That engine was actually offered in the US in a 123 sedan in the late '70s, so you are not totally without Mercedes support. If you're willing to put up with some aggravation when you need parts or repair, you might venture $2500 for it. Anything more is money down the drain.

Members of this forum excluded, there are very few buyers for manual shift Mercedes' except in the roadster world. And almost no one wants to mess with a gray market car.

It looks like a recent repaint which almost certainly included rust repair. I had a 280e like that and within a year of daily driving both rear wheel arches "bloomed" with rust.

Good luck.

__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe