Author Topic: I want to cry. (Read 10011 times)

unclebubba · « **on:** March 31, 2008, 03:40:13 »

Well ,after spending a year and a half getting all the mechanical issues sorted out with my 1966 230sl I started to drive it this week even though it still needed a newl interior , paint and chrome work. I was so elated that I could finally drive my car which was a basket case when I bought it but had a lot of original parts and almost no rust. It has spent it's whole life in los angeles.I parked it at my business last night in a relatively safe area of los angeles. I usuallly work until 11 or 12 at night and this evening was no exception.When I came out to go home someone had broken in and tried to steal the car and took a screwdriver and tore the dashboard to pieces trying to remove the ignition switch. When that did not work they proceeded to remove my euro headlight assemblies(leaving all the wiring cut),my grill,bumper,and hubcaps and rings. They also jacked the trunk open and broke both rear tailight assemblies. I will have it towed home tomorrow and after I regain my sanity I will start the search for the missing parts.
Now I have to convince the wife that restoring this car is still a good idea.

Peter van Es · « **Reply #1 on:** March 31, 2008, 04:03:19 »

I'm sorry to hear of your misfortune. It is terrible that they not only stole expensive parts, but also damaged the dashboard whilst doing so. Will your insurance cover it?

If the parts alone are so desirable that a thief feels the need to steal them, it goes to show that restoring a Pagoda is a worthwhile effort...

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

JamesL · « **Reply #2 on:** March 31, 2008, 05:27:29 »

bustuds

Complete and utter bustuds

Douglas · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2008, 05:59:42 »

I'm sorry to hear about this. I feel violated just hearing this story, so I can only imagine how you must feel. You may want to watch ebay or craig's list to see if the stolen parts appear for sale. You'd think thieves would be more discreet about fencing parts, but they're not the most clever bunch.

Douglas Kim
New York
USA

Ricardo · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2008, 08:22:50 »

What a tragedy, I can only agree with Douglas' statement, we can all imagine the gut wrenching feeling of finding our prized beauties destroyed like this. The worst of it is the thieves will probably get precious few dollars with which to feed a drug habit or something equally worthless.
This kind of theft must have taken some time and tools, maybe placing "reward for info" posters in the area might lead to the crooks?
I sure hope you are properly insured.

J. Huber · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2008, 08:30:00 »

I am ashamed to be living in the same state as these lowlifes. What a bunch of jerks. Sorry about your tragedy.

James
63 230SL

paulr · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2008, 09:32:27 »

I'm really sorry to hear your news. FB's !

paulr
1970 280 SL

unclebubba · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2008, 10:41:23 »

Unfortunately since I just started driving the car and it was always stored in a safe location I only had liability insurance and was planning to add full coverage this week. That will teach me to procrastinate. Thanks for the advice about craigs list.I have already been checking it every couple of hours. Thanks to everyone for their comments and support and this does prove that these cars are becoming more valuable every day. The thiefs were not pros but they did know exactly which parts to take. I could not move the car as they damaged the steering wheel and ignition switch and I will have to remove the lock today and have it towed home. I was nervous about leaving the car at my business over night so I slept at my business with the windows open and the lights on( with my trusty baseball bat ) in case they decided to come back for round 2. I guess I would rahter sleep with my car than my wife.

glennard · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:10:15 »

Illegal alien FBs?

TheEngineer · « **Reply #9 on:** March 31, 2008, 12:24:03 »

I'm so sorry to hear this! Years ago I had a blue 230SL. After I sold it, someone stole the entire hard top. The new owner had it parked in front of his house. He lived in a gated community.

RBurg · « **Reply #10 on:** March 31, 2008, 16:10:49 »

Sorry to hear about the damage to your (2nd wife).
I know my 280 is like a wife. Thats here name is JiJi.

We NEED to ALL watch E-Bay and Craigs list for the
missing parts.

Ron - Minnesota
71 280SL Tobacco "O GIGI"
03 525 BMW BlACK/BLACk
97 E420 Silver Mist

graphic66 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 31, 2008, 16:41:06 »

Probably not a bad idea to engrave some markings on the easy to get parts so as to identify them later if you see them for sale. Just a note on the baseball bat, where I live we use a 12 gauge. Not much crime around my area. Our local DA told me once our crime rate is low because everyone has a gun or a dog or both.

