450SEL Owners: Need advice, 75 450SEL

[chinny4290]

Hi guys. As some of you know I was in an accident which destroyed my E320 Coupe so I am now in the process of unloading my 280S and parting out my E320.
I have an opportunity to buy a 75 450SEL with 122k miles on it. It is in MINT condition. All service/maintenance records since 1975 and is a genuine 1 owner car (2 but the guy only fixed it up and is flipping it in the span of 6-8 months).
My ultimate question for everyone: am I foolish for considering a 450SEL as a daily driver? I drive a lot (I drove my E320 from 76k to 149k miles) and was able to keep it in great condition. I drive a couple times out of the year to Vermont, and Virginia to visit my friends.
Here's the old eBay ad:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260657761627&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
This was his last email to me:

Christopher:
It is important to me that if I sell this car, it goes to someone who will take care of it. I bought the car in March out of California, it arrived in May
and went straight to my mechanic, who had it for through August. I just started putting it through its “sea trials” to get everything working and driving the way it should.
This is what I am in the car for and what has been done:
Purchase: $6000
Shipping $1200
Driver Seat Repair: $600
Bilstein HD Shocks/ Install: $600
Tune Up Plugs, Radiator Flush, Oil Change $300
New Header Exhaust Pipe and gaskets, Brakes, Power Steering Unit and Steering Box, Battery, A/c Compressor and Evaporator $3500
Touch Paint Custom Color Mix with bottle, pens and clearcoat $150
60 Hours of hand compounding ( Supplies Only ) $150
New Goodyear Spare Tire & Alloy Rim, Mounting & Balance $150 (Pictures attached)
Chevron Techron, Duralube, Marvel Mystery Oil ($100)
Total: $12750
I am driving it now and will be replacing additional items such as fixing the driver’s window mechanism and motor – way too slow.
Overall the car drives better and better the more it is driven. I was hoping to get in The $9000’s for this car and only lose $4000, but
have decided now that my absolute minimum for this car – as is and regardless of inspection – will be $7500. I will wait for your response
before placing it back on ebay. At $7500, it’s a steal.

I also spoke to my independent benz mechie and he said I should be weary of the 75s and 76s because of the introduction of the catalytic converters, because of where they're placed, under the manifolds which produce a lot of heat, and isn't good for the block.
Now I've seen 450s go for 200k+ miles and with 122k on the clock of this one, I feel like I can get a lot of life out of this car due to its history.
What do you guys think? TIA

[pj67coll]

Lovely car. My principal concerns would be the fuel injection. It's the electronic controlled on not the later mechanical one. And rust. It may be a cali car but a 116 of that vintage with absolutely no rust whatsoever would be practically unheard of. And I don't mean rust y ou can see. I mean rust you cant see without lifing the carpets and removing the rear seat. Looking under the car at the jackpoints and the undercoating etc Also possibly leask thru the winshield channels where the rubbers perished.

.A major plus is no "climate control" screw up, just a regular seperate a/c and heater. The cats may be a problem. I'd investigate looking at replacing he exhaust with a later one with the cats further downstream.

Difficult to comment on the price. Folks on this forum are incredibly cheap, typically thinking that you should be able to pick up older Mercedes for a couple of grand at most. Not sure I agree. If this one is in as good a shape as it appears to be it may be worth it. But if it's to be your daily driver you do need to have another vehicle handy as a back up. No 30 plus year old car can be expected to perform flawlessly without maintenance and unexpected issues.

- Peter.

[meltedpanda]

this is a good car, inspect for rust and inspect drive train and front end for wear. Front end rebuild can get expensive ( ball joints ect)
Solid engine, should be a djet set up, not too bad to work on if you understand them. Cats are an issue and can be moved/removed
I think the price is fair as long as the engine /drive train is solid ( no oil burning , tranny shifts solid)

[david s poole]

if my memory serves correctly the 75 model yr was the last with djet and had several parts on the injection that were peculiar only to that yr eg. throttle switch.