thinking to buy280 gasser need advice

[desertmariner]

Look i feel like i'm attached to my 83 300td at the hip cometimes. untill i get to the pump and look at 350 cents a gallon. It basically costs 10 to 15 percent more per gallon with diesel than gas...... (most americans are mathematically illiterate....the other half just don't give a damn.....)
My neighbor has a1978 280 MB gasser for sale. what do you think....I'm thinking of a driver for my 16 year old son who needs all the protection he can get. Neighbor says the carb needs to be rebuilt...... Don't they all......I'm partial to diesel.....It's love hate since the price is so high....any advice is appreciated.
rich

[H-townbenzoboy]

You might want to ask in the Technical forum as this is the DIESEL forum.

Are we talking about a W123 (not a W116)? My only real concern would be the evil climate control servo. Otherwise I understand the 280 is a good engine and a W123 is a W123. I would probably consider something like that as a kiddy car if it was in decent shape.

[t walgamuth]

The 280 is an excellent motor but with the difference in miles per gallon you will probably not come out ahead on fuel over the 300d. The 280 is pretty thirsty.

Tom W

[TylerH860]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The 280 is an excellent motor but with the difference in miles per gallon you will probably not come out ahead on fuel over the 300d. The 280 is pretty thirsty.

Tom W

I think he knows that. Also, tag, title insurance to think of. He's just telling himself a little white lie to justify purchasing another one. It makes perfect sense to me, GO FOR IT!

[pawoSD]

While your 300td gets 20-25mpg....a 280 will get about 13-15 mpg....and will need more maintenance. 280 will be more expensive overall, even if the fuel is cheaper.

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by desertmariner

Look i feel like i'm attached to my 83 300td at the hip cometimes. untill i get to the pump and look at 350 cents a gallon. It basically costs 10 to 15 percent more per gallon with diesel than gas...... (most americans are mathematically illiterate....the other half just don't give a damn.....)
My neighbor has a1978 280 MB gasser for sale. what do you think....I'm thinking of a driver for my 16 year old son who needs all the protection he can get. Neighbor says the carb needs to be rebuilt...... Don't they all......I'm partial to diesel.....It's love hate since the price is so high....any advice is appreciated.
rich

How many miles?? And how much does neighbor want for it?? My suggestion is check timing chain too, m110 twincam is notorious for stretching em out. Also suspect valve guide seals at/near 150k if they aint been done (along with valves) already. Meanwhile the early primitive lazer beam electron ign system is excellent maintenance free and the engine oughta last 260k miles easily if maintained.

If it's the 116 body style, let him have it assuming he can afford it with his own money and all the above checks out. You probly wont have another better chance to bring 116 into the household if ye love Vintage MB's. Dont recollect MB ever put carb'd m110 into w123 chassis. It will average 16mpg consistently under mixed driving conditions as daily driver. And that aint bad for showboat luxury sedan yer kid can pack with his pals for roadtrips, football games, etc - probly the coolest car in the high school parking lot.

[lietuviai]

I drove a 77 280E with about 70K which was fuel injected. It seemed to lack power. My 230CE, which is a Euro fuel injected 4 cylinder, seemed to have more power.

[JimmyL]

The fact that it is carb'd and not fuel injected would kill the deal for me. Besides, gasser mpg isn't going to make up the difference in fuel cost....

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by lietuviai

I drove a 77 280E with about 70K which was fuel injected. It seemed to lack power. My 230CE, which is a Euro fuel injected 4 cylinder, seemed to have more power.

My friend's mom had a 280te euro 1985 with 178k on it that had a GREAT deal of power. It could effortlessly go from 70-120mph. Then she blew an oil line and seized it. The end.

She averaged about 12mpg.

[Mark DiSilvestro]

Is it a W114 280 (carbed) or a w123 280E (FI)?
I thought the W123 series began with the '77 model year. If so it should be a 280E, unless it's a grey market car.

Happy Motoring, Mark

[lietuviai]

If it were a Euro model, then its worth looking into. A 79 would have to be a 123.

While gas is cheaper, the significantly higher consumption of the 280 (low 20's at best) would kill any per gallon savings.

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

Is it a W114 280 (carbed) or a w123 280E (FI)?
I thought the W123 series began with the '77 model year. If so it should be a 280E, unless it's a grey market car.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Mark, thats a good question!! Betcha its carry-over old stock 114 carb'd twincam coulda been built in 76/77 and then sold (registered) as '78. Otherwise MB tossed plenty of m110's into 116, though carb'd version twincam coulda been confined to US version 114's.

[Jeremy5848]

I would be leery of a car that "just needs the carb rebuilt." Sounds to me like "just needs the a/c refilled." Yeah, sure.