Mercedes 240D project

[ratfrink]

Hello. I've wanted a W123 diesel for a while, so I bought one. It broke down on the way home - well, it didn't break down, it just wouldn't go over 50mph. Faced with 150 miles on the busiest motorway in Britain at rush hour, I decided to get it towed. Insurance covered this, and I got an unexpected courtesy car, too.

Here it is when I bought it:


The owner wanted to keep the hubcaps. I said I wasn't going to drive it around on the steels... eventually he threw in a set of Mercedes 'mexican hat' alloy wheels. I don't like them but they're worth about £150. I'll sell them and buy some hubcaps and colour-code them to match.

Here it is parked up at home:

Tomorrow I'm moving to somewhere with a big open compound in which to work on it - much better than parking it on the street. As you can see, it's had some paintwork done - the paint doesn't match very well... it is totally straight though, no dings or dents anywhere. I can give it a blow-over in the same colour at work (or maybe even in a dusky gold... that would be cool whilst still matching the door jams/engine bay/interior).

Anyway. Sorting out the fuel problems:
I suspected the filter was full of crud. When I got it home, I compared my engine bay to photos on the internet... mine was a bit different. The original primer pump has been bypassed and replaced with a Peugeot bulb-style one. The initial in-line fuel filter has also been removed completely - not the best idea.

The red line is where the in-line fuel filter should be. It runs into the old primer pump, then back out the green line into the secondary filter.

I was also contacted by a previous-previous owner. He said that the car was run on biodiesel (nooooooooooo!!!!) and that the fuel system was infested with 'diesel bugs', that is, microorganisms that live in the fuel, eat hydrocarbons and shit water. They also die and form a sludge which blocks everything.

I took out the canister fuel filter and it was full of red silty sludge. I'm not sure if this is dead fuel bugs or crap from the tank (it's far too bright to be rusty silt). Either way, this filter was blocked. Then it started raining, and this is as far as I've got with it. I expect it should be running tomorrow. I've got some 'Marine 16' bug killer which a) kills the bugs and b) breaks down the sludge. That, combined with very frequent fuel filter changes for the first few hundred miles, should completely solve the issue.

There is also rust. The front wings need patches welding in, and the door-bottoms need strips welding in. Other than that, it's totally solid. Rust doesn't scare me, I'm a rust veteran.

EDIT - Plans:
1. Get it running so I can drive to work
2. Fix the rust, or at least stop it from getting any worse
3. Find some hubcaps and paint them to match
4. Install a stereo
5. It needs a new rear tyre. I might get a full set on a deal or something. Tyres aren't worth skimping on, IMO

[ratfrink]

It was just pointed out to me by a knowledgeable person that the block that the red and green lines run into is not just the primer, but actually the fuel pump too... the car has been running solely on gravity pressure from the fuel tank - no wonder it was so bloody slow! I'll put it right tomorrow.

[ayingerbrau]

Subscribed. How much did the vehicle cost?

[ratfrink]

He wanted £1500, I pointed the rusty door bottoms and the engine stuttering and said £900 with the hubcaps. He said he's keeping the hubcaps at any price (he put them on his Mk1 Golf which looks a bit weird). Well, at that point I decided to walk away... then he said 'a grand with the alloys'. Sounded fair to me, since I'll be selling the alloys anyway.

£1000 - £150 for the alloys = £850. It has 10 months MOT and six months tax. I think I paid a reasonable price for it; the high-spec models with electric windows and leather interiors and whatnot are much more expensive (especially the coupés)- this is a pretty agricultural old beast. I should really be able to sell it for more than I bought it for - fixing the fuelling problems and the rust will cost me fuck all, but will add to the value of the car. I've already sourced some hubcaps which'll make it look complete.

I would like to put the 3-litre diesel engine in it - it's a straight swap, and since these engines have no electrical system at all, so I could probably do it over a weekend. As it stands, it only has about 65hp, with the 3-litre making about 90. Even then, given the ridiculous weight of the car, it would only do 0-60 in about 14 seconds... but it's a cruiser, really, so that doesn't bother me. And it needs some Dynamat and a half-decent sound system. And airbag suspension. Did I just say that?

