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I've been offered the chance to buy a 230s Fintail. I'm not really experienced with Mercedes although I do own some other german cars. I've done a quick google but I'm having trouble putting a price on this. Can you give me an idea of price ranges? What are the common problems on these cars? I'm based in the UK.

I've included some text from the seller.

It's amanual 230S with relatively minor rust, new exhaust and tyres and an amazing interior, it was stored from nineteen eighty five until a couple of years back when the chap I bought it from picked it up from an estate sale, he got it going fitted a genuine merc exhaust system and some new tyres

the rear suspension is somewhat saggy with I suspect is due to a gas spring/shock mounted above the rear swing axle, its called a hydromat and a rebuilt one costs eight hundred and fifty euro's from classic Mercedes, you can buy a kit to replace it with a spring which is what the slightly earlier cars had anyway and costs about one hundred and fifty euro's so guess which rpute I will be going..... I have got some carb kits and a fuel pump coming from the states

the doors and rear arches are very good although the right hand rear door is rather speckled with surface rust, the worst affected area is the right hand sill, the sill itself could be repaired or new sills are available, the left sill looks fine it runs and moves around under its own steam but I am rebuilding the carbs etc, the mid blue MB tex interior is in amazing condition down to its, 356 like, moulded blue floor mats and blue inertia reel seat belts, its been stored from 1982 and is one registered keeper, a doctor who bought it in as a personal import and its covered 72000 and comes with its original service book, hand book, log book and import documents etc all in the original wallet.
 

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1981 300TD 360k--1966 230 165k--1970 280se 172k
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A fine car, w111 chassis, the descendant of the 220s, made 1966-1968. See more here:

The Mercedes Heckflosse (or Fintail) Homepage

Rust, wonky carbs, dirt/rust in fuel system, worn front suspension (many often neglected grease fittings), deteriorated chassis rubber mounts--that's about it if the engine is in good shape. Very durable car and a pleasure to drive.

Value anywhere from about $3,000 to $6,000 for better than average examples.
 

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Discussion Starter · #3 ·
A fine car, w111 chassis, the descendant of the 220s, made 1966-1968. See more here:

The Mercedes Heckflosse (or Fintail) Homepage

Rust, wonky carbs, dirt/rust in fuel system, worn front suspension (many often neglected grease fittings), deteriorated chassis rubber mounts--that's about it if the engine is in good shape. Very durable car and a pleasure to drive.

Value anywhere from about $3,000 to $6,000 for better than average examples.
Thanks for the information. Great site. How much bhp does the 230s produce? Sry I couldn't find this on the site. It's a pretty long car what's it's like in town? My normal car is a 912. Ok doing 70mph on the highway?

Therefore, from your rough price range I'm guessing that £3,200 is too much for an example that needs some work?
 

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Market in the UK is not the same as in the US. In the US, excellent, low mileage, rust free survivors can be had for $5000-6000. Lower survival rate in the UK due to rust may make GPB3200 a good deal, look at prices on the UK markets.

Apart from rust and carbs, you may end up having to replace all chassis rubber mounts and bushings as they deteriorate with age. Other than that 72.000 miles is not a lot for such a car.

Rear end ratio is around 4:1 so the car is revving quite a lot on highways. But these engines are designed to rev all day long. So it's more of a comfort inconvenience than the engine gettting worn.
 

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Hi sounds like a great Fintail: I know someone on the south coast that have scrapped one of these, working on a 230S and have lots of knowlige and cheap parts

good luck .. and as said; lubricat, lubricate & lubricate all those nipples to keep it tight and dont forget gearbox and rear axel

best of luck

Fred
Brighton UK
 
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