Euro 280SEL. - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 02-16-2010, 09:57 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-200-Series-S-CLASS-1984-MERCEDES-280SEL-W126-EUROPEAN-70000MLS-ORIGINAL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem2a04715402QQitemZ180463162370QQptZUSQ5fCarsQ5fTrucks

Looks pretty decent. I doubt it has 70k miles on it, more like 70k miles since it was imported to the US and the cluster was changed out for a 560 cluster. Anyway the car looks pretty good, and has a lot of options for a 280.

For $5k-$6k it would be a good buy.

Seller seems a bit off, I wouldn't buy unless you could inspect in person.

Ara T. · #2 02-16-2010, 10:04 PM

"Please note that I fix the cars for myself and therefore my cars are in perfect or near perfect condition no matter what year the car is." LOL

That said the car looks quite clean, he did a good job presenting it. It needs some shots of the undercarriage though.

Skippy · #3 02-16-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

The car drives like a dram.

Drunk driving is bad, mkay?

Hatterasguy · #4 02-16-2010, 10:24 PM

Look at the reflections in the picture, he looks like a home boy or English isn't his first language.

The car looks good though, if I was closer and in the market I'd take a look.

Skippy · #5 02-16-2010, 10:26 PM

I wonder about the fact that among all those pictures, there's not one of the underside of the car.

I will admit to loving those Euro S-class interiors.

I'm trying to get rid of cars at this point.

Jorn · #6 02-17-2010, 01:32 AM

This car came original from Holland. What are those black "eggs" next to the front mid console?

TylerH860 · #7 02-17-2010, 02:02 AM

The ad makes me nervous.

AC only needed a charge?
No service history?
Its also pretty hard to get away from the stereotype. I know, I said it, but I've encountered more rules than exceptions with all the cars I looked at.

One plus going for him is his feedback. Considering the high end volatile nature of the cars he deals with and the perfect or close to perfect guarantee, he only has one unsatisfied customer out of 7 in the last 8 months. That's pretty good.

Jim B. · #8 02-17-2010, 09:04 AM

I seldom cross post, but this particular car has been discussed elsewhere at great length by a bunch of Mercedes W126 Enthusiasts read: "nut jobs".

My comments on this car, were these:

If I did not need my Subaru Outback for the snow and occasional hauling of big things up here, I would have gotten rid of it, and put in other space in my garage, this car.

I would gladly stop this auction and pay ten grand for this car. Even *without* the records.

Why?

It's a gray market survivor, and it's one of the last of the gray market Gen I imports to California in late 1984 or early 1985.

I know it, because the federalization back then in the mid 1980's took about 6 months to do, and at the end of it the California plates went on.

Something about the plates. The California blue plate series wound down in 1986 and the 1Sxxx xxx series was the last and rarest of them. 1SBBxxx on this car most likely was issued from about April-June of 1986, and the last of the blue plates (1SWx xxx) probably went out in October as during this time, the *rising sun* white plates 2Ax xxx and on, and regular series white plates got phased in.

That all tells me this car was probably a lifelong Southern California gray market vehicle, that lived a rust free sheltered, seldom driven life. 70,000 miles in nothing for one of these, which, by the way would have made a very typical W126 Taxi in Germany, and taxis MUST be tough and durable to survive use over there.

Most gray market euros that came here because of the savings, and the highest savings were on the top models, the 500SEL and 500SEC.
People bought them because they saved MORE money. A LOT more. So imports like these were pretty rare, you did not save so much money.

But here we have a humble 280SEL, the second next-to-lowest model, (just above the 280S and the 260SE) which still LOOKS like a top of the line lwb 500SEL, at a casual glance.

No doubt its original German owner combed the factory option list VERY carefully, when he ordered this car and had it built to his taste.

He chose the velours upholstery, automatic climate control, and lumbar support option, and the long wheelbase BUT with the six cylinder engine.

He was probably looking for a relatively economical top of the line S klasse car, with the most pleasant and comfortable seats for long trips, and kept the stock 14" steel wheels and plastic standard hubcaps because they did not matter to him.

As a side note, those hubcaps are plastic, VERY few survived lifelong kerbing cracking and abuse. Yet these look mint. VERY rare to find in USA in ANY condition at all.

One reason that is true that those hubcaps are ultra rare in the USA on the W126, the Mercedes Benz dealers NEVER sold Gen I cars with those on them, they all had bundts, (and 99% had leather seats because that is how most Americans bought their cars, they wanted them that way).

Those 280SEL and 280SE sedans are NOT as slow with the 6 cylinder motors as you think. They had a VERY peppy rear end and are relatively fast off the line for a car that big. I personally have driven a 1985 gray market euro around the streets and on the hills of San Francisco, and they are a revelation.

So nimble and fast for a big W126 sedan.

The seller has taken the trouble to recharge the Air Con while most "cheap" sellers wouldn't do it, and he has detailed out the car well, I note even after all this time the tool kit, first aid kit, euro fire extinguisher and factory trunk triangle and front and rear bumper and euro lights survived.

Many of these items on typical euro cars were either " lost" <---- = "stolen" or discarded in the conversion process or discarded, or subsequent owners separated them from the vehicle. But this one survived with all of it intact for over 25 years.

As I said, this is a rare, pristine looking low mile uniquely optioned vehicle.

It could be the only one like it in the USA.

At around ten grand I see real value and worth here, and am tempted to jump on it myself.

It is probably turn key. My only problem would be whether to garage it as a trailer queen, keeping in mind that every mile driven would decrease its value or jump in and drive the tar out of it.

Probably the latter, because they are made for lots of high mileage driving, and this one is optioned exactly as I would have done in 1984 for practical comfort and ecenomy for long trips and would provide joy in cruising on long trips.

