Old Mercedes coupe queries (W123)

desdichado · 11th June 2006, 14:33

Hi all!

What a great place this is! I was wondering if someone could help out in volunteering some information on the W 123 series Mercedes Benz models and their experience with them.

I am contemplating the purchase of a MB coupe, for those who want to know the W123 body style which was the Mercedes-Benz middle-class sedan from 1976 to 1986. The W123 body represents the final evolution of the "classic" Mercedes dating back to the age before the wind tunnels. I understand that there is a common 407 platform which makes procurement of spares relatively easy locally.

Does anyone own/have for sale any of the following?

230C
230CE (fuel injection)
280C
280CE
300CD
300CD Turbo

Thanks. Any leads would be much appreciated.

v12 · 11th June 2006, 19:18

I guess Rehaan should be able to help you out.

Rehaan, you had a W123 right?

Anyways coming back to the topic, i guess a W123 coupe would be very rare to find in India. Have seen a couple of W123s but not a single Coupe.

ajmat · 11th June 2006, 19:28

I saw a 300CD left hand drive and an old 230 C. These were years ago

V-16 · 12th February 2007, 00:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by desdichado

[FONT=Arial]Hi all!

What a great place this is! I was wondering if someone could help out in volunteering some information on the W 123 series Mercedes Benz models and their experience with them.

I am contemplating the purchase of a MB coupe, for those who want to know the W123 body style which was the Mercedes-Benz middle-class sedan from 1976 to 1986. The W123 body represents the final evolution of the "classic" Mercedes dating back to the age before the wind tunnels. I understand that there is a common 407 platform which makes procurement of spares relatively easy locally.

Does anyone own/have for sale any of the following?

230C
230CE (fuel injection)
280C
280CE
300CD
300CD Turbo
[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial] Thanks. Any leads would be much appreciated.

[/FONT]

Well buddy the coupes are very few in India. You may find the 230 or the 300 variety but very rarely will u come across a 280E in W123 chassis in India. The 230CE as it is called (C=coupe and E=fuel injected) is a not so common car in India. I have seen many examples of this beauty, sadly not many of which remain. One 300CD is owned by a prominent film actor of the past generation and this seems to be his lucky car as I see him even today in this 123 series LHD coupe, driving himself. If the car was an american version it was a Turbo and if it were european then the engine was a 5 cylinder 300D Another one (230CE) also owned by a yester-years late actor was last seen at a roadside garage but when i went to enquire if it was for sale, the looks I got were enough to tell me to get lost.
I am on the lookout for one of these beauties myself and if I do come across any of them ill defi pm you.

Rehaan · 12th February 2007, 10:49

Oops,

Totally missed this thread! (but it is very old now!)

Yes i did have a W123, but it was bought used (3rd or 4th hand

) and stayed with us for a few years before she just got too high maintainance and too many problems and pure bad luck as well.

I wish we had bought the 230E instead of the 200 (carb), that would have saved us a whole bunch of trouble.
Apart from that, it was an automatic, which was another money sucker. Manual might be a lot cheaper to maintain and fix.

V12, i have actually seen two W123 coupes in bombay, one is sometimes parked outside indigo/busaba and is astral silver, looks to be in good condition.

As for the car. Its gorgeous, if there ever was a car you could just stare at and smile about; in the fading evening light reflecting off its perfect proportions, this is it.
The car drives like a dream too. Big, but incredibly maneuverable, such a pleasure. Great chassis, super roadholding and braking is beyond confidence inspiring.
Ofcourse, the above is only true when she is being your friend.

Theres a bunch of places at opera house that sell W123 parts, the small things like brakepads etc are sometimes even cheaper than those for an esteem. You have to be prepared to search high and low for the more exotic things like the specific brake booster vaccum cable you want etc.

Probably the sweetest painful automotive experience i have had.

As for finding W123s in good condition .... there used to be 3 beautifully well kept W123s in member "lamborghini"'s building... one green LHD 200, one yellow (diesel?) and another one which im not sure is around anymore. wonder if the owners are ready to part with them now...?

cya
R

ps -

Mpower · 12th February 2007, 11:01

The 280CE coupe, what a beautiful car. The lines are timeless.

Rehaan · 12th February 2007, 11:23

Dont encourage me to start posting pics guys!!! I will go on forever....

(im a much bigger fan of the sedan's lines than the coupes though)

By the way i have the 31 page W123 pamplet (in german) if anyone is interested.
Also, have the original microfilm repair manual converted to CD (though some parts are missing!)

Also an absolutely fabulous resource is The MSN group W123club

cya
R

Dippy · 12th February 2007, 11:31

Rehaan

Fabulous pictures. This was what the Mercedes magic was all about. As far as that pamplet goes I raise my hand ME ME ME

Rehaan · 12th February 2007, 11:41

Could not resist this one! >

Dippy - its on its way.
(back in the day i had sacrificed literally DAYs of net time, and even had to outsource the downloading for the repair manual....but now when i look at them, they are only 4mb and 84mb respectively!

Dippy · 12th February 2007, 11:56

Dude you are making me more nostalgic. These pictures are taking me back to my childhood days in Dubai when W123s ruled the roost along side the W126s

sajo · 12th February 2007, 12:21

Since everybody is posting this....
American ad for the W123. Beautiful car..

maxbhp · 12th February 2007, 12:21

One of my friend's W123 (300D)

Floyd de Souza · 12th February 2007, 15:10

The W123 series was built like a tank and it always felt as though it would never break down. It even won the London - Sydney rally with Andrew Cowan at the helm.

rahul_intlad · 12th February 2007, 15:33

Mercedes-Benz Carlsson-tuned W123

Mercedes-Benz W123 meet

Ps: Deutsch video

viper · 12th February 2007, 15:40

Hi,

Even we had a W123 300D LHD Auto in our house for a good 11 years before buying the W126 260SE. It was one of the most amazing cars we had owned. Virtually trouble free.

