From June 2018 to March 2019, I bought six cars, Bianca was the last one, and that year I had my own economic system.
Daily a W140 is really my dream, I started looking for such a car 2-3 months before heading to the US, and it took half a year with no results. Overall I was targeting a 1997-1999 model S 320 with high reliability and fuel economy, I consulted two low mileage 143 Glacier White samples and they both sold before I got there. I had to drop the V8 and V12 in garage when winter came and rented the landlord’s Ford Fusion.
A 1999 S 320W just under 52k miles was sold before I move to the US.
One morning in October 2018, I passed by Lindsborg, KS. It is a beautiful Swedish-style town with dark red pavements and central streets. I was thinking how beautiful a white car is here! Obviously, you don’t need a complicated environment to appreciate white, because the reflection of the white body will dilute everything, even in a messy place, as long as the body is clean, white will change the mood!
I’m getting a bit weary as I continue to hunt for the S 320 in 143 Glacier White coast to coast in the US, either imperfect or overpriced. At the same time, the only one I can legally drive in China is still Octavius, and the unhealed V12 is obviously not a daily driver. China became another location for my search because, like the US, white 140s are relatively popular, knowing that in many parts of the world, a white S-Class is considered exaggerated.
The general condition of vehicles in China is much worse than in the US, come to think of it, bad weather, poor quality gasoline. However, I’m doing a bachelor’s degree in the Automotive Restoration program at McPherson College, and a program that requires a full restoration is even seduction to me. I’ve never done this and while a simple S 320 is an easy place to start, restoring any 140 is considered unwise and would cost 10-20 times the vehicle’s value, but I decided to challenge the laws of economics.
There is actually a 1998 S 320 that has been for sale in my hometown since October 2018, which is unique because almost no one in this 15 million people town uses/sells a 140. Even if it’s just a low-res photo, I know it’s the worst. By March 2019, its price had been reduced 1/5, and it was almost the cheapest 140 in the entire country. It was a very unpopular trading website, and almost no one used it anymore. I don’t know why car dealers put it on such a website, quiet place to sell a car.
So here I am, being in my hometown is a major advantage, since I’m not in China, my friends can go check it out and buy it, which saves shipping and unnecessary hassle. The car was of course poor and my friend struggled half way around the city at 80kph top speed to drive it back to my storage. I came home three months later and drove it to the shop 50km away and that was my worst experience with 140.
Perhaps an exaggeration, but all parts need to be replaced. What I actually purchased are just the VIN and matching file. Seriously, the car ended up with just the body and hood are preserved, and even dented subframe was replaced. The car got a brand new 104.994 engine and it took almost four years to restore rest of the car. I learned a lot during that period and I have to say it was an underrated project.
The results are pleasing, it’s like a new car again and it’s a joy wherever it goes. But because of this, I can’t bear to use it as a real daily driver. I only drive 100-200 kilometers per year, and do my best to keep the chassis clean. You know, brand new taillights leaked in the first wash and I didn’t even bother to wash the car. Bianca itself is an regular 140, but she brought me a lot and accumulated valuable experience. As my first full restoration project, it is not 100% perfect, we are about 95% and I’m still walking foeward. At the same time, white, S 320, and MY1998 filled three collection labels at the same time. As a Chinese, collecting a piece of Chinese history is unavoidable.
To check articles about Bianca, click here.
**************Chassis*************
Sales designation: S320L [MODEL_IDX = 8]
Order number: 0 7 819 70774
Delivery date: 1997-11-27
Market: AG,Europe
Production order: N
Paint code 1: 143
Paint code 2:
Equipment:265
Engine no.:104994 12 104135
Transmission:722605 00 689792[GA]
SA code:
220 PARKING AID
221 LEFT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
222 RIGHT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
223 REAR SEAT BENCH ELECTRIC ADJUSTMENT
226 FOOTRESTS IN THE REAR
249 AUTOMATICALLY DIPPING INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
284 SHIFT LEVER IN WOOD/LEATHER COMBINATION
306 ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FILTER (ODOR FILTER)
340 ADDITIONAL 3RD STOP LAMP
343 AIR CLEANER WITH FILL LEVEL INDICATOR FOR DUSTY ENVIRONMENTS
414 ELECTRIC TILTING/SLIDING ROOF IN GLASS VERSION
481 UNDERSHIELDS
518 RADIO MB EXQUISIT WITHOUT TRAFFIC NEWS DECODER, WITHOUT RDS
524 PAINTCOAT PRESERVATION
540 ROLLER BLIND, ELECTRIC, FOR REAR WINDOW
600 HEADLAMP WIPER/WASHER
649 LIGHT ALLOY WHEELS 6-HOLES
668 662 + 666
731 WOOD TRIM, BURRED WALNUT ROOT
762 RADIO REMOTE CONTROL WITHOUT PANIC BUTTON
808 MODEL YEAR 1998
819 CD CHANGER - ALPINE - IN TRUNK
828 ELIMINATION OF EXHAUST EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM (CAT)
883 CLOSED AID FOR DOORS AND TRUNK LID
987 BATTERY CUT-OFF SWITCH FOR VEHICLES TO BE SHIPPED