Opinion on 250 Coupe - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Austin85 · #1 01-20-2007, 12:54 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.ebay.com%3A80%2Fsearch%2Fsearch.dll%3Ffrom%3DR40%26satitle%3D320072016368%26f vi%3D1&item=320072016368

Please check the link for this 250C. Iam interested in this as it is a coupe & love the seats and shifter!

Please see the problems they know exist and give me any input on costs to fix up.

( I looked again at an SDL today, but walked when the dealer turned out to be a snake & I found oil on the underside ...)

Thanks;

AA

Jim B. · #2 01-20-2007, 01:37 AM

These certainly are handsome cars, aren't they? I was on a vacation in Arequipa, (southern) Peru, some years ago, and imagine my surprise and astonishment to see one of these come down the cobbled streets near downtown!!

Finding missing crome pieces won't be easy or cheap, well anyway not cheap, and being as it was in Wisconsin, check VERY thoroughly for rust, a cause of death on these cars, I have heard the carbs can give trouble on them, but these are stately cars and had superb build quality.

Austin85 · #3 01-20-2007, 02:11 AM

I am going to see this tomorrow ;

He says...Other than two spots of small rust ( one at the bottom of the rocker under where the chrome trim would go by the mounting hole, and another where a stone chip was not touched up) the car appears solid underneath and on top.

I priced a rebuilt compressor and it is 154.
THese are cool looking cars & I love the seats.

It look like I may need to learn how to work on carbs......

barry123400 · #4 01-20-2007, 02:42 AM

I would say go see it and try to take a friend or aquaintence who is really familiar with the 114 series cars. As of late there seem to be quite a few purchasers lets say disapointed with their ebay purchases and are relisting them. This gentleman was really upset it seems. Really his fault though as he broke the cardinal rule of buying on ebay just from a description I imagine. Photos in my opinion count for very little. You have to check ebay cars out or have someone knowledgeble do so. There is no other option unless you allow you might be buying junk. I do not care what the ad states. If he had done the minumin this would not have happened to him.
Take a jack and jackstands as you better also do a real inspection of the chassis. Also from the recent repaint look carefully for accident damage. As fot the 79k I would say it is more like 179 k or higher. If the repaint is very poor really watch out. Anything even half decent gets at least a fair paint job usually. Very recent paint already bubbling is a really bad thing as well. I am not trying to burst your bubble but am trying to warn you just to be very careful. I really have to wonder why the seatbelts and interior trim where removed. There was a reason. And it was not the need for exercise. You have a lot of feedback and experience I see. You will not be able to check out even the automatic properly in his driveway and I doubt if he will let you drive it on the street. On the otherhand it may not be as bad as the owner suspects. Let us know what you found out when you see it.

t walgamuth · #5 01-20-2007, 08:01 AM

this looks like a money pit to me.

as suggested but not stated by barry, the reason the belts are out may well be cause the floor is rusted away. this body style is very susceptible to rust.

the basic engine and drive train is very rugged but the carbs are problematic and difficult to put right. even when running correctly it will not do very well on fuel because of the relatively low gearing.

they are elegant looking though.

the ownership experience will be nothing like with a 240d of the same era.

tom w

POS · #6 01-20-2007, 10:52 AM

Never buy sight unseen; too much risk.

JimmyL · #7 01-20-2007, 11:06 AM

Somebody used his Buy it Now......
Probably is good luck for you....... Stay diesel!

