Purchase Offer Help!?!? (asap) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

matthias08 · #1 02-04-2008, 05:05 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-MERCEDES-280SE-4-DOOR-SEDAN_W0QQitemZ230219311582QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230219311582

It's right under my nose... and no its not a diesel... but... ya know... would this be good until i can have my $10K rust issue resolved w/ my 240?
i went to the bank and got $1500 from my reserveish thing today
im going to look @ it @ 7

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

MATT

whunter · #2 02-04-2008, 05:31 PM

Here are some threads that may help you decide.

http://www.peachparts.com/search.htm?cx=015238323195528004774%3A_wneywo5nvm&cof=FORID%3A9&q=280SE+W116&sa=Search#928

I suggest you ask Brian to move this thread to "Vintage Forum" for a better answer.

Have a great day.

pawoSD · #3 02-04-2008, 05:38 PM

That thing will consume fuel like its free.

A beautiful car for sure, but not to use as a daily driver....

Better as a summer car for occassional drives....

t walgamuth · #4 02-04-2008, 06:43 PM

The interior suggests a euro spec car. If it is the 280 motor will have a lot of pep. It will use a lot of gas, maybe in low twenties hiway and mid teens 'round town.

The noisy valves are pretty normal compared to newer benzes with hydraulic lash adjustment.

The 280 motors are pretty bulletproof, rivaling the 616 and 617 diesels for longivity. The fuel injection systems are all mechanical and very durable too.

If it checks out mechanically it might be worth buying but I would not do so without a prepurchase inspection.

Tom W

Blue 72 250 · #5 02-04-2008, 07:27 PM

I would only buy it if she still had the euro power plant. However, for $1500 I would be looking for a V-8 myself though.

If she checks out flash 8 crisp bings in the guys face and see if he bites. He will come back with some crap about how he needs to get his money back from the trade-in, but that is not always true. They probablly made the money back on the trade when they sold the new car to the guy. He counters for 1k, you pick up the cash and walk. Then I bet she sells.

POS · #6 02-04-2008, 08:10 PM

He has no bids and 4 days. I'd say you have time to do some due diligence. Go look at it and drive it. While you're there, go through the glove box and try to find the last owner, then call him and find out what you can about the car. I've done that for lots of vehicles I've bought or was trying to buy, and every previous owner has been real nice to me.

kalpol · #7 02-04-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The interior suggests a euro spec car. If it is the 280 motor will have a lot of pep. It will use a lot of gas, maybe in low twenties hiway and mid teens 'round town.

The noisy valves are pretty normal compared to newer benzes with hydraulic lash adjustment.

The 280 motors are pretty bulletproof, rivaling the 616 and 617 diesels for longivity. The fuel injection systems are all mechanical and very durable too.

If it checks out mechanically it might be worth buying but I would not do so without a prepurchase inspection.

Tom W

It's got US bumpers and lights - the lights I can see being on a Euro car, but not the bumpers. So I'm betting it's a US-spec car.

pastmaster · #8 02-04-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthias08

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-MERCEDES-280SE-4-DOOR-SEDAN_W0QQitemZ230219311582QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230219311582

It's right under my nose... and no its not a diesel... but... ya know... would this be good until i can have my $10K rust issue resolved w/ my 240?
i went to the bank and got $1500 from my reserveish thing today
im going to look @ it @ 7

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

MATT

Matt, here is another one just about like you are looking at. It may give you some leverage in negotiating on the car. It may even be a nicer car.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1976-Mercedes-Benz-280S_W0QQitemZ280197339720QQihZ018QQcategoryZ6329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

MunichTaxi · #9 02-04-2008, 09:41 PM

They use salt in Ohio, correct? Be sure to check the underside.

matthias08 · #10 02-04-2008, 11:01 PM

I'm trying to do as much research on the 116 as possible but its sooo complicated. i grew up with so many different things from the 126 and newer. and i went out on a limb buying the 240. I love it. but its my 2nd money pit.

if i get this 78... my plan is to drive it... lightly... through the winter & spring until I've built enough credit to get a decent car loan. I just turned 18 in December and i'm just trying to make it money issue free... <<< not going so well.
I'm not concerned about gas... unless i was to buy a 6.3 or 6.9... haha. like i would... although i do really want a W140 V12

anywho... I've postponed the drive until tomorrow due to work issues...
i'll keep you updated & take TONS of pictures.

matthias08 · #11 02-04-2008, 11:02 PM

oh. also.
I detail cars for $$$ so... if i get a creampuff & drive it through 1 winter... atleast I clean my car on a regular basis. (atleast 3 times a week )

t walgamuth · #12 02-04-2008, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalpol

It's got US bumpers and lights - the lights I can see being on a Euro car, but not the bumpers. So I'm betting it's a US-spec car.

When they certified gray market cars for sale here they added us spec bumpers, I believe.

....and I am very certain that fabric seats were never sold here on us spec cars.

Tom W

JimFreeh · #13 02-05-2008, 06:56 AM

Seats could have been reupholstered, but the door panels suggest either a thorough job, or that they are original.

What scares me is the location and the W116 body. These cars are rust magnets, and the wonderful state of Ohio is a big salt user.

Look closely at the anti sway bar mounts in front, common rust out area, and the cost of repairs effectively totals the car. Sway bar runns high along the firewall.

Jim

matthias08 · #14 02-05-2008, 05:32 PM

well its raining here. a lot. and i got SOAKED looking at this beast today.
its been repainted for sure. there's overspray on the chrome strips. theere is a hole in the top of the back seat. the car is FILTHY. like. i mean. still has glasses & bank envelopes from the previous owner.
I couldn't get the trunk open. the lock was being worse than that of my 240.
it started up EASILY
seemed to be idling rather high. i have a video && will review actual engine speed.
the guy wouldn't let me drive it unless i put a bid in on ebay "its an ebay sale only, and if i wanted people to test drive it i wouldn't have it online"
but then he did agree that he would do a private sale off of ebay.
he wouldn't go any lower than 2200... but the tag in the windshield said 1900!!! ebay said BIN 2500. only 1 of the windows were functioning.
i got sound out of 2 others. the sunroof was... well... not wanting to go. so i freaked out and quickly closed it.
i pulled back some carpet and no pan rust to be seen. but there is some body stuff.
oh. and on the back bumper...
where im assuming bumper guards would go?!? missing. and the shock thingy (sorry about my teenage termonology) was rusted... to the point in flaking.
oh. and knowing about mercedes and such... the odometer read 129999 and the trip odo said 000.9
my guess is it's broken and he didn't want me knowing.
im pissed
i like the car. but not that much.
if anybody knows about one... i'd like a 116 SD

i saw one the other day while i was leaving work. the guy approached me... man i should have just offered him like 4G right there.
it was AMAZING. just hit 200K

Blue 72 250 · #15 02-05-2008, 08:48 PM

run away from that one