1970 280SE -sales value? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

MTUpower · #1 12-15-2009, 07:30 AM

I also posted this in the vintage section- but it'll get ripped more here, lol.
I just made an offer for this car. (1970 280SE straight 6 FI) It has over $20K in work in the last four years, (then the owner died- perhaps from a heart attack after seeing the $20K bill) but it does have some rust- some, and not horrible. No rust on the undercarriage. The $20K was mechanical- and it drives like a dream- starts right up, purrs like a kitten with NO smoke, brakes and suspension are good. Interior has no major issues, but is not perfect. The dash is cracked, but the wood was redone a bit back. The A/C works great. All the windows work(they ought to- they are manual, as well as wipers, lights, blinkers etc. May need tires soon, and needs a hood star right away. What should I pay? Remember this is a Florida car- prices tend to be cheap, and they are not asking much.

strelnik · #2 12-15-2009, 09:00 AM

You didn't mention mileage anywhere. For me, that and color of oil is a key factor.

I also don't know if this is an AT or MT. I would pay less for an AT because those cars with MT are fast.

Between 500 in tires and maybe 250 in brakes, plus your subsequent work-- absolute max of 3,000 and probably start at 2K settling at 2500.

It's hard to say unless you see the interior.

How much someone spent previously is not a guarantee of anything; it's just a past history of financial transactions involving the car. No idea if quality repairs using quality parts by competent mechanics were made, or if it was the usual rip-off I see in so many places.

Good luck, and play your cards close to the vest, with the minimum you plan to offer in cash and a supply of more cash nearby, that you can get within 15 minutes or so.

No history available via the VIN?

MTUpower · #3 12-15-2009, 05:26 PM

Auto tranny. I offered $1500. I think it'll be a good recreational driver with newer tires and a check over by my indie. If I'm wrong there is little market for these however and I'm leery of having it break down and then to get a recreational driver I gotta pour more and more money in it. It was sitting with just short drives for 2 1/2 years.

TylerH860 · #4 12-15-2009, 06:15 PM

I wouldn't pay more than $2000. Near mint ones sit in the 4-6k range.

MTUpower · #5 12-15-2009, 09:24 PM

VIN 0801812062795- the russian site only works on car after 1980 so it says- plus this is a 16 digit vin.

Anyone else care to chime in? C'mon!

thebenzbar · #6 12-15-2009, 11:35 PM

Double-check the body and undercarriage... quarters and c-pillars had previous body work.

tonkovich · #7 12-16-2009, 01:08 AM

good eye.

that left rear fender looks funky on the bottom.

(is the date wrong, or?)

and the right rear door chrome strip - upper - doesn't line up.

previous poster definitely on it?

MTUpower · #8 12-16-2009, 06:24 AM

My camera dates are wrong- and yes there is some bad body repair, with small rust spots around the car. The underside seemed good.

thebenzbar · #9 12-16-2009, 04:20 PM

Seems like cosmetics are the main issues you will deal with. Mechanically sound, then 1500 is a very fair offer. Hope the seller takes it.

If you buy it let me know when you'll be picking it up... in fact a few doors down from the lot where that 108 sits, there is a German MB enthusiast/collector who has a number of nice classics as well… a 113, a euro R107 280SL, and two R121 190SL’s! He had a 2-tone w108 4.5 last year which got sold hours before I got to it… the buyer was from Germany and the car was shipped back to the Vaderland. It’s all good!

Skid Row Joe · #10 12-16-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebenzbar

Seems like cosmetics are the main issues you will deal with. Mechanically sound, then 1500 is a very fair offer. Hope the seller takes it.

If you buy it let me know when you'll be picking it up... in fact a few doors down from the lot where that 108 sits, there is a German MB enthusiast/collector who has a number of nice classics as well… a 113, a euro R107 280SL, and two R121 190SL’s! He had a 2-tone w108 4.5 last year which got sold hours before I got to it… the buyer was from Germany and the car was shipped back to the Vaderland. It’s all good!

$1,500, or walk. The rust is quite intense and showing-up like crazy on that car. You might want to pass altogether on it for the rust alone. At least I'd pass on it.

Larry Delor · #11 12-18-2009, 03:01 PM

Lift up the trunk mat. Check the corner where the tubes for the sunroof drain go through the trunk floor. Check the wells (the one with the spare is usually better than the other one).
Looks nice overall.

jmk · #12 12-21-2009, 06:04 PM

I agree with Skid Row Joe. The rust is quite intense, and there is a lot of not so good bodywork in those photos. The rust may just start popping out everywhere.

I would probably just walk.

thebenzbar · #13 12-21-2009, 06:31 PM

He bought the car already for a low price... runs great, strong a/c and the body is what he'll address soon I believe. It's in good hands now, IMO.

Congrats again!