280 SE, 250 SE package deal...good???

[fslay]

I've wanted an older Benz for quite some time now, and I want something good for a beginner. My friend has a "package" deal he wants to sell, and I was wondering if it's good or not? One car is a 1971 280 SE. It has a 6-cylinder engine, automatic, 4-door, medium blue color. I couldn't find but one small spot of rust. Glass, body, and chrome are perfect. It runs and drives. The other car is a 250 SE. Same year model. 6-cylinder engine, white in color. It has a problem with the transmission being stuck in drive. The 250 SE also runs, and has tons of usable parts. Are cars like this good for beginners? I have to take both cars if I buy, and he wants $1800 for everything. Also extra grilles, chrome, doors, and glass. I would likely keep one and sell the other. Help???

Thanks,

fslay

[senorunimog]

If you have lots of time to invest by all means GO FOR IT!!!! You might have trouble selling the one you decide not to keep. Especially after you strip all the parts off it that you want. Just make sure you can store both of them. The clincher on your deal is the complete lack of rust on the 280. Rust is the DEVIL, trust me. Mechanicals you can replace. Its much harder to replace part of the chassis. a 108 in fairly decent shape will go for about 3k maybe. one in drop dead gorgeous shape (6cyl sedan) 8 MAYBE 10 MAYBE.

hope this helps
-Eric

[Arthur Dalton]

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250se is the predecessor to the 280se . so they are not the same year or engine
108.014 chassis 65/68. 250se/129 engine
108.018 chassis 68/72. 280se/130 engine.

[t walgamuth]

my old chiltons lists a 250c and 280c in 72. also a 280se in same year. the first two would be carburated engines. it shows them in the same chassis, a 114.

i would not take chiltons to be the final word, though.

i think probably there is confusion about the letters following the numbers for sure. in at least the 250. also could be a model year different from the titled year if it sat around before sale, maybe.

tom w

[Arthur Dalton]

ALL SE are Injected engines and both SE are 108 chassis.

[W108]

I believe the E stood for Einspritzung, fuel injection in German.

[fslay]

Although the 250 SE is the "parts" car here, it isn't in disrepair. Whichever one I sell (likely the 250) will be sold in its current state, all parts included. My friend will not sell one car alone, so I must buy both if I'm interested in one. I would really like to have the 280 SE. With its paint and all, I think it is the better looking car, not to mention being in better shape.

Would the 280 SE be a good starter car?

Anybody interested in a 250 SE in the near future? Would it be worth $500 or so?

[rs899]

it would spark more interest if you would tell people where you /the car in question is/are. $1000+ to ship a $500 car casts a different light on the proposition. OTOH, if the car were in your backyard......

[Arthur Dalton]

I would have an interest in the 250,
Where is it ???

[fslay]

Both cars are located in Laurel, Mississippi. I only have an interest in the 280 myself. If my friend still has the cars in a month or so, I plan to buy them. The 250 will likely go, so if anybody's interested let me know.

[Tristar1959]

If the 280SE is in fact as rust-free as it purports to be - and you MUST completely crawl the underside - particularly the "frame" rails, all corners, the lift points, fenderwell skirts and inner liners/joints with exterior, trunk floor, firewall and all panels inside around engine and radiator area...it's a lovely car.
Few differences between the two, and if you have room, for the price, keep the 250 for a donor tranny and all spares - just as surely as you sell it, some idiot WILL cream your trunk or door or something or cause a fenderbender (Right, TomGuy?).

For that matter, were it to become necessary, there's very little which would make an entire engine/tranny transplant from 250 to 280 at all difficult, if you have a modicum of mechanical ability. Commonality of accessories might also swing the decision - window motors, fan motors, etc. VERY little difference in engine power between the two.

Whilst not exactly a "starter" car, there is nothing terribly sophisticated about any of the systems on these SE's - they're basic, solid, and near-bulletproof. Manuals are findable. Nothing to be afraid of, with the right manuals and some advice from here.

The cost of a replacement mechanical injection pump alone could make the "keeper" worthwhile. Whether that would occasion a changeout of engine as well, I cannot say - but someone on here knows. I only have M129's and older M189 (300SE) engines in the injected version, and only carburreted M130's in my 250C's and M114's and M110's in my other cars.

Recommend GOFORIT!!!! But think carefully before selling away many parts...

Stan

[Tomguy]

$1800 for a 280SE AND a 250SE?

If that were my area I'd be all over that like stink on a skunk.

[lee polowczuk]

i'd buy them in a heartbeat if i had the space....

a/c heater blower motors, kingpins, possibly a stray bad fuel injector, heater/defrost handles... are about the only weak points... maybe valve seals if it is burning oil.

like everyone said...watch out for the rust...especially trunk bed, lower front quarter panels near doors.

oh..... windshield rubber gaskets... they dry out and leak.

pretty easy car to fix.

[fslay]

Let me explain further. The deal is that I live with my grandparents. We have land out in the country where I could store the cars. My grandparents know I have a car habit, and they seem to be fairly tolerant. I could probably get away with keeping one car, but the likelihood of keeping both cars just doesn't exist.

So here is a proposition...

I know I can't keep both cars. My grandmother would skin me!! If/when it works out to where I buy the cars, I would actually be willing to GIVE somebody the 250 "parts" car if they can arrange to pick it up. All this just so I can keep the 280 for myself. It will be just over a month until I can buy them. So, if you're interested in the possibility of a FREE 250 SE parts car, send me a PM with your name and email address and I'll notify those of you who are interested if/when things work out. I suppose that's fair enough. No strings attached!!

[Larry Delor]

And your location would be.........?