Looking at a 79 280TE

[t walgamuth]

How much do you think they will take?

Tom W

[EliotW]

The classified ad listed 800.

The owner speaks Persian, German, perhaps a few others, but no English.

[JimFreeh]

I just picked up one like this for my daughter.

Yellow, well, butterscotch..... brown interior with the cloth inserts.

139K miles, manual windows, manual A/C, no sunroof.

Still has the euro headlights.

Bought from a friend in MBCA local chapter, she was the second owner, even has a complete tool kit and the collapsable warning triangle in back. Untouched first aid kit too. Red rear foglight on left, and the nice small bumpers.

Non working Becker Mexico stereo casstte deck, which I'll pull and save for another car, maybe the 250C.

Nice Michelins and bundt cake wheels (5).

Some rust, it's been hanging out at the beach for two decades (or more), but not too bad.....

$900.

Oh yea, 139K miles.

Jim

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by EliotW

He said that the drivers footwell would not pass the screwdriver test. You could punch right through the metal. The car has been driven once a year to get it inspected. Its also been parked under a pine tree and the sap had sealed the windows shut. The AC did not work. The car took excessive time to reach 55 mph at which point it felt unsafe. Violent vibrations.

$800??? Sounds more like $2800 after ye sort out items it probly needs like shocks, upper control arms, tranny and engine mounts, flex disc for starters. Nevermind self-leveling suspension components. Meanwhile the Euro 2.8 twincam oughta accelerate like race horse with an easy top end at 90+mph - In case like this ye caint entirely rule out camshaft lobes worn flat and timing chain stretched to smitherines (reconnoitre another $1000 if so).

This 280TE sounds like a turkey to me with crummy engine performance and suspension shakin itself to death, plus beacoup rust. Would be different if it had Euro goodies like manual trans and crank windows alongside worsted wool upholstery. Do any of the electr windows move at all??

Also hilarious to hear this non-english(?) spaekin seller claim to *just* be drivin the car for inspection each year. Will it pass?? Other Virginians on this board been crabbin about old car crack downs where owners caint even keep em in the yard. Probly thats what happened to current owner. God only knows whats gonna happen with motor vehicle inspection regs there.

Eliot, if ye gotta have this wagon then try fanning *maybe* $400 or $500 tops wad of cash in owners face, walk away and he'll probly call you back. With that kinda rust this car will never be worth much more than $2000 even in decent running condition. Though arguably use value, drivin the 280TE another 80-100k miles could make this bargain Benz worthwhile. Its a tough call if ye aint familiar with em and dont know what to look for.

[t walgamuth]

I might feel differently if I saw it in person but I didn't think it looked all that terrible. the performance could easily be a fuel issue.

The euro pistons alone if bought new are 1600 for a 110.

Tom W

[300SDog]

Tom, yer an optimist...... $800 = decent engine value, running strong with history of regular oil changes. An easy $2800 car considering what it'll take just to make it roadworthy.

[t walgamuth]

Sorry mr dog you have lost me. Are you saying its worth twenty eight hundred or four hundred?

Tom W

[300SDog]

Am sayin at $400 it can easily cost the buyer another $2,000+ just to make it roadworthy, as I'm sure you'll agree.

[t walgamuth]

Yes.

But it looks as if it might be worth more than 400 imho.

Tom W

[cheapold280ce]

plus good new inspection, january this year

virginia is hard on inspections they remove tires, check suspension etc..

vibration most likely tires from sitting to much.

Running is most likely bad fuel from not being used

nice interior and it's a euro

I have to say it's worth at least $600-700.

[t walgamuth]

There's no subsittute for a personal inspection.

Tom W

[suginami]

I'd look at this car at how much it would cost you to purchase the Euro-only parts separately, if that is what you are after:

How much would it cost to find and purchase a good set of front and rear velour seats.

How much would it cost to acquire a Euro speedometer cluster.

How much would it cost to acquire Euro HVAC manual controls.