fatherpierre

Bought another merc recently. Ebay of course, and frankly I was embarrassed at the amount I paid for it considering its condition and history.

It came with 2 sets of trims - colour coded and plain silver.

Which look best?

BLUE

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00842.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00845.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00846.jpg

SILVER

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00847.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00848.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...e/DSC00849.jpg

Semper

How much? :P I want one!

Blue ones for me! Fit in with the car better.

brickboy

I like the colour-matched ones, very 70s

Good find, that!

fatherpierre

I paid about 1/10 of the money the last owner spent to get the boywork to this level last year.

£400

fatherpierre

It's in the eye of the beholder.

I think it's a nice colour for these - she looks better in the flesh. Quite a rare colour, possibly because many thought it not to be nice

GC8

W123 = body colour, always.

GC8

Nice rear arches: how much?

paulwrxboro

blue trims ,nice car

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

Colour coded, just like the original. How does she drive?

fatherpierre

She drives great. No play in the steering as is common with 123s, and it's all pretty tight. Sits at motorway speeds very nicely and the gearbox is good.

Arches were all made as new last year and the 2 front wings are newish. It's a got a complete service hitsory and bills for tens of thousands of ££££ with it.

It was a very badly advertised, and under-sold ebay car with really bad pictures and non-detailed description. Hence my steal

magepaster

iTrader: (2)

Colour coded

NotoriousREV

Blue all the way. Cracking motor.

Sonic'

Nice motor

Are the arches a problem on these, there is one at work and it looks immaculate, apart from the rear arches have gone, the rest of the car is like showroom condition inside and out

fatherpierre

Yeah they rot badly if not kept clean, just like the rest of the body. Amazing build quality but no rust protection when made.

People tend to put those nasty chrome arch covers over them to hide the rust.

Kevin Mc

blue.

Nice car by the way.

GC8

230E ?

fatherpierre

Yes, 1984 230E.

146k on it and 2 previous owners - 1st owner 1984-2007.

Dan Gleebits

definately the 'blue'.. lovely motor, and seems you got it for a steal.. result

rossyboy

iTrader: (8)

I'm going to go against the grain here and say silver. I love these 80s Mercs, but I always think the colour coded trims just look a bit.....well.....naff really. Especially on some of the more lairy colours.

Wenker Man

Chrome arches are a sin of old cars. LOL

Any car being sold with chrome arch trims, run, keep running, don't stop until the seller and his car is totally out of sight.

A deteriorating car patched up on a budget is never a good thing, if the arches are bodged with chrome covers, then what else has been bodged, done on the cheap or neglected?

Brake fluid containing more water than glycol, 20year old ATF fluid in the gearbox, coolant that is so acidic it'll dissolve the hairs off my arms if I spill it whilst draining it.

GC8

Nice one. Whatll you do, run it for a while and then offer it on eBay with a better description?

fatherpierre

Yes, I think so.

It's really very nice and useable, and has a full MOT a good bit of tax too.

Even the Mrs likes it, which is rare!

GC8

I have a soft spot for W123s.....

fatherpierre

Me too.

My favourite car.

I don't think there's much better built than these.

GC8

W124 maybe: after that it all went ****-up.

500

100% body coloured as they were OE

dpb

blue

fatherpierre

Colour coded it is.

GC8

I dont think that Ive ever seen unpainted trims on either a 115 or a 123. I presume that these were replacement parts which were supplied unfinished?