280SEL 4.5 with Rebuilt Engine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

fema · #1 04-09-2003, 07:33 PM

OK - I am going to look at a 4.5 thats equipped the way I'd like. It's a 1 owner deal, but not a creampuff. From the phone conversation, I got that it's been well taken care of, but nees TLC for leather and wood, etc. He had it repainted the original color (bronze), but says it was a bad job and has lots of "pot" marks. Total driving miles 186K, BUT, he had a new 4.5 engine (rebuilt) put in about '95, and only 2500 miles since, so the car sits fior the most part. Owner says only one of two places in the country that provides quality rebuilt MB engines, this one from Oregon.

Any comments, or does this sound pretty good, i.e., won't need engine work for aq long time?

psfred · #2 04-09-2003, 08:54 PM

He must have beat the c...p out of it to need a rebuild at 180,000 miles, the M117 typically doesn't need anthing before 250,000, and that will be cams and/or valves.

Unless he got ripped off by a shop that did a rebuild because he needed new valve guide seals (don't scoff, I know for a fact that a customer in this area got charged for a rebuild when all that was done was a helicoil for a spark plug......)

Wood is going to cost the earth if it needs replaced (and if it does, that usually means window leaks and rust under the carpets.....), new leather is why I'm making seat covers for the 280, can't afford "real" ones.

All that said, if the price is right and there is little or no rust, grab it, these lovely cars are going to the dumps so fast it's scary, and they usually crush them.

Peter

fema · #3 04-09-2003, 11:48 PM

I'll find more out face to face on Friday. he certainly doesn't sound like the kind of guy who beat it up, but who knows. i forget exactly how it put it, but it turned out whatever they thought needed to be done, was the same as buying the "new engine", so they did it. It may be the guy has $$$ and didn't mind spending them. His mechanic is a guy who worked at the dealership when he bought the car 30 years ago, and now has a local shop with his sons - since he's been around a while, in a small city (Colorado Springs), I would think that speaks well.

He said there had been some little rust that was repaired, and there;s a small dent in the rear side to be pulled out. I thought wood trim was relatively inexpensive? Other posts I've read seem to indicate they CAN be simple to refinish. Leather, yeah, geuss that can cost, what about replacing it with new MB Tex?

I'll let you know more after I see it friday, and maybe get it inspected. Oh yeah, he started at $8500m several months ago, last he was asking 7500, but I'm shooting for %K...

fema · #4 04-09-2003, 11:49 PM

I'll find more out face to face on Friday. he certainly doesn't sound like the kind of guy who beat it up, but who knows. i forget exactly how it put it, but it turned out whatever they thought needed to be done, was the same as buying the "new engine", so they did it. It may be the guy has $$$ and didn't mind spending them. His mechanic is a guy who worked at the dealership when he bought the car 30 years ago, and now has a local shop with his sons - since he's been around a while, in a small city (Colorado Springs), I would think that speaks well.

He said there had been some little rust that was repaired, and there;s a small dent in the rear side to be pulled out. I thought wood trim was relatively inexpensive? Other posts I've read seem to indicate they CAN be simple to refinish. Leather, yeah, geuss that can cost, what about replacing it with new MB Tex?

I'll let you know more after I see it friday, and maybe get it inspected. Oh yeah, he started at $8500m several months ago, last he was asking 7500, but I'm shooting for 5K...

psfred · #5 04-10-2003, 12:50 AM

Francis:

MB Tex from Adsit is about $1700 for the full set, leather is $2700 -- these are sale prices from last year. I've been quoted $500 each for front seat covers by World Upholstery, seen prices as low as $380 each. I didn't bother to ask about the rear seat since I couldn't pony up for the fronts!

I bought 2 1/2 hides of navy blue Italian upholstery leather, turns out to be VERY close to the MB 262 leather. I've made a set of vinyl covers for the fonts, only problem was adjustments (making patterns from the old onse was a gas, the leather was STRETCHED in places, to say nothing of the holes and tears....). Not all that big a project if you can sew, or get someone to teach you how. Biggest problem is wrestling the upper cover around while sewing the side panels in.

I really like the way leather sits, so will make my own.

As I said, the M117 usually runs FOREVER, but who knows what "like a new engine" means. Could just be a valve job, or timing chain.

$5000 is a fair price if it is in very good shape.

New wood is frighteningly expensive -- my mechanic paid $500 for a front bow 10 years ago, so you can guess what it would cost now. Most likely, the laquer is shot on the car by now, even if garaged.

Refinishing the wood is straightforward -- strip all the old laquer off and stain if necessary to restore color (if the laquer is all blistered, the color will be faded). DO NOT SAND, the veneer is only 1/64" or so thick, you will sand it off completely!

Once you get it stained, apply many coats of spar varnish, sanding between coats until the varnish fills the grain and you can sand smooth. Go gently with the sandpaper, it's easy to cut right through the finish AND veneer the first few coats. Watch for runs and for the channel in the front bow filling up.

When you get a decent amount of varnish on (I used about 14 coats), rub down with "between coats" Scotchbrite to a completely dull finish, the polish back out with pumice and rottenstone to an near gloss. This will match the factory finish (sprayed on, I'm sure, not brushed), and prevent the "mirror" gloss than looks fake. Also removes any blemishes and dust particles. You can get is as glossy as you want, just remember that having the sun glare off the base of the windshield can be a real pain.

Peter