To sell or not to sell... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Solid Snake · #1 10-26-2010, 01:04 PM

Hey dudes/dudettes,

Some of you may know that I drive a meticulously cared for 1987 560SEL, with very few problems. Only things that come to mind is it needs an antenna motor and an angular jaw for the sunroof.

Very recently, a mechanic in town told me of his 1983 500SEC AMG that he wants to sell to me because of how good looking my car is.

I checked it out, and the ONLY thing I find an issue with is the hat deck is beat. Like I care

He rebuilt the entire lower half of the engine himself, and bought new heads from AMG.

He also rebuilt the transmission.

Here's the deal, the car has technically 273,000 miles on it. I don't like the wheels (Aftermarket Penta looking wheels, I'm a Monoblock man myself), which would run me at least 1100 bucks, and he wants 8500 for it.

It has the full AMG package: exhaust, suspension, engine, bodykit; everything.

Should I try and sell my 219,000 mile but mostly rebuilt SEL to get this thing?

Thanks,

Carlen

P.S. It has a ton of window stickers, including Colgate University where I am a sophomore; and a School of Visual Arts sticker, where my girlfriend is a sophomore. I take those as signs

Angel · #2 10-26-2010, 01:12 PM

$8k+ for a 1983 with more than 200k on it. You will still have a car under 300hp, that weighs close to 4000lbs, and is one generation older than your SEL (no ABS, no limited slip diff? no airbags, older electronics....)

I wouldnt recommend it- but I once owned a VW Corrado, so maybe my advice isnt the best =)

Hold on - he wants to sell you a car b/c of how good your car is ? does he want to trade or does he just want to see someone keep the 500SEC in good/better shape ?

-John

MTUpower · #3 10-26-2010, 01:14 PM

No- keep the SEL.

TylerH860 · #4 10-26-2010, 01:16 PM

Realistically, you're not going to get near the figure you deserve out of the 560SEL. At 217k and the issues you'd describe I'd think $3000 is all it would bring on its best day. The low mileage ones don't even bring very much any more.

For example:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=283455

$8500 for the AMG seems a bit on the high side for the miles, but not out of this world.

Solid Snake · #5 10-26-2010, 01:24 PM

Thats what I feared; personally I don't really care about the airbags too much because I know I am never going to be hitting anything (Tailgating is a sin in my book).

And the mileage doesn't really bother me as much as everything has been sorted out already.

He wants to sell it to me because even though I am only 19 he sees how well I take care of my car (He's my indy, fyi), and knows I wouldn't run like a bat out of hell in the AMG even though it's basically meant for that

I would have to sell mine, as he basically wants to cover as much of the cost of the engine rebuild as possible.

Last two pics; I'd probably buy the other style AMG steering wheel anyways, and I hate the deck lid spoiler, but I could live with it.

Solid Snake · #6 10-26-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Realistically, you're not going to get near the figure you deserve out of the 560SEL. At 217k and the issues you'd describe I'd think $3000 is all it would bring on its best day. The low mileage ones don't even bring very much any more.

For example:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=283455

$8500 for the AMG seems a bit on the high side for the miles, but not out of this world.

When I saw that car go up for sale you don't know how much I wanted to buy it; if only it weren't so far from Connecticut and white... It's a beauty..

aklim · #7 10-26-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

Thats what I feared; personally I don't really care about the airbags too much because I know I am never going to be hitting anything (Tailgating is a sin in my book).

And the mileage doesn't really bother me as much as everything has been sorted out already.

You sure the other guy feels the same way? You sure BOTH of you will somehow accomplish that?

So he says but how do I know it was rebuilt properly? How do I know the engine is balanced right? If I took it to a machine shop, I could feel more assured. He built it so how do I know he didn't just put 8 slugs together and make it work? How do I know he magnafluxed the rods?

pj67coll · #8 10-26-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

and knows I wouldn't run like a bat out of hell in the AMG even though it's basically meant for that

So then, what's the point?

- Peter.

Jim B. · #9 10-26-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

Hey dudes/dudettes,

Some of you may know that I drive a meticulously cared for 1987 560SEL, with very few problems. Only things that come to mind is it needs an antenna motor and an angular jaw for the sunroof.

Very recently, a mechanic in town told me of his 1983 500SEC AMG that he wants to sell to me because of how good looking my car is.

