how much would you pay for a 1984...
 

280te wagon with a broken timing chain, 140K miles? I haven't had the chance to look at the car yet, but I'm far from a mechanic, so I don't know all the in's and out's of dealing with a broken down used car.

The lady I spoke to said that car died while she was driving it, and it needs a new timing chain...that is supposedly the only mechnical problem with the car (so her mechanic says), though I'm a bit worried that it may have damaged the engine as well, it seems almost inevitable.

It's a grey market vehicle that looks just like the 300td, but it is a gasoline engine (I actually think it was converted from a 300td to the 280te, I've seen a few like this before). It's a really sharp looking car. The interior and exterior are in excellent condition. It's a really nice forest green color with a tan leather interior, which go beautifully together. I just saw one of these on ebay go for around $1100-1200 which was in excellent condition, and there is another one on ebay that is around the $1000 mark as of now, also in excellent condition.

The seller is asking for $1900 as is, I think that is a bit high considering the mechanical problem and the ebay market value. Also, since I would be buying the car as is, I'm not prepared to deal with additional costly repairs on a grey market vechile.

http://images.craigslist.org/0101000...93ec00f926.jpg

I would think $500 to $1200 for a non running car. You MUST assume the worst and pay accordingly. To buy a junk yard engine and have it put in you would be looking at another $1000.

If it were running, it'd be worth $3000 to $4000 in excellent condition. Knock off $2000 for a new engine and installation, then another $1000 for PITA factor, and you're between $500-$1200. I'd offer her less than $1000 for it, then drag it to a very good MB-only mechanic and see what he can do. The car sounds beautiful, and personally I'd rather have the 280 than the 300 diesel.

i agree, bout 1000.

tom w

Thanks for the replies
I spoke to a local mercedes shop and they said it is with certainty that the engine is damaged, and it's not worth the costs to replace the engine unless there is sentimental value attached to the car.

If any of you are in the seattle area, and it would like to take a crack at it, it is posted on craigslist. The woman seems a bit clueless though, she will tell you that it is only the timing chain, but insist that the engine needs to be gutted and replaced as well.

broken timing chain == bent valves. -CTH

+ cracked pistons?

But surprising to me is repair shop callin an immaculate square window wagon "not worth fixing." Translation: they caint be bothered locating an m110 replacement engine that typically wont cost more than $1800 for instalation. Meanwhile $900 CL Seattle w116 280SE oughta bolt right in.

If that car was anywhere near Texas, I'd buy it. Dark green on tan? My favorite. I can easily find an engine for that car...

Hmmm,

Very tempting. I could replace the 450SEL and 250C and maybe even the F250 with it. Putting an engine in it wouldn't be that difficult.

Especially since Benz Friendz is clearing out a warehouse of parts,
http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/pts/371481874.html


Michael

Timing chain failure is unusual on these engines especially at 140K. It's a dual-row chain and does not have a lot of travel. The tensioner is a spring-loaded ratchet and the whole arrangement is pretty much bullet-proof.

I would ask why they think it's a timing chain problem.

Very likely the guide rails after 23 years finally cracked, crumbled or disintegrated. Passage of time would make them pretty brittle.

That kind of caper could mess up the timing chain.

I'd guess the car, as it sits with a broken timing chain, would be worth about $500-$1000 tops. And the buyer would really have to want it.

Not impossible, but highly unusual, the way the chain runs, and the gears and rails are laid out. It's not like the V8's where you have a long chain dragging across a rail, where it can jam a broken piece between the chain and sprocket.

Unless someone has pulled the cover off and verified what the chain is doing and the cams/crank alignment, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that engine stopped equals broken chain.

300TD's seem to go for about twice that. Probably due to mechanical durability and fuel savings?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-300TD-Black-Turbo-diesel-California-Biodiesel_W0QQitemZ230153738132QQihZ013QQcategoryZ6330QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

They do go for a lot more, but I'd say that increase is do to the "WVO craze" and the durability factor.

I get about twice as many MPG around town in my 300TD vs. my 280SEC.