance. The paint on both front wings and one rear wing doesn't quite match, so these bits have been replaced and/or repainted. The paint is Colorado Beige which I've had mixed in Halfords (a good match) just to test it. There's one little ding on the bonnet, one on the boot. The interior is very good - one little bit of broken trim down the side of the driver's seat - I'll try to repair this. The door seals are a bit cracked but don't seem to be letting any water in.
The body is in good condition - it's had a couple of patches done underneath, but it's generally very solid all round (hence me wanting to use it as the basis of an engine swap). It's hard to take pictures of the underside of a car with a phone camera, but I've attached some anyway. The bottoms of the doors are rotten but that's about it - I guess nobody waxoyled them.
Now for some pictures:
(PO's photo - he kept the body-colour hubcaps; I bought new ones but haven't got round to painting them yet). The colour is more realistic in this photo than of mine (resorted to phone camera as mine is buggered)
And also, some videos:
The first one is of me starting the car after it has sat for two weeks (I was on holiday). As you can see, it started right up, even on only three glow plugs. The only reason it died was because I had accidentally turned the 'cold start' button off (turning the little knob at the start of the video... it was already on 'cold' and it turned it off... whoops)
The second one is engine idling and revving (cold ish).
Third is a short test drive around the block.
The way this car drives has really surprised me - it's the best thing about it. I was expecting the magic-carpet ride, but I wasn't expecting the ergonomics/driving position to be so good. It's got headrests that you can actually rest your head on! For a motorway car, it's fantastic (so long as you don't mind cruising at 60-65). It's more comfortable than any car I've driven, which includes many modern luxury saloons. The handling is impressive - not just for a big, comfortable 70s saloon, but just impressive full stop - very tight, balanced handling. The brakes are also exceptionally good. These three things just go to show how well-designed these cars are.
And I think that's about it. For some reason the new V5 still hasn't arrived - I'll order a new one tomorrow. The car is at a relative's house in Bournemouth - I'm currently working in Gloucestershire until early September, so until then I'm only available at weekends. All in all, it's a pretty good car with long MOT - a few little niggly issues to sort out and use as a daily driver, run on chip fat or biodiesel, or as a good basis for engine swap/modification. I will definitely buy another one when I get back from New Zealand, it's a stunningly good car.
