Opinions plz

[wuvvum]

Is this worth a bag o' sand? Slightly scruffy 1974 280CE with a year's test but no tax, apparently in good running order.

 

 

 

 

 

I don't have a lot of experience of these - I just like the look of them.

[dollywobbler]

I'd say so. They're already getting quite pricey. £5000-8000 for a really tidy one. Problem is, they can rot in nasty ways. I think I'd want to give it a thorough checking, especially the sills/rear floorpans.

[Rocket88]

If it hasn't been MOT tested by Blind Pugh, it'll probably be ok. Have a good dig around front footwells. Auto boxes can occasionally give grief. Be nice with a diesel lobbed in......where is it, if you don't I might.

[overheadvalve]

Floors too, at the rear under the seats, sills, inner wings etc etc etc as you probably will because it's old. Is that an original colour?

Owners history etc etc any at all? Has it had more than 5 owners in the last 10 years?

I would look *everywhere for filler*

Edit: It can't be an original colour can it?

[M'coli]

That looks great! If you think it's not a wob-pit, then get it bought!

[theorganist]

I can't offer any technical expertise but it looks very nice!

[barrett]

That looks great! If you think it's not a wob-pit, then get it bought!

 

This.

 

£1000 is a very good price for one of these, assuming it's not a total heap. The days of being able to pick something like this up for not much cash are nearly over I reckon, so take a chance whilst you still can.

Look like a bit of a munter at present, so with a bit of tidying it could probably be punted on for a small profit too.

[cort16]

 

What could possibly go wrong.

 

They do rot hideously though so I'd be super wary that the bottoms of doors, wings, valenceseses and especially around the headlamps isn't full of fibreglass and filler. If that's all good then with a bit of a paint and a tidy up it'd be great.

[boobydoo]

A little delve into its history shows last keeper change 1987!

[Shep Shepherd]

Got to be worth a punt at that price, especially with a new MOT

[trigger]

It sounds like value to me, you know it sold on ebay for £1015 recently i take it?

[wuvvum]

you know it sold on ebay for £1015 recently i take it?

I do indeed - I was the under bidder at £995 and I've had a second chance offer.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

If the valuations of good ones are 5k+, I'd go for it. I mean, even if it does need a bit of welding, it looks like you could make it very tidy indeed by investing a few hundreds' worth of work.

[Owain-328i]

Buy it! That one doesnt look appealing, its a shitty colour, sitting on shitty wheels and sans leather! The autoshite spec.

 

If it turns out to be a right old heap of turd, it will no doubt break for plenty of money netting a good profit. (subject to condition of panels etc etc)

[andrew e]

Last taxed 2001, but DVLA sez its Gold, so who knows?

[Pete-M]

They do rot spectacularly, another party trick is snapping springs.... and that's a pig of a job on 'em.

 

Personally I'm not a fan. The gaffer at work uses an R107 380SL as his daily (He's got a new S350CDi for posh days out) and it's a bloody horrible thing to drive. Vague steering, the usual old Merc rough changing auto box, and and it's not quick even with a 3.8 V8. Does sound the bollocks though.

 

I don't know if it was that 190E that has killed most old Mercs for me, but I don't like the look of the CE's or the way they drive so it's immaterial.

[andrew e]

Are these (and 123's) still broken for SL spares?

[trigger]

I would love a W114/5 Merc to swan about in, but not this one, the colour and spec is pretty poor, Personally I'd just enjoy the E3 and forget about this one.

[Pete-M]

I would love a W114/5 Merc to swan about in, but not this one, the colour and spec is pretty poor, Personally I'd just enjoy the E3 and forget about this one.

 

Dammit, I missed an opportunity there.

 

Yeah, Wuvvum, those old Mercs are great. You'd love it.

[binhoker668]

Obviously I'm far from the expert in these matters, but apart from the boot not being shut (or is it a bad fit?), does the back end look to anyone else like it's had a shunt, then been repaired and a new bumper lobbed on?

My contact lenses aren't great atm tho....

 

EDIT - looks like an ace vehicle otherwise tho!

[garycox]

Looks alright to me, in fact I think it looks pretty good for the money.

 

Those seats look horrible though.

[HillmanImp]

A merc pillerless coop is on my hitlist, although I prefer the w123 to the stacked headlights (111?). Have looked at a few w123's and they have all looked like rotboxes. I would still buy this for that money as I reckon even a heap is worth more than that.

 

Would check all the obvious MOT fail points though first to check it was not a mate who did it if it has been off the road for so long and is so cheap.

 

My mate bought a 205 last year with a brand new mot which had no horn or brake lights.....

[Cavcraft]

100% definately worth a bag. As long as it runs ok and the body and chassis aren't made of Rice Krispie boxes and Duck Tape of course.

[r.welfare]

Did the coupe always have front quarterlights? That door mirror looks a bit odd.

 

But not enough to worry about; looks good for a grand (provided Stevie Wonder hasn't done the MOT), and even better on a cheap secondhand set of period Merc alloys (am I right in thinking the 'right' style is referred to as the Mexican Hat?).

[M'coli]

Wuvvum, get it bought! I think there're enough people on here already who are ganting at such a chance.

[wuvvum]

Right, it looks like I won't be going after this now as I've got something else on its way, so if anyone fancies a go at it drop me a PM and I'll give you the seller's contact info.