Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Yeah it’s a 7 seater apparently

Yeah always fancied one. Coupe or this estate version. Not Ulez compliant though. It and I am in E17 and would likely just use to get sometimes to N16, or out up to Norfolk.

Interesting to hear what @bq says about them. I’m not expecting small/ new car efficiency, but rather something to be able to lug some stuff around.

Done some research into things to look out for but any info/ knowledge would be great if I go see this one

@byjoshuawilliams find the fan thermostat switch on the radiator and bridge the wiring to see if the fan runs, then if that is OK make sure that part of the radiator is getting hot, thermostat opening/rad blocked etc. Fan switches are very common on VW's I used to fit loads of them when I worked at VW/Audi before my BMW days.

I'd imagine that e200 estate would be a massive fuel guzzling slug. And unless maintenance has been kept up it'll be a money pit. They're good and strong but only of they've been kept well.

The money pit conundrum rather depends on how Dammit you are.

This has its MOT til next June fwiw. But yes, sure it loves petrol

Some fun for a year or two then hopefully sell on. Not going to bore out the engine or get custom made seat covers. I think...
Would actually prefer the pillar less coupe for that bit of w124 itch that needs a scratch

Does anyone know if i could get a UK registered car MOTd in Northern Ireland?

Yes. Unless there's been a recent change that's fine.

I don’t see why not although getting an MOT here is seemingly impossible at the moment. I think we are getting one year extensions.

Always fancied one of these. How much of a money pit would this likely be? Think someone had one of these on here but can’t remember who?

IIRC the issues with these is that the majority of the car is very strong, but the wiring loom is biodegradable and will have at least partially gone back to nature by now.

I think they look great, and would like one - but I suspect you'd have to either grasp the nettle and strip the existing looms out and redo them (possibly not a bad thing, Emerald will fit a new loom with an ECU for a pretty keen price), or get used to random gremlins infesting the vehicle.

A friend owns this and it’s mighty clean, I could see if he want to part with it, he was considering it a while back.

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I’ve got a w123 Coupe...had it for 3 years now. Only got another 3years and it’ll be exempt of ULEZ as it’ll be a classic.

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I had a 220 saloon for just over a year. Few niggles as with any old car but not a massive money pit. Don't think it was that thirsty either, if you kept sensible with the revs I got an easy 35 mpg.

Absolutely loved the car but always felt guilty ferrying my family around when I was the only one with an airbag...

After a happy 2 years of kerbing the alloys and driving through every available roadside hedge, Mrs B has bought her own car (a buttercup yellow forum approved Honda Jazz), which means that I can tidy up the Z4 for my own use. This removes a lot of relationship strain when I say rude words about the latest latticework of scratches.

Poorboys buffer, pads and potions ordered: check. New tyres to replace the horrible run flats: check. Wheels being refurbished by Diamond Styling: check!

I'll check the fan now. Just ran the car from cold with coolant cap off. A lot of bubbles coming out of coolant. Seemed to settle down after about 10 minutes and coolant dropped from top to empty. Then when I turned heating off it went mad and dumped coolant all over the floor. Opened heater up again and it settled down until I turned it off then went even more crazy and emptied most of the coolant on the floor. Bubbles all the time.... Pretty severe. Classic sign of head issues!

Radiator felt cool the whole time, car didn't overheated and rad pipes not over pressurised

Tested both fan and wiring from thermoswitch to fan and both work fine. So presumably it's either the thermoswitch or a blocked rad. I can't see how either of these would cause the issues with the coolant pressure than. Are we saying it's two separate issues? Might as well get the thermostat out now and check that.

Can anyone recommend a garage in/close to Balham?

Brake warning light on my girlfriend's car decided to make an unwelcome appearance yesterday...

Thanks all.

If you can do Wimbledon/ near plough lane, Queens Road motors
Queens Road, Wimbledon Park, London, SW19 8YA
02085421496

Use them for mots and work on car and Van always been straight up guys

That was register in Wantage...;)

If you search this thread, I think, BQ went through it.

If the water is getting hotter than expected, the pressure increases
.

Poor BQ, he had a rough time with his one. In hindsight it was a good prequel to watch @Dammit burn through monies

Ok good point. It doesn't like there is much/any water returning to the tank from the radiator either. Ive got ANOTHER(!) mechanic doing a sniffer test on wed then depending what he says I'll go ahead and replace the rad etc.

Interesting to hear what @bq says about them. I’m not expecting small/ new car efficiency, but rather something to be able to lug some stuff around.

Done some research into things to look out for but any info/ knowledge would be great if I go see this one

I had a 300TE-24. I bought it for £800 and sold it for a little less. In the two years I had it, however, it swallowed over £6000 in maintenance and repairs. At least £2 grand was spent on a suspension refurb because the 24 valve model didn't have the cheap replaceable balljoints, so needed complete new control arms each side. Then another grand when it snapped a driveshaft clean in two, and I spent a lots of money chasing an idling problem that never did get fixed before I sold it.

It did drink a lot, but I don't care about fuel economy. (except the time when the one of the fuel pipes fell off and dumped a whole tank of petrol all over my driveway)

The thing was a money pit, but when it worked it was fantastic and I loved it. It was super comfortable. I could fit a fridge-freezer in the back, and even the headrests were electrically adjustable. I'd have another but I would not buy the 'fast' one (not very fast by modern standards) and I would go in with my eyes wide open.

As this one is an E200 and not the earlier 200TE it will have the biodegradeable wiring loom under the bonnet which will cause issues. Check if it's been replaced; if not I think they are no longer available from Mercedes UK, so you will need to have one made up or maybe you can get one direct from Germany.
Looking at the pattern on the 7th seat this one looks like it has MB-Tex seats - i.e. vinyl. This was actually an extra cost option over the standard cloth, and is very hard wearing. The real leather seats are pretty vinyl-ish anyway.
Check everything works electrically, especially the remote central locking. The actual locking system is vacuum operated but the remote fobs are basically an aftermarket alarm immobiliser, and fail after 20 years or so.
They like to rust, so check under the jacking point covers and the wheel arches. Genuine front wings are very pricey these days.
The estates have Citroen-style self levelling suspension at the back. If it feels like its riding on solid wooden blocks then that will need fixing. It should be uber-comfortable.