Mercedes info please??

To all the smartest people I know. Here is the description

1972 Mercedes 280SE
Decent condition
Little rust
Decent interior
New radiator and hoses
Paint is chalky but repairable
V-8 4.5 litre (runs but not too well)

Overall, a useable classic stacked headlight car with auto tranny. She's asking 2500.00 for it but I am thinking of offering more like 7 or 800.00 for it after I find out some more about them. How are these engines? Gas mileage? Is it worth fooling with? I would just use it to putter around in for fun and to go to church and such. No real roadtrips. Y'all got any opinions on these? Thanks, Paul

Picture is for body style reference and not actual car. Paul

Beautiful car - expect big dollars to get the engine running well.

Geez, that actually doesn't look to bad. Just for comparison, my boss just sold his (same year/model) with 260,000 miles on it for 1k to one of our shop techs. It was his daily driver for 35 years! In Germany, there used to be a special plaque given out by Mercedes for cars with 500,000 kilometers on them. The engines, with good maintenance, are basically indestructible...not sure that holds true for the newer models...

Good luck,

I think it is just ignition related. I figured I could use some bubble gum and duct tape to get her goin if I don't plan on going too far. Looks like it was well maintained until a few years ago. Thanks so far. Paul

progun Wrote:

Just to do sumthin different. Paul

If it floats your boat, buy it...you will know when it right. Looks like you plan on lowballing bigtime and i would do the same.

Those cars run forever but when they have a problem, usually it's not a simple or cheap fix.

The key is to buy it right so that if you get bored, or feel you made a mistake you can recover your costs.

Ebay is the cure to sell since you get such broad exposure to buyers.

I purchase cars that come my way just to flip them for a few bucks.
Did you see that MGGT I pm'd you? That looks like a deal!
My friends think I'm a "horse trader" and that may be true but I just like cars or anything that has a combustion engine in it.
Grease, gas, oil, sparkplugs, glowplugs etc...I like it.

Yea, even if I have to put a few buck in it I get to drive a classic car for a while and have something different. I think it would be a cool car to take downtown with the little lady to go out drinkin' or to a gig. Turn it around to the next guy cheap. Paul

I would sure want to see it running, and driving, first. The tranny alone can run $5000 for repair.

It runs somewhat and I went through the gears. I will definitely test drive it first no matter what the price.

parts cost arm, leg, and sometimes a testicle as well.

a vendor in Hemmings lists a rebuilt for 5 grand plus freight.

buy it cleant the inectors and have fun....biggest problem is the injectors they are great but get dirty.

Jerry Wrote:

Paul,

Just sold my Mercedes:
try a site I use alot:

mercedesshop.com - search the model number.

Dwayne

I bought a 1948 Dodge 4 door Sedan, 6 cylinder flathead, 3 speed fluid drive just for fun once.

Drove it around town and had a great time. It was a huge car.


I sold it about 1 1/2 years later and made some pocket change...no regrets.

It's all fun. Looked just like this car