1982 Mercedes-Benz W123 230E

This eye catching 230E saloon is an exceptional example of the breed with much going for it. First and foremost, those in the know consider the 230E as a real sweet spot in the jungle of model permutations that were available. The 2,299cc M102 engine seen here strikes an optimal balance between performance, economy, and reliability. Originally rated at a 134 bhp power output, this made for sprightly progress with a top speed easily exceeding 110 mph and fuel consumption in the mid-twenties.

This car has a fascinating history too. In 1997 after lunching with a friend, the current owner’s mother was taken to meet the friend’s son at his nearby garage. At the back of the showroom sat this car with its Petrol Green paintwork gleaming under the lights. So taken with it was the owner’s mother that she insisted on buying it on the spot despite the garage owner’s apparent reluctance. He had hoped to keep the car for his own use it seems. Ultimately the deal was sealed, however.

For the next ten years or so the car sat in the mother’s garage, mostly unused and only coming out for its annual service and MOT. In 2007 the mother downsized and gave the 230E to her son, the current owner John. John used it lightly for a couple of years before gifting the car to a good friend in 2010. The friend continued to use the 230E regularly until around 2017 when a persistent fuelling issue prompted him to park it up in his garden.

There the car sat in all weathers, gathering dust and mildew for the next couple of years. It was only in 2020 when John, seeking a project and keenly feeling the recent loss of his mother, asked the friend if he could take back the Petrol Green 230E. John said that he felt it “was the right thing” to bring the car, so prized by his late mother, back to its former glory.

There followed an extensive body and mechanical restoration by affiliated companies – Retromarques for mechanical work and Tony Williams Bodyshop for body and paintwork. Invoices are on hand totalling over £5,000 paid to the former and over £10,000 to the latter. John even invested nearly another £1,000 recommissioning and repainting the sunroof alone.

Having done “the right thing” by his mother’s prized 230E, John is now keen that the car goes to an enthusiastic new owner who will continue to cherish and enjoy this impressively resurrected W123.

With the passing of time, it is easy to forget what great car colourways we were treated to back in the 1970s and 1980s. The Petrol Green of this car has to rank highly in that respect and, John believes, was the key to his mother’s instant attraction to the car.

The rigour of the restoration of the body and paintwork has paid dividends as this is surely one of the best presented 230E’s to be found. The combination of the bright and lustrous paintwork, the shiny chrome accents to the bumpers, rub strip and wheel arch extensions and the signature, body coloured hub caps give this car road presence by the bucket load.

Inspection of the paperwork will reveal the scale and depth of the body restoration with many new panels having been fitted to entirely reverse the deterioration the car endured in John’s friend’s garden. The distinctive, horizontally ribbed rear light lenses and the large, glass (remember those?) headlamps are in excellent, unmarked condition. The cabin glass is subtly tinted and free from any obvious chipping, fogging or delamination.

Even the car’s quality Continental EcoContact 6 tyres are in the period-correct 70 profile configuration, greatly aiding ride comfort and keeping those highly chromed and painted wheel trims well away from kerbs.

Whilst the paperwork will reveal that the interior has received some remedial attention, John appreciated the original patina of the cabin and so left it, mostly, untouched. That’s no bad thing as the impeccably engineered interior has stood the test of time pretty well.

The seats are finished in a combination of beige vinyl with the centres of the seats covered in a lighter fabric with a herringbone weave. It is only the driver’s seat that exhibits some minor discolouration to the centre of the squab.

Door cards are finished in a complimentary, beige textured vinyl and are notable for the fitment of the most reliable window mechanisms known to man – the trusty manual window winder. Generous side pockets provide ample storage for your cassette tapes too.

The beige carpets are understood to be original and are currently protected by some heavy-duty rubber mats. Given the age and mileage of the car it safe to assume that the carpets may exhibit some signs of wear and tear.

The dash is topped with black, deformable rubber, which is in good original condition and the large, four-spoke Mercedes Benz steering wheel presents equally well. The large, clear instrument binnacle houses a central speedometer, a clock, and a multi-function dial. All are understood to be in good working order. The dash and centre console features accents of dark wood veneer. The 230E is fitted with a period-correct, if not factory fitted, Philips cassette receiver mated to a pair of surface mounted Pioneer speakers on the rear parcel shelf. All delightfully 80’s.

The rear bench is punctuated with a folding armrest and the backs of the front seats offer passengers some useful, aircraft-style netted storage.

The inline four-cylinder M102, fuel-injected engine has been subject to considerable recent attention to compliment a lifetime of regular maintenance. Like all W123 engines, time has shown it to be a robust and long-lasting unit, with well maintained examples seen to achieve over quarter of a million miles without major intervention. It is a smooth and powerful unit too, given its modest capacity.

The engine bay exhibits the original Mercedes Benz data plates, detailing the various specification codes, the VIN and the permitted vehicle weights. Whilst in good overall condition the engine bay does present the new owner with the opportunity to spend a little time and money to bring this aspect of the car up to the same high standard as the body work.

The underside of the car has been recently, predominantly undersealed to preserve and promote the longevity of the car. This gives it a presentation and condition which belies the age and mileage of the car and should prove a reassurance for the new owner.

This 230E comes with a significant amount of provenance providing paperwork covering all periods of the car’s life. The original owner’s manual is present as is a W123 sales brochure of the period. The current V5 and hard copy MOT are included together with many previous MOTs.

A good deal of the invoices relate to the period of thorough recommissioning and restoration in 2020. The invoices on hand attest to an expenditure of around £20,000 in total, with the majority of this being expended in the last two years or so.

For somewhile classic saloons have been considered the Cinderella’s of the market with much of the kudos and attention going to the more exotic, sports orientated machinery. We believe that this is starting to change as owners and potential owners start to realise that the right classic saloon is not only practical and useable but cheaper to run and maintain as well.

That’s why we feel the stock of the impeccably engineered Mercedes Benz saloons from the 1970’s and 1980’s is on the move. Upwards of course.

This is a fascinating example of the breed in so many ways too. It has an endearing and romantic story attached to it, first and foremost. A story that has resulted in the expertly restored example we are able to offer today. It’s a car that is ready for an enthusiastic new owner to either use and enjoy as it is or to further improve its interior and engine bay to seal its status as, surely, one of the best W123’s around today.

Our estimate for this car is £8,000 - £12,000.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.