Austin85 · #8 01-21-2007, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

I would say go see it and try to take a friend or aquaintence who is really familiar with the 114 series cars. As of late there seem to be quite a few purchasers lets say disapointed with their ebay purchases and are relisting them. This gentleman was really upset it seems. Really his fault though as he broke the cardinal rule of buying on ebay just from a description I imagine. Photos in my opinion count for very little. You have to check ebay cars out or have someone knowledgeble do so. There is no other option unless you allow you might be buying junk. I do not care what the ad states. If he had done the minumin this would not have happened to him.
Take a jack and jackstands as you better also do a real inspection of the chassis. Also from the recent repaint look carefully for accident damage. As fot the 79k I would say it is more like 179 k or higher. If the repaint is very poor really watch out. Anything even half decent gets at least a fair paint job usually. Very recent paint already bubbling is a really bad thing as well. I am not trying to burst your bubble but am trying to warn you just to be very careful. I really have to wonder why the seatbelts and interior trim where removed. There was a reason. And it was not the need for exercise. You have a lot of feedback and experience I see. You will not be able to check out even the automatic properly in his driveway and I doubt if he will let you drive it on the street. On the otherhand it may not be as bad as the owner suspects. Let us know what you found out when you see it.

I went to see it earler today. ( Drove from Boca to Naples ...the most boring 2 hour stretch of road I have ever been on ...then now I am up in Orlando to ride big roller coasters....!!! weeeeeeeeeeeee)
SO
issue # 1 I am 6'2" and this car is not for anyone taller then 5'10" . The drivers seat pushed all the way back and the wheel is over my "upper thigh ".

issue # 2- It had rust bubbles in a few to many places- It didn't look at all like a repaint- but overall not bad and a nice clean straight body. considering it is a 36 yr old car...All but last yr in Texas.

3 only window that worked is the rear drivers side.....Others were stuck partially open.

4- Interior trim is almost all in the trunk- also all seat belts- headliner was ripped in rear, and unglued on edges-
seats were nice & dash was clean uncracked all around- If Ihad a 250C this would be a great parts car-
the engine sounded nice and steady at idle-

5 A hole in muffler pipe..

6- I wouldn't know what is wrong or right with the A/C. It should be brought into a good MB indy for a thorough inspection. It doesn'y blow at all. Or maybe it just really blows....lol

I actually left suggesting he AAA it to one to get it inspected and a thorough estimate on all repairs. For someone 5'8" it is a great car......

Austin85 · #9 01-21-2007, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Somebody used his Buy it Now......
Probably is good luck for you....... Stay diesel!

No it is still unsold. That was some freak from South Africa who wanted to get his banking information.....

rg2098 · #10 01-21-2007, 01:04 AM

Don't ever expect to get those carbs running right. Throw on webers, or if you want to have some fun, an EFI system (hint- modify the manifold from a 250SE injected model)

barry123400 · #11 01-21-2007, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rg2098

Don't ever expect to get those carbs running right. Throw on webers, or if you want to have some fun, an EFI system (hint- modify the manifold from a 250SE injected model)

I am crazy enough to really consider your suggestion of doing the efi conversion on one of my 250cs. They both have the 2.8 single cam engine. Will have to wait until I see the right junker to really consider it though. Their efi engines produce somewhat more power for the same block I think. I never considered the size problem that gentleman experienced. Although I am well aware they are somewhat of a small car. I find the 114s pleasant to drive as well. Ninety percent of my driving is rural so the gearing is not a problem in itself.

Jim B. · #12 01-21-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

Never buy sight unseen; too much risk.

hahahah this from the guy who scored the best AMG W123 sedan in North America sight unseen

rg2098 · #13 01-21-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barry123400

I am crazy enough to really consider your suggestion of doing the efi conversion on one of my 250cs. They both have the 2.8 single cam engine. Will have to wait until I see the right junker to really consider it though. Their efi engines produce somewhat more power for the same block I think. I never considered the size problem that gentleman experienced. Although I am well aware they are somewhat of a small car. I find the 114s pleasant to drive as well. Ninety percent of my driving is rural so the gearing is not a problem in itself.

The gearing killed me around the city here, always seemed to want to roar. Anyway, you can't just add the mechanical injection system to the carb block, but the manifold is a direct swap and would give you the throttle body. I would then add electrical injectors to that manifold. The mechanical injected SE's had injectors in the head. I would have done this (I hear megasquirt is pretty good), but my rear main gushed and the engine was too tired to do anything with.