I was looking at the check valve, and it looked spotless.
I had the WIS documents (courtesy of an6dk) and bought a new chain tensioner.
Only had to carry over the cap.
The supercharger was plugged up with an M8 bolt and nut and Loctite.
I'll look for the Hengst filter; thanks for the advice!
I've been running a K&N one for about a year now.
I wonder if that's why my oil blackened quickly...

 

A new dowel pin for the driver's side chain tensioner?
I reused that as I didn't hear anything about it being single-use.
I should've frozen it.
It would've been a smart move on my part, and it probably would've made it so much easier.
My car should start, whatever happens after is up to it.

 

I've been trying to deal with the clunking noises coming from the suspension.
I'm not as young as I used to be! I got pooped out pretty quick.
I wrested one of the still good original shocks in the rear suspension to
replace the worn out TEIN unit.
I really wonder if I could manage to do the head all by myself?
And I just can't see not replacing the timing chain as well as 260K miles +.
Valves would be nice too, but with all that a swap would probably make more sense.
With this many miles, i wish I had a placd to store a donor vehicle
and just swap the engine and transmission with a low mileage salvage car.
There's one on copart with ~100K miles.
You know what's hilarious? You can buy a very nice used CLK convertible for under 5 grand,
a car that sold for over 60K. But it's quite difficult to find a used 2002 C230.
But no 4 cylinder, so low MPG and tight quarters.
I think if I could find another low mileage with leather I'd grab it.
But they actually sell at a premium! More than the CLK's!
I look at my car, there's nothing that can't be fixed, but for how much if
I decide to pay to get it fixed? There's far more for sale at the copart than
in running condition.
These cars were under appreciated when they were new. Now they outprice much more expensive
Merc's in the used market.

 

I think you could do the head yourself, but I have back problems, and bending down always didn't help.
Also, lifting and replacing the head will be a pain, as it is too heavy.

M111K's in the 203 are hard to find...
You could always swap in an M112 just for fun.

 

I see in your signature that you use the Powerstop Z23 pads, how are they compared to pads you had before?

 

I had the factory pads before, and the Z23 performed a little better for me, but my old ones were pretty old and worn through.
Most I've put the Z23 through is 100ish to 0 stops, but I engine brake 99% of the time.
I haven't had the chance to actually cook them on a back road, but when they heat up they smell a little bit like peanuts.
I'm not sure if the fresh rotors had any effect on performance.
The only downside is that the rear pad didn't come with a hole for the wear sensor, so I have to live with the error on my dash

 

Thanks, I don't have a wear sensor in the rear only on the right front inner pad, nowhere else.

 

Yeah, I think that's the same thing I have.
I wonder if you could get a rear-wear sensor, plug it in, and tuck it somewhere.

 

You mean M112K right?
Used M111 from 02 C230 is pretty easy to find on car-parts.com
A couple under 100K miles in Sac area. $400-600 p;us how the hell do I get it here, and
who's gonna do the work? I know a shadetreee guy locally with a shop. He could probably handle it. Then install, new motor mounts and suspension repair and then wait to see what breaks next with no picknpull nearby . I'm on my 3rd? or 4th shift module. Last one was mechanical not electrical. Too bad I tossed the 1st one. Amd I didn't know about the baking trick then.
And then there's this, but no delaer license so oh well. plus other issues,
https://www.copart.com/lot/83249444/...-so-sacramento

 

At that point, swap in an M113 for the hell of it!
Make the C55 sportcoupe!
Someone has done it, C55 Vick, very cool to see how insanely well the car performs.

I'd love to get another sportcoupe and make a C55 or just have another one as a second daily if mine breaks.
Especially with some really cheap examples.

 

too bad youre on the other side of the country, If it was closer Id be so down to put in the work. Im young so I can still be crawling around under and around a car for 10 hours a day no problems, and Id love to be able to help keep a 230 on the road.

 

i wonder if you could get away with not swapping in a whole new drivetrain, Ive heard the manual six speed in our year of car can take a beating but not sure about the axle and diff

 

If the manual box is the same as the one in the C320s, then I could get away with it.
I'd just need some CLK55 front suspension components.

I also found a FaceBook Marketplace listing for a beautiful red 2002 manual C230 coupe.
190k miles with a blown headgasket, but looks to be in okay condition, with bix, C7, and pano.

 

For those of you who were interested in an update, I have returned empty-handed.
I ordered the cam sprocket bolts and Hengst oil filter about 2 weeks ago.
When I came back home and checked the package, it turned out that FCP Euro sent me the wrong bolts.
I put in a ticket Friday evening, and they got back to me this morning and are waiting for approval to send me the correct ones.
But sadly, my time back home is limited, and on Sunday, I have a flight back to university.
I planned on getting the coupe started this week, as last Friday (3/7) was when my car turned 23 years old.
I will keep you all posted if I can get the coupe back up and running soon.

