Is it worth the money?

[XR6]

Hi all,

Thinking of buying a cheap and cheerful old Mercedes as a project car soon.

I've found a 1977 280 that's definitely seen better days.

Current price is £1095 but I feel like that's too much considering how much rust and crap is on the car.

Here's a photo from the listing:

Spoiler

I'm thinking of talking the guy down to about £600-700

What would you pay?

Thanks  

 

(i know LTT forums are more tech-oriented but I've had no luck with any motoring forums so I'm turning to off topic for some help)

(if any mods see this, please don't lock this thread. I know this would've been better as a status update but hardly anyone ever responds to a status update so it's pointless for me to post one)

 

[Ralphred]

I think it's too much, as much as mercs were over engineered in those days, with that amount of rust you have to assume the subframe is in a similar condition, which equals more work for you.

Yeah, 600 notes is a fair price, but I'd check on availability of oversized pistons etc first if the block needs an overhaul.

 

All that said, I can see why you are interested  

[XR6]

8 minutes ago, Ralphred said:

I think it's too much, as much as mercs were over engineered in those days, with that amount of rust you have to assume the subframe is in a similar condition, which equals more work for you.

Yeah, 600 notes is a fair price, but I'd check on availability of oversized pistons etc first if the block needs an overhaul.

 

All that said, I can see why you are interested  

Yeah, I'm a bit worried about if the thing will actually run. It was imported here in '96 (it's LHD, probably from Europe) and hasn't had tax since '99. It's never had a safety inspection either which makes me think it's just been sitting for nearly 20 years.

I know a guy in South Africa who has a warehouse of these old merc parts. The problem is that I have no idea how I'd get the parts over here since I've found nobody else in the UK who can actually get those sorts of parts.

[Ralphred]

14 minutes ago, 1kv said:

I know a guy in South Africa who has a warehouse of these old merc parts

Why'd you have to say that, now I want to move to SA and help you with the merc  

On a more serious note, yeah, it's not like the old days when you could just pop to the local breakers with a tool kit and just get what you needed.

Talk to your friend see how viable it is to have him ship you parts.

[XR6]

4 minutes ago, Ralphred said:

Why'd you have to say that, now I want to move to SA and help you with the merc  

That'd be pretty cool, I won't lie  

4 minutes ago, Ralphred said:

On a more serious note, yeah, it's not like the old days when you could just pop to the local breakers with a tool kit and just get what you needed.

Talk to your friend see how viable it is to have him ship you parts.

Yeah, it might be possible to find something in the breakers since I live near rural areas where all sorts of cars were around. Moskvich 412s, Ford Cortinas, you name it.

I have tried to talk to him about shipping but he said that he can't ship outside of SA right now. Even then, I probably couldn't afford shipping.

[3 Lions]

Considering how much work this needs doing, just walk away and find another one in better shape. 

[XR6]

Just now, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

Considering how much work this needs doing, just walk away and find another one in better shape. 

That's true, and I 100% agree with you. In any other situation I'd just walk away and save my money. 

I don't particularly mind spending the extra time on trying to repair this since I'm both: A. a high school student with a limited budget and B. searching for a cheap car to work on as a hobby. 

 

[3 Lions]

2 minutes ago, 1kv said:

a high school student with a limited budget

What sort of budget are we talking about? 

[XR6]

1 minute ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

What sort of budget are we talking about? 

About £1000-1500

[Bananasplit_00]

seems a bit to rusty to me, if the frame is rotted out as bad as that rear quarter panel then id definatly not buy it. that car looks like just a pile of work

[3 Lions]

Just now, 1kv said:

About £1000-1500

For the car or the restoration? 

[XR6]

Just now, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

For the car or the restoration? 

The car.

 

[3 Lions]

Just now, 1kv said:

The car.

 

Nah don't go for it, you'd probably spend that amount on just repairing the bodywork alone and then there's also the mechanicals. 

[XR6]

1 minute ago, Bananasplit_00 said:

seems a bit to rusty to me, if the frame is rotted out as bad as that rear quarter panel then id definatly not buy it. that car looks like just a pile of work

Yeah definitely, if the frame's rusted then I'm straight out of there. I don't mind some surface rust but I'd rather not restore the frame.

[Bananasplit_00]

Just now, 1kv said:

Yeah definitely, if the frame's rusted then I'm straight out of there. I don't mind some surface rust but I'd rather not restore the frame.

it looks in generally poor condition so i think you could find something nicer in your £1500 budget that dosnt potentially need a frame, new panels, engine work and if its been sitting with a bit of fuel in that tank it might need a new one of those too. seems like a lot of work 

[3 Lions]

1 minute ago, 1kv said:

Yeah definitely, if the frame's rusted then I'm straight out of there. I don't mind some surface rust but I'd rather not restore the frame.

