I wasn't looking for a project, having only just got the Cortina's engine run in and feeling much more confident in using her I was at home with Mrs. Jim watching the F1 in Hungary when I received a text. The text was from a friend of mine who is into classic bikes and when he said he had a project for me I assumed it was a BSA Bantam even though I can't ride a bike.
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
It wasn't, what it was however was a Mercedes Benz 230e that was sat in a garden looking very sorry for itself. I had no information other than 2 photos, a price and the point that the plate sort of had my name on it.
I must admit that I know very little about Mercedes Benz but I liked it, more importantly Mrs. Jim did and partially distracted by the race and how well Mercedes were doing in it she told me to go for it. So I sent a message back and said I'd have it.
2 weeks later myself and a friend from work who has a trailer and also loves a money pit cars scooped the poor Merc up and bought it back to my house.
I found out on the day that the previous owner is a friend of my friend who sent me the text, he has a habit of buying old cars and using them but not selling them on once there's an issue. Unfortunately a rapid decline in health has meant that he is now in permanent care and the family/ friends were getting rid of the cars he had and the parts. In fact before we arrived a triumph stag had been whisked away and another chap was coming after we had left to collect 4 mx5's! His name is Jim also and the plate had been transferred from a triumph 2000 which had rusted away but the engine and gearbox were In his garage.
The mercedes had been used till 2016 when either the radiator sprang a leak or the engine overheated (details are sketchy). The radiator is in the boot and looking like it had failed. There had been signs that someone has tried to repair the Mercedes as the spark plugs had been removed but the engine is now seized solid. Amazingly the brakes were free and it rolled fairly easily given it's low pressure in the tyres.
enough of me chattering - I'll put some photos up.
The boot was loaded with spares that I need to sort through including 3 extra sets of hub caps!
This caught me off guard behind the hub caps!
I'm keeping the beaded seat cover
Usually this means a seal has gone, I'm expecting some welding will be required under here. They're dated August 3rd 2016
It's a 5 speed manual but I quite like the blue interior
It even came with a Readers digest cassette tape of hits but WIllie Nelson
This chap needs evicting
Mrs. Jim admired the Merc from a distance after finding the various spiders!
A proper pressed plate.
I think this rear door will need some repairs
Having an initial look over the mercedes I had noticed it did have cavity wax injected where ever possible which has at face value preserved areas I would have expected rust
There is a hole under the passengers seat and given the stuff that's inside the car and in the boot I really need to get it all out and give it a clean before I get committed.
The work I will be doing to fix the mercedes will be on the drive as I only have the single garage and despite the space for a double that is Mrs. Jim's veg plot which I don't want to encroach on as she's put a huge amount of time and effort into it.
The battery was flat but the tray is in excellent condition given that they're prone to rust
The engine is seized which could be because of the spark plugs being out of the engine for some time or a head gasket failure which had also been left, I have put some diesel down each bore and rocked it in gear but I suspect I'll be doing this for a few more days before we get movement.
I need to look at what my options are given that the engine will most likely need a full rebuild and not knowing what is available for these engines I am considering a possible engine swap and ideally mercedes and petrol.
I'd be interested in what you think about that.
In the meantime I'll make a start on cleaning the inside and working out what's in the boot and what parts I need etc
): Holset hx30 turbo, log style exhaust manifold, 40mm wastegate with 7psi spring, 3.5 inch downpipe to 3 inch exhaust pipe with two custom mufflers, small fmic. 0.5-0.8 boost.