[MediumD]

You plan on hanging onto this one for awhile?

[Township Rebellion]

Not much to add that I haven't said elsewhere.

[ratfrink]

I've put everything back the way it should be - but the glow plugs won't come on so it won't start. Annoying. I'm going to get it towed to my work so we can all have a laugh at it - those guys are much more mechanically-experienced than I am.

EDIT - removed the strip fuse on the relay. Despite looking fine, it was broken. I'll replace it, and it should be working again.

D, I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep it. I may sell it at the end of the summer, since I'll no longer need it (finishing work and doing my MDes). It would be a useful thing to have during my very busy studies though - good for moving prototypes and materials around. However, I'm moving to New Zealand about this time next year, so I almost certainly won't keep it any longer than that. I could park it up in my parents' garage but I won't be coming back to the UK for at least two years; maybe never.

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Even these are better: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/moray...15-/1003225673

They fit to your model like a glove, too. I'd give you five of them if you were here. Anything looks better than the stocker steelies with the old style 'every manufacturer generic' folded then welded in centres. I've always thought the range of colours available on these older Mercs were pretty hard to beat, but that just looks like a third world dictator chariot.
Cool enough wheels though, for something vanilla. Plenty of comfy room for cruising, too.

Serious question, would an Essex boy drive that?

[ayingerbrau]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

However, I'm moving to New Zealand about this time next year, so I almost certainly won't keep it any longer than that. I could park it up in my parents' garage but I won't be coming back to the UK for at least two years; maybe never.

Guessing you got a job sorted there, nice work. It will probably beat this shit hole of a country.

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Perfect opportunity to lay your hands on US & Aus muscle, or some cool old British and French wheels.

[ratfrink]

I've got some hubcaps for it now, they just need painting to match.

I drove it about 500 miles over the weekend - it's stunningly good on the motorway. Not because of the speed (because it's a slow car) or the noise (it's quiet compared to other 1970s/80s cars, but it's still a bit noisy by today's standards) but the ergonomics are just perfect. I can actually stretch out in the driver's seat, and the footrest and pedals are in the perfect position and don't make my heels go numb, nor did my right knee ache after a few hours. The large steering wheel was designed to reduce shoulder fatigue on long journeys. The headrests are the first headrests I've used that you can actually rest your head on whilst maintaining a good driving position. There's a dimple in the armrest which your elbow fits in pefectly, so you can drive with one hand on the wheel in complete comfort. The seats are supportive and the ride is amazing. No numbness or aches anywhere; I've never had that in any car before, not even when I borrowed my stepdad's new Lexus.

Couple of potential problems:
1. Suspension knocking over bumps - I suppose some bushes are worn out and need replacing. The bushes are cheap, but replacing them could be a pain since I don't have a garage - I'll take it to a classic car specialist on the estate where I work and see what they think.
2. Noisy in third gear. Not much I can do about that.
3. Some slop in the steering - hopefully it'll just be the steering box that needs some adjustment.

[Kwinnie Bogan]

Fucking qualities of a great cruiser. Shame you're gon leave it for long whaite skinneh klouds. Just picked up a '66 Val ute with a mate cruisin home now myself, drop by a titteh bar. You'll see a few of those in unzud mate.

[ratfrink]

Adjusted steering box = no slop. Took 5 minutes, no need to remove anything to get to it, no need for some silly dog-leg spanner or socket UJ, no need to jack the car up. I love old cars.

[ratfrink]

After 1,200 miles of perfect motoring, this morning it wouldn't start. Turned over for a while on two or three cylinders, then the battery went flat. Very annoyed.

[ratfrink]

Working again. The reason it stopped working was due to an incompetent mechanic. When I bought it, the glow plugs weren't coming on - and rather than cancel my holiday to work on it, I sent it to a garage.

