[diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 


What Mark said !! .

I rarely pay over scrap value and I always seem to $pend far more than the vehicle will ever be worth .

-Nate
Mark wrote :
>
> Do/ask whatever you need to in order to satisfy yourself about the condition of the car. A seller who balks at your requests should be low-balled or you should remove yourself from his presence.
>
>
> I can get a pretty good idea on the condition of prospective projects by driving them (if driveable) and getting on my hands and knees with a flashlight. I have little fear of rust because 1) it's pretty rare around here and B) I have successfully tackled some advanced rust projects and have some confidence around it. It does require a decent plasma wire welder, disc cutter and hand grinder, and, of course, patience and time.
>
>
> One good thing about the older/more collectible Mercedesez is that many of the body parts are available new from cottage (and not-so-cottage) folks.
>
>
> http://www.kkmfg.com/catalog.php
>
>
> If one had the time and money, one could build a brand new 190SL. Same is true of '56 Bel Air, or '65 Mustang.
>
>
> (Unfortunately, most of the cars discussed on this list are not considered collectible. Much the pity....)
>
> As a general rule, approach every car as an unknown quantity that will require EVERYTHING. Think worst-case scenario. And don't be afraid to walk away... (especially including from car dealers).
>
>
> Mark in Lakewood, CO
>

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[diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 


_ALWAYS_ ask before you go look , if it's O.K.to get it up on a hoist and have a Mechanic look at it .

Any other response than : ' why yes , of course ' means it's junk or the seller is crooked .

I do my own inspections and a flashlight and crawling underneath is fine , you can alaus carflly drive to side wheels up on a curb to lift it and get more crawling under neath space .

Last week Tom and I stopped to look at a Jublieee Edition 1979 MG Midget , it looked pretty darn good for a car left sitting for a decade or more , the flors were cherry rockers bubble free etc.
etc. .

Then I crawled underneath it to view the spiders , I mean to remove the special 3.72 ratio ' high speed ' pumpkin and saw gaping rust holes on the inside of the rear body/frame " kick up " arch that goes over the rear axle ~ fixable yes but who wants to put a $3,000 rust repair on a non running $900 car ? .

Point being : LOOK HARD and BE SUSPICIOUS .

-Nate
Brad Asked :
>
> I have seen at least one '60s merc convertible offered for $65k+/- around here in the Northeast. A couple winters ago, a guy was selling a 180d here for about $900; it had a rusted out rear shock mount..... a little more of a repair than I am willing to take on.
>
> There is a series of episodes called "Wheeler Dealer" from Discovery or BBC, many of which can be found on YouTube, where a couple of British guys fix up classics and resell them...pretty entertaining.
>
> When you guys are trying to decide whether to buy a car, do you ask the owner if you can get it on a garage lift? I guess I'm asking if this is a reasonable question....I'm not going to buy a car, but I was wonderin'  In the past I've just tried to look at the underside using a flashlight lying on my back.
>
>

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Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 

If I were buying again, which I am not, the seller would allow me to put it in the air or I would be history. Unless, I am buying it for parts and he sells it "as is" for real cheap $$.
 
brian from laverne, ca
Mary (195K)  Martha (280K)
1983 w123 300d's

From: john public <brad_macaboy1234@yahoo.com>
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 
I have seen at least one '60s merc convertible offered for $65k+/- around here in the Northeast. A couple winters ago, a guy was selling a 180d here for about $900; it had a rusted out rear shock mount..... a little more of a repair than I am willing to take on.

There is a series of episodes called "Wheeler Dealer" from Discovery or BBC, many of which can be found on YouTube, where a couple of British guys fix up classics and resell them...pretty entertaining.

When you guys are trying to decide whether to buy a car, do you ask the owner if you can get it on a garage lift? I guess I'm asking if this is a reasonable question....I'm not going to buy a car, but I was wonderin'  In the past I've just tried to look at the underside using a flashlight lying on my back.

--- On Mon, 10/8/12, Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re : Older Mercedes
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, October 8, 2012, 9:07 PM


He  looked no more than 40 , wasn't looking happy as I surely would were I driving that dreamboat .

-Nate
    Max wrote :
>
> My 59 190D(55hp) would go very fast, it just took a while to get there. It would cruise at 65, very steady, just did not like stopping fast. Was this guy old, or maybe just off the farm?Max
>
> --- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, "vwnate1" <vwnate1@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Last night close to midnight I was testing the repairs made to my trusty if battered 1959 Metropolitan Nash Fixed Head Coupe , as I entered the freeway I passed an early 1960's Mercedes Drop Head Coupe (Convertible) plodding along in the slow lane doing under 55 MPH .
> >
> > It looked at least as good as new , maybe better .
> >
> > It was silent in operation , I wonder why he was driving so slowly ~ my Metro barely goes 65  and I passed him like a rabbit in a thicket as others were zooming up behind him and swerving wildly to avoid crashing into him so I didn't stick around to enjoy the view .
> >
> > I'm not so sure older Mercedes are necessarily slow , my '81 240D W/ slushbox is no ball of fire but it goes along @ 60 just fine , faster if I don't mind wa$ting fuel .
> >
> > -Nate
> >       



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Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 

Do/ask whatever you need to in order to satisfy yourself about the condition of the car.  A seller who balks at your requests should be low-balled or you should remove yourself from his presence.