Kemal · « **Reply #12 on:** March 31, 2008, 16:49:24 »

Hi Larry,

'' Excuse the language '' !!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!! Our worst nightmare, being stolen or beaten up.
So sorry to read what happened. [ I'm sure your wife understands. ]

Kemal
280SL
Manual LHD 69

bpossel · « **Reply #13 on:** March 31, 2008, 16:58:00 »

Larry,

I am so sorry! I hope that you get your car back together again. I know this sounds odd, but I had a dream last night that my old 190Dc was also vandalized and was on blocks.... I woke up feeling VERY bad. But only a dream! In your case,,, reality!
I am very sorry!
Bob

bpossel (Memphis, TN.)
'71 280SL / '97 E320

dseretakis · « **Reply #14 on:** March 31, 2008, 18:13:57 »

I had some parts stolen off of a 63 220SEb coupe while it was waiting at the port for shipment to europe. The wooden speaker grille, seat reclining knobs and service manuals and service records dating back to 1963. This is nothing compared to your loss, but I can still sympathize with you. Filthy lowlifes.
Dimitri

Rolf · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2008, 20:25:49 »

I am so sorry to what you are going through. I had two cars broken into, a 1976 280 Z and a 1965 Chevy Super Sport Convertible. I know what it feels like. It's not much but I have a set of hubcaps you can have. They have been rechromed and are not painted. They are not perfect but in real good shape. email me if you want them.

Rolf
1966 230SL Auto
1992 300D
1991 FLHS

suzy · « **Reply #16 on:** April 01, 2008, 10:53:11 »

larry, my sympathy. i'm also in LA (i'm the one who had her 280 SL stolen from her driveway last Sept) and i just had the convertible of my 2005 Mini Cooper slashed, so i am thinking maybe my cars are just magnets for trouble. with the cooper out for repair, i drove my 250 SL to work today and not 5 blocks from my house 2 cars got into an accident right behind me...Wow, it's scary out there!!

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green

Shvegel · « **Reply #17 on:** April 01, 2008, 17:28:04 »

Start checking Ebay. It's the worlds' best pawn shop(fence). I read a story once where an Acura dealer had the Zenon headlights stolen out of 20 cars on the lot. Bad enough but they bent the fenders back doing it to each car. He started watching Ebay and sure enough.

dwilli3038 · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2008, 05:48:31 »

So sorry to hear about that. I am sure it hurts even more than if they hit you personaly. Best of wishes as you find the parts and repair.

Daryl
'64 230 SL Buckeye Benz Scarlet interior and Grey top Serial # 508
'77 280SE

graphic66 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 10, 2008, 17:28:41 »

I just heard of another 280SL getting stolen by a tow truck in LA. My girlfriends sister lives in Hermosa Beach on the Strand. Her neighbor across the alley had a very nice silver 280SL that gets parked in the alley right near Marthas. A tow truck was videoed near the car and someone got out and apparently hot wired the car and drove it off video was a neighbors security camera and couldn't ID the truck. The car was found several days later under an underpass stripped. It was her mothers car and was a nice car. It was a 280SL with all red taillights, so just watch out, some people are watching for these cars. The car was always left in a carport right on the Strand. It was never locked, so the hotwire was probably easy. Lock your doors, lock your column and get a steering wheel security lock to slow them down. I will get a better report of what exactly was taken. We as a group should watch for supllies of parts coming from unusual sources.

Douglas · « **Reply #20 on:** May 23, 2008, 21:55:00 »

Here's a mighty cheap grill for a Pagoda in LA:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/pts/691201357.html

It's either a great way to get a cheap grill or it's suspicious....

benzportland · « **Reply #21 on:** June 02, 2008, 19:15:36 »

Cheap grill surround:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-230sl-250sl-280-sl-grille-shell_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33645QQihZ002QQitemZ120268810672QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Mark280SL · « **Reply #22 on:** June 03, 2008, 11:43:16 »

Hi Uncle

I just decided to replace my grill surround with a new oem one from MB I'm putting the one I'm replacing for sale in the for sale forum and then on ebay a few days later. So if you are interested take a look there later tonight and I'll post photos, it is original.

I had it rechromed and repaired by a plating shop about 6 weeks ago, they did a very nice job with the new chrome plate but I am not 100% happy with the repair, it's a relatively small ding maybe 3/4 inch that they banged out but it still is visible and I'm anal about wanting it perfect so I decided to bite the bullitt and pay the big bucks for a new MB part. Not sure how to rate it overall but on a scale of 1-10 with 1 being junk and 10 being brand new MB the one I will offer for sale is probably a 7.5 to 8.0 . I will post pics on the sale forum and you can take a look if you are still looking for grill parts. Given what the new ones sell for I figure it is worth 475.00-500.00 I'm not really sure how to price it. You can check the prices at the various vendors and also look on ebay to decide what you feel a used one in good condition is worth.

News:

Author Topic: I want to cry. (Read 10011 times)

unclebubba

Douglas

Ricardo

paulr

unclebubba

glennard

RBurg

graphic66

bpossel

dseretakis

Rolf

suzy

dwilli3038

graphic66

Douglas

benzportland