Educate me/ PLEASE

[showcar280se]

I have my 1969 280Se listed on e bay (sedan) as I post this. I have 20K in the car. I'm will to sell it at a sacrifice. After 3 days, high bid is at 6k. ( I said sacrifice not charity donation) The exact car as mine listed above it is bidding at 26k? (open top)what is wrong with this picture? From what I see and read, my car is in better condition. Even if they made less of the open top models and more of the sedans, the simple fact is that less and less of these cars are on the road today, less still in this coniditon. Most are in the bone yard. I guess I need to be educated, this makes no sense to me. Gary

[bill streep]

Gary, it is simply supply and demand. Cabs are very rare. Folks who collect, go after the rare cars. Sedans are a dime a dozen.

Here's another example. The 107 450SLs in good condition sell for $12-15K. The 450SLC (same car, just no convertible top) sells for $2-3000. The only reason for this is that NO ONE WANTS A 450SLC! If they did, they would buy 5 instead of one 450SL.

The amount of money you have invested in a car has nothing to do with what it is worth. We live in a free market. Your car is worth what a willing buyer will pay for it. Nothing more.

I'm a real estate appraiser in Texas. This happens to us all the time. Someone will spend $60,000 on a pool. But, because MOST buyers don't want a pool, it will bring 10-15K when they sell the house. Just 'cause you spent the money, doesn't mean it's worth what you spent...

Even in higher dollar cars: I know of a 190SL for sale that has OVER $150K invested in it. You can buy it for half that. And, only a few folks would even be in the market for it at that price, when you can buy an almost perfect car for $35K.

So, the bottom line is, if you've invested $20K in a car that's only worth $6K, enjoy the car!

[Tom Hanson]

The sedans just haven't caught on yet. Neither have the coupes to some degree, at least in comparison to the convertibles. The convertible market is insanely high. Coupes cost just as much to restore, and a sedan isn't too far behind that. Even a perfect 4.5 sedan won't bring the big money. It takes a very special buyer to pay big bucks for a 4-door. The 6.3 sedan seems to be about the only exception. Don't get discouraged, and maybe you ought to just keep the car and enjoy it. They're really nice to drive.

[bill streep]

By the way, I'd be VERY tempted by a 66/67 250S/SE. My first car was a '66 250S. I LOVED that car, and kick myself on a regular basis for getting rid of it.

Oh, yeah. a 6.9 would be ok too... (my wife HATES that car, and we went to the Autoshow this weekend. She WANTS a new CLK... she's NOT a MB lover and she said it was the nicest car in the convention center).

[showcar280se]

Thanks for your response on this. The only reason I can't hang on to it, (well the wife is the second reason) is space. around here storage space is at a premium. I have 6 cars now including the Benz, and only a 3 car garage. I can't puts lifts in either because ceiling is too low, and I have a room above garage. So we play musical cars when moving about. I will be patient, the car is a beauty. Gary p.s. Bill did you get my e mail regarding starting a "car care section" on the forum? Gary

[mooney]

Hi Gary
Where are you located?
Thanks,

joe moon

[showcar280se]

Chicago Area, Roselle IL. 25 miles Nwest of the city

[ja17]

Hello Gary,
I have a very nice and rare 1966 300-SE sedan short wheel base (W108 chasis) NO air suspension. One of 2700 made total. It is probably worth $3K to $4K. It is one of those rare cars that no one is looking for.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[Tom Hanson]

A 300SEb 108.015 ?? Now, that's a great car !!! Like a 250SE with a boost. Keep it. Wish I could afford it. Stick or automatic?

[ja17]

Hello Tom,
It is a four speed stick. I found a rare ZF 5 speed for it but traded it off for my 450-SLC euro before I had a chance to put it in the 300-SE.
I found a nice set of 15" original style alloys wheels for it also. It is a fun car. The engine parts are very pricey. As you know it has that big aluminum M189 engine.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[ja17]

Don't get discouraged yet Gary. Often times all the bids pour in the last hour or so.
The 280-SE is one of the nicest Mercedes I have ever owned. One of the last hand built models, with "living room" interiors. Had to be one of the most comfortable. Great classic styling. The engines had enough power and were a little easier on fuel than the V-8's.
On the other hand, the coupes and convertibles had even more leather, chrome and usually rarer dash woods and more of it. A lot of the chrome trim on these models was chrome over solid brass! Carpets were often higher quality cut wool piles. Door jambs and strikes had chrome plated brass covers. Windows were often trimmed with chrome and additional belt line, rocker and wheel chrome trim was added. Wood was also used around the instrument cluster and often on the door panels as well as the speaker grille. These were expensive cars to build and restore. They demand a higher resale. The coupes are a real bargain for the quality. Any convertible will always demand haigher resale and appreciate less. The exception to this is the 300-SL Gullwing.

Your sedan is well worth the money you have in it. Hopefully you will find someone who realizes this!

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[joeym7]

Hi Bill i would advise a test drive in a clk with 30-40k miles on it be fore you by a new one so tou will see the end results at the dealer we had many conplaints even with 15k on them they tend to feel ratty and loose.joeym

[le_nostalgia]

Hi Gary. I just posted this message on the 123 site:

"Thanks guys for the advice o the body trim. I will check with Performance Products and Ebay. Speaking of Ebay, I flew to Seattle to buy a 1969 280se 6-cylinder and drove it back 25 hours straight. I now have new problems: The rear of the car is really low, especially when I fill it up with gas. This makes the steering loose and drifty. The back tires rumble and hum at speeds above 30 miles an hour. This car is supposed to be "his" (me) and the 280ce is "hers" (my wife's). She refuses to be seen in the "low rider". I am so mad. I did not know this until i parked it next to another 280se. It looked absolutely sad...Is it the shock asorbers?"

I have $3,000 in it. It has little rust but the engine runs really well. I will likely have more than 6K invested in it to get nowhere near the condition yours is in. Unlike you, I am not very good with MB mechanicals; yet I find the car to be extremely sophisticated and well-built. But all this aside, I think we love these cars for their uniqueness and the way that uniqueness is reflected on us, and that can not be measured by money. You will sell the car for probably much less than what you put into it. The joy you had with it ultimately makes up for the loss. On that thought, I should have bought your car.

[cth350]

Look at the rear wheel camber (angle relative to "up"). Are the rear wheels bowed a lot relative to the front? If so, then the part that keeps your swing axle "straight" isn't working correctly.

Some cars have a spring mounted horizontally just to the right of the differential at the pivot. Other cars have a strut that looks like an overgrown shock. Replacing the strut is an "under 500$" job, presuming you can find the strut for under 500$. Installing the spring instead of the strut is common. The strut makes it a nicer ride.

If the rear camber is "fine" (angle looks like the front), then the springs are shot. They are replacable. Do so along with the various rubber mounts at the center of the differential and the two trailing arms. It's another "under 500$" job.

Worse case, you need both.

-CTH

[le_nostalgia]

Thanks for the advise. My car is fixed. A junk yard removed my hydro[compensator and put in a spring. Car is now level and looks great! Thanks again.

BTW. Does anyone know where I can buy body molding pieces that go around the body of a 1979 280ce (coupe)?