🛠️ Welcome to My Mercedes 230CE Restoration Blog
This is where I try to fix a rusty w123 with hope, no experience, and parts from across Europe. This is a WIP in case you've stumbled on to it. I'll try to document better and keep adding my experiences
A bit about how I ended up here: My old daily driver, a 14-year-old diesel, suddenly broke down and my mechanic warned me it would get expensive to fix. With repair bills looming, I started looking for another car—hoping for a Mazda 3 (I love how they drive), but secondhand prices were eye-watering, around €15,000-16,000. While browsing classifieds, I stumbled on this Mercedes W123 coupe.
After a bit of searching, I spotted one all the way across the country. I drove down to take a look, and ended up buying it on the spot—for half the asking price. Then I had the most memorable drive home in a car built before I was born. And so, this project began.
Why I'm Sharing This
The blog is part of an AI experiment! Many articles, timelines, and content are drafted, expanded, or edited with help from generative AI (OpenAI/GPT-based) and voice dictation. While I do my best to check for accuracy, occasional errors or formatting oddities may remain. Not all advice is double-checked by a pro; always cross-reference repair or safety information for your own project.
When I got this Mercedes 230CE, I was totally lost. There was so little clear advice out there, and so many moments where I wished someone had just documented what actually works (and what doesn't) for beginners. I'm putting all this online in the hope it helps someone else avoid the same confusion—whether you're thinking of restoring an old car, searching for parts, or just want to see what's involved with a classic W123 coupe. If this blog makes your journey even a bit easier, it's done its job!
Go to Repairs • Parts • Timeline • Tools • To-Do List
📸 The Project Begins
The 230CE on day one — all potential and rust.
⚡️  This site is also an experiment — I’m using OpenAI and voice dictation to automatically update and deploy this blog!
Driving it home.
⚡️  This site is also an experiment — I’m using OpenAI and voice dictation to automatically update and deploy this blog!
Co car checker.
⚡️  This site is also an experiment — I’m using OpenAI and voice dictation to automatically update and deploy this blog!
Home
⚡️  This site is also an experiment — I’m using OpenAI and voice dictation to automatically update and deploy this blog!
⚡️  This site is also an experiment — I’m using OpenAI and voice dictation to automatically update and deploy this blog!