Critique this car please

[jameshoward]

As per the title. Critique this car to death, please. I've picked up a few things that on a car of this price shouldn't be there, but would appreciate mucho pairs of eyes on this. I ask because an acquaintance is thinking of buying it. Personally, as I've said to him, I think it's over priced, but he doesn't seem to mind. I'd like to help him by giving him a list of things for them to put right at their cost if he does want to buy it.

Things I've spotted on a brief look on an ipad include missing bonnet bump stops (3 or 4 - did we decide on that yet? Mine has 3, btw and I believe they're original); what looks like an oil drip on the underside of the transmission (#47); one of the hoses in the foreground on an engine bay shot looks a bit ropey; the battery seems to be held in place by gravity, or maybe double sided sticky tape, but the holddown plate is missing; the front plastic shock cover plates are missing; the labels mostly aren't there; are the shocks bilstein? (I have konis by choice, but it would be useful to get a view from someone who knows what Bilsteins look like); the 2 nuts on the accelerator linkage aren't together (suggests a bit of lazy workmanship to me). What else?

All of that said, it is a very pretty car indeed and has some original features.

Danke!

http://www.hofmanns.co.uk/car-sales/mercedes-benz-280-sl-pagoda-0

[d8ean]

how funny I just noticed the same car for sale and have ended up back on here after a year off to see if anyone was talking about it.
looks a very nice car, but im not up to speed on all the bits it should or shouldn't have
just been looking at what cars have been making at the auctions in the UK and abroad - crazy money
will watch this thread with interest

[PaulT]

Hi Jamie,

A lovely looking car.  If your acquaintance is interested, I think the first thing he should do is to speak to John Haynes who I use, and who appear to have carried out substantial work on the car.  I am sure they would give an honest opinion on it.  Given what other dealers in the UK seem to be asking for good 280s at the present time, I though the price, whilst a lot of money, was about what I would expect.     

Great to see you at Cranleigh last Sunday!

Regards

Paul

[scoot]

I would want to know more about the condition of the "original hardtop" which is not shown in any of the pictures.

[Jonny B]

Very much in agreement with Scoot about knowing the condition of the hard top (the tool kit and manuals also)

The shock towers in front after the 250 SL do not have covers.
The firewall pad looks a bit shaky, and the flange should have three bumpers (the four I had asked about before, and the picture were from a pre-production prototype)
Would also be good to look under the trunk mat
The hood rod should have two little round bumpers
The center hood/bonnet latch should be body color
zip ties on the breather pipe  cover from the manifold
coolant tank is in backwards?
connector for the battery appears to be in sorry shape.
The hood/bonnet fit is a bit off, wider on the driver side
The tie rod connector looks pretty nasty (photo #47)

It is a lovely color though!

[RobSirg]

Nice looking car James,

I would be interested to know if it was the original colours. I'm guessing the steering wheel was black originally as the centre star is still black ( pretty sure white wheels have a white or cream centre piece).

I don't have headrests on either of my cars so I don't know if they are correct - they appear to be tilting type?

In the engine bay the firewall lets it down for me. Could have also improved the fuse cover, radiator cap, hood strap, etc, given all the work they did.

I see a relay in the drivers side corner near the firewall which should not be there.

One of the horns appears to be on an odd angle

I couldn't see the hazard light switch - figured an August 70 car should have it but maybe it is earlier than that. Need the data sheet.

Soft top has one edge lifting up but most do that I guess.

Rob

[jameshoward]

Thanks guys. Heaps here for me to go with; very grateful and agree with all the issues raised. I don't know 280s well as I own the premier 113 model (late 230); your observations are helpful.

Paul - great to see you, too. You have a stunning car. And a proper 113, of course; a beautiful 230, not like these Jonny Come Lately types...

I'll let you guys know if he buys the car.

[Iconic]

Missing the grommets in the headrests.
Missing the heat insulator(s?) above the muffler mount.
The carpet is a replacement, of course.
 

Very nice car and color !

[RobSirg]

Sunvisor's look too flat and thin - hard to see but I wonder if they are crappy reproductions.

BTW - hazard switch appears to be there.

Matching seatbelt colour looks 'naff' to me - maybe better suited to owners of the older generation model ....230's 

Surely James you didn't think you were going to get off with those derogatory comments about the premier model

[Ulf]

Did the 280 have the hard door pockets like the 230? Apart from that and the ever-present soft top curl, this car looks quite remarkable to me :-)
Price is a bit steep though, but I guess that is something we have to get used to...

Ulf

[mbzse]

Did the 280 have the hard door pockets like the 230?

All W113 Pagodas (except very early 230SL:s) had the "cow horn" handle and the hard, open, door pockets.
Except US delivery (w code 491) after some point, where soft pockets and the large D shaped handle were introduced on the inner door sides.
/Hans in Sweden

[Brian in NL]

Yes, the soft door pockets were introduced on the 250SL in 1967, U.S. market cars only.

[Jonny B]

The cut off for the hard pockets on the 250