Looking for the needle in the hay stack. WTB a euro grey market late model W123 sedan 280e. Manual transmission greatly preferred. I know these are difficult to find but looking for clean no rust car in good to excellent condition. Located in PA but willing travel for the right car. I've seen a few that sold in the past so they do exist. Anyone know of one?
Thanks long time pelican,
Girt
Pls email.
girt1@verizon.net

I’m not sure whether you are stateside, but there appear to be several available in Europe if not. Here is a link to some:

https://www.theparking-cars.com/used-cars/mercedes-280-e-w123.html

I got a laugh at this picture of one of the cars being advertised:



It’s rare you get to see a shot of the moment the seller decided to sell!

Thanks, Laughing at that photo. Have been watching overseas but hopefully something shows up Stateside.
G

If you ever decide you want one that needs work I've got one that does. Blue cloth manual sunroof 4 speed manual windows. Still has euro parts ie bumpers ECT and extra euro engine but car needs a lot of work. In north carolina

Its got rust and will need welding

Its a 4 speed iron box with aftermarket a.c.. The spare engine is a euro as well. I put 14x6.5 rims on it . I think its an 84

Thanks Gary, definitely not looking to get into bodywork. I've learned my lesson with rust. Thanks but will keep you in mind if I find something that is worth swapping a euro motor into. Thanks

I've owned 3 euro spec M110 engines, 81 280E, 79 280TE, and an 85 280SL. All had automatics, though.

In all cases, we loved that unrestricted M110 with 185 hp. Very nice car to run, really sang when you got on the gas, unlike the choked emissions one that was a stateside offering.

I suspect your looking for a needle in a haystack. The few I've noticed in the last ten years have either been very rough or very nice, and the very nice ones we saw were pretty pricey.

If this is what turns you on, they are great running engines, truly the best W123 offered by MB. I'm also a diesel fan and have owned all the W123 diesel permutations, but would stick with the M110 as my favorite power plant in the W123 chassis.

Also, we've owned a lot of stick shift W123 cars, most recently an 85 300TD 4 speed manual conversion. Aside from the slight advantage an overdrive 5th gear would give you, I would be just as happy with the fine 4 speed autobox coupled to the euro M110.

You might also give consideration to a W124 86 or 87 300E with a 5 speed manual. We had an 86 and it was comparable powerwise to the 280E W123, but always felt a bit bulkier when pushing the handling.

Good luck on your quest, I really enjoyed the ones we owned.

Jim

__________________
14 E250 BlueTEC black. 45k miles
95 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 66k miles
94 E320 Cabriolet Emerald green 152k miles
85 300TD 4 spd man, euro bumpers and lights, 15" Pentas dark blue 274k miles

Thanks Jim, your thoughts do reinforce why I was looking for a euro. Plus I believe the later years have the better hvac systems? Auto would be ok if a good looking car is out there. That can always be changed over. Just really like manuals and being engaged with driving.

The only climate system that is problematic is the Automatic system installed on 80 and older models. And even then I wouldn't consider it a dealbreaker.

The automatic system from 81 is good.

But since you're looking for a euro then many of them had a manual system.

What about a 280e euro coupe. I can't recall if it's manual or auto
Still has euro bits

Gary, For some reason I prefer the balanced look of the W123 sedan over the coupe. Plus wanted something with 4 doors for travel. Thx
Also in response to the above, the only reason I was looking at the later years was to avoid the early auto HVAC systems. Would definitely consider any with the manual system.

If a W114 euro coupe 280e showed up I might jump. Is there anything to avoid in those?
Did the W114 have the same problem with detuning for import to USA or did they have the full approx 180Hp of the Euro?

A W114 280E/280CE would be d-jet from the factory. It's the highest HP rating of any of the M110's though. -CTH

__________________
- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/

I'd be open to a W114 280e sedan also. Any difference between US and Euro versions?

have you seen this nifty search tool a member wrote?
https://cultcars.us/cgi-bin/listings.cgi?q=mercedes+280E&loc=

It does a poor job with pattern matching, but it finds lots of things.
Search for "mercedes 220" and you'll find 220's 220se's and 2200$.
Not ideal, but it works.
-CTH

__________________
- cth350@gmail.com
http://www.111lakeside.com/