I can get a pretty good idea on the condition of prospective projects by driving them (if driveable) and getting on my hands and knees with a flashlight.  I have little fear of rust because 1) it's pretty rare around here and B) I have successfully tackled some advanced rust projects and have some confidence around it.  It does require a decent plasma wire welder, disc cutter and hand grinder, and, of course, patience and time.

One good thing about the older/more collectible Mercedesez is that many of the body parts are available new from cottage (and not-so-cottage) folks.

http://www.kkmfg.com/catalog.php

If one had the time and money, one could build a brand new 190SL.  Same is true of '56 Bel Air, or '65 Mustang.

(Unfortunately, most of the cars discussed on this list are not considered collectible.  Much the pity....)

As a general rule, approach every car as an unknown quantity that will require EVERYTHING.  Think worst-case scenario.  And don't be afraid to walk away... (especially including from car dealers).

Mark in Lakewood, CO

From: "john public" <brad_macaboy1234@yahoo.com>
To: "diesel mercedes" <diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 9, 2012 6:46:42 AM
Subject: Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older  Mercedes & ? about inspection

 

I have seen at least one '60s merc convertible offered for $65k+/- around here in the Northeast. A couple winters ago, a guy was selling a 180d here for about $900; it had a rusted out rear shock mount..... a little more of a repair than I am willing to take on.

There is a series of episodes called "Wheeler Dealer" from Discovery or BBC, many of which can be found on YouTube, where a couple of British guys fix up classics and resell them...pretty entertaining.

When you guys are trying to decide whether to buy a car, do you ask the owner if you can get it on a garage lift? I guess I'm asking if this is a reasonable question....I'm not going to buy a car, but I was wonderin'  In the past I've just tried to look at the underside using a flashlight lying on my back.

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[diesel_mercedes] Re : Rubber Exhaust Donuts

 

so I am ok using the chain ones on the forward 2 spots then?  Rear seemed easy to install, front/mid one was not...so i paused ;)


I used my jack to gently raise the exhaust so the two hooks were closer together for install.

Caitlin

--
Forget safety.  Live where you fear to live.
Destroy your reputation.  Be notorious.
I have tried prudent planning long enough.
From now on, I'll be mad.

- Rumi

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Re: [diesel_mercedes] Re : comment about Older Mercedes & ? about inspection

 

I have seen at least one '60s merc convertible offered for $65k+/- around here in the Northeast. A couple winters ago, a guy was selling a 180d here for about $900; it had a rusted out rear shock mount..... a little more of a repair than I am willing to take on.

There is a series of episodes called "Wheeler Dealer" from Discovery or BBC, many of which can be found on YouTube, where a couple of British guys fix up classics and resell them...pretty entertaining.

When you guys are trying to decide whether to buy a car, do you ask the owner if you can get it on a garage lift? I guess I'm asking if this is a reasonable question....I'm not going to buy a car, but I was wonderin'  In the past I've just tried to look at the underside using a flashlight lying on my back.

--- On Mon, 10/8/12, Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com> wrote:

From: Nate <vwnate1@yahoo.com>
Subject: [diesel_mercedes] Re : Older Mercedes
To: diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, October 8, 2012, 9:07 PM


He  looked no more than 40 , wasn't looking happy as I surely would were I driving that dreamboat .

-Nate
    Max wrote :
>
> My 59 190D(55hp) would go very fast, it just took a while to get there. It would cruise at 65, very steady, just did not like stopping fast. Was this guy old, or maybe just off the farm?Max
>
> --- In diesel_mercedes@yahoogroups.com, "vwnate1" <vwnate1@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > Last night close to midnight I was testing the repairs made to my trusty if battered 1959 Metropolitan Nash Fixed Head Coupe , as I entered the freeway I passed an early 1960's Mercedes Drop Head Coupe (Convertible) plodding along in the slow lane doing under 55 MPH .
> >
> > It looked at least as good as new , maybe better .
> >
> > It was silent in operation , I wonder why he was driving so slowly ~ my Metro barely goes 65  and I passed him like a rabbit in a thicket as others were zooming up behind him and swerving wildly to avoid crashing into him so I didn't stick around to enjoy the view .
> >
> > I'm not so sure older Mercedes are necessarily slow , my '81 240D W/ slushbox is no ball of fire but it goes along @ 60 just fine , faster if I don't mind wa$ting fuel .
> >
> > -Nate
> >       



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