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May 30, 2011 15:03:07 GMT
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Having removed the newly purchased Pioneer CD/tuner/MP3 stereo from the Audi, there was nothing for it but to install it in the W123. Unlike some other modern head units, this one is quite basic and doesn't look completely out of place. I have removed and sold the old Bush Arena rear shelf speakers and fitted a pair of Ariston pod speakers I once had fitted in my Toyota MR2. They look very 80s, which some might argue suits the car. I don't really care how they look because together with the Alpine speakers fitted in the dash, the sound quality is superb. Ideally I'd like a nice set of 6x9s on the back shelf, however the rear panel is double skinned and the underside is ribbed with mounting points for the boot lid hinges. I don't like the idea of cutting the car up so this is as good as my stereo will ever be. Due to the location of the new stereo's main control knob, the cigarette lighter became inaccessible. Whilst I don't smoke, I do use the cigarette lighter socket to charge up my phone and sat nav. I bought a twin plug adapter from my local pound shop (result!) and fitted it next to the steering column. The adapter is secured using a screw and existing hole in the dash originally provided to fix the top of the dashboard underpanel. I have taken power from the ignition switch supply to the stereo. If need be, the installation can be removed in two minutes. The metal switch to the left of the adapter is for the electric aerial. Rather than just connecting the head unit directly to the electric aerial, I placed the switch in-line across the blue power-out cable to enable me to control when the aerial goes up. I don't want the aerial up if I am listening to CDs or MP3s.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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May 30, 2011 15:08:08 GMT
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I've noticed recently that a little bit of engine oil seeps past the oil filler cap. I removed the air filter, which revealed that all the crankcase breather pipes are clear. However, I didn't remove or clean this part of the system: Any idea what is inside these plastic bits and pipes? The cap oil seal looks ok but the cap does twist on and off a bit too easily. Perhaps it's time for a new cap or seal? The engine has only done 103k miles, has very good oil pressure, doesn't smoke and pulls well, which gives me hope that the problem is not caused by excessive crankcase pressure, which could potentially be caused by worn piston rings.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Good news about the W123. I bought a new oil filler cap seal (£1.62 from my local Mercedes dealer) and fitting it over the old seal has fixed the oil leakage problem. In preparation for my road trip, I have had the diff oil replaced. The old stuff was smelly and grey: I was getting concerned about the rust blister on the front scuttle panel. Considering that the blister was larger than all three spots of rust that were visible across the back panel beneath the rear screen before I had it repaired, I expected major rot. I removed the windscreen wipers and plastic grilles that cover the heater air intakes to remove the centre scuttle panel. Great news! The lip beneath the scuttle was perfect! With the scuttle removed, I got to work. Before. I scraped the blistered paint to reveal a solid panel. A skim of filler was followed by four coats of paint. Job done, panel re-fitted and polished up. With the W123 running better than ever, I am now sure that I don't need a back up car. The Audi has to go.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Whilst the W123 was getting fresh diff oil, I took advantage and inspected the underside of the car. The good news is that there are no oil / fluid leaks or visible mechanical problems. The bad news is, that there are areas of the underside that require a bit of TLC. Fortunately, all of the visible rust is only on the surface of the metal and none of it requires welding. I propose to jack the car up as high as possible, get it on axle stands and scrape off all the rust, treat it and coat it with Waxoyl. The repairs are not urgent, but I will do the work before next winter. The only additional repair might involve replacement of a corroded section of brake pipe.