Would you buy a frankencar?

[Johnson Chan]

So simple question, would you buy a frankencar and why?

I see these w123's that are a california model converted federal, 1984's with a 1980 non turbo engine and transmission installed, non turbos with turbos installed, 1983's with a california engine and tranny and many other combinations.

Personally, I would NOT buy one because:

1: The car is no longer original (not that its a Gullwing or anything, but its nice for numbers matching your build sheet). When you do go to resell it yourself, you may take a big hit if the prospective buyer is a purist.

2: ordering parts may be an issue because the dealer goes off VIN for some parts and with the engine and tranny all switch, your tranmission modulator, etc. may not be correct when you go to pick it up at the dealer. Certain years they did things slightly different and if you are not aware of it, then you got a lot of sending parts back and forth stuff going on.

3: If the guy was too cheap to fix the car properly (rebuild the tranny vs. going to pick and pull) he probably took short cuts in other repairs.

What are your thoughts?

[TylerH860]

Usually no, but I imagine it would be on a case by case basis.

If the job was done by someone who knew what they were doing, and everything was well documented, a Frankenbenz could be a good driver.

I would expect to pay considerably less than an all original car, just common sense.

Is there a car like this calling your name?

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by Johnson Chan

So simple question, would you buy a frankencar and why?

I see these w123's that are a california model converted federal, 1984's with a 1980 non turbo engine and transmission installed, non turbos with turbos installed, 1983's with a california engine and tranny and many other combinations.

Personally, I would NOT buy one because:

1: The car is no longer original (not that its a Gullwing or anything, but its nice for numbers matching your build sheet). When you do go to resell it yourself, you may take a big hit if the prospective buyer is a purist.

2: ordering parts may be an issue because the dealer goes off VIN for some parts and with the engine and tranny all switch, your tranmission modulator, etc. may not be correct when you go to pick it up at the dealer. Certain years they did things slightly different and if you are not aware of it, then you got a lot of sending parts back and forth stuff going on.

3: If the guy was too cheap to fix the car properly (rebuild the tranny vs. going to pick and pull) he probably took short cuts in other repairs.

What are your thoughts?

I don't think most of the posters here care whether their car is a "frankencar" or not. It's not like we're driving Gullwings here. We have quite a few posters who have swapped differentials, transmissions, and engines to make the cars that they want. If sold, who cares if a purist buys it or not? Is a purist a better owner than someone who owns a "frankencar"?

Many here would probably take offense at you calling a pick and pull repair an "improper" repair. These guys here who go to the pick and pull (including me) are not shadetree mechanics, we're fixing the problems correctly by replacing broken parts with working ones. We may be cheap, but that's because we're not as willing to let hard earned money fly out of our wallets so quickly in order to spend hundreds of dollars for a small item (vacuum control valve for example) at the dealer. That same item can be had from the pick and pull for a considerable discount to make the car operate as the manufacturer intended without compromising safety.

I also saw that you inquired about a used 300TD tail light assembly recently in the Parts Forum. Wouldn't installing that on your car make it a "frankencar", or would make it look like you were too cheap to find the real deal from the dealer?

[BoomInTheTrunk]

i do see problems with install turbos on the non turbo cars only because the engine wasn't designed for it and so longevity has been Greatly reduced, but anything else would sound reasonable to do.

[tompaah7503]

I build frankencars
It's not a big problem ordering parts, around here they usually ask for the license plate number to get the model information, but I just have to politely explain that it's no longer the original engine or transmission, so they can do a search based on what chassis my engine/tranny is from.
I don't worry about reselling value. There are enough nice original unmolested W108/W111's around Europe, so a purist can get one if they want so.
Of course a conversion is no longer original, and thus a potential buyer might worry about the quality of the conversion, but I don't think this would be a problem if you just point out the relevant bits and let the buyer check the quality of the craftmanship.

Best luck with frankencars!

[rcounts]

As a daily driver, if priced appropriately, and if the work was done well, sure, why not?

I wouldn't pay a one-owner-original-car premium price for one, but one that's priced right and a decent driver - no problem.

[Johnson Chan]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

I don't think most of the posters here care whether their car is a "frankencar" or not. It's not like we're driving Gullwings here. We have quite a few posters who have swapped differentials, transmissions, and engines to make the cars that they want. If sold, who cares if a purist buys it or not? Is a purist a better owner than someone who owns a "frankencar"?

Many here would probably take offense at you calling a pick and pull repair an "improper" repair. These guys here who go to the pick and pull (including me) are not shadetree mechanics, we're fixing the problems correctly by replacing broken parts with working ones. We may be cheap, but that's because we're not as willing to let hard earned money fly out of our wallets so quickly in order to spend hundreds of dollars for a small item (vacuum control valve for example) at the dealer. That same item can be had from the pick and pull for a considerable discount to make the car operate as the manufacturer intended without compromising safety.

