1984 Mercedes-Benz 230 TE

Mercedes-Benz used to build what were probably the most exquisitely engineered cars in the world, a claim that’s hard to refute when you see the condition of this 34-year-old W123 230TE estate. Powered by the almost indestructible 2.3-litre petrol engine, its 133bhp is transmitted to the rear wheels via a four-speed automatic gearbox; it is simple, Old School engineering, impeccably implemented.

This 230TE (‘T’ for ‘Tourismus und Transport’ and ‘E’ for ‘Einspritzung’ or fuel injection in English) is a lovely old thing and still looks amazing, having shrugged off its 135,000 miles and 34 years with the sort of nonchalance only German cars can.

The current owner bought the car on a whim from a friend of his in December 2017. He’s only driven it sparingly since then and is being sold as he’s too busy to appreciate it fully. The Mercedes comes with a fresh MOT, a service less than 2000miles ago, and the kind of classless elegance that nouveau riche Range Rover owners would kill for.

The paintwork is largely original but there is evidence of some localized remedial work, most noticeably on the front offside wing, where the lacquer has started to craze. There is also a tiny amount of surface rust on the nearside front and rear of the roof plus some minor blistering to the boot lid, and the odd touched-in stone chip here and there. We are being critical - this is none worse that you would expect...

These minor points aside, the paintwork is in very good condition and we can’t see that anything other than further minor remedial work will be necessary. Certainly, a full respray would, in our opinion, be unnecessary.

The steel wheels are still fitted with their original painted hubcaps and are shod with matching Dunlop tyres, all of which have good tread. Even the spare has a high-quality tyre with good tread - and it still has its Mercedes-branded mud flaps, too.

The chromework is in good, original and honest condition – and, in case you were wondering, that’s not damning with faint praise. The whole car is so good in fact, that we’d strongly recommend you inspect the car yourself in order to fully appreciate its stunning condition.

The extensive wooden trim all appears to be in very good condition, as is the dashboard, the four door cards, the extensive veneer, the carpets, and the headlining, which is still taut and clean. Even the top of the dash is pristine and uncracked, which is unusual as they can crack after prolonged exposure to the sun.

The interior of the boot is something of a highlight, and is so clean and fresh that it wouldn’t look out of place in a modern Mercedes dealer’s showroom. The boot floor underneath is clean and free of rust and the boot area still has the original netting luggage guard that separates the boot area from the passenger compartment, as well as the pull-out fabric luggage cover that hides the contents of the boot from prying eyes. Even the hard black plastic trays that lie under the carpeted boot floor are present, correct, and undamaged.

The driver’s side bolster might have worn through but the velour cloth seats are in otherwise very good condition, although they could do with a valet to clean them up. All-in-all, the interior is in phenomenal condition and is a testament to both Mercedes-Benz and the car’s previous owners.

A modern Pioneer headunit has been fitted, along with two aftermarket speakers in the front doors. The car also has a manual, factory fitted steel sunroof, which opens and closes as it should and still seals tightly.

July 2017 saw the 230TE receive new brake calipers, fuel hoses, distributor cap and thermostat plus fresh fluids for the engine, gearbox and suspension. The result is a car that “does everything you need” according to the owner, who goes on to rave about the car’s legendary build quality, which he’s still enjoying thirty-plus years later. 

Having said that, we do think the rear suspension is maybe sitting a bit lower than it should, so we’d advise potential bidders to come and have a look at the car to satisfy themselves as to whether it is sitting as it should and we’re just being overly cautious.

The engine bay is purposeful and workmanlike rather than attractive but, given how good the rest of the vehicle is, we have no doubt that a days-worth of prettification would be time well invested and would reap dividends when the time comes to pass the car on to a new owner.

Speaking of which, the underside of the car has been well protected by a thick layer of underseal. However, this is starting to crack and dry out in places, so it could do with a day’s-worth of wire brushing followed by a reapplication of a good quality underseal to ensure it’s still fighting fit at the end of the next three-and-a-half decades.

This lovely old barge comes with a full service history, including bills for the £2,000 that the previous owner (who was the guy that designed the McLaren P1TM, no less; how’s that for provenance?) spent with a Mercedes specialist. 

The online MOT history shows nothing of any concern whatsoever, bar a minor oil leak. It also has a brand new MOT and will also be supplied with a Mercedes W123 owners’ workshop manual.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find copies of the completed service history booklet plus a number of old invoices and bills to support our claim that this car has an impressively comprehensive service history.

This delightful old Mercedes 230TE would be ideal for anyone who’s looking for a classic, elegant and reliable estate car to transport pets, kids, bikes or equipment around in. It might well prove to be a canny financial investment too as you should be able to dodge depreciation and move straight through to solid appreciation providing you continue to keep it in the manner to which it has become accustomed.

We expect this car to sell for between £6,500 and £9,000, at which price point it promises to offer outstanding value; the prices of these models have already started to rise and we’re probably not far off the time when all the good ones have gone and the only ones you can afford will be basket case projects that will drain you of all your money, time and the will to live...  

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.