Another member to the Cheap Wagon Club
 

Non-diesel variety. In San Antonio with cash in hand and trailer at the ready, a 1981 280TE wagon with 140k miles, non-running, rear suspension "lowered", rotted tires, bad paint, and semi-trashed interior.

BUT it also comes with 16" Centras, heated seats, euro headlight wipers, a front spoiler, Nardi steering wheel, wooden shifter, third-row seat, and ABS brakes. For $400.

Previous owner said it ran great before it died in the driveway; their mechanic said they spent a pile doing a bunch of things and it ran great when they took the car from him. The fuel smells bad, the oil looks clean, spark plugs/wires are newish, fuel pump new, fuel filter new.

Coming back to Houston:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/IMG_0129.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/IMG_0127.jpg

After a bit of cleanup; not much really at all:

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/IMG_0135.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/IMG_0136.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/IMG_0139.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...ercedes007.jpg

We drained the tank, but found it was empty. The gauge still read 1/4, so no wonder they couldn't get it started. Put in new fuel, bypassed the failed fuel pump relay, jumped the battery, opened the valve cover to strategically place oil, and she was running soon afterwards with the help of starting fluid until the good fuel got into the system. The rear suspension pumped up too!

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h1...e/untitled.jpg

Still need to put in new relays, get tires, and new battery. Paint needs a redo, but there really isn't any saving it. Work in progress, obviously.

Very, very nice.

Reminds me of my old cheap wagon "Trigger". 1982 300TD Silver Blue Metallic with black leather interior.

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/g...0/DSC02472.jpg

Congrats! That's a lot of car for $400. Keep us posted on your 'project'.

Cool find! A Euro makes it even better. On top of that, all dented body parts can be replaced with a wrench, so no bondo necessary.

Indeed! Nice you were able to find one so highly equipped. ABS was never available here on the W123, right?

-Jason

Wow, $400. :eek: Nice find! I bet that thing can fly too. I've ridden in a 280te that was in waaaay worse shape, and it crossed 120 with ease!

That's one thing that annoys me about my SDL... it really doesn't have the correct gearing for Michigan highways :P

-Jason