They replaced the plugs and the wiring. However, the car takes old loop-style glowplugs that have to be wired in series, not modern pencil-style plugs that are wired in parallel. It seems the mechanic is incapable of thinking logically and wired the plugs in parallel anyway, with the result that only the first glowplug was actually getting any current. The preglow was only coming on for 2-3 seconds, not 20-30 as stated in the owner's handbook. Due to the warm weather we've been having, it was starting (after 5 seconds of cranking) on just one plug, but yesterday the temperature dropped by about ten degrees, and it wasn't having it... and prolonged cranking on 12v fried the plug (they are only supposed to get 3v (12/4) each).

I've bypassed this first plug and re-wired the remaining three in series, not parallel. Tested with a multimeter and each plug is getting 4v (i.e. 12/3). Turned it on, the automatic preglow came on for 20 seconds, and then the car started with the first turn of the key - it's never started this easily. Vroom!

I've ordered a set of Bosch plugs that should last far longer than the cheap ones the garage installed (even though I specifically requested Bosch plugs, I discovered that they used Delphi). I'm also going back to the garage to ask for a refund on the labour, because they essentially made two problems where before there was only one.

[MediumD]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

I've ordered a set of Bosch plugs that should last far longer than the cheap ones the garage installed (even though I specifically requested Bosch plugs, I discovered that they used Delphi). I'm also going back to the garage to ask for a refund on the labour, because they essentially made two problems where before there was only one.

You're right to ask/demand a refund on the labor, but I'd trust mostly anything Delphi over anything Bosch.

[ratfrink]

Well I know you would, but Bosch are what's recommended by Mercedes and the W123 owner's club, so that's what I've ordered. I got a refund on the labour.

Unfortunately, shit didn't stop there - the throttle cable snapped. Thankfully it snapped as I was pulling onto the driveway at the end of a 250-mile journey, not halfway down the M1. A new cable is coming from Germany, in 'at least ten days'...

so...

I got a new car. Master Yoda will love this one, it's got his favourite engine:


It's not that actual one, and it's green not blue, but that's the best photo I could find. 1.8l K-Series with about 120bhp, it's pretty quick actually. Alloy wheels, leather seats, electric mirrors and windows and whatnot. And for £500 with 11 months MOT, it wasn't a bad find. The guy wanted £650 due to lack of tax and a big scrape in the door (and the fact that it's absolutely fucking filthy and has had a stinky dog in the back), but I used my amazing haggling technique ("no, come on, £500"). If I find a door in a scrapyard and give it a proper clean, I could probably sell it for a grand.

[Township Rebellion]

ha ha, an MG that's more reliable than a Mercedes. Isn't that cute. What are you going to do with the Benz? Keep it, get it working properly, and flog it?

[ratfrink]

The Merc is pretty high mileage and it's becoming increasingly apparent that it has been neglected since the original owner died about five years ago (well, I'm assuming he died, since he had it since 1979 and serviced it regularly at the same Merc dealership). These W123s are only bulletproof if they've been well looked after.

The plan is indeed to sell the Benz, unfortunately. Classic cars are harder to sell in the winter, so I'll put it up for sale as soon as I replace the cable. Since I'm finishing my contract and going back to uni in October, I won't need a car, so I'll sell the MG too.

I found a spare MG alloy wheel at a car boot sale for £5. I asked the seller why he only had one but he just mumbled. This is good because one of the MG's wheels is curbed. I'll swap the tyre over when I sell it; make it look nice.

[broseph]

look on the bright side, once you get back to uni you'll have a ton of coin.

[ratfrink]

And, sold. For £850, and I kept the alloys and stereo.

The guy who bought it was a car dealer and said he was going to do it up and sell it on. Good job he didn't bother with a test-drive, otherwise he'd have noticed the knocking suspension, which is becoming increasingly loud. That's £2000 he's going to have to sink at the Mercedes dealership for new shocks all round... and a 240D isn't worth £2850 even in good condition.

[The Backdoor Man]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

And, sold. For £850, and I kept the alloys and stereo.

The guy who bought it was a car dealer and said he was going to do it up and sell it on. Good job he didn't bother with a test-drive, otherwise he'd have noticed the knocking suspension, which is becoming increasingly loud. That's £2000 he's going to have to sink at the Mercedes dealership for new shocks all round... and a 240D isn't worth £2850 even in good condition.

Lol, pwnd
I bet next time he will remember to inspect before purchase!

