As you may see from my recent posts- I am looking for a new old Benz.

Here are my options. What would you do?

1- 81 380SLC Real nice lookin and well maintained with receipts; 145,000mi

2- 73 280 Sedan 125,000 mi. Also nice body and running condition and records

3- 89 300CE coupe same mileage approx.

Any input is appreciated; ( Don't have room for all 3....)

__________________
'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

I'd rock the CE-

Forget the SLC - way too much/heavy a car for as little as it will carry (2 people, small trunk - my bro has an R107 SL and I'm always surpised at how little room there is for people and stuff.

The 280 would be nice and more "classic" looking than the W124, but I'd trade those classic lines for:
1) ABS brakes
2) Airbag
3) Serpentine belt
4) At least a few more HP ?
5) Millions of W124's on the road, and for sale cheap. most are 300E's, but you'll get everything from a 300E except interior parts and doors.
6) an aftermarket, not a big one, but it has one

I think that in '89 the W124 6cyls still had problematic valve seals (my bro has an '87 300E w/ std shift) and IIRC a lot of early 300xE's had valve seals fail at about 100K, not debilitating, but you either have to pull the head or deal with oil conumption. - I'd look into it if you haven't already.

my $.02, since you asked =)

-John

__________________
2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

CE, without a doubt.

__________________
95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

...gas mileage also speaks for the CE ...

They actually look really sharp with a little modification, lowered and wheels ...

SLC's are nice, a classic shape, but really the 380 doesn't give much ...I was looking at a SL in great condition, but was disappointed by it's perfomance ... I could hear it guzzle at full throttle ...

I tried a 91 300TE ...it was a fury, it would just whistle off ...

And the 95 E320 I ended up buying sure cuts the chase ....

I guess the CE, depending on the condition.

PS. is the 73 a fuel injector? Personally, I don't like the body style ...

__________________

Depends on what you intend to do with it. Wouldn't touch the SLC and the 280 as daily drivers, that's asking for trouble and disappointment.
Been to Nam Kee lately?

__________________
2011 Prius

The 380 SLC is a big heavy cruiser, it won't be very fast, it's well built and has a GREAT Euro RALLYE history, but nothing distinguishes it particularly.

The good old 280 sedan is the one most nearly handbuil, this is the one that will move you in stately elegance, but be careful, they can be VERY expensive to repair, and cosmetically, I think the nicest ones have zebrawood dashes, and restoring those costs a LOT!! I have always been nervous of the swing axle rear axle suspension on those cars, they could tuck under, I think,you know like the famous Corvair and VW beetle.

The '89 W124 is the clear choice, I would say. For 1989, all you would really have to worry about would be a leaky headgasket. These little 177 hp engines in the 300 are really bulletproof numbers, as is the whole car. They are widely supposed by many to be the last of the truly high quality, but to a cost no object standard, uninterfered with by accounts and bean counters like today. Well kept, they will go 200,000 or 300,000 miles with ease.

And they come with many features of modern cars too, airbags, 4 wheel disc brakes, ABS, the latest safety features you could get in 1989, the other choices you can;t offer you. All wrapped in a very appealing and pleasing package to look at. Look hard at the condition of the car, and if you like the color, this car sounds like a good one to consider for a reasonable price.

With the website owner, Satish Tummala, MD of www.mbcoupes.com there is a pretty comprehensive buyers guide you could look at, though taylored to the W126 coupes, a lot matches the W124 coupe also.

A further resource that you should check is the W124 section on www.benzworld.com which has currently a very thorough discussion of the series under a thread labeled "Which 124 is best?" It's amazing the extent and knowledge some of thse owners have about these cars. They really love them also, so they must be pretty good. Check the stickys and the threads.
There ais a wealth of knowledge there, you would be amazed.

As your taste permits, these car can respond to mods if you like. Big ones
(One owner is just finishing an engine swap, to have a one-off 400CE, he's a mechanic in an MB shop in Santa Monica, and Satish owns an MB shop in Michigan and is just wrapping up the first and only 500CE coupe, that thing is dynamite.

An '89 CE with the glass eurolights, without without headlight wipers, would be an awesome and worthwhile modification for a c ar like this.

I was crossing the street in Lima Peru, and one of these (A 220CE euro, a white one,) stopped right in front of me at the signal, and I must say I was stunned. BEAUTIFUL!! It was years ago, I don't have a picture, but find one and youwill surely agree. Much brighter than the US DOT lights and a better beam pattern too. A perfect upgrade. Capitol west in Sacramento probably has them, they are Bosch, make sure you get the connectors too, maybe in nieghborhood of $500 the pair.

There was an option for the '92-95 coupes called "Sportline", and rather than spend a fortune on AMG mods, you might look into making your car nicer with a few of these. I don't know for sure what all the Sportline modifications, was but Steve Nervig over at www.mbcoupes.com has a black one, a '93 I think,and I got a ride in it when he was at the coupefest in Vegas a few years ago. They are beautiful. I think the Sportlines had upgraded seats, steering wheel, suspension, "sportline" fender badges, AMG wheels, and perhaps a few other things. Just something for you to think about.

It looks like the guys here are pretty clear, go for the W124 coupe. You'll likely be glad that you did

Jim

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Is that 280 a W114 or W109? 109 wins hands down.

__________________
You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

CE all the way!

__________________
08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Correction, seats 4 comfortably(reasonably), and has a good sized trunk about the size of the 123 chasis. But I'd probably go with the 300ce if I could do it all over again.

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.

UHHHH NAM KEE

Love those round mushrooms in brown sauce!!!

Not since last year, but maybe in January if I get the time.

douii

__________________
'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

I don't know that much about the 380 SLC's but I have been looking at older convertibles for about 3 mos. and have run across a half-dozen of these coupes with a little less miles maybe, but selling in the $10-15K range. $3700? I would be careful, FWIW.

SLC's just don't have the resale value of the SL's. I don't know why, but I think it has something to do with the blonde babe image cruising with the top down. I like the extra room in the SLC. I got into a SL a couple of times last month, it seemed so cramped compared to the SLC.

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.

I was looking for convertibles for myself, but meant I had run across some of the SLC coupes in my searching. The prices I quoted were for SLCs in Texas.

CE.....but I'm biased

Did they sell for that price? I doubt it. I follow the selling prices quite a bit, rarely over $7000 for a low mileage, rust free, excellent condition car. Now the SL's do much better, even a slightly rusty one that needs some work. I'd sell in a minute if I could get over $6000, no rust, original paint shines nice, just turned 100,000 yesterday. Still needs a little work, timing chain soon and new shocks/springs. Maybe next spring, retired for the winter.

__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.