I checked it out, and the ONLY thing I find an issue with is the hat deck is beat. Like I care

He rebuilt the entire lower half of the engine himself, and bought new heads from AMG.

He also rebuilt the transmission.

Here's the deal, the car has technically 273,000 miles on it. I don't like the wheels (Aftermarket Penta looking wheels, I'm a Monoblock man myself), which would run me at least 1100 bucks, and he wants 8500 for it.

It has the full AMG package: exhaust, suspension, engine, bodykit; everything.

Should I try and sell my 219,000 mile but mostly rebuilt SEL to get this thing?

Thanks,

Carlen

P.S. It has a ton of window stickers, including Colgate University where I am a sophomore; and a School of Visual Arts sticker, where my girlfriend is a sophomore. I take those as signs

I wouldn't. Better the devil you DO know than the devil you don't.

Also, his car is the european one. Those things are diabolically hard to get through US state emissions tests.

Plus it's the o0lder Generation I. (1980-1985) with higher miles; yours is a well sorted 1987 - and unless yours is eaten with rust, a problem in the Northeast - I would stick with yours.

At least till you are done with school. Then you will be working and can afford a real gem -a low mileage beauty for about $15,000. From Bruce Mendel in PA, for example, who scours Japan Canada and the USA for the best of the best ones.

Local2ED · #10 10-26-2010, 02:19 PM

Buy a Buick

Solid Snake · #11 10-26-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

You sure the other guy feels the same way? You sure BOTH of you will somehow accomplish that?

So he says but how do I know it was rebuilt properly? How do I know the engine is balanced right? If I took it to a machine shop, I could feel more assured. He built it so how do I know he didn't just put 8 slugs together and make it work? How do I know he magnafluxed the rods?

The shop is Classic Motorcar in Branford; he only works on these cars so I feel it's pretty reputable.

He has all of the work he had done documented so I could always sort through that.

Solid Snake · #12 10-26-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I wouldn't. Better the devil you DO know than the devil you don't.

Also, his car is the european one. Those things are diabolically hard to get through US state emissions tests.

Plus it's the o0lder Generation I. (1980-1985) with higher miles; yours is a well sorted 1987 - and unless yours is eaten with rust, a problem in the Northeast - I would stick with yours.

At least till you are done with school. Then you will be working and can afford a real gem -a low mileage beauty for about $15,000. From Bruce Mendel in PA, for example, who scours Japan Canada and the USA for the best of the best ones.

Totally true; as much as I love that car I know mine like the back of my hand...

And in CT If the car is older than 25 you don't have to get emissions tests anymore, believe it or not (So to hell with the Cat).

Also this car and my car have no rust (suprisingly), and the skirts have all been resprayed (on both).

I think you're right about waiting for a full monte from Bruce, but by the time I graduate (pre-med for plastic surgery), the cars I want, like a mint C126 or W140 S600, will be even more rare and even more so expensive

Why couldn't I have been born in 1985.

Fulcrum525 · #13 10-26-2010, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solid Snake

The shop is Classic Motorcar in Branford; he only works on these cars so I feel it's pretty reputable.

He has all of the work he had done documented so I could always sort through that.

haha I thought this car (And location) looked familiar! I've stopped by that place a time or two to observe the eye candy that they always seem to have parked on the lot. (Rarely for sale though) And to prove that i'm not making this up...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=263654

Solid Snake · #14 10-26-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fulcrum525

haha I thought this car (And location) looked familiar! I've stopped by that place a time or two to observe the eye candy that they always seem to have parked on the lot. (Rarely for sale though) And to prove that i'm not making this up...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=263654

Yeah I had asked him whether or not it was a legit AMG, and turns out it is, even though it is kinda rough around the edges... I think they have a 560SEL (looks 91 based on the interior/passenger airbag) for sale too; interior looks nearly mint, while the outside is pretty rough.

Hatterasguy · #15 10-26-2010, 10:22 PM

Drive what you have, forget about cars, and wait until you are making $300k a year as a plastic surgeon. Then at that point as a reward go out and buy whatever car you want.

Either the nicest 560SEC AMG wide body in the country, or a brand new AMG of some sort. Or probably both since you need a daily and a fun car.

Buy the real deal.

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