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Back to the engine oil leak problem. First sign of problems was oil deposits around the filler cap and... Drips of oil down the front of the cylinder head. All seemed ok at first but a few days after I fitted a second seal to the oil filler cap I noticed the valve cover gasket sprung a leak. After doing a bit of research on the internet I bought a new valve cover gasket and got to work. Blow-by gases were venting at pressure with the oil cap removed, but with the cap refitted, there wasn't much pressure coming out of the valve cover vent pipe. Valve cover removed. Carbon and oil deposits on the underside of the valve cover. The vent chamber was dirty on the outside but clean inside. Build up of crud on the outside wouldn't have restricted blow-by gas venting. Perhaps the engine is breathing a little heavier after 103k miles and 26 years so I decided to take action. I drilled holes in the side of the vent chamber to enable more gas to pass into the chamber, which would hopefully provide better circulation and venting. To ensure that all swarf is removed from inside the chamber, I connected a garden hose and flushed the chamber with water. Clean and modified vent chamber. Vent chamber refitted to the underside of the valve cover, which I also cleaned. Valve cover refitted with a new gasket. I started the engine and noted that compared with before, more gas was venting through the valve cover vent pipe, which is good news as it means that my modification has worked. The plan now is to keep an eye on the inside of the air filter housing and see whether engine oil is finding its way up into the air filter housing, where potentially it could pass into the induction system. If the problem persists, I will by-pass the air filter and install a catch can.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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So far this week, I've done just over 600 miles in the Merc. This included a trip to the airport and work related trips to Bristol and Basingstoke (from Beaconsfield, where I live). With the engine running at 2,500 revs/min, gearbox in 5th gear, I can cruise at a happy 68MPH. My reward for taking it easy is 37MPG. On my commute I get 28MPG, which involves standing in traffic and a on mixed commute and odd motorway run the Merc does 32MPG. Not bad for a big old Merc!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Jun 11, 2011 11:16:10 GMT
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Good bye Audi. The car was collected earlier in the week and is off to its new owner in Northern Ireland.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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The route:The plan:To drive to Poland and back in my 1985 Mercedes W123 230E in 7 days. Road trip summary:Distance covered: 2,065 miles (3,322 km) Fuel used: 297 litres Fuel consumption: 8.9 l/100km (32MPG) Full report:With the car prepared for the trip and various tools packed, I set off from Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire at 7am on the 2nd of July. I arrived at the port of Dover at 9:10am. I took a Norfolk Lines ferry to Dunkeque. I highly recommend this service. The roll on / roll off was very quick, the ferry was pristine and for £4.95 I enjoyed a superb breakfast. Cost of one-way ticket was just £25. I set off from Dunkerque at 1pm (CET). Within a few hours the Merc crossed the Dutch / German border. Welcome home car! The Merc cruised at a steady 75-80MPH with the engine speed never exceeding 3,000 rev/min. I arrived at a motel located half way between Magdeburg and Berlin at 9:30pm. After a shower and a beer I passed out at 10pm! The trip resumed at 5am the following morning. Three lanes of wet and empty autobahn ahead. I crossed the now defunct German / Polish border crossing at 7am. I arrived safely in Poznan, Poland at 9am, just in time for breakfast. I spent a few days in Poznan visiting family. This is the Merc parked in the M1 shopping centre car park. In the background you can see the Lech beer brewery. If you haven't already tried Lech beer I suggest you go out and get some now! This is the building that I grew up in until the age of 7 (1981). It is now highly dilapidated and requires complete renovation. Fortunately, Poznan city council has policies in place to ensure that historic buildings are restored rather than knocked down. Whilst I stayed with my in-laws, the Merc was kept overnight in a safe and snug garage. On route to Kolobrzeg. In Poland there are very few motorways and most roads are in a poor state of repair (or in other words they are on par with roads in Buckinghamshire and Berkshire!). However, the Poznan to north coast route extends via some great driving roads. On Friday the 8th of July I set off at 8am, destination home. The Merc cruised at a steady 80MPH all the way back home. Here we are stuck in traffic in the Kennedy Tunnel, in Antwerp, Belgium. I arrived in Calais at 9:30pm. Not having pre-booked the crossing home, I had to pay £185 for a one-way trip on the Eurotunnel! I arrived back in Beaconsfield at 11pm (GMT). Despite being prepared for roadside repairs and bodges, the Merc completed the entire journey without a single problem. The engine used a litre of oil, no water and suffered no problems whatsoever. If anything, it now runs smoother and pulls better than before. The total cost of the trip was approx £700, which is expensive considering that a return Ryanair flight to Poznan costs less than £70. However, I loved every minute of my road trip and if I had the time, I would jump in the car today and do it all over again!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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bmw156
Part of things
Posts: 796
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Awesome trip. glad the merc made it all the way with out a halt.
top work.
