I'm seriously looking at a 1968 250SE coupe.

The seller is asking $16K, which I believe is overpriced, but I'm not sure how much.

The car is in really beautiful shape. The exterior is black, and the paint could be original. If not, it is still a very high quality respray. There is no overspray on any trim, rubber, or molding.

The interior is a dark red color. Not a burgundy, kind of reddish brown. The guy I talked to (not the owner) said it could be called "blood red", but that doesn't sound like a name Mercedes would use.

However, the front and rear seats have been redone. The leather looks and feels brand spanking new.

The carpets looks like they've been replaced, too, with original material, but I can't tell. If the carpets are original, then the car must've been hermetically sealed in a vacum chamber.

Soooooo, waddya think this car is worth?

Are there any weaknesses with this model?

I think the 2.5 liter engine is a different one than the later 2.8 liter. I remember reading that it has a different engine code.

Can anyone comment on the fuel injection used, if reliable, etc.?

How about the tranny? It is a 4 speed automatic.

The car has chromed bundt cake style rims, which I don't think the car came with.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I found something strange.

My Mercedes-Benz Illustrated Buyer's Guide says that the 250SE coupe was made only in 1966-1967.

Either this is a 1967, or it is actually a 1968 280SE.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Great taste. Long time no talk. I am restoring a 68 280SE right now. It has received a show quality 6 stage paint and being ready for interior finish. I have about a month to go. You are right. If it is 250SE, it is before 68. As for the price, I paid 12k for mine (no rust a solid #3 car) and well over 14k beyond what I paid for the car. Some say it is too much but I also have seen these well restored go for over $30k.

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68 280SE Coupe restored
01 Audi A8L
05 Volvo XC90 AWD
85 CJ7 (Rockcrawler) GM 5.3 Vortec
02 Excursion XLT 4X4 PSD 700lbs. torque
78 Jeep J-10 4x4 (project)
84 Jeep Wagoneer (donor vehicle)
02 Carson HD Car Hauler

David

Cool. I'd love to see your car.

Hopefully I'll hear back from the seller today.

Where in Orange County are you?

I live in Diamond Bar, just north of Orange County.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I would say to go for lower teens in the price -- perhaps 12-13K would be appropriate. $16K does seem overpriced.

The 250 engine is also an M130 like the 2.8 liter motors -- in fact the 2.8 is just a larger displacement 250. Remember that the M130s started with the 230 engine (as in 230SL), then 250, then 280s.

The problem with the 250s is that they don't make much HP for a car that large. You are talking perhaps 150-160 HP here. The 280s did 175-180 HP which is barely adequate. THey are reliable which is good, and easy to fix, with good parts availability.

My advice if you want a 111 coupe is to go the 3.5 route. It will bump the price up to the high teens or 20s, but you will be MUCH happier with the "go" power, if you know what I mean.

The transmissions are reliable, but indeed are rough shifting particularly if you are accelerating abruptly or quickly. They are indeed 4-speed and similar to those used on the R113 SLs or even the 6.3 !

Check for rust. My advice -- pass. For $16K you can get a great 6.3 or perhaps if you want a 111 coupe, a decent 3.5 which gives nice power too.

Cheers,
Gerry

The injection is the mechanical type with an electric pump and an engine-driven "pump" which functions as a metering device. I agree with Gerry - $16K is too much. These are very hard cars to sell - the people with money want either the cabs or the 3.5. And the 250 automatic is the poor cousin of the 111 coupes.

If the seller won't take 13K, walk and start looking for a 3.5 or a cab (or a more reasonably priced 220, 250 or 280 SE.

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Thanks for the input everyone.

I'm going to drive the car tomorrow to see how it feels.

I want to know if the car feels tight, if the suspension is beat up, how the steering feels, braking, etc.

If I feel "at home" in the car, then I am going to have Mr. MB Motors do a thorough PPI.

If it checks out, I'll offer $10,000 and see what the seller says.

I've decided $12k is all I'll pay for the car.

I was wondering about the engine. I thought that the 2.5 liter and the 2.8 liter engines were basically the same, but they have different engine codes. The 2.5 is an M129 engine, while the 2.8 liter is an M130.

Of course I would want a 280SE 3.5, but I don't have that kind of money. $12k won't buy a good condition 3.5 to use as a daily driver.

I know that the 6 cylinder 280SE has more hp, but it is also about 300 lbs. heavier. I'm willing to bet that the 280SE and 250SE have nearly identical performance numbers.

The primary thing that attracts me to this particular car is that the interior is mint. It is obviously the owner has invested a suitcase full of money on the interior restoration.

If I decide in the future that I just have to have a V8, I could drop in a 4.5.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I am in Anaheim Hills.

__________________
68 280SE Coupe restored
01 Audi A8L
05 Volvo XC90 AWD
85 CJ7 (Rockcrawler) GM 5.3 Vortec
02 Excursion XLT 4X4 PSD 700lbs. torque
78 Jeep J-10 4x4 (project)
84 Jeep Wagoneer (donor vehicle)
02 Carson HD Car Hauler

David

Not too far from Diamond Bar.

Are you close to Caliber Motors off of La Palma Ave.?

I was there the other day...

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I love w111 coupe, but 280se 3.5 is the way to go. For 16K you should get a decent 3.5. Check TraderOnline.com, Hemmings.com, Recycler.com and of course Ebay. I bought mine from a guy who was selling it on E-bay with 20K reserve. Went to look at the car, offered 9K. After 6 month he called me back that he would sell it for 12K and finaly we agreed for 10K. It was in Fountain Valley , Orange county. Far from a perfect condition, has sunroof, power windows and A/C, but I'm enjoying it and driving it a lot.

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280se 3.5 coupe DB172 anthracite grey
2006 Toyota Avalon Limited
1999 Ford Explorer Limited
Looking for early '60s Vespa 150

You guys were right.

The car needs a V8. It was just too slooooooooooow.

Basically, the car was very clean. The interior leather and carpets were recently redone with new materials from Germany.

Two years ago, the owner had it repainted, took the car down to bare metal, and had all of the window rubber replaced all around the car.

He claims to have rebuilt the entire top end of the engine 18 months ago to the tune of $4,000.

The engine idled poorly though, so I don't know what was up with that.

The driver's side power window motor was tired.

The tach doesn't work.

I decided to pass.

Now I think I'll go back to bidding on that 500E on Ebay.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

There's a certain 6.3 here in Portland that is looking for a home...

It's all the V-8 you'll ever need.

Cheers,
Gerry

I'd love to buy your 6.3. Like you said, it's the real deal.

I'm just too much of a gentleman to have you come down to my miserly budget of $12,000. That is all of the budget my wife has given me.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".