Viper

11th June 2006, 14:33	#1
desdichado Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 3 Thanked: 0 Times	Old Mercedes coupe queries (W123) Hi all! What a great place this is! I was wondering if someone could help out in volunteering some information on the W 123 series Mercedes Benz models and their experience with them. I am contemplating the purchase of a MB coupe, for those who want to know the W123 body style which was the Mercedes-Benz middle-class sedan from 1976 to 1986. The W123 body represents the final evolution of the "classic" Mercedes dating back to the age before the wind tunnels. I understand that there is a common 407 platform which makes procurement of spares relatively easy locally. Does anyone own/have for sale any of the following? 230C 230CE (fuel injection) 280C 280CE 300CD 300CD Turbo Thanks. Any leads would be much appreciated. Last edited by adya33 : 12th February 2007 at 10:30.
	() Thanks

11th June 2006, 19:18	#2
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,774 Thanked: 7,561 Times View My Garage	I guess Rehaan should be able to help you out. Rehaan, you had a W123 right? Anyways coming back to the topic, i guess a W123 coupe would be very rare to find in India. Have seen a couple of W123s but not a single Coupe.
	() Thanks

11th June 2006, 19:28	#3
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15,166 Thanked: 31,001 Times View My Garage	I saw a 300CD left hand drive and an old 230 C. These were years ago
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 10:49	#5
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,354 Thanked: 35,991 Times	Oops, Totally missed this thread! (but it is very old now!) Yes i did have a W123, but it was bought used (3rd or 4th hand ) and stayed with us for a few years before she just got too high maintainance and too many problems and pure bad luck as well. I wish we had bought the 230E instead of the 200 (carb), that would have saved us a whole bunch of trouble. Apart from that, it was an automatic, which was another money sucker. Manual might be a lot cheaper to maintain and fix. V12, i have actually seen two W123 coupes in bombay, one is sometimes parked outside indigo/busaba and is astral silver, looks to be in good condition. As for the car. Its gorgeous, if there ever was a car you could just stare at and smile about; in the fading evening light reflecting off its perfect proportions, this is it. The car drives like a dream too. Big, but incredibly maneuverable, such a pleasure. Great chassis, super roadholding and braking is beyond confidence inspiring. Ofcourse, the above is only true when she is being your friend. Theres a bunch of places at opera house that sell W123 parts, the small things like brakepads etc are sometimes even cheaper than those for an esteem. You have to be prepared to search high and low for the more exotic things like the specific brake booster vaccum cable you want etc. Probably the sweetest painful automotive experience i have had. As for finding W123s in good condition .... there used to be 3 beautifully well kept W123s in member "lamborghini"'s building... one green LHD 200, one yellow (diesel?) and another one which im not sure is around anymore. wonder if the owners are ready to part with them now...? cya R ps - Last edited by Rehaan : 12th February 2007 at 10:52.
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 11:01	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,401 Thanked: 1,735 Times View My Garage	The 280CE coupe, what a beautiful car. The lines are timeless. Last edited by Mpower : 12th February 2007 at 11:09.
	(1) Thanks

12th February 2007, 11:23	#7
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,354 Thanked: 35,991 Times	Dont encourage me to start posting pics guys!!! I will go on forever.... (im a much bigger fan of the sedan's lines than the coupes though) By the way i have the 31 page W123 pamplet (in german) if anyone is interested. Also, have the original microfilm repair manual converted to CD (though some parts are missing!) Also an absolutely fabulous resource is The MSN group W123club cya R Last edited by Rehaan : 12th February 2007 at 11:27.
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 11:31	#8
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,717 Thanked: 3,846 Times	Rehaan Fabulous pictures. This was what the Mercedes magic was all about. As far as that pamplet goes I raise my hand ME ME ME
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 11:41	#9
Rehaan Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 24,354 Thanked: 35,991 Times	Could not resist this one! > Dippy - its on its way. (back in the day i had sacrificed literally DAYs of net time, and even had to outsource the downloading for the repair manual....but now when i look at them, they are only 4mb and 84mb respectively!
	(2) Thanks

12th February 2007, 11:56	#10
Dippy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 7,717 Thanked: 3,846 Times	Dude you are making me more nostalgic. These pictures are taking me back to my childhood days in Dubai when W123s ruled the roost along side the W126s
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 12:21	#11
sajo Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 2,625 Thanked: 1,157 Times	Since everybody is posting this.... American ad for the W123. Beautiful car..
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 12:21	#12
maxbhp Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: C C K Posts: 1,383 Thanked: 92 Times View My Garage	One of my friend's W123 (300D)
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 15:10	#13
Floyd de Souza BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 321 Thanked: 227 Times	The W123 series was built like a tank and it always felt as though it would never break down. It even won the London - Sydney rally with Andrew Cowan at the helm.
	() Thanks

12th February 2007, 15:40	#15
viper BANNED Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,766 Thanked: 20 Times	Hi, Even we had a W123 300D LHD Auto in our house for a good 11 years before buying the W126 260SE. It was one of the most amazing cars we had owned. Virtually trouble free. Viper
	() Thanks