How much would you pay for a 280SEL 4.5...

[alabbasi]

Tom

Unfortunately the timing chain is a weak point on US 380SL's as they had single row timing chains which could break within 40,000 miles. The rest of the car looks stunning but with a bad engine, the price is too high.

That 72 300SEL looks like Cliff Floek's old car. If it was his car, then I imagine it was very well kept while he owned it.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by alabbasi

That 72 300SEL looks like Cliff Floek's old car. If it was his car, then I imagine it was very well kept while he owned it.

With no price in the ad for the 300SEL 4.5, something tells me it's probably sky-high! Especially with only 6K miles on it. But maybe not!

Wonder how the heck it got out in the middle of nowhere, in Sweetwater, Texas?! Half way between, nowhere and nowhere! Just kidding, actually it's a smaller town between Midland, TX., and Abilene, Texas, right smack dab on I-20.

[audihenry]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

With no price in the ad for the 300SEL 4.5, something tells me it's probably sky-high! Especially with only 6K miles on it. But maybe not!

Wonder how the heck it got out in the middle of nowhere, in Sweetwater, Texas?! Half way between, nowhere and nowhere! Just kidding, actually it's a smaller town between Midland, TX., and Abilene, Texas, right smack dab on I-20.

Isn't it possible it could have 99,000 + 6K miles? Unless it's documented...

[JMela]

Originally Posted by audihenry

Isn't it possible it could have 99,000 + 6K miles? Unless it's documented...

Exactly, or even 206k. Engine looks plenty used, or maybe the 6k miles involved fording streams or something.

[alabbasi]

Originally Posted by JMela

Exactly, or even 206k. Engine looks plenty used, or maybe the 6k miles involved fording streams or something.

If it's Cliff's car, then it has done more then 6k miles, but he had a beautiful blue 300SEL and lived in Midland TX. He did keep it well and talked a lot about the car. I bet with a bit of digging on this forum, you could find out who was servicing it.

[suginami]

I would advise buying the best condition 4.5 you can afford.

Heck, I bought my 4.5 from a forum participant, and it is a 3 owner car with every receipt since about 1980, and a hand-written log with every detail you can imagine.

It has not been spared a penny in maintenance and repairs.

About 10 years ago, it had a good quality repaint, and all new window seals installed. The trunk and hood seals are also new, including the side window and door seals.

I had the car inspected by two separate Mercedes mechanics, and it still had issues that neither inspection uncovered.

I paid $7,500 for it, and even with the few known issues and incredibly good condition, I've still put $3k-$4k in it, including rebuilding the power steering box/worm drive unit (leaked bad), re-coring the radiator, new axle half shaft and axle seals, new rear brake lines and emergency brake shoes, hydraulic cooling fan clutch, auxiliary electric fan, front brake pads, and front struts.

I also did a major maitenance service, including every fluid and filter in the car, and plugs.

So it goes to show you that even the best maintained and cared-for vintage Mercedes can still take a lot of money.

It's all part of the fun, and in the end, we do it for the love of the cars, for the enjoyment of driving them, and for the stories.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by suginami

I would advise buying the best condition 4.5 you can afford.

Heck, I bought my 4.5 from a forum participant, and it is a 3 owner car with every receipt since about 1980, and a hand-written log with every detail you can imagine.

It has not been spared a penny in maintenance and repairs.

About 10 years ago, it had a good quality repaint, and all new window seals installed. The trunk and hood seals are also new, including the side window and door seals.

I had the car inspected by two separate Mercedes mechanics, and it still had issues that neither inspection incovered.

I paid $7,500 for it, and even with the few known issues and incredibly good condition, I've still put $3k-$4k in it, including rebuilding the power steering pump (leaked bad), re-coring the radiator, new axle half shaft and axle seals, new rear brake lines and emergency brake shoes, hydraulic cooling fan clutch, auxiliary electric fan, front brake pads, and front struts.

I also did a major maitenance service, including every fluid and filter in the car, and plugs.

So it goes to show you that even the best maintained and cared-for vintage Mercedes can still take a lot of money.

It's all part of the fun, and in the end, we do it for the love of the cars, enjoying driving them, and for the stories.

I believe this is excellent advice for anyone going back to the future, if you will.

Real world use of any vehicle is going to cost real world dollars to keep it in decent operating condition. Some years, perhaps the initial year or two, will be costly. That's part of owning one. These are not cars that do not need parts replacement at times.

[audihenry]

Originally Posted by suginami

I would advise buying the best condition 4.5 you can afford.

Heck, I bought my 4.5 from a forum participant, and it is a 3 owner car with every receipt since about 1980, and a hand-written log with every detail you can imagine.

It has not been spared a penny in maintenance and repairs.

About 10 years ago, it had a good quality repaint, and all new window seals installed. The trunk and hood seals are also new, including the side window and door seals.

I had the car inspected by two separate Mercedes mechanics, and it still had issues that neither inspection incovered.

I paid $7,500 for it, and even with the few known issues and incredibly good condition, I've still put $3k-$4k in it, including rebuilding the power steering pump (leaked bad), re-coring the radiator, new axle half shaft and axle seals, new rear brake lines and emergency brake shoes, hydraulic cooling fan clutch, auxiliary electric fan, front brake pads, and front struts.

I also did a major maitenance service, including every fluid and filter in the car, and plugs.

So it goes to show you that even the best maintained and cared-for vintage Mercedes can still take a lot of money.

It's all part of the fun, and in the end, we do it for the love of the cars, enjoying driving them, and for the stories.

Thank you for that!

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by audihenry

Isn't it possible it could have 99,000 + 6K miles? Unless it's documented...

If I were you, I would contact the seller and start asking questions - and get a lot more pictures of it, since the ad states they will furnish them.

See if the ASKING price is rational - with no price in the ad, that tells me the seller is totally clueless or insecure on what the car will bring. I would guess BOTH!

If they tell you to "make an offer," I would tell them to kindly call me back when they have a price.

Three things do not appeal to me; one is auctions, one is the usually faulty belief on what their car will bring in the present tense, and the other is NO asking price.

[audihenry]

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

If I were you, I would contact the seller and start asking questions - and get a lot more pictures of it, since the ad states they will furnish them.

See if the ASKING price is rational - with no price in the ad, that tells me the seller is totally clueless or insecure on what the car will bring. I would guess BOTH!

If they tell you to "make an offer," I would tell them to kindly call me back when they have a price.

Three things do not appeal to me; one is auctions, one is the usually faulty belief on what their car will bring in the present tense, and the other is NO asking price.

I agree, it always irritates me too not to have a price.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by audihenry

I agree, it always irritates me too not to have a price.

I won't even try to deal with anyone without an asking price. Any price offered is always the wrong price. They either have a price, or they don't. You can't work with blue-sky, there's nowhere to go.

[Tomguy]

You know a buyer isn't really interested in buying a car (yet, or the car they are looking at) if they're a time-waster.
Examples: "Well I don't get paid until Friday" or "Can you hold it for me so I can make sure the wife is OK with it?"

You know a seller isn't really interested in selling a car (yet) if they're a time-waster.
Examples: No price listed, no pictures available

They aren't looking to sell this car - at least not seriously, yet. If they were, it'd have a dollar amount. Even if it's absurd. It needs to start somewhere.

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I contacted the seller of the 300SEL we have been discussing. She is asking $12,500.

I am going to start a new thread for this car's discussion.