I don't buy new either - I buy perfect pre-owned.

There's plenty of fixer-uppers in your price range. Big difference in quality and price. Always will be too.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I totally understand that. I also understand that some guys probably undersell when they put so much work into them.

But I guess it comes down to price. Adding another car to the group is not a necessity so I want to really find one for under $5k, as I mentioned before. If money was no object I would certainly be willing to spend twice as much.

$100 says it been wrecked.

And what is an "ES" over "SE"? Confused. VIN says S-Class. Badge, which looks aftermarket, says ES as you can see. Mistake?

VIN: WDBCA24D5LA513082

ES was never made. Its a SE. SE was short wheel base, SEL was long. The car has probably been wrecked and the people who put it back together did it wrong. Much like my neighbors T1.8 A4.

A lot of those gold badges are factory badges that were plated down the road. Dealers do it to try to make their cars special (not many benz dealers do)

^ Ya, seems about right. This was not a car I was interested in, just happened across it. Looks like its been sitting a while.

Wish I was in FL. But I have a friend down there that I trust 100% to look at cars. He is in Palm Harbor. I think in a couple weeks I will see if he can start looking.

Whenever I am down their I always look in the papers and at least around the villages their seems to be a decent supply of older MB's. You want to find one owned by an 80+ year old guy who bought it new and is just getting to old to drive.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yup. STILL looking. I think I am going to "settle" for a 420SEL. I found an 86 that looks sharp. I already saw it in person and then with irony it was posted online for sale.

What I am coming across is clear coat fade and rust issues. This one has neither and sure looked sharp. Problems it has are moon-roof is inoperable and so are the front power windows, well passenger window. Milage is what I call high at 186k. Also a "thud" in the driveline. For the price I am thinking of buying it anyway and continuing the search for a 560, then if needed the 420 would be used for parts or just sold off.

Thoughts? I am sure some will say to pass. But remember, I really have more concern in the body than I do mechanical issues which I LOVE to work on.

Windows are cheap and simple to fix on W126's, 180k isn't that high, mileage is probably about average.

That M116 is going to be over due for a timing chain and rail job, if no records of one exist.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200