I also saw that you inquired about a used 300TD tail light assembly recently in the Parts Forum. Wouldn't installing that on your car make it a "frankencar", or would make it look like you were too cheap to find the real deal from the dealer?

1st, chill, its a legit question. Some people care, some people dont. Thats the whole purpose of the thread to see how people feel about it.

2nd, yes I did buy a NEW driver side taillight and now a passanger side. Buying a used taillight from another wagon is a little different than taking a 1985 california model and sticking a 1980 non turbo engine and tranny in it.

If you look carefully at some ebay cars, you can tell it has the wrong instrument cluster for the year/model. I have seen 240d clusters in 300D turbos with *supposedly* low miles.

Tyler- no there is no particular car calling my name. I just see these cars on ebay, craigslist, etc. from time to time.

[t walgamuth]

It is something to think about, and check to see if its been done correctly with original benz parts or a cobbled up mess.

I went to look at a car once a nintey something or eighty something 300e which had a later front dog house on it. I was pretty excited about the car until I looked down in the engine compartment and saw some parts replaced by obviously non benz parts bought from the hardware store and soldered in.

The car also had a high speed miss and the seller got bent out of shape because I pushed it to the redline on two shifts in a row to be sure it ran right, saying "mercedes aren't built to drive like that".

Hogwash! The're built to run flat out on the Autobahn from one town to the next,. however far that might be.

So, it all depends on whether its done properly or not. A seller with the wrong attitude will give me happy feet quicker than anything. Another time I went to look at a beautiful maple yellow SLC and the seller wouldn't let us drive it saying it had no insurance. ... Happy feet.

Tom W

Its a case-by-case basis. If its a hack job, run away. If its a well documented change and its something you want then go for it.

I build frankencars too and I'm proud that mine is a frankencar. I don't give a rat's rear end if it's not a "purist's" 240D anymore because its exactly the car I want it to be.

"Numbers matching your build sheet" only matters to collectors and obsessive owners. News flash: These aren't collectors cars.

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

Its a case-by-case basis. If its a hack job, run away. If its a well documented change and its something you want then go for it.

I build frankencars too and I'm proud that mine is a frankencar. I don't give a rat's rear end if it's not a "purist's" 240D anymore because its exactly the car I want it to be.

"Numbers matching your build sheet" only matters to collectors and obsessive owners. News flash: These aren't collectors cars.

Agreed, if well done and documented, not going to scare me away.

Documented is the big thing, you need to know exactly WHAT was changed, in order to service the car. Most of us on this list are do it yourselfers, so the usual servicing problems go away.

Case in point, after my brother bought my 69 Olds Cutlass Convertible, he installed an aftermarket front disk brake setup. Used calipers from another GM car, I think it was a Trans Camaro....

Now, what happens a couple of owners down the road when the car needs new pads, and the swap info has been lost? It's going to be a real hassle to open box after box and match up a set of pads.....

Jim

[Johnson Chan]

Well, here is another reason I ask, I am also into gassers too, and with w123's and many diesels, electronics is not that big of an issue.

But on some of your british cars, etc. If you pull the dash out or look underneith it, on *some* franken cars, you will find the wiring harness is spliced together with butt connectors and the wiring harness is peeled back for the slices, etc.

My thoughts are:

a) I was not there when the PO or previous mechanic did the work, who knows what learks behind that dash.

b) if this car doesnt start, the original wiring diagram, original vacuum diagram, etc. may not be very helpful.

c) if I take it to the bentley dealer or mercedes dealer, they are going to have the same problem I am going to have with it being all non-original and charge more time for diagnostic. More time to diagnose the problem = more money in labor.

d) Once the car changes hands a few times, you may not know what year that engine came out of, which may make ordering stuff harder.

Tom - with the SLC, that is BS. Not allow you a test drive. Did he at least have a few acres of land to let you move it around on?

So with "me", I tend to stay away from stuff that is too heavily modified or frankenfied for the reasons above.

[Johnson Chan]

Originally Posted by JimFreeh

Case in point, after my brother bought my 69 Olds Cutlass Convertible, he installed an aftermarket front disk brake setup. Used calipers from another GM car, I think it was a Trans Camaro....

Now, what happens a couple of owners down the road when the car needs new pads, and the swap info has been lost? It's going to be a real hassle to open box after box and match up a set of pads.....

Jim

I hope that guy has another car to get him back and forth to work/school while he does the trial and error method.

[jkoebel]

I'd rather have a 240D 3.0 but that's not really a realistic goal. I'd buy a Frankencar, most likely. If for no other reason than to ensure I've got manual climate control.

[nhdoc]

I'd buy one if it was done right. The problem is they usually aren't and some sellers are actually under the impression that taking, say a 450SEL and putting an OM617 into it makes it worth as much or more than a 300SD but it never does. Most people undertake these projects for reasons other than money but when they think they can make a profit doing it they find that usually isn't the case.

[1983/300CD]

Unless you're planning on selling it, why should you care what your car might be worth to a purist? The best part will be just that. The machine won't care.