1972 280SE for $500

[murray720]

I just found this and besides what's written i don't know anythig about it. I don't have the room or extra money but it looks like a steal... someone from here should grab it.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/car/20296853.html

[wbain5280]

Oh Man, why L.A.? I could put a head gasket on that car in 5 - 6 hrs. I wonder what the rest of the car looks like.

[bobboyer5]

Murray:

Before car is shipped, here's what you should find out:

1. Is block cracked?

2. How extensive is rust? (Be precise and persistent with this question).

3. Is exhaust shot?

4. How is radiator?

5. Does car leak when raining?

6. Is it an 8 or a 6?

If any of these questions, other than the last one, reveals those indicated problems, pass on the car. But if not, grab it. With about $2K-$3K worth of well-spent money, you could have a classic daily driver good for another 100K miles.

As to 6 vs. 8, the 6 is indestructible but slower. The 4.5 on the * is about the quickest, torquest engine made by MB until fairly recently. But you need to check out that engine for cam wear and rings/pistons.

Be intelligent. There's no free lunch.

Bob

[joshhol]

From what I've heard, those lower ends on the 4.5 will outlast everything else on the car. As long as they've never been run short on oil, poor drain intervals, overheating etc.

[murray720]

I wish I had the room for two but I don't ...Plus I'm still having fun with my 63' 220s which I've recently dubbed, "The White Bison."

Furthermore, "The White Bison" got a new set of plugs and points last night. It's amazing what the small stuff will do to her.

[joshhol]

Murray720, haven't seen you around in a while, how's it going?

I still have those seats. . .

BTW I hope I didn't offend you by assuming you'd just give me those CD repair manuals. I was just being a little cheeky since you didn't mention a price. Besides, I'd like book form anyway. I suckered myself into a reprint that has everything except good picture quality. I'll rectify that by selling it to books4cars.com and turning around and buying the factory book if they still have it.

[murray720]

Josh,
I offered them to you at no charge and it's out of my own laziness that they didn't get to you. I apologize and if you can resend your address I’ll be sure SURE SURE to get them out by monday. I’m arobinson@reservationcenter.net

As for Mercedes manuals... I bought an original 63 Shop Manual off Ebay for around $75 or $80. It was in in great shape and the seller, a retired Mercedes Mechanic, even gave his personal biography of when and how he acquired this book in the early 60's.

Well, to make a long story short, I misplaced the manual and needed to find another (the engine swap days). A local shop referred me to a guy in New Jersey that did licensed, copy machine reprints... not to pretty but it works. I think it was around $100. I don't have the guys name on me, but I'll see if I can find it at home.

And unfortunately I haven't been able to get to the cosmetics as soon as I would have liked; Seats, Paint, Door Locks, Seals, Inside Carpet, blah, blah, blah... but she's Purring - Solid 700 RPMs in drive!

[joshhol]

Murray

Don't worry about it. Give it to someone who needs it and doesn't want to shell out for the book. I don't mind plunking down a hundred for the factory manual. I want a hard copy, and it will pay for itself in a couple repairs.
I've been lazy too. It seems that it is easier to order parts than it is to put them in. I've got a list of chores I need to get after. Could be that I have too many cars.

Must be nice to have fuel injection. Glad that your car is running well.

[Tomguy]

Originally posted by joshhol
MurrayIt seems that it is easier to order parts than it is to put them in.

Hey, perhaps for you, but when you're a poor college student, all you can do is LOOK at those $100 subframe mounts and hope you can save up the $$$ for them I've been lucky though with parts costs myself (like the ignition box for $5, lower A-arm for $20, window regulator with motor for $45, starter for $12....)

To say I lucked out on the starter is an understatement... someone must've taken it off the 420 in the junkyard thinking it was crap (since it had the rebuild sticker on it) but I grabbed it and looked at it closely (I think it said 5.5.2001 on it, not sure) and deemed it worthy of my purchase. It was just sitting in there - no disassembly required!

Josh, with as complex as the FI system is on the 4.5 can you imagine how impossible it would be if it had dual carbs? I don't want to imagine!

[joshhol]

I can barely spell carbur$%^tor, much less tune one.
I'll bet that mechanical FI system works pretty reliably.

Phil cut me a good deal on sub mounts