I am currently own a Mercedes 79 300SD and like most Mercedes enthusiast get the yern for more. I am looking at a 80 450 SEL very clean except at this writing I do not know if it runs, or the condition of the engine.
I may be able to pick it up cheap,<($600.00) but I would like to know what problems they had. The car has 133K on it but it does not look that way. What would be considered a fair price, or should I run the other direction. I am a very experienced mech, so I am not really afraid of too much except big expensive things like an engine or trans. The engine looked clean except some oil around the filler. This could be blowby, or someone missed the filler cap.

Peter G

I don't know bout you. However I'd buy a 450SEL for parts for $600!

I suppose you could always run a compression check to see if it's worth buying or not.

Oil around the filler cap could be the oil filler cap gasket...I had a lot of oil around mine until I replaced the $0.80 gasket.

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Ok, time to make a decision. I took the 450 SEL for a drive, the car shift good, rides well and after spending about an hour troubleshooting a miss in the engine which I thought was a dead cylinder do to a plug or somthing, I swapped injectors and the problem followed the injector, and then all of a sudden it cleared. Also, the engine was idling high >900 RPM at idle. How can I slow it down? It needs a pass rear window, possibly an alternator and a crossover pipe might have to be replaced. The M.B part guy first asked me if I was sitting down. tells me $2,011.00, (ouch), but it includes the cat con. All window switches were just replaced, oil, and a tuneup. All the windows work except the broken one, and the tach even works. I dont know about the AC (may need a charge)or cruise. The only real problem is the spare tire well has been pushed up, not quite flush with the floor and a small crease at the edge of the trunk. I believe it is a southern car because the only rust that I can see is a spot on the Pass side quarter panel, otherwise it is really quite clean, even the frame. The dash is cracked, and the some of the windows are fogged at the edges. No rips and tears in the seat, except the springs on the drivers side seat are bad. I forsee putting a grand in the car with the price of the car, and if I can get the crossover pipe off and do some quality welding on the pipe to repair it. My better half is giving me a little static because in the fall I plan to purchase a 300 CD to replace this one and my 300SD. Oh, I pulled the cranckcase breather off and did not see any blowby, even after the engine has been fully warmed up, and no lifter or chain noise can be heard. I drive a diesel now and really appreciate the gas milage. Why would someone just abandoned a car like this?
Question, Can I get my money out of this in the fall and what could I really get burned on?

Thanks for the feedback. I return the key today.. Maybe things will change and I can purchase it next week. The wife gave it the axe because I just bought a J.D diesel tractor, and have to clear out some other projects before bringing this one home. I would still like to know some more about the 450 SELs.


PeterG