I am considering purchase of this car from an estate sale (W116 w/inline-6). The owner recently died and did not drive the car for almost 2 years. They say that the computer is shot and this is why the car will not start.
I am going to visually inspect it this week. I need some pointers on the car... things to check. It has been almost 20 years since I have done anything with a gasoline MB and it was a '74 450SEL.
How much is this computer module going to cost?
Is two years in the garage too long for this car?
Is the asking price of $500 worth it - if just for parts?

From the pics, the body is in great shape!

Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks,

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William
76 240D - 545K miles
78 300D - 200K+ miles

Nowadays, a 280S isn't really worth saving, but I do love the W116 chassis cars the best. You have to be very careful on the 116 when checking it for rot. The stabilizer bar mounts in the front wheelhouses can break away from the firewall if there's any rust in there. The rocker boxes are also notorious for rust. My W116 Turbodiesel, you can practically see through, (it's pretty rusty) but I'm not going to stop using it until it's given up the ghost mechanically which I think it still has alot of life left in it in that department. Anyhow, it might be worthwile if it's solid enough to pick up as a parts car. Good, solid W116's are pretty rare, and someone out there is bound to be looking for a mint body. Well, good luck!


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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'85 BMW 745i Turbo

Seems like you should always be able to get your $500 back from a junkyard, so it doesn't sound like you have much to lose.

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Dean
Santa Barbara, CA
1974 280C
1984 300SD