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Jul 13, 2011 10:24:27 GMT
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Although the Merc is running great, I recently took advantage of an opportunity to buy a car I've always wanted. A few years ago I bought a nearly new Mk3 Mazda MX5 for my wife, but we sold it within a few months after we discovered my wife was pregnant with Charlie. I wasn't a huge fan of the Mk3 but I've always had a soft spot for the Mk1. I bought this yesterday: It's a 1990 Eunos 1.6i. The car has PAS, A/C, electric windows and r/c central locking. The car was imported into the UK in 1996. The mileage is 89k with a massive service history folder, which includes every previous MoT certificate dating back to 1997. It has only had 5 previous owners in the UK, all of which have spent money on regular servicing. The previous owner had spent over £500 in the past 12 months on a full service, new battery and clutch hydraulics. The car had a new hood in 2005, which is a bonus. The car comes with the original spare, jack and toolkit, which is nice. The car drives great and has already put a smile on my face. The bodywork is good for a 21 year old MX5, with just very slight evidence of rot along the base of the offside sill. No urgent repairs are required. I'll let you know how I get on!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Ok, next update on the Eunos. I've looked through old MoT records and service history and noted that a couple of years ago the car failed an MoT due to a broken rear road spring. Two new springs were fitted. Unfortunately, this resulted in the rear end of the car sitting too high. I removed the rear spring / shock assemblies. The W123 was looking on whilst I tinkered with the Eunos. I took an angle grinder to the springs. I didn't want to slam the car as this would have resulted in overly compromised ride comfort. Before and after. Once reassembled, I dropped the car back on its wheels. I got the ride height just right. I cleaned the vinyl roof and treated it with Autoglym bumper gel. It came up a treat. Finally, I removed the horrible rear fog light and re-wired the lights so that the third brake light is now a fog light. The back of the car looks so much better. As for the W123, it's running sweet with no problems to report.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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robst3
Part of things
Posts: 24
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Aug 16, 2011 11:04:32 GMT
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Great thread - just read through from the start. I've now looked at 3 w123s and all of them have had the leaky rear screen... Where did you get yours repaired? I'm not too far from you at all - lived in Great Missenden for a while. Liked the comment about the state of Bucks roads
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Aug 16, 2011 14:40:35 GMT
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Great thread - just read through from the start. I've now looked at 3 w123s and all of them have had the leaky rear screen... Where did you get yours repaired? I'm not too far from you at all - lived in Great Missenden for a while. Liked the comment about the state of Bucks roads Most W123s will suffer from some corrosion around the rear screen unless it's a 10k car. Mine's in the Mantasport workshop having some treatment to that area as we speak - I'll post up the pics when it's completed. Edit - one picture added here; retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=readersrides&action=display&thread=57318
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Last Edit: Aug 16, 2011 15:10:06 GMT by levismerc
'83 Merc 280CE
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Aug 19, 2011 11:25:15 GMT
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Great thread - just read through from the start. I've now looked at 3 w123s and all of them have had the leaky rear screen... Where did you get yours repaired? I'm not too far from you at all - lived in Great Missenden for a while. Liked the comment about the state of Bucks roads I got mine done at a place in Maidenhead, Berkshire. PM me if you want contact details. The guy did a superb job for a very reasonable price.
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Aug 19, 2011 11:27:40 GMT
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Almost four years (! I was only going to keep it for one or two) I'm toying with the idea of finding a new keeper for the old ship. She's currently having some little bits of fettling done including a new rear screen seal and repairs to the metalwork in the rear screen aperture. The old screen was removed and this was discovered; not the worst I've seen on an 80's merc but still needing some attention. It was visible as a couple of small scabs just below the lower edge of the rubber and a previous owner had done a bit of an amateurish repair so we've removed that and let in all new metal. Just waiting for paint and then the screen goes back in with a brand new MB seal. New back bumper corners have been fitted too and a couple of bits of interior tidying and she'll be near perfectamundo. All of which means I probably won't be able to part with her as she's looking mighty fine again. Your rear panel looks to be in far better condition than mine was! Nice car BTW!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Aug 19, 2011 11:29:14 GMT
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The rear springs have now settled and the ride height looks great. Such a pretty car!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Aug 25, 2011 11:49:01 GMT
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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Aug 29, 2011 19:10:37 GMT
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I attended a classic car show at Knebworth Park today. To my surprise, all classic cars were being directed to take part in the show. As a result, my W123 ended up parked in Section G, which, judging by the cars parked alongside the Merc, must have been for classic saloons. The Merc continues to provide good service. In preparation for the looming MoT, I wire brushed all surface rust off the underside (see a previous post for photos) and coated all these areas with waxoil. I am pleased to report that the underside is 100% solid, with no evidence of any significant corrosion. I have also replaced the Merc's thermostat. On a recent motorway journey the temperature gauge was reading a little higher than normal. Coolant level was fine and the engine ran well. With the new thermostat fitted, the gauge sits at a steady half way up the mark, regardless of engine speed or load. Fuel consumption continues to amaze me. On a motorway run the Merc has again managed just over 35MPG. Even when used on my daily commute, I've never seen less than 27MPG, which includes some stop start driving. I have fitted one of my old Pioneer head units in the Eunos. The stereo plays MP3s via a tape adaptor and sounds pretty damn good, considering it's approx 20 years old. The Eunos is behaving itself, with nothing significant to report. Oh, btw, I am loving the new driving position!
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1985 Mercedes W123 230E - 5 speed manual & 2011 BMW F11 520d Touring - 8 speed automatic.
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