Here we have a C123 Euro 1985 Mercedes-Benz 230CE that was turned into a 300CD Turbodiesel having been fitted with a whole new drivetrain from a 300CD Turbodiesel donor vehicle. In 1985 this Mercedes-Benz was purchased new in France & imported into the US in January 1985. It was federalized by Autohaus of San Jose, California & remained there until it was sold to a dealer in Utah in 2018. It was originally powered by the M102 2.3L Inline-4 featuring Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection with a 4-speed automatic transmission. In December of 2019 it was sold by the dealer in Utah & imported into Quebec, Canada in January of 2020 by its new owner at the time. This prior owner in 2020 had a rusted W123 300D which was used to transfer the diesel engine into this 230CE. It was then fitted with an OM617 3.0L Turbodiesel Inline-5 from that rusted donor vehicle & a 5-speed manual transmission was reportedly sourced from Europe from a 240D. The lower front valance was repainted & the rear bench seat replaced under previous US ownership (< 2019). Being a Euro-spec it features European-market bumpers & lighting.
The current owner & seller of the vehicle acquired it in August of 2023 & has added roughly 1000 miles to the odometer since. The reported reason for the sale is limited parking space. The car is reportedly accompanied by an accident-free CarFax. It is reportedly EPA & NHTSA compliant and comes with many service records. The 2-door C123 is a pillar-less coupe that was introduced for the 1978 model year & features a wheelbase 3.3" shorter than that of the contemporary W123 sedan.
The cluster housing in this 230CE is from the donor 300D but the speedo is reportedly the original from this car. When the diesel engine was placed into this car it had 264,929 miles / 426,360 km on it. This 230CE now shows 133,619 miles / 215,040 km on the odometer. WDBAB33C7FA261651 is the VIN of the 300D that the OM617 engine came from.
- 5-speed manual transmission
- Champagne Metallic (473H) over Palomino Leather interior with beige carpets, Coco Mats & Zebrano wood (254)
- Power windows & air conditioning (586)
- Heated front seats (873)
- Sunroof (410)
- Cruise control (440)
- Automatic antenna without radio installation (532)
- Rear-mounted speakers (812)
- Tachometer (451)
- Central locking (466)
- Passenger-side electric mirror (504)
- Headlight wipers (600)
- 4-spoke steering wheel
- Continental Audio Deck
- 14″ Bundt wheels
- Yokohama Avid Touring S tires
- Power: ~ 125 HP & 181 Lb-Ft of Torque
- Curb Weight: ~ 3050 lbs
Issues/Flaws
- A/C not currently functioning; compressor is seized
- Cracks in the wood
- Passenger heated seat inoperable
- Passenger power mirror adjustment inoperable
Modifications & included equipment
- Originally an M102 2.3L Inline-4
- Originally a 4-speed automatic transmission with cruise control (420)
- Continental Audio Deck; August 2023
- Full-size spare wheel fitted in the trunk
- European-market warning triangle kit
Recent service history
- New oil & filter; September 2023
April 2022:
- New front & rear shocks and springs
- New right-front brake calliper
- New brake pads, rotors & wear sensors
- Brake fluid flush & replace
- New oil pan gasket
- New rear sway bar end link
- New steering damper
- New belts
- New filters
- New fluids
- New alternator; 2019
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