Is this car worth it?

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

http://houston.craigslist.org/car/500747350.html

500 bucks for 300SEL, doesnt run, car was overheated, needs engine. These cars go for 5K+ when running. Thoughts please.

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[amoffitt 10+ year member]

chop it up and sell pieces on ebay

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

was thinking about doing that as well if i couldnt find a cheap engine, it looks like its in pretty good shape.

 

[Blados 10+ year member]

part it out

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

Body looks to be in good shape. We had an 86 560SEL back in the day till my dad over heated it. Amazing car biggest model they had was amazing for an 86 power everything (including the back seat) heated seats all around and with 5 people loaded in the car it could take a *****-Am.

Back to the topic. They are an absolute PAIN IN THE A$$ to work on. Roughly 17 hours to change 1 head. Car had 2 firewalls, one had to be removed to get at the head, exhaust crossed over the ****** bell housing at the back of the motor which was a pita to get at. I'm not exactly sure what motor is in the 300, I think its a 6 but can't remember ours had a 5.0L v-8 I believe overhead can aluminum heads. Also parts are rediculously expensive. If you really know what your doing and can get parts cheap somewhere then I would say go for it, but otherwise stay away cause they can be really complicated.

thats my .02

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

Body looks to be in good shape. We had an 86 560SEL back in the day till my dad over heated it. Amazing car biggest model they had was amazing for an 86 power everything (including the back seat) heated seats all around and with 5 people loaded in the car it could take a *****-Am.
Back to the topic. They are an absolute PAIN IN THE A$$ to work on. Roughly 17 hours to change 1 head. Car had 2 firewalls, one had to be removed to get at the head, exhaust crossed over the ****** bell housing at the back of the motor which was a pita to get at. I'm not exactly sure what motor is in the 300, I think its a 6 but can't remember ours had a 5.0L v-8 I believe overhead can aluminum heads. Also parts are rediculously expensive. If you really know what your doing and can get parts cheap somewhere then I would say go for it, but otherwise stay away cause they can be really complicated.

thats my .02

ya it has the v6 in it. Im fairly sure i could get an engine for ~ 500 bucks, maybe a little more. Even if i had someone throw it in for me, lets say i put 2gs into it and sell it for 4K+ im still golden.

Otherwise im still thikning about grabbing it and parting it out, bet i could make about the same doing that.

 

[jdc753 10+ year member]

ya it has the v6 in it. Im fairly sure i could get an engine for ~ 500 bucks, maybe a little more. Even if i had someone throw it in for me, lets say i put 2gs into it and sell it for 4K+ im still golden.
Otherwise im still thikning about grabbing it and parting it out, bet i could make about the same doing that.

that plan right there sounds good. I think the 300's were much more popular than the 500 series but I think those body panels and such will fit more than just the 300's so might be a decent demand for them.

They truely are beautiful cars in my opinion. Fit n finish was amazing and just the features were incredible, 1986 car with aluminum heads and overhead cam, full power seats with memory and power rear seat, power antenna, fully indipendant suspension all around, even had a first aid kit behind the rear seat on the "parcel self" along with another storage compartment and rear reading lights. OH and little angled footrests in the back seats lol, plus ashtrays in each back door with cigarette lighters. I always thought the gas door was neat too, nice flush finish and they put the hinge near the center so you could open it just by pushing on one side. OH and the famous headlight "windshield wipers" lol

Sorry for rambling, as you can tell I truely enjoyed that car lol.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

that plan right there sounds good. I think the 300's were much more popular than the 500 series but I think those body panels and such will fit more than just the 300's so might be a decent demand for them.
They truely are beautiful cars in my opinion. Fit n finish was amazing and just the features were incredible, 1986 car with aluminum heads and overhead cam, full power seats with memory and power rear seat, power antenna, fully indipendant suspension all around, even had a first aid kit behind the rear seat on the "parcel self" along with another storage compartment and rear reading lights. OH and little angled footrests in the back seats lol, plus ashtrays in each back door with cigarette lighters. I always thought the gas door was neat too, nice flush finish and they put the hinge near the center so you could open it just by pushing on one side. OH and the famous headlight "windshield wipers" lol

Sorry for rambling, as you can tell I truely enjoyed that car lol.

Ya, they seem to be a fairly popular model, and like you said im pretty sure a lot of the models used the same panels, just with different drivetrains, i know this one looks just like all the diesels i see, and the body style was the same for 5 years i think. Plus the name "mercedes" always adds $$ to the price.

Definantly nice cars, when diesel was cheaper then gas, i was looking at buying one of this style with the diesel engines to use as a really nice DD that gets good gas mileage (26+) but now that diesel is a good .50 cents more, that plan has faded.

 

[2002XLT 5,000+ posts]

anybody else have an opinion? Im trying to figure out what im going to sell to buy it..