...there in lies the question.

As you can tell, I have a '73 280. The question that I am confronted with is: What am I going to do with this car? Sould I restore it? Is it worth restoring? It would be a fairly easy restore, (at least to being pretty decent, not perfect) it doesn't need much, paint job, minor rust repair, an interior, and the A/C put back together. I can get a complete used interior for $300, and the other stuff I would guess would cost me a bit over $1000. I like the looks of the car, but I would rather have the W108 that I have in the classified section, ( and I suppose I could spring the $750 he wants for it) but I have no room- the 280 has to go first. But, getting back to reality, is the 280 worth the effort, or should I look for something different, something that is "more desireable" than my (imho) "plain jane" Benz?
Originally I bought the 280 to part out and make a few bucks, but the more I looked at it, the more I decided that it might be a shame to part it out.
Any comments are appreciated, maybe somebody has something to say that could help me sway me one way or the other...to keep or not to keep.
-thank you for your time
Larry

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03/83 300D
07/73 280

Larry,

The 115 body 280 can be a very useable car. While they aren't the most economical choice, they are certainly safe and for the most part, reliable. I have a '73 280 parts car with a running engine I'd let go for $300. It's complete but the tranny is shot. The body really isn't worth putting money into but the interior is pretty good (the car is yellow with bamboo Tex) and the engine is certainly worth keeping around. My uncle uses a '74 280 almost on a daily basis and has been very pleased with it. Some tiny parts (A/C knob!) can be kind of expensive, but overall, I'd hang onto it and use it till it dies. I'm sure the rust you mentioned is in the front fender right behind the headlight bucket on top. They all seem to start there. Well, if you're interested in my parts car, drop me a line! The car is in Cincinnati.



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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

Hi! This really doesn't have much to do with your post...but I just bought a 1969 250 w114 that doesn't run!! I really believed the guy who sold it. He said a little old lady owned it and he drove it to and fro work for 7 months and it died. He had it towed to a garage and the mechanic diagnosed it with clogged carbs, since they couldn't find a fuel filter on it, they ASSumed it had been CUT OFF. Now, I've been researching this car and I've found that the 69 wasn't fitted with a "modern" large electronic fuel filter, like we see today. I took the tops off of these carbs and there is fuel in the carbs. So, I think the fuel pump works and from my understanding, there is a small fuel filter ON the fuel pump (screw on). SO, I'm NOW even wondering if these carbs are busted or just out of sync. I CAN'T find anyone who I feel knows anything about THIS car. It's real old and real different. The body is gorgeous and the interior is pretty nice, although very DIRTY (dirty old lady driving a mercedes? I don't think so!) So...do you know anything about this car? I can't even find anyone on this website with one. Do you think not many of these cars survived?? Are they common?
If I were you, I'd fix your 73 280. These cars are so cool. Imagine me a first time vintage Benz owner, who can only SIT in mine. Who knows what it's like when it runs! Christy

I am not exactly an unbiased source of advice, since I have owned four 250C's, have another in pieces in my garage, and just bought a '73 with a dead engine from California that is currently in Arizona. Obviously I have an irrational attatchment to them (sort of like Aaron and the 6.9).

Pluses

Great looking - until '74 when they got the ugly bumpers
Easy to work on
Lots of parts and knowledge around
Modern design - disc brakes, independent rear susp, 4 spd automatic, AC
Lots of room, huge trunk, comfortable
Getting more scarce as they rust away
Good handling, reasonable power

Minuses

Not a "hand built" like the 280SE
Carbs and emission a pain
High RPM at freeway speeds
Thin market
Lousy gas mileage

With all that said, it sounds like you have a decent car that you could spruce up, drive for a while, and not get hurt too badly in the wallet. On the other hand, if what you really want is a 108, then sell the coupe to some nut like me. But don't let it sit and deteriorate and then have to give it away with frozen brakes and worse rust!

My $.02

Chuck