[MasterYoda210]

Originally Posted by ratfrink

I got a new car. Master Yoda will love this one, it's got his favourite engine:

Nice. I almost bought a ZR diesel a few weeks ago, unfortunately, I've moved away from MG Rover now.
I'm making a thread about my new car in a moment.

The 1.8 is a bored and stroked 1.4, technically the weakest of the K-Series, but still solid if looked after. If it's a petrol the PG1 gearbox is fairly bullet-proof as well. Fuel economy isn't fantastic though. I always assumed a minimum of 30MPG from my 75, turns out the official consumption is 26MPG, and of course real-world consumption is even worse.

Only things you need to look out for with the 1.8 are the alternator, apparently you can get them "up to 1.8" or "1.8 and over." Of course Rover chose the cheaper option. And if you find the car simply refusing to crank one morning, check the little connector on top of the starter motor coming from the ignition barrel. I've ended up fixing 5 non-starters for me and friends all from simply wiggling the loose connector.

Otherwise, I congratulate you on your choice of vehicle. Just wait till you get it on a motorway cruise, I've never been in anything as relaxing as an MG Rover car.

[MediumD]

Originally Posted by MasterYoda210

The 1.8 is a bored and stroked 1.4

Hehehehehehhehehehe


... sorry

but really, hehehehe....

[ratfrink]

Originally Posted by MasterYoda210

Nice. Just wait till you get it on a motorway cruise, I've never been in anything as relaxing as an MG Rover car.

The 75 maybe, but not this. The MG-ZS was the most uncomfortable car I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot of cars. It was even more uncomfortable than my original Mini, or my MG Midget. I couldn't drive it for more than two hours because the cramp in my knees, ankles and hips became so painful that I had to pull over and literally stretch my legs.

The driving position is all wrong; your legs are contorted and the seat doesn't go back far enough. The steering wheel is tiny (like holding on to a biscuit), there's nowhere to rest either of your elbows, the footrest was too narrow, there's not enough room in the pedal box so my feet would constantly clip the underside of the dash, it was impossible to adjust the mirrors so that I could use all three without having to move my head. You can't rest your head on the headrest (and even if you could, it would propel you out of the seat if you went over a bump). The visibility was terrible and it was extremely difficult to park.

The general build quality was crap. The car was noisy and the ride was crashy, the speakers were tinny, the throw of the gearbox was far too short, the engine was completely gutless until 5k rpm (which is a horrible way to have to drive). The upholstery didn't fit the seats, the dashboard squeaked and rattled, the mirrors wobbled at motorway speeds... uhhh, what else... the boot release was in an awkward place... it's just a crap car; badly designed and badly built. My mother's Fiat Punto (from the same year) has none of these problems, and has done well over 100k. I would never, ever buy another MG-ZS. No wonder they went bust. Producing cars like this, I daresay they deserved it.

It's moot, though, because I've sold it, for a couple of hundred quid more than I bought it for. God bless boy racers. To be fair, I did 3.5k miles in it and it only needed fuel, and it went straight through the MOT, but it's absolutely not a good car. It's actually like stepping back 25 years in terms of build quality, ergonomics and NVH. If you want a good cruiser, get a W123.

[Township Rebellion]

Your most recent forray into the motoring world isn't going so good is it? Your Benz was unreliable, and your Rover was a piece of shit. What are you driving now? Take a crack at finding another benz in better condition?

[ratfrink]

The MG was perfectly good for commuting, just not long journeys. It was a lot of car for £500; I can't complain too much.

Anyway. I've finished my latest contract and gone back to uni to do a master's degree. There's no reason for me to own a car.

I will certainly get another W123, it's a stunningly good car - not just for a 1970s car, but a stunningly good car full stop. I'd get a 300D (3-litre diesel) for a little more oomph but with the longevity and mechanical simplicity. And I'd get one that's been looked after properly and not bodged back onto the road - these cars are amazingly reliable if looked after.

I'd also consider a W124 estate, or a W201. The W124 is a little more refined, faster, but still DIY-able. The W201 is smaller and more economical (and handsome).

[Township Rebellion]

Atta boy.