1980 Mercedes-Benz 230TE
Very special Grey-Market Stick Wagon!
Please wait for all pictures to load!

True Mileage Unknown due to 1985 Documented Importation and Instrument Change - likely still under 200k
M102 4 cylinder gasoline engine (like the 84-93 190 series - parts abound!) - DB 716 4-speed manual transmission
ALL MAINTENANCE DONE - FLUIDS CHANGED - REAR HYDRO SUSPENSION REBUILT STEM TO STERN
See below for the full maintenance record and more!!

Beautiful European headlamps and bumpers front and rear - Bundt alloys (and a spare set of white Centra alloys too!)
Rust free front replacement fenders, very little untreated rust throughout - very rare for a Grey Market car!
1985-06 2 or 3 Maryland Owners - we picked the car up to rehab early this year!

A few small dents and dings along this side - just parking lot rash, no paint damage.

BEAUTIFUL NEVER RUSTED REAR HATCH. You don't find this very often. Not a speck!

Note the hatch struts do not sag and don't need a broomhandle to stay up! Wow!

The rear dog guard/cargo net can be used with the second seat up or down - another set of hooks are present just behind the front seats. Wow!

The same cargo net holder also conceals a cargo cover when you have stuff in the back!

In the side compartment is the original Euro warning triangle and full tool kit! Also a spare belt, the jack et.c.

Small thin crease in the bottom of the rear passenger side door. No biggie!

Nice set of original MB floormats. Dash has a cap on it, barely noticeable at all. I replaced the center console with a nearly new one, the old one needed some rehab. I also changed all the dash bulbs and rerouted the fibreoptic lamp tubes.

Many of these Euro spec cars were brought in for the purpose of having aftermarket air installed. This is one of those cases, with a Sanden SD-508 compressor under the hood, yet all factory stuff in the dash. Blows nice and cold thanks to ES-12a refrigerant - we love this stuff! Yes the heat works great, too!

Like that Becker 1480? That's a GREAT radio we got from our friends at Becker of North America. Don't replace your Becker with some new crap, Tom and the guys in NJ will make yours better than new with aux inputs and more. This unit can control a changer if you want, or enjoy as is.

Check out that hot idle oil pressure! That's just good old Rotella 15W40 and a little Lucas Oil Stabilizer, freshly changed. No overheating even with the A/C on sitting in the driveway on a hot day.

I *might* have a tachometer coming from the UK one of these days, if I do, I'll send along to you. I also have a spare instrument cluster with a dead odometer. Likewise, we've been waiting on MB in Germany to send some new keys, we paid for them, but they screwed up the first time and there's some chance we might get the right ones soon.

Check out the M102! Nice newer MB Bosch reman alternator, and the SD508 below it with a fresh charge - and NO LEAKS!

This car also has the best old Bosch K-Jetronic (CIS) system of any M102 car I know today. Half a crank and it starts and settles into a perfect cold idle, or starts warm. No problems at all! It has been sitting a month, and I did the above. Puts a smile on my face.

Note also the new suspension pump on the front of the head!

Here we are from the front. Note new MB hood blanket stuck into the hood - it is absolutely perfect. Tough to see here but the AC cooling fan is running right along here.

When we pulled the rear suspension apart, we also cleaned the reservoir and changed the filter in the cap. Yeah!

There's a nice archival shot. Most W123s and S123s need their rear diff mount changed, especially when the rear hydro suspension has been shot for a while. The one on the right is the one in the car now.

I've got a bunch of records on this car pertaining to parts I've purchased as well as work which was done prior to my ownership - a new clutch was fitted about 50k ago, and it seems the car has been driven smartly since as the clutch still feels brand new!

Like that German spec brochure? It's yours with the car.

MAINTENANCE LOG:

160,750 - 20 FEB 06 - REAR SPHERES, STRUTS, HYDRAULIC PUMP, CLEANED RESERVOIR, DRAINED SYSTEM
REAR CALIPERS, PADS, DISCS, HOSES, FRONT DOORJAMB SWITCHES, SHIFTER BOOT.
23 FEB 06 - REAR DIFFERENTIAL OIL 1.1 QTS LUCAS 80W90, FUEL FILTER, PUMP-FILTER HOSE
REAR SUSPENSION VALVE AND CONTROL ROD.
160,775 - 4 MAR 06 - FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS & SEALS, IDLER ARM KIT, STEERING DAMPER, ADJ. STEERING BOX
160,815 - 11 MAR 06 - REAR DIFF MOUNT, BECKER 1480, HOOD PAD, O/F CHG: 1 GAL ROTELLA 15W40, 1 QT LUCAS OIL STABILIZER. A/C CHARGED 2 CANS ES-12a. 40-45 deg F AT VENTS AT SPEED... (!!)
160,836 - 15 MAR 06 - TRANSMISSION FLUID ~2 QTS AMSOIL SYNTH. ATF.

why am I selling?

Simply put, I've got too many cars in an unfinished new shop I've been building and which has been waiting for completion of the inside for 4 months now. It's time to get 'back on the stick' and do it.

Two weeks ago we sold a 67 250S out here. I warned folks I had at least two more cars to go. This is #2. Don't count my fiancée's Camry, that was a spur of the moment decision on her part which I carried out earlier this week. I try to stick to neat old cars, not boring newer stuff! As I mentioned in the 108 ad, 'the most recent acquisitions need to go', and this is one car I haven't been using lately and which is taking up valuable space.

payment & shipping

Payment is due within seven days of auction close - cash or certified funds. NO EXCEPTIONS unless cleared with me first. Vehicle title is clear and in my possession. VA Antique tags are current should you want to fly in/take the train in and drive home, hey, why not? I'll pick you up...

Shipping or pickup must take place within fourteen days of auction close. NO EXCEPTIONS unless cleared with me first. Unless you are really close, we'd advise you ship her home, hey, it ends up being cheaper than driving even though this old girl gets about 25mpg and it's got a full tank of Premium... not that she wouldn't make it in all likelyhood. Whatever your decision, I'll work with you or your shipper, I just won't make your shipping or travel arrangements for you...

SPECIAL TO THE BUY IT NOW PURCHASER - I'll gladly put her on my truck and bring her within 150 miles of Richmond, VA free of charge. That's right! International bidders - this includes the port of Norfolk OR Baltimore, MD!

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS? E-mail me or call 804-357-4926!