 

we're in the same boat, I was going to do my shock strut springs and yesterday realized I needed a specialty tool that wont get here until I have to leave. Well next break maybe we have better luck. Hoping for the best for your car, i think it might be identical to mine besides the sound system

 

Oh man, waiting all this time for an update and nada. Disappointed!! LOL.
Sorry man. You shouldaa just bit the bullet and went to the dealership.
I've been waiting like 3 weeks for Stevens Creek MB to recieve some sway bushings,
Slooowwwwww. My whole steering rack is loose which explains the ESP errors and wandering. I've had it parked since Dec. Finally geting around to fixing it this week.
Unlike ann6dk I'm not so young anynore and crawling around on the floor, calimbing under the car and jumping up and down to get tools is not so easy these days. But with the help of the folks here on the forum I have all the nfo I I need to do the repairs.

 

The only speciality tool is that the standard DIY style spring compressors just don't fit on our struts. Otherwise, no speciality tools. Been there done that, Just taketo a shop and pay to have them swap the struts for you out of the car, You'll need a long breaker bar to get some of the bolt loose on the front end otherwise, no biggie.

 

Why bother when your car has so few miles? I was actually quite surprised yours blew so soon and so completely.
Usually they are like mine, slowly slowly failing over time. There was a guy in SF on craigslist who had one also with low miles silver like yours fairly low miles a little over 100k I think, same thing needed a head gasket asking $1500. not running at all.
Not sure if he sold it, Mine still runs,, just getting progresssively worse.

I've been tracking rthe 2002 C230 market lately. It is VERY SLIM pickin';s.Like 5 in the whole USA for sale! Most of those have cloth upholstry, UG! Sadly it seem many are winding up in the crusher. There are M271 models though butwho wants 'em? Not me.
Such a sad state of affairs for whats becoming an extremely rare vehicle in US,
Lower mileage ones are going for 4K-6K. And one on brings a trailer with like 30K sold for 15K,
In the UK a CLC diesel can be had in perfect condition for like 2k-3K
50+ mpg! I saw a C320 coupe at one point but arrgh 17 mpg on a good day.
I get 26-28mpg between beach towns here in Oregon and about the same power as M112 with my ASP pulley. Not so great around town,
1999 Ford Escort is errand running car, Only needs gas like once a month,

 

yeah i had a whole contraption rigged up and I was considering fabricating the spring compressor I needed but I decided I dont want to trust my welding and metal selection skills with something that is that dangerous should it fail. I also realized the little top hat part needs replaced so ill just order a new set of shocks and have them swap the springs on then ill install. None of the bolts up front gave me trouble once I got out the ol harbor freight chorded impact (about 1000 foot pounds of break away). I got em loose for the first time so next time i need to get em off it should be smooth sailing.

 

man 1500 for not running is wild, i got mine at 140k miles for 2500 on facebook marketplace. That being said I had been looking over everything around me listed for the last year. I also found a 2002 c230 in a pick and pull near me and I figure theyre just storing that for me because who the heck else is gonna need c230 parts. Next time I have a weekend i plan to go out and really gut it for anything I can possibly think of needing. It is cloth tho so not the best. I really want to get some leather seats in mine because the cloth is showing its age. My car runs well though, although ive done the head without replacing the chain so hopefully it never explodes on me, or when it does i have the money to keep it going. I really dont want to give up on this car its such a weird little thing and has been great to drive.

 

I lucked out, FCP has overnighted the correct bolts (hopefully) to me!
Tomorrow I can have the car running as long as I don't hit any other problems.
I also hope for the best for your little coupe, and I am interested in seeing what sort of swap you do to it.

 

Well, hopefully, we will get some good news later this week.
I should've gone to the dealer, but it would've been a gamble, and I would've had to pay the star tax.
My car has been sitting since July-August and on jacks since December.
It is sad to look at the coupe in such a sad state.
I hope you can get your steering rack all buttoned up.

 

The 02 C230 is a rare breed nowadays.
The market is filled with M271s, which I would happily take and frankenstein swap it to a Tesla motor or a bigger motor.
Get a C320 manny coupe and slap in a M113 and enjoy the homemade C55 sportcoupe!
I think the early CL203s can be imported now, so you could enjoy a CDI sportcoupe and bask in those sweet MPGs (after all the fees).

 

I say you just hoard all the parts from the pick n pull one and sell it off to forum members lol.
Easy way to make a quick buck if you got the storage.
I prefer cloth as it has the fun little patterns and mine has aged very well.
I've driven MANY other cars at this point and nothing truly compares to the feel of my little coupey, I truly wish it would live forever.

 

Dude, where are you located? Some points East I get it,
Update your profile, enquiring minds need to know!