Dream come true? '70 6.3 for $5K?

I was looking through collector car trader and saw an ad just placed yesterday. A silver 1970 300SEL 6.3 asking $5800. Owner says hes just spent $4800 on recent service. Says it can be driven anywhere. Has those extra large clear fog lamps and european lic. plate on it. Interesting. I plan on calling him tomorrow even though it is a 16 hr drive away. Anyone else see this?
If i can get a used car loan on it and find the time to get it, i just may make an offer.

As a 6.3 owner for the last 15 years, and a Mercedes tech for 20, be very careful. The 6.3 is a wonderful car. It's also one of the most expensive to repair and maintain. Avoid cars that owners have given up on. Some of these things seem as if they are "possessed". The first car I looked at (and didn't buy) has been a never-ending source of amusement for friends that still work on it today. A good 6.3 is great..a bad one is an expensive yard ornament. Have it checked by a competent tech that actually "works" on them. A few humdred spent now can save a boat-load of money later. You will hear horror stories about air suspension and injection pumps. But that usually comes from people that have tried partial (or "Band-Aid") repairs instead of spending the $$ to actually fix the problem. Once the cars are sorted out properly, they are very reliable.
Good Luck,
Randy D.

[cth350]

There's a 6.3 in NJ that's been for sale "forever" at like 2,100$. I presume that it is a major dog.

To totally agree with Randy, you need to have very deep pockets for such a car.

There was a post on the veterans list yesterday or the day before about a fellow in California selling a car, a parts car and a spare engine.

-CTH

[michael rybikowsky]

If you have to get a loan to buy a six thousand dollar car,leave that one alone.

[ctaylor738]

I can only echo what has been said. This car is being sold at a loss for a reason. You really need the technical and financial resources available before you take the plunge.

Thanks guys, you made me come to my sences. I feel a 4.5 280SEL might be a better car for me given my limited resources right now. This 300 6.3 really is a rich mans toy, i had better not venture into territory like this.

LOL. Rich man's? I hope not, 'cause I have one!

I do think you made the right decision, though.

As a frame of reference, I bought my 6.3 last year. I got it for $4500, and the guy made a HUGE fuss about how I was taking him for a ride.

I was right to pay that amount, however...the car's completely driveable and reliable now, but I had to sink $6000 in body work and another $4000 in mechanical and suspension repairs into it.

So...if you don't spend about $15,000 on one, I think you'll put at least that much into one to keep it on the road reliably, anyway.