[Sam Hamm]

if this is in the wrong section i am very sorry. i cant really find anywhere else to post so if you guys could lead me in the right direction i would be very greatful.

my neighbor has a 1972(he says) 300 SEL. the car obviously has air bags or something because every since it has been sitting in his driveway the exhaust is on the ground it is so low. but anyways the car does not run and he says it is because the fuel pump is bad. it is silver with a black roof and black leather interior. the car is really not in bad shape at all. i will snap some pictures as soon as i can. but my question is, he wants to trade me it for a little honda i only paid about 300$ for. is it worth it? are these cars very hard to figure out the problem and get it fixed?

thanks for the help guys.

 

[flyboyike]

if this is in the wrong section i am very sorry. i cant really find anywhere else to post so if you guys could lead me in the right direction i would be very greatful.

my neighbor has a 1972(he says) 300 SEL. the car obviously has air bags or something because every since it has been sitting in his driveway the exhaust is on the ground it is so low. but anyways the car does not run and he says it is because the fuel pump is bad. it is silver with a black roof and black leather interior. the car is really not in bad shape at all. i will snap some pictures as soon as i can. but my question is, he wants to trade me it for a little honda i only paid about 300$ for. is it worth it? are these cars very hard to figure out the problem and get it fixed?

thanks for the help guys.

It's actually a W109. I don't see how you can go wrong for the equivalent of $300.

 

[GeeS]

If the car needs suspension valves (and they typically all fail at once), you could easily be in for a $3K plus repair job. If that doesn't give you pause, go for it, else take a close look before you leap.

Moving the post to Vintage.

 

[POS]

If it's a '72 300SEL with an air suspension, then its got the 6.3 engine. Desireable and fast. Problem is, they're also expensive as hell to bring around. I love the 6.3 cars, but you don't want to jump into one unless you know what you're doing.

How many miles are on it?
What kind of history does it have?
Is it worth "saving" with your money?

The reason I ask these questions is that there are lots of 6.3s out there, and if you're going to sink $6000 into this one, you want to be sure it's worth in on the back end.

 

[Sam Hamm]

i do believe it is only a 4.5 and that just because the badge on the back.

i dont know if im going to scoop the car up yet. i will let you guys know if not.

thanks for the move btw. i just didnt know where to post this.

 

[benzmizer]

The sure is dropped to the ground! Either intentional or you need to have the air suspension fixed.

 

[Rauchen]

If your Honda is your daily driver, then I wouldn't do it. If your Honda is extra, then hell yeah, I'd swap him in a heart beat. The reason I say this is because even if you find that Mercedes is more work and/or $$ than you can deal with, you can still sell it for a lot more than $300.

This is just a side note: Did Daimler-Benz offer these cars in a two tone color scheme like this. Eventually, I would like to repaint mine, but I want it original looking. But I love that Silver and Black color scheme.

 

[DrJfrmLA]

The W109 came in 4.5l, and 6.3 liter flavors if memory serves. There may have been a few six cylinder versions imported, but I think they were before the '72 model year. The W109 was different from the W108 in trim and suspension fitment mostly--it was the more luxurious version and had the air suspension you see collapsed in your pictures. W108's are simpler mostly because they have conventional suspension systems, but are a bit less desirable because they are more common. I recall there was a whopping price differential between them as new cars.

There is a web site for W108/W109 owners. If you google "W109" or "W108" you should find it. Those good folks can tell you pretty exactly what you are facing for repair/restoration costs if the suspension is the only consequential problem the car has. A fuel pump is a simple repair and the part isn't hideously expensive (it's electric and located by the fuel tank) if that's the start-engine problem.

You could certainly part the car out and make back way more than $300 if you decided to take the old girl off the road. IMO, the W108/109 is the best-looking "classic" Mercedes style, and it would be a pity to see one parted out if a little TLC and a few dollars would keep it showing off. The pictures you posted seem to show pretty good cosmetic condition. If I had the choice you do, I'd buy the car, work it back into driver condition and then make a decision to either restore it or sell it as a driver. It's probably worth north of $8000 in reasonable mechanical condition if the cosmetics are like they seem. Either way, getting this car for $300 seems like a no-brainer.

Cheers.

 

[3.5 Tony]

In my humble opinion I would pass. It was parked for good reason and will most likely be a Hugh money pit. If it is rust free it might be worth saving. If you part it out plan on spending a lot of time selling nickel and dime parts and a big mess to deal with when it's over. There is nothing particularly valuable to sell from it. If you like these cars I would go for a 108 instead-much simpler.

 

[xtcbytes]

I'll give you $300 as it sits.

 

[flyboyike]

The W109 came in 4.5l, and 6.3 liter flavors if memory serves.

3.5 flavor also.

 

[bostosh]

Two tones yes I had a silver w/ red top. I have this car in silver-blue great ride, buy it now.
And be aware of the air suspension repair cost, well worth the effort, simple when functioning, this could be the money pit.
Commit or send it to me for $400.

 

[Grubeguy]

The 109's also came with a 3.5.

 

[xtcbytes]

Let us know what you did.

 

[Berfinroy]

The cost of making this car right is very high even if you are a master mechanic. Lots and lots of rubber parts need to be replaced just because of age and almost regardless of mileage. And that's just for starters. But if you are so inclinde, you could part it out on ebay for far more than $300.

 

[q45denver]

I don't believe the 6 cylinder (w109) had the air suspension unless you are talking about the early 1960's W112? I almost bought a 300SEL 3.5 before I got my W111. The euro 4.5 had a lot more HP but are hard to find in the USA.

People pay big bucks to bag cheap little Hondas, so spending a few grand on a W109 is not unreasonable if the rest of the car is ok. :thumbsup:

 

[kmukherjee]

all w109's had air suspension

That is what differentiates a w108 from a w109.

 

[Rauchen]

I don't believe the 6 cylinder (w109) had the air suspension unless you are talking about the early 1960's W112? I almost bought a 300SEL 3.5 before I got my W111. The euro 4.5 had a lot more HP but are hard to find in the USA.

People pay big bucks to bag cheap little Hondas, so spending a few grand on a W109 is not unreaonable if the rest of the car is ok. :thumbsup:

The 3.5 is the euro version. The 4.5 is the U.S version.

 

[108.016]

That is what differentiates a w108 from a w109.

Also the W109 has a longer rear door (which makes the total length of the car itself longer) than the W108, aside from the other trim components.

I don't believe the 6 cylinder (w109) had the air suspension unless you are talking about the early 1960's W112? I almost bought a 300SEL 3.5 before I got my W111. The euro 4.5 had a lot more HP but are hard to find in the USA.

People pay big bucks to bag cheap little Hondas, so spending a few grand on a W109 is not unreasonable if the rest of the car is ok. :thumbsup:

There is a 6cyl W109 badged as 280SEL and is equipped with air suspension.

The 3.5 is the euro version. The 4.5 is the U.S version.

Agree! The US version came out with a 4.5 simply to compensate for the emission restrictions required but toe-to-toe on the road the 3.5 & 4.5 are almost the same. I guess this is one case where bigger doesn't necessarily mean faster.

 

[wbain]

There were two 6 cyl version, one with the M189 3 liter and one with the M130 from the 280SE. There were also 3.5, 4.5 and 6.3. all had air suspension.

MB made one short wheelbase 300SE after 1965 with the 3.0 M189 and steel springs.