It looks like a bit more than surface rust, most of the rear quarter panel is shot to bits.  

[XR6]

Just now, Bananasplit_00 said:

it looks in generally poor condition so i think you could find something nicer in your £1500 budget that dosnt potentially need a frame, new panels, engine work and if its been sitting with a bit of fuel in that tank it might need a new one of those too. seems like a lot of work 

There's nothing else in my £1500 budget really.

The next cheapest one is £3600.

 

[Tcrumpen]

1 hour ago, 1kv said:

Hi all,

Thinking of buying a cheap and cheerful old Mercedes as a project car soon.

I've found a 1977 280 that's definitely seen better days.

Current price is £1095 but I feel like that's too much considering how much rust and crap is on the car.

Here's a photo from the listing:

  Hide contents

I'm thinking of talking the guy down to about £600-700

What would you pay?

Thanks  

 

(i know LTT forums are more tech-oriented but I've had no luck with any motoring forums so I'm turning to off topic for some help)

(if any mods see this, please don't lock this thread. I know this would've been better as a status update but hardly anyone ever responds to a status update so it's pointless for me to post one)

 

The guy wants a grand for that??

Even though i don't know cars that's being optimistic, i'd say not even £500 due to the rust and the damage on the car; also what's it's mileage?

[Bananasplit_00]

Just now, 1kv said:

There's nothing else in my £1500 budget really.

The next cheapest one is £3600.

 

well you can take a look at it but i dont think id buy it at least. the rear quarter seems gone, needs a new set of tires, battery, fuel tank might need some love but if the rest is in good condition and you feel fine doing the work then its not the worst i guess. really depends on how good the frame, engine and the rest of the body is

[3 Lions]

1 minute ago, 1kv said:

There's nothing else in my £1500 budget really.

The next cheapest one is £3600.

 

Can I just ask, is this going to be your first car? 

[XR6]

Just now, Tcrumpen said:

The guy wants a grand for that??

Even though i don't know cars that's being optimistic, i'd say not even £500 due to the rust and the damage on the car; also what's it's mileage?

I have no clue about the mileage, the seller hasn't done a close up of the gauges or even said anything relating to mileage.

It hasn't been taxed since 1999 and has not had a safety inspection/MOT in it's life. My guess is that it's just been sat in a field for nearly 20 years doing nothing.

[XR6]

2 minutes ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

Can I just ask, is this going to be your first car? 

It may be if I don't get my mum's 2013 Fiesta, although it will most likely be a project that gives me something to do.

[Tcrumpen]

4 minutes ago, 1kv said:

I have no clue about the mileage, the seller hasn't done a close up of the gauges or even said anything relating to mileage.

It hasn't been taxed since 1999 and has not had a safety inspection/MOT in it's life. My guess is that it's just been sat in a field for nearly 20 years doing nothing.

Then i'd HIGHLY advise asking to look round it first before you start talking price. Now if you know cars thats great; but if not bring someone along who does know it, maybe you have a friend who's a mechanic?

 

And for that £1000 is the absolute MAX i'd go

[3 Lions]

6 minutes ago, 1kv said:

It may be if I don't get my mum's 2013 Fiesta, although it will most likely be a weekend/project car.

If you don't get your mum's Fiesta, don't spend £1000 on a car yet. I know a guy in my college who has just bought a 2005 Peugeot 206 that cost about £850 and only needs front discs/pads and he absolutely loves it. I know you are a fan of Mercedes-Benz but I think you need to lower your expectations in what you can get and what you can afford, remember you have the tax and insurance to pay for along with the up-keep of the vehicle. 

Edited January 4, 2019 by LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo

[XR6]

1 minute ago, LinusTechTipsFanFromDarlo said:

If you don't get your mum's Fiesta, don't spend £1000 on a car yet. I know a guy in my college who has just bought a 2005 Peugeot 206 that cost about £850 and only needs front discs/pads and he absolutely loves it. I know you are a fan of Mercedes-Benz but I think you need to lower your expectations in what you can get and what you can afford, remember you have the tax and insurance to pay for along with the up-keep of the vehicle. 

Yeah, I don't plan to actually daily drive it. For £1000, I don't expect anything good. In fact I'm actually surprised I could find that. My main goal for that mercedes is not to actually have a 100% working daily that will do everything, it's mainly to have a car to practice working on. I thought it wouldn't be the worst car to pick since it's a car I like, it's in budget, and it's going to get destroyed one way or another, whether it be by some kid with a socket set or the rust.