Pricey W108 on Ebay - What do you think about it? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

hchinaski · #1 10-01-2011, 09:36 PM

I've been eyeing this 1972 280SEL 4.5 on Ebay. The asking price is stratospheric for one of these, at just under $16K, but it sure looks nice. The interior especially, with the restored wood.

I worry about the lack of records, with a story about them allegedly being lost during a 4 month stay at a body shop. Why would it be at a body shop for 4 months? Without receipts to prove the claim that the engine has been rebuilt, all I can go on is its appearance, and to my eye it looks dirty and like the hoses have all been on there a long time.

Does anything look fishy to any of you, or am I just being paranoid?

[url=http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/?cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648&item=170700790238&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT[/url]

carnut · #2 10-01-2011, 09:51 PM

I, as well, looked at that ad. Yes it seems over priced by about $7000. Factoring in what it would cost to repaint and do any major engine work. its only value is lack of rust? and your desire. The saying "buy the best example you can afford" is applicable here. Are you debating whether you can turn a profit in 2/3 years? I dont think so even at $8000.

hchinaski · #3 10-01-2011, 10:14 PM

I was thinking that if it had the records, and assuming a glowing review from a PPI, that this car is worth maybe $10k, tops. Without the records, but a positive PPI, more like $8k. Like I said, $16K is STRATOSPHERIC. But a used car lot in suburban LA wouldl hopefully negotiate.

Starting to feel like my paranoia about this car is justified.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnut

I, as well, looked at that ad. Yes it seems over priced by about $7000. Factoring in what it would cost to repaint and do any major engine work. its only value is lack of rust? and your desire. The saying "buy the best example you can afford" is applicable here. Are you debating whether you can turn a profit in 2/3 years? I dont think so even at $8000.

mercmad6.3 · #4 10-02-2011, 02:21 AM

These people sell a lot of Junk cars too.

Why is the right front tire worn Like that?
why weren't the wheel houses painted? It appears to be a lot of overspray in there and not what i would call a resto and certainly not worth the money they are asking. perhaps they are fishing for a Rich German merc enthusiast?

Tomguy · #5 10-02-2011, 05:02 PM

Not a single underside photo that I could see. No shot of the suspension bits, rust areas etc. I would stay away, the price is what an immaculate documented 4.5 300 should go for.

bwostosh · #6 10-02-2011, 11:13 PM

I'll sell you one twice as good at half the price.
With a better color combo dark blue/dark blue

Mr.Kenny · #7 10-03-2011, 12:02 PM

So many repetitious photos, I lost interest.

And no under car shots???
I own one just like that car same color & everything with only 29,000 miles Owned by same family since new.
A garage queen for them and me, I am going to sell it; but at fair market price....whatever that is.

Kisii · #8 10-11-2011, 02:00 PM

Similar case with a 72 280SE 4.5 in the Dallas clist...it seems to appreciate in price while up for sale. It started at $7k and is now up to $15K last time I checked.

boneheaddoctor · #9 10-11-2011, 02:56 PM

Hell, I have a 71 280SE 2.8 I'd be ecstatic to part with for half the initial $7K.

And that would be a case of highway robbery still.

alabbasi · #10 10-11-2011, 03:11 PM

Maybe I see the glass half full but the paint looks OK, the interior is clean, the wood is in great shape (amazing shape). Dash is crack free, heater leavers exist and nothing looks hacked.

It is certainly expensive, but while you can probably find a $3000 280SEL all day and all night, you'll have to spend $10k to get the interior to look like that.

For most of us on this forum, who don't mind getting dirty, the price is outrageous. But if you're the type to farm work out, even at this price, it may be a sensible buy provided that it is inspected.

Furthermore, rust free examples of these cars change hands for a fair bit more in Germany then they do here. With eBay having a global audience, they may be appealing to the overseas buyer.

boneheaddoctor · #11 10-11-2011, 03:13 PM

With the exception of my Wood not being that nice (It can stand being refinished)...my interior for the most part is as nice as that. Now the outside is another story......

alabbasi · #12 10-11-2011, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

With the exception of my Wood not being that nice (It can stand being refinished)...my interior for the most part is as nice as that. Now the outside is another story......

Yep, you're in that part of the world where you can find a nice interior on a rusty body. Here in Texas, it's the opposite, you see many solid w108's with the interiors are always burnt to a crisp.

Trying to get one of those cars to look like the one in the auction will cost you almost as much and that's not factoring in your time.

boneheaddoctor · #13 10-11-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabbasi

Yep, you're in that part of the world where you can find a nice interior on a rusty body. Here in Texas, it's the opposite, you see many solid w108's with the interiors are always burnt to a crisp.

Trying to get one of those cars to look like the one in the auction will cost you almost as much and that's not factoring in your time.

I don't expect mine to ever look as good as that does in the photos....but I am going to do the body work, and paint it (myself)....It will be a summer driver, and if I can get another 7 or 8 years out of it I'll be happy. If I can get a lot more than that I'll consider it a bonus. But I'm not going to dump that kind of money into it. They just aren't that collectible.

alabbasi · #14 10-11-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

I don't expect mine to ever look as good as that does in the photos....but I am going to do the body work, and paint it

I'm amazed at how well one can get a home paint job to come out with a little effort.

Want71280SEL (another member on this forum) and I have been working on his 1972 Jaguar XJ6. We painted it in a garage using a $9.99 paint gun from Harbor Freight and did all the prep work ourselves.

The results out of the gun was mediocre at best, but after wet sanding and buffing we got a glass finish on the paint. It has no orange peel and looks perfect.

It took the two of us a full day of sanding and buffing (and drinking) to get just the two rear quarter panels and the trunk lid done but the results have been spectacular.

I hope that you get similar results with your car. Watching that paint come out panel by panel gave us a huge sense of achievement.

boneheaddoctor · #15 10-11-2011, 04:09 PM

I have brand new (aftermarket) rocker panels, a brand new OEM left quarter panel, and a solid used right front fender with no holes, dents or bondo, but a few spots of light surface rust that will clean up easily. Any other patches will be hidden and hard to see. I hope to get to that this winter. THats going to be a real oy because this is way deaper than I have ever gotten on body work before. But I can do either gas or flux MIG.

Plus if you use a solid color, it can be wet sanded, polished and buffed to be pretty smooth.

As much as I'd love a pro to do it for me, all I could afford would be Macco. And at that point I should just do it myself. I'm not a pro but I've done a few in my life. And the only one that didn't come out right was a metallic color I could see streaks in the metallic....so no metallic colors for me.....unless its small like motorcycle parts. They are harder to screw up.

What sucks is I only have a one car garage to work in. And I can't spray when its cold because I have to turn off the blue flame matural gas heater, then it would get too cold.