The heritage is so good on it that even the Owners Manual in German survived from the factory.

A very wise buyer would do well to nab a car like this.

~~~~~~~~~

Jim B. · #9 02-17-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jorn

This car came original from Holland. What are those black "eggs" next to the front mid console?

Factory option #406. "single seat with orthopaedic front seat backrest, left and right"

It was explained as this: It is a unique and primitive version of an adjustable lumbar support. Actually logical and clever in a typically German way.

Originally Posted by foolio2
Is that some sort of manual lumber support with hand pumps betwixt the front seats? How about the dial on the sides of the seats? Have not seen this before.

~~~~~

What it amounts to is a rubber bladder that you inflate with the hand pump. Then with a dial on the side you can raise or lower the bladder to the right spot on your lower back. The indicator tells where it is. It's nothing like modern orthopedic seats, still quite nice though. US cars didn't get it - why I have no idea.

Jim B. · #10 02-17-2010, 09:12 AM

I am so tempted. That price was exactly what I thought the car is worth, at least to me.

Astonishingly I am here in Los Angeles this week and am tempted to go check, anyone interested enough for me to go see it for you?

text of the CL ad:

1984 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL. This is something a true collector must have. The car was brought to US by someone in CA back in late 90's. This is an all original car with original paint and original interior. It has navy blue exterior and gray cloth interior. This car really shows no more then 70000 miles and the condition is stunning. It has the european headlights and bumpers and it says Europe all over it. The car was in a shop for a full check up and we only needed to charge the A/C and change the oil. The car drives like a dram. It has brand new tires with 20 miles on them and has the european hub caps. It still has the european Becker cassette player. The wood is in good shape. This car is different from any car I ever sold since you dont see too many european cars around especially in this shape. Please see the details on the car in my pictures since I show the car in detail. I can tell you that if you are going to bid on the car then you are going to be bidding on something that you will not be able to find again and bid on it so please dont let this opportunity get away and bid with confidence. I was not able to get the service records from the previous owner but I can tell you that the car was really cared for and was always garaged and it was brought from Germany to California so this car is all rust free

Jim B. · #11 02-17-2010, 09:14 AM

Vin# and smog check look up results.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mercedes-Benz / VIN

Full version

VIN WDB12602312096022
Model 280 SEL
Chassis 12602312096022
Engine 110989 12 045978
Transmission 722300 02 390317
Order 0 3 225 02020
Approx. year 1983
Dealer Mannheim branch (225)
Interior Unknown code (958)
Paint
904 midnight (dark) blue (T) (с 01.01.1968)
Options
221 left front seat, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978)

222 right front seat, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978)

406 single seat with orthopaedic front seat backrest, left and right (с 01.07.1970)

410 electric sliding roof (с 01.03.1965 по 29.02.1988)

420 automatic transmission, floor shift (с 01.01.1963)

430 headrests in the rear (с 01.01.1977)

504 outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 29.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right

510 Becker radio Mexico cassette full stereo, electronic, Kurier LW/MW/SW/USW (с 01.09.1979 по 30.11.1990)

531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)

543 sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)

561 front seat, left, reinforced (с 01.04.1970)

570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest

588 automatic climate control and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.01.1977)

590 heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), Germany
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - Germany (с 01.01.1972)

611 courtesy lamps for front and rear doors, with W124 also for central doors/W202 front doors only (с 01.11.1978)

640 aluminium disc wheels with radial-ply tires (с 01.10.1969 по 31.12.1989)

673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)

682 fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)

731 wood trim, burred walnut root (с 01.08.1980)

TheDon · #12 02-17-2010, 09:16 AM

looks like your old SDL... color and interior. But this one probably has the underbody panels that go with it to the next buyer.

Jim B. · #13 02-17-2010, 09:31 AM

Note: California internet database goes only back to 1997.

Number of Tests Found = 8

Test Records Station Name /
City Make Model Year Date / Time Pass / Fail Certificate

JIMS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE /
SONORA MERCE 500SEL 1984 12/04/2007 10:44 a.m. P MW442083C

JIMS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE /
SONORA MERCE 500SEL 1984 12/04/2007 10:01 a.m. F

JIMS AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE /
SONORA MERCE 500SEL 1984 04/17/2007 01:57 p.m. P VF955752C

THRIFTY SMOG /
CLOVIS MERCE 500SEL 1984 08/27/2001 01:04 p.m. P EH927040C

SMOG MASTER /
FRESNO MERCE 500SEL 1984 12/06/2000 09:11 a.m. P EA380368C

SMOG MASTER /
FRESNO MERCE 500SEL 1984 12/06/2000 08:51 a.m. A

BUDGET SALES & SERVICE /
FRESNO MERCE 500SEL 1984 12/05/2000 04:31 p.m. P

BUDGET SALES & SERVICE /
FRESNO MERCE 500 1984 03/20/1998 11:17 a.m. P CK826222C

~~~~~

This car lived for almost all its life, apparently, in the California Central Valley, totally snow, salt and rust free, ie, hot farming country in the middle of California.

Its records or P O could possibly partially be tracked down by going to these places and asking for them; I have done such things with great success, espcially by waving a $20 bill in front of people for "copying costs".

Money really loosens lips.

Pass/Fail Code Definitions: P=Pass, F=Fail,A=Aborted
*A "Blank" column can also indicate an aborted test.

Jim B. · #14 02-17-2010, 09:42 AM

I am, as you can tell, predisposed to like it but as chance would have it, I am actually in Los Angeles at the moment and for another day or two and would give it a close look for you -- just ask.

(I have the new digital camera too but am having problems getting it to upload photos into this laptop for some reason)

TylerH860 · #15 02-17-2010, 01:45 PM

My guess is he paid 4-5k for it.