Winning bid
£6,800

1989 Mercedes Benz 230CE Auto (C124)

Vendor supplied images

Highlights

  • An example of the perennially popular C124 coupe in a great colourway
  • A car with a sensible original mileage and low ownership history
  • Boasting a luxurious and comfortable, grey leather clad interior

The Appeal

The C124 model appeared as part of the wider W124 range of cars in 1984 and with it came a raft of innovative features that went on to become adopted across the automotive industry. These included a class leading, low drag coefficient thanks to attributes like a faired in underside and a single, eccentric arc windscreen wiper. The model was well received and succeeded in melding sporty coupe looks with impeccable engineering and a spacious and luxurious four-seater cabin.
This example presents well in its popular Astral Silver Metallic colourway. Its luxurious and well-engineered interior is finished in soft, perforated grey leather. The key to the 230CE’s appeal is a combination of speed, refinement, comfort and sensible economy and running costs from its 2.3L four-cylinder petrol engine.

The History and Paperwork

  • The 230CE was supplied new via Rose & Young, former Mercedes dealers in Caterham
  • The coupe was first registered in November 1989
  • According to DVLA records the first owner retained the car until November 1991
  • The second owner used and enjoyed the car for a full 31 years
  • The current owner acquired the car to become the third owner in February 2022
  • At this point the car had covered approximately 75,500 miles
  • Since this time the current owner has added a little over 2,000 miles
  • The 230CE comes with plenty of supporting paperwork
  • This is understood to include the current V5
  • The current MOT is present in hard copy and valid until August 2023
  • Numerous previous MOTs are included helping to verify mileage
  • The original book pack is included together with the service booklet
  • Numerous former tax discs are also present
  • A number of maintenance invoices are also included
  • These include two from 2023 and two from 2022 totalling over £1,100

The Interior

  • The 230CE’s interior is luxuriously well appointed in hues of grey
  • The seats are finished in soft grey leather
  • The wood veneers are 'zebrano wood' as used across the Mercedes range in this era, a rare wood from central Africa
  • The front seats are stitched into horizontal padded panels
  • The seat centres are finished in perforated leather with smooth side bolsters
  • The rear cabin is arranged into two separate seats 
  • These are separated by a centre storage cubby and a folding armrest
  • The rear side panels are finished in classy, ruched leather
  • The front door cards are similarly finished with added wood veneer accents
  • The familiar white on black VDO gauges are housed in a hooded binnacle
  • These sit behind the large, black four spoke steering wheel
  • The centre console is finished in a mid-brown gloss wood veneer
  • The heating controls are housed here
  • Below these a period Blaupunkt Melbourne radio cassette head unit is fitted
  •  The carpets are clean, free from marks with fitted Mercedes Benz overmats
  • A factory fitted sliding steel sunroof is present and working
  • The boot is well shaped with easy access courtesy of a widely opening lid
  • The boot is finished in hard wearing grey carpet
  • The original warning triangle is stowed in the boot lid

The Exterior

  • This Mercedes Benz coupe is finished in bright Astral Silver Metallic paintwork
  • This is complimented by a darker hue to the iconic “Sacco” panels
  • The paintwork exudes a bright and lustrous shine
  • The bodywork looks equally well presented 
  • Door shuts and panel gaps look to be Mercedes Benz appropriate 
  • The W124 range was the first to feature the so called “gullideckel” or manhole cover alloys
  • This C124 sits on an original 15-hole set of these in a 15-inch size
  • The alloys were refurbished and are all clean free from marks and discoloration. 
  • These are shod with a mix set of Pirelli tyres on the fronts and Yokohama tyres on the rear tyres in a 195/65 configuration
  • The cabin glass and light lenses all appear undamaged, clear and original

The Mechanics

  • The 230CE is fitted with the well-respected M102.982 engine
  • This is an inline four-cylinder petrol engine 
  • This is a 2,299 cc unit fitted with KE-Jetronic fuel injection system from Bosch
  • This unit produces around 130bhp
  • Power is fed to the rear wheels via a four-speed 4G-Tronic automatic transmission
  • The under-bonnet presentation is original looking 
  • All the correct data plates are present and correct
  • The presentation could be further improved quite cheaply and easily
  • The car appears to have been well maintained with a number of recent invoices present
  • Combine this with the sensible original mileage of the car and it seems mechanically sound

Summary

When the C124 model was introduced, Mercedes Benz was at their apogee of their world-renowned engineering prowess. Design supremo Bruno Sacco was at the height of his powers and, as a result, the cars they were producing were class leading. The C124 coupe range offered owners a more sporting ambiance without sacrificing practicality or space for outings with up to three friends. The boot space was generous, and the well-chosen engine range offered sensible running costs, power and refinement. A compelling package indeed.
This is a nice example with much lower mileage and lower owners than is the norm for these cars. It is finished in a popular colourway which is bright and shiny with those now famous panels setting off the look perfectly. These cars are engineered for long and productive lives and this one has likely got a lot more to give. Bid today to avoid missing out on this compelling ownership opportunity.
Notice to bidders
This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*

UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft. It is currently not covered by a finance agreement.
A non-refundable buyer’s deposit is payable on this item, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for the applicable percentage.
All bidding, buying and offers are subject to our Terms and Conditions.
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Auction Details

  • Year1989
  • MakeMercedes
  • Model230CE
  • ColourAstral Silver Metallic
  • Odometer77,745 Miles
  • Engine size2299cc
  • Seller TypePrivate
  • TownRenfrewshire
  • CountyScotland
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • Auction ends

Bidding history

21 Bids

james.t••••
Bid
£6,800
16/06/23
Ada Cee••••
Bid
£6,700
16/06/23
james.t••••
Bid
£6,600
16/06/23
jimmy-r••••
Bid
£6,500
16/06/23
john-ha••••
Bid
£6,400
16/06/23
jimmy-r••••
Bid
£6,300
16/06/23
james.t••••
Bid
£6,200
16/06/23
john-ha••••
Bid
£6,100
16/06/23
jimmy-r••••
Bid
£6,000
16/06/23
jimmy-r••••
Bid
£5,900
16/06/23

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