280se 3.5 on e-bay

[bikis]

If you look at the interior pictures, what are those knobs(switches) on the right side of the gear shifter?Owner has no idea.The A/C unit is different than most 3.5 would have.Is this original?Also 112 chrome trim on the outside.Could it be factory?What about these red lights on the back on the car.The owner says one was added.I've seen euro models having round ones on the bumper.Any thoughts and opinions abot this car.Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6329&item=2471331228

[cth350]

The 300se chrome was available as a factory option. You have to see the data card (or maybe the plate under the hood to know for sure). If it's held on by glue, it's not factory.

That red light is a euro-only thing, as is the license plate light on the bumper and those big extra lights in front.

The 111 cars didn't have A/C from the factory, it was a dealership add-on.

If this was indeed a euro-delivered car, perhaps the european dealerships used a different unit from the US?

Too bad its the wrong radio. In theory, it should have slipped right in w/o cutting the dash (something you have to do on earlier 111 coupes), so it's correctable.

No clue on the knobs, though a rear defroster might be one of them. The smaller knob is different, but it escapes my mind what it can be for.

-CTH

[300SDog]

Hell yes, we disect ebay cars here..... and with collective wisdom of this forum you can learn anything you want to know about the Vintage Benz - doesnt matter if its Heckflosse, V-8, 108 or anything else.

What are the seat covers about? Maybe the leather seats are cracked and shabby. And the unoriginal radio detracts from value too.

Center console switches next to the shifter look original to me. One might be front/rear radio speaker dial with markings: " <----[><]---->" .....another could be the 4-way flasher marked with a red dot. The third looks like cigar lighter reachable from the back seat.

For sure the 3rd brake light in center of rear window is bogus. Am thinking the same thing about the red reflector on the rear bumper that looks like something from kid's bicycle. Try and find out the history of ownership. Did an old guy own the car who drove incredibly slow, causing his daughter to install rear bumper reflector and 3rd brake light to protect the old geezer?

Cant comment on the A/C except to say the green dash knob is probably involved in its operation. "Green" is German code for A/C as also appears in 114/115 cars.

Horizontal chrome strips you've identified as 112 strike me as part of some kinda "chrome package." And regarding the wheel well chrome strips...... these are generally offered as aftermarket products that some folks use to cover rust. But this doesnt mean the fenders are rusted underneath. Also the forward door post chrome looks uncommon to me. Of course being that its a California car, all of these chrome features could have come from dealership that originally sold the car - an optional "chrome package" as i have said.

Weird thing about after-market parts is they too become rare and can strangely improve the value of the car, although they might take away points at concourse competition. TomGuy here has an excellent aftermarket "cow catcher" front bumper piece that protects the grill on his 108 and that in itself is a rare and collectible part.

Basically, this ebay 3.5 coupe looks like an unmolested example that has been loved for its entire life. Complete service records themselves are worth alot.

My guess is the car could be stolen somewhere in the less than $15G range...... although it could very well trade above $20G. I dunno why, but this particular example looks like its got very good kharma to me.

[Tomguy]

Dog, as far as I know, it was an ultra-rare dealer option, and not aftermarket, I have seen a couple other 108's and 109's (3 now, total) with the same guard.

I also think some other things are ultra-rare yet came on ALL the 3.5's and 4.5's - the coil and distributor covers, for example. My coil cap is still fine and my distributor one would be too, if I hadn't put it on the engine while it was hot and it fell onto the header

[300SDog]

Tom, I've got an original set of rubber boots from 280/8 that fit over the coil and distributor cap..... unfortunately the parts are located in CT where i used to live. Having no use for them on the diesel, i left em behind in girlfriends garage. LOL, am thinking they are now on the "rare and endangered parts list " because they get pirated to other automobiles as an "aftermarket" improvement. If you like i can try to recover the dist.cap boot on rare possibility that it might fit your 4.5 Am also thinking just because bumper brackets were dealership installed, doesnt mean they werent an aftermarket product. Btw, have you ever thought about mounting emblems say from foreign countries to your center bumper/grill protector attachment?

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Last edited by 300SDog; 04-05-2004 at 09:01 AM.

[cth350]

There were several possible bumper guards installed by dealers. Some have indeed gotten rare, since we tend to throw them away thinking they're after market junk. Someplace out there in the world is a write up of them. I recall seeing it about 10 years ago. Long before the web became a good place to store such things.

http://113.mbz.org/options/ shows guards as being code 440. Not much else.

-CTH

[cth350]

Ok, this too...

http://vets.list.archives.mbz.org/1999/Jan/Vol_1_Num_575/

...No pictures unfortunately, just a brief snippet of conversation from Jan 1999. -CTH

[kpb]

I would wanna see some pix of the trunk and headlight eyebrows before committing any serious thought to the auto. I believe the location for the rear fog is correct but pix I have seen have not shown a rounded rectangular housing nor one so small. If this is wired to the original light switch, it will function on the second pull-out spot, only after the front fogs are on via the first pull-out (and at least one notch to the right). Perhaps one of the mystery switches is for this rear fog, and another may be for the front supplemental lights and the original switch features were simply unknown to the installer.

BTW, Mark DiSilvestro on here has a vintage rear fog in his possession, so hey Mark, can you "illuminate" us?

Boy, that third brake light is a pip isn't it? Obviously meant for an inside mount but sitting on the trunk

Something about the c pillar of the coupe just makes me love it!!

[Q45Denver]

Nice car, assuming there is no rust. I'd probably deduct a couple thousand for the non OEM A/C and radio. It would cost at least that to get used replacements. Other than that I think the extra chrome and lights are a plus.

[bikis]

The car has more rust than decribed.Both rear fenders on the bottom are rusted a lot.The finger would go through if you push it hard.The right side rocker on the bottom in the middle has about a foot of rust.It's rusted through.On the sides both rockers looks fine.The edge around windshield and rear window has a few rust spots the size of a quater.It was repainted.You can see the edge of the masking tape used around the windows, engine compartment, etc.Drivers side has a scratch from rear to front.Looks like there was body work on the right front.You can see sanded bondo form under the hood on the fender(is that still fender or different part)The gap between the hood and fenders all the way around is different.All other panels fit pretty good.Doors closes exelent.Leather on front seats is totaly gone.Door panels,dash and carpet would need major cleaning.Car drives very nice .Didn't recognize anything.Transmition shifts smooth.On idle engine runs uneven.Didn't recognize any smoke at cold start.New fuel pump.A/C is Behr.Radio is Blaupunkt,doesn't look like original.One of the switches next to the shifter is added.Two others look original.Everthing works, nothing is missing.The side chrome strip is attached on with the small holders that go through the sheet metal and has a small nuts on the inside.Original?There is original german first aid kit on the bottom of the passengers side.Service manual book.Didn't look at the records.Looks like it could be a nice daily driver or a good start for restoration.Not even close to a perfect car.Any opinions?