http://raleigh.craigslist.org/cto/2064438766.html

very tempting but looks like a black hole with all the amateur repair work done.

it looks like it gets 11 mpg too

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

The 3.5L euro engine was the workhorse V8 that MB used until 1980.

I would think that $800-1000 would not be out of order for that car, if it runs!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
Mercedes Benz Star Technician (2 times)
44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
MB technical information Specialist (15 years)
190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

I think the ad mentions a damaged cam and some mickey moused wiring for the windows

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

I wouldn't want that car if I got it for free. Seems like a money pit to me ... just for gas.

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Fred Hoelzle

Just for fun try and get a price for 2 (or is it 4) new camshafts and followers - may be then you'll see whether you feel it is going to be a money pit or not.

If you had another 1978 350se however...

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Been eyeing that for awhile too. I'd buy it anyway if it weren't for the dent on the very tip of the left rear quarter. It's going to suck finding a cam for it.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

My 7+ ton diesel coach does better than 11 mpg.

Seriously, this purchase would come after Dave Ramsey's Baby Step #7...... - Meaning, I would pass on it....

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Just took another shot!


Looks like it would be a fun project, as long as its not rusty. The motor work would be pricey, nothing internal on a MB is cheap.

Sounds like the bottom end is good but I would yank the heads and sent them off to Metric for a complete going over.

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

I don't believe in band-aiding an engine. Either install a rebuilt long block, or live with more engine failures. BTDT in my late 20s.......

Fun?
My idea of fun would be buying and keeping a 4-year old SL550 with less than 30K miles on it, and driving it when at my Gulf Shores, Alabama home.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Well, it has had a lot of work done to it, so who knows. It might be one of those things where the guy dropped dead 3 feet from the finish line.

However, that cam situation sucks. Been there.

To fix it, you will have to replace the cam on that side and ALL of the rockers on that side. If not, the new cam will wipe out very quickly. You will also want to waste a few quarts of clean oil on the first oil change to flush out those metal bits that are now inside your motor. Also, make sure it is getting proper oil delivery. At least on M117 like in my 560SEL, the oiler tubes are known culprits of wiped out cams. Don't really know much about this car's motor.

Just went through this whole rigamarole with my 560SEL. Indie said it just needed a couple new rockers. Not so. The rockers lasted maybe 1K miles, never really made the motor run right, and finally made it start missing. Put a new Febi cam and rockers in there, and all is happy now. 3k miles, and the cam still looks new.

Bottom line is - flat head rockers (non-roller) mate to their cam lobe as they break in. Try to use a rocker that came from a different cam, or try to use a new rocker on a cam lobe with any kind of miles on it, and inevitably one chews up the other.

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-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

It's a shame too, neat car. Will the later w126 420 motor bolt in there? Those are a dime a dozen at least.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

Unless you buy this car for a hobby project, have the time and money...it's not a good deal in my opinion.... if you're expecting to buy it for 5~7 hundred, if that, you are going to be spending more money to get it running. Even if it's free....you are going to spend more money....people don't sell a car that is running and headache free! Private sellers... sell their cars....90% of the time in my opinion because they are tired of spending money to fix this or that...If you already have a similar car, then yes, buying this car for parts would be worth it. But again, if you are buying it to fix up and drive....it's a money pit. Bottomless. You need to get it for a very good price.
There is no such thing as a cheap MB.

I think you are right about private partys selling cars in a general sense, but less so with "enthusiast" cars. Granted this one is a money pit waiting to happen, but the seller is up front about it. If one was really interested, they'd do some internet-Magnum P.I. and find his history with it detailed on w116.org.

And yep, there is no such thing as a cheap MB. Or much of anything else these days.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K