I've got a 1985 280SE with 113,000 miles on it, I paid way too much (another story) but I do love the car. Mine's automatic (sadly) but has got plenty of pep if you hold the shifter down taking off from low speed. Seriously, while it doesn't have too much power it's very adequate and will blow the socks off any diesel. I get about 16-17 mpg around town, just got 26 mpg on the highway! It does use oil. And requires premium fuel.

I have read that in addition to the valves it's important to check the timing chain guide rails, but otherwise it's a high mileage engine, if you're a DYIer the engine bay is fantastic (huge compared to the engine and the lack of all the crap on federal cars)...Of course the gray market cars were brought in by different importers and received different treatments, mine appears to only have the addition of a catalytic converter and a US speedo.

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1973 450SL
1985 280SE (Euro)


1967 Jaguar e-Type 2+2 (sold)
2001 BMW X5 2.0