280SEL 4.5

Does any one care to comment on the vices or virtues of this auto? They seem to be fine looking vehicles and can be had at quite a reasonable price. Looks like a classy weekend driver that could be a lot of fun. Does it have the air suspension? What should one look for when checking this out?

Any one have one for sale?

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

The 108/109 body is a fine, fast, and fun four door auto. The only ones that came with air suspension were the 300 SEL and the famed
6.3. And unless you have money to burn models with air suspension can be a bare. I prefer the 6 cylinder cars for several reasons;(except the 6.3 WOW!) easy to maintain and repair, better mpg, less tempermental (I don't know why, 4.5s just can give you hell), and for me I like a manual and you can still find some with a four on the floor in six cylinder cars.
The neat thing about these cars is that they can be daily drivers, and less costly to restore than SL or SEC coups or cabs, far less! I also recomend finding a long weelbase one, lots of room, almost limo like. Right now I don't know of any for sale
but keep your eyes peeled there are a lot around, tucked away in back yard sheds.

Good Luck,
Mike

62 220Seb coup
72 250C
65 600SWB

Oh, one more thing look for rust and rot in the body. floor boards, trunk, ect,.

[Larry Delor]

I had a '72 280 SEL 4.5 up for auction a couple of weeks ago. It went for just over $800 if I remember right. There was rust on the lower parts of the front doors and fenders, and the trunklid. The trunk seemed pretty good, but not perfect. If the winning bidder doesn't come and get it pretty soon, it'll be up for sale again. I like the car's styling myself....wish my 114 had a bit more 108 in it.
-Larry

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03/83 300D 184k
07/73 280 160k

Thanx for the replies. Larry, let me know about the car. It might be more of a project than I want, but am interested.

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

[MikeTangas]

Deezel,

I have a 108/280 SEL 4.5 and I love it. The car is built like a tank. It may be 27 years old, but that classic MB styling helps to keep it looking sharp. The ride is excellent, it does not have the air suspension (the 300's had that) but it just floats down the highway.

The 4.5 engine in this car is a rocket. It really gets up and goes. Big draw back is fuel comsumption. If you insist on playing rocketship, the mileage really sucks. If you drive moderately, only mashing the pedal when necessary, you can squeeze out about 12.5 MPG. No romps and you can top 13.

Interior room on the 280 SEL is very roomy, but with the front buckets, there is only seating for five. Lets put it this way, there is enough room between the front and rear that I couldn't reach back to swat one of the kids if I needed to. With the driver's seat all the way back, my almost 16 year old, has plenty of leg room and he's topping 6 feet.

I use mine as a daily driver. With the weight of the car, construction of a tank, and an engine that will move it out of the way in a hurry I feel very safe. Although, I must admit I will part with the 280 in a heartbeat if the right 300SD comes along.

If you get a 280 SEL 4.5, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL

Thanx for the reply Mike. Gas mileage should not be a big problem, since I onlky plan on using it on sunny Sundays for foun outings.

I missed a real beauty in Florida that needed a tranny. My only hurry is that I want to get a 280SEL in my garage before my kitchen pass expires. I have to be on extra good behaviour and that leaves little time for "the search". I see that you are from Temecula! There is a 73 Royal blue 280SEL for sale out there, it's not yours is it? Only 65,000 miles and $3200. Needs A/C fixed. It is kinda a long drive, but I work for Delta Air Lines, so I could do the trip in short legs if I wanted too. I visited once a couple of years ago for some wine tasting, it would be a good excuse to go back there again!

Best Regards,

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

[MikeTangas]

Deezel,

I believe I have seen that Royal Blue 280, in fact I think I met it in town just last week, but didn't know it was for sale. Just out of curiosity, how'd you hear about it?

There is also a silver one that parks in front of the Silver Spoon in Old Town. That on has personalized plates and I believe it belongs to the owner of the cafe. Mine is gold with chocolate brown MBTex, which after 27 years still wears like iron.

If you happen to be coming this way, and travel up from San Diego, you'll come to a bottleneck on I-15, just south of town. That bottleneck is where I work. If it's between the hours of 6A and 2P any day but Fri/Sat, stop in and ask for me, the guys will direct you or call me over. Without going into too much description, you'll recognize what I just outlined when you pass by.



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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL

[Larry Delor]

Deezel,
Sorry it took me so long to get back, but it seems that I caught a virus from somewhere out there, and it took me a while to replace some 350+ files that got chewed. (my only consolation is that whoever owns the server that infected me, has got on helluva problem on their hands. Anyway....The '72 280 SEL 4.5 is still available...I have waited long enough for a guy that promises to show up, yet remains to be seen. The motor and tranny work fine. The A/C doesn't work, but the compressor does. It needs a window regulator. It needs rust repair, most of which is on the lower parts of the car, and the trunk lid. The front seats are good, but the backs could use some new material. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=287247997

If the link above works, it should take you to the ebay page that has all kinds of pics of the car. The price? $810.00 One thing not mentioned, the calipers ought to be rebuilt (thats the owners opinion, but he's probably right...he thinks they may stick a little , but he's not 100% on that)
Thanks for your time!
-Larry


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03/83 300D 184k
07/73 280 160k

[MikeTangas]

Larry, the link works just fine. Deezel, this is almost my car, except mine seems a little darker gold, with a few minor cosmetic differences. Interior nearly exact, although a different stereo set up, this one appears to have a separate switch for the power antenna. Almost spooky.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL

Larry, Looked at pics and appreciate reply. I think I want a car that needs more mechanical work and less rust repair at this time. In the mean time, it is happy hunting!


Mike, did you get my e-mail? I don't seem to be receiving any at my home address. Not that I necessarily expected a reply, but if you did, I have not received it.

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Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

[MikeTangas]

Deezel,

Got the mail, and posted a reply today.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5

The search is over! Through a member of this BB, I have aquired a 72 280SEL 4.5 from Schwob in Simi Valley CA. He was the second owner and took very good care of the car over the twenty some years he has had it. He was a very honest man, which was a pleasure since I live in Atlanta GA and considerable time on my part and patience on his part was required to actually close the deal. In fact, it is still in his car whil;e I arrange to get it back East. The car has a beatiful tabacco brown leather interior that was put in a few years ago and has a light gold/bronze paint job, very well done, about 6 years ago. Engine runs great and I had the timing chain replaced in Temecula in preparation for driving it back East. I have named her Suzanne, since she is oh so sexy! Suzanne conjurs up images of a movie star woman in an evening dress who needs to be taken out to the finest restaurant and then afterwards makes love in the surf of a moon lit beach! I just hope she doe not abandon me half way home for some flashy tow truck!

Besides Schwob (Peter), the seller, I would like to thank be459 (David) and MikeTangas (73 280SEL 4.5 owner) for their hospitality. Both are members who I have come to know through this BB and some private e-mails that I was lucky enough to actually meet while in LA for the purchase. be459 really saved me some trouble on my 300TD through this BB and Mike has given me great advice on the 280. It made for a much more enjoyable trip to sit down and have a cup with these guys (David in LA and then Mike & kids in Temecula). I am going to start a thread in the general section about the trip out their and the up and coming drive across country if any one is interested in following it. Aaron Greenburg's posts about going to a concert in his cabriolet is my inspiration and a breath of fresh air to all the nuts and bolts talk that goes on here! The thread is "40 hour work week"

Regards,

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Deezel
87 300TD, 160,000 miles
72 280SEL 4.5, 250,000 miles

[Aaron]

Deezel,

Congrats on the purchase of your 280SEL 4.5!! Wonderful looking car and I wish you many years of safe and happy motoring in it!



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Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

[MikeTangas]

As soon as I find out if I have "space" on my server, I will be posting pictures of Deezel's beautiful Suzanne. She is a real beauty.

I would also like to thank the proprietor's of this BB, again for all their assistance to those of us brave enough to turn our own wrenches and for making it possible for a couple of MB enthuziasts to get together.

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Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL 4.5