talk me out of this one... - Page 5 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

autozen · #61 11-26-2004, 09:26 AM

Q45,
The problem with the 70 and 71 cars was with the cylinder heads. I'm speaking of the sixes. The 71 280SEC 3.5 like I have in my garage of course had the V/8.
The 69 280SEC was a beautiful car. The only outward feature changes were the signal lights in front and the shape of the hood. I trust my 67 230SL more on a trip than my 71 280SL.

Peter

Mark DiSilvestro · #62 11-26-2004, 09:43 AM

Peter,
I'd heard that the 250S/SE 2.5 sixes had head problems, which were solved in the 2.8. What was the problem with the '70 and '71? Does it extend to the '72? I have a '72 250C.

Happy Motoring, Mark

autozen · #63 11-26-2004, 09:54 AM

Mark,
The problem with the 70 and 71 was the casting. The heads developed pin hole leaks in the last three cylinders and sprayed coolant into the combustion chamber. You'd be driving along and all of a sudden the temp would shoot up, ans it looked like you were crop dusting. Since the heads were close to two grand IIRC, we had them welded and remachined, but they just broke out in a different location. The 72 used a different casting, because it was the first year for low compression and designed to run on regular, but we still had some problems with them although not as much.

Peter

Mark DiSilvestro · #64 11-26-2004, 11:38 AM

I drove a '72 250 sedan (with a '70 M130 2.8 engine) for 15 years without head problems. Guess I got lucky.
Glad to know, one compensation for the lower compression head on my '72 250C, is the smaller chance of head problems.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Q45Denver · #65 11-26-2004, 01:05 PM

Would it be practical to swap heads with a earlier model. Probably against EPA regs for a shop to do it I suppose.

autozen · #66 11-27-2004, 09:48 AM

Nice looking 66 200 fin style on San Fran Craig's List for $2000 obo. Car has a lot of new parts, and I'm sure no rust if it has been a Ca. car. There are a lot of nice 108s rust free out here for under $2000.

Peter

WANT '71 280SEL · #67 11-27-2004, 05:44 PM

About the rust free 108 cars in CA. I found a nice blue 280SE 4.5 that said the interior needed some help but rust free, so I sent an email and haven't heard back which was 4 days ago. He said to email for pics, oh well. I wouldn't mind a 108, but a 111 sure would tickle my fancy.
Thanks
David

WANT '71 280SEL · #68 11-28-2004, 01:12 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4507995126&indexURL=9#ebayphotohosting

It's in Cookeville, TN. It's around 7.5 hours from my house, so I could pick this one up. I emailed him though and asked about rust and for some more pics of the interior. The trans tunnel carpet looks pretty shabby, and it looks as if the driver's carpet is completely missing. Also, would it be inappropriate to call him and offer maybe say, $1800 if it's pretty much rust free? I could get the door painted pretty cheaply. Oh yeah, I also asked why just the driver's door would need paint.
Thanks Again
David

Mark DiSilvestro · #69 11-28-2004, 01:34 AM

Another Road Trip!
I'd go see the car, then decide if it's worth $2300.
I'd be more worried about the floors than the rugs.
Driver's door could be a poorly repainted replacement.
As always, check for rust, rust, rust, rust
and oil pressure.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Hector111 · #70 11-28-2004, 02:25 AM

Hey David

I saw this one about a month ago on ebay. I think it is the same pics. What I don't know if it is the same seller.

Also the seats look th be vinyl not leather.

Its got 2 mirrors - so mayby a repacement door?

It will also need new windlace around doors. you can see it is worn on driver door.

Ask for photos of under body.

Hector111 · #71 11-28-2004, 02:40 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6329&item=4507536212&rd=1

This one might be a better deal in the long run. Spend the money up front for a better car. You will spend more if the other car needs only paint and chrome.

This one looks like you could drive it back home.

WANT '71 280SEL · #72 11-28-2004, 02:45 AM

I saw that last one, that's a cool video they have...I've watched it twice so far. About the door lace, is that a seal that needs to be replaced or is it some sort of decoration? Anyone replaced it before? One more thing, when door seals are bad do they leak water or usually just let noise in while driving? Do your guys' door seals leak, and if they've been replaced, did you sue OEM or aftermarket?
Thanks
David

300SDog · #73 11-28-2004, 06:54 AM

On that Tennessee 220Sb, it looks to be a car DIY maintained with electronic ignition upgrade, fancy painted engine compartment fiddly bits, scrubbed radiator, etc. Spare parts cyl head, carbs and fuse box is an interesting sign too. This probably says the car has had carb, valve and electrical work done. I wonder if he overloaded and toasted the fusebox/electrical system with the electronic ignition upgrade.

And the fender mounted side view mirror looks like jc.whitney. Maybe ask him if they planed the cylinder head and removed alot of metal when they did the valves, guides and seals. If he enthusiastically brags about raising the compression ratio by shaving the cylinder head, then walk away.

Assuming the engine and kingpin suspension check out, the 1965 automatic tranny would be my chief concern. Gotta listen carefully to the tranny after the car has run hot at high speed for awhile. Tranny failures like flaring in between shifts are often not apparent unless the tranny fluid gets completely heated up.

Meanwhile, I'd sure as hell show up with 18-20 hundred dollar bills in case the car passes all the tests (rare for an ebay deal) and you want to beat the current buy-it-now price and drive it home with your own plates. Maybe even have a bundle of $1,500 in C-notes bound with a paperclip keeping another 5 Franklins in your back pocket for negotiation. And with 6 days to go in the auction he may not get a decent bid for awhile, so the deal should be ripe for negotiation by Wednesday or Thursday after the seller has been stewing for a few days.

Hell, it might actually be a square deal assuming the story of going overseas being the reason for selling the car is on the level. You can even test his story by asking if he wants a buy-it-back arrangement when he returns from Iraq or wherever. And if he baulks at the buy-it-back idea then there might be something wrong with the car that he's not telling you about.

Last edited by 300SDog; 11-28-2004 at 07:37 AM.

autozen · #74 11-28-2004, 09:01 AM

David,
Why do you keep looking at that junk on ebay? That trunk full of enticing parts is a trunk full of stuff for the scrap pile. I didn't see anything of any value. Did you check out the 66 200 on Craig's list I told you about? Tennessee is 7 hours away, but California is only 3 hours away by plane. I'm sure you can probably get this rust free one for less than $1500 and use the other $300 you were planning to spend for a plane ticket. I'll even check a couple out for you in the bay area if you want. Having bought and sold many MBs as a professional mechanic over the last 30 years, I have a pretty good idea what to look for. I also can get bottom prices, because I no longer get starry eyed over a Mercedes. I get as excited about a Mercedes as a hooker does about a trick. Now I can't spend my life looking for a car for you, But I'm willing to check a couple out.

Peter

WANT '71 280SEL · #75 11-28-2004, 09:27 AM

Autozen, thank you for the link and your kind offer. However, I am looking for a 111. I'm going to email the guy with the 200 to see just what exactly there is. Would it be safe to drive a car like that all the way back to IN? I looked at it and thought, maybe $1500 for the car and $750 to ship. But if I flew out, it would probably come out about the same I guess figuring gas in, etc. So I'm sending him an email and we'll see where it goes from there.
Thanks
David