So I was driving to work today, and drove past a car donation place. What do I see sitting there in the front?? An 81 280SL 5spd looking for a new home.
I Checked it out, it seems to run well with a little bog when it is cold. Clutch felt good. Typical small rust issues that I can handle. The BBS wheels are a nice extra. Black interior is in nice shape with no tears in the seats. It will need a dash cap.
Bumpers are in really nice shape and everything seems to work.
157k miles on it.
I went in and worked out a deal, and it looks like it will be coming home in a couple of days. I am a sucker for these fixer upper ,orphan Benzes.
I will do a makeover and hopefuly be cruising it, and my 380 next spring.
I dont know what it is about these cars. I just LOVE them!!!!!
My wife already put dibs on one.
What do you think??
I have been lookin for a euro car for a while now, and the price was right.
Anything in particular I should know about the six cyl. motor???
the 6 cyl is virtually bullet-proof and capable of running forever with no inherent problems i have ever heard of other than valve clatter. the valves, by the way are quite difficult to adjust. i bought a $40 "special crowfoot mercedes valve adjusting tool" on ebay and spent 30 minutes reshaping it on a grinder until it would work at all. the fact that this car is not an automatic should make it a really great car to drive. good luck!
If you don't mind me asking kitchenrat what makes the valves so difficult to adjust? I'll just pay my mechanic the 140$ to do the job, but was curious as to the difficulty involve. I've never cracked the valve covers.
I bet the 5speed in nice but if you do have a problem with it, it might be a pain to find parts for. Everyone hates on the 4speed auto but it is a good tranny.
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Ich brauch Geld fur Gasolin, explosiv wie Kerosin, mit viel Octan und frei von Blei- Gib mir Benzin!
i was just looking closer at the picture you posted and it looks like the front air dam is an AMG piece. When you see the car again take a good look at it as it will have identifiers on it.
i was just looking closer at the picture you posted and it looks like the front air dam is an AMG piece. When you see the car again take a good look at it as it will have identifiers on it.
I was thinking the same thing when I saw it, but didnt look too closely. I just wanted to make the deal before someone else bought it.(Last week I lost out on a really nice 86 300sl for a great price when I snoozed) I will check on it when I get to my shop.
I think you will be very pleased with the car. A 5 Speed and BBS wheels. Looks like it may not have been federalized. No ice cube turn signals. Spoiler does look like the one on my '84 AMG. It does not have the big AMG letters on it only AMG and other info molded into a small square.
daryn, the valve adjustment would be a fairly routine adventure except the locknuts are so close to the casting that it is nearly impossible to get a wrench on them. the only thing that seems to work is a modified crow's foot which is a very clumsy tool to use. if someone knows an easier way, i would be glad to learn it.
Kitchenrat. Was the special crowsfoot you bought the 17MM Hazet tool. I have one for the '73 450 and it works great. Of course the v8 is different. I have not taken the valve cover off the 280 and was just wondering if it might be the same tool.
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