Mercedes 280SE - tempted to buy; any one owned one?

[baxter]

I'm vaguely flirting with the idea of a ok looking 1980 280SE (ie a W116 I think) that's going cheap locally.

Sunroof, leather, original mags, MOTed...

Not sure of the mileage, but it looks like it's been looked after most of its life. I haven't heard it tick over, but at a glance the paint looks a bit scruffy, but otherwise ok (interior looks fairly tidy - usually a good rough guide to how a car's been treated).

What I'd like to know is :

Are they reliable?
I know little about Mercs, but afaia ones of this age are generally decent quality. Or do they sack out and cost a bomb once they hit a certainly mileage or age?

Where do they rust?
This one has a current MOT which is difficult to get here with any rust at all, so it's likely ok, but I'd certainly want to check before buying.

What's the cost of parts like?
Yes it's old so I have to expect at least little things will break. Will these bankrupt me, or are they not much worse for parts than other older cars? Come to think of it, are parts even still available for a 280SE?

Lastly - it's an automatic...
I hate autos and sworn never to own another after my auto Nissan van died and became essentially an immobile garden gnome/shed in my front yard, but in a Merc I could possibly live with it for the price it is. But, how much does an auto kill a car as heavy as a 280?

[GadgetBoy]

Are they reliable?

They're very reliable but as with any car previous maintenance (or lack of) is the key.

Where do they rust?

Wheel arches. Suspension mounts.

What's the cost of parts like?

Very cheap surprisingly.

Lastly - it's an automatic...

The Merc autobox is a joy. Sport/Economy switchable, responsive, great kickdown. I love mine. Your first task if you buy the car is take it to your local autobox specialist and get a fluid and filter change. It'll transform the car.

The 280 (provided it isn't a diesel) is probably the same V6 engine as mine, the M112. Great engine, easy to work on, normally bullet proof. Their achilles heel is the balance crank pulley. This one of those jobbies where the inner and outer of the pulley is bonded with rubber. Have a good look at it and make sure it's not vibrating badly. There are 12 spark plugs and they're Iridium blighters and not cheap but you only have to replace them every 65K miles, probably worth changing them soon and they'll more than likely do you for the life of the car. The oil cooler seals (beside the filter housing top left bank) go round about now (due to the cars age), these are a Merc only part and they cost approx £35 here but again worth it because you can forget about them thereafter. Water pumps can go but OEM ones are fine and cheap. If you're worried about the A/C the compressor clutch will probably be clicking and on the way out but a recon should be relatively cheap and the condenser is exposed in front of the rad and is relatively easily damaged, again OEM ones are available and not expensive. You will, of course, have to add an NZ premium to all the prices I've quoted.

Just checked. The S280 has the straight six. Most of the same applies.

All in all they're a great motor but the 2.8 engine will be working hard in an S Class - you'll not be breaking any records.

[baxter]

Damn you. I should have known you'd have sensible reasons to buy it.

Glad to hear bits are cheap (we even have a Merc dealer in my city).

It has chrome trim over the arches (like in the pic below), easy enough to look and see if there's rust lurking behind, or are they double skinned malarkey?

Any particular suspension mounts, or check all of them?

From the reviews I have managed to find it seems the common problems are electrics and brakes, so not too bad if brakes parts aren't too costly.



It has a straight 6, a W110 according to Wikipedia which should be fitted with K-Jetronic injection.

And yep, the lack of torque of any 2.8 motor pushing a 2 ton car through an auto is a concern. - A concern that that can only really be solved with a test drive.


It's this model here, I think pretty much the last of this line:


Looks identical trim to this one, but a horrible light green metalic-ish paint that's crazing in places.

[GadgetBoy]

Lower edges of the wheel arches and primarily rear suspension mounts. I have the chrome eyelids as well. Daren't take them off - heaven knows what's hiding there.

I love those S Class motors. The still have real class. It'll be a thirsty beast.

[baxter]

Cheers greatly for that. Looks like a test drive might be in order.

[happiness stan]

How are you doing with this? My brother got a sort of horrible maroon coloured estate after he broke his back, it was nothing like as good as this one but it was virtually indestructable, like driving a sherman tank, plus it has massive front door which opened right up so he could transfer in and sort of swing his wheelchair over the steering wheel and strap it into the front passenger seat. It may sound funny but it took him ages to find a car which he could get into on his own. Last a lifetime a car like that. Then he scrapped it and bought an ex UN LWB defender with about 500 000 miles on it. less said the better.

[baxter]

It's currently sitting in the I'll-hang-out-for-a-manual-one-even-though-I'm-a-****-for-not-buying-the-mint-shiney-black-maunal-one-I-was-offered-at-a-reasonable-price-a-few-years-ago.

I learnt to drive in a underpowered 1600 automatic Mk3 Cortina, and hated it compared to my first car (a Mk1 1300 Escort). Vowed never to buy an auto again (and the only one I've owned since was thirsty - and promptly died despite being an otherwise reliable Nissan diesel). Although the Merc wouldn't be driven with the same expectations as a teenager in a Cortina I'm trying to stay committed to not another auto. Especially as GB points out, a heavy underpowered one. Even if it's an awesome W116.

And as I actually was looking for a scooter (as I'm in the process of being made redundant and should have plans for at least one affordable vehicle for the foreseeable future) when I found it, I should probably focus on that. Probably.

Don't get me wrong, it's a very good price (that I'm almost certain never to see again) and it's in pretty good condition. - So of course the status above could change in a couple of weeks or so when I ring back if no one else was interested in it. <fingers crossed>

[GadgetBoy]

I was an auto hater until I bought my Merc. I wouldn't go back to a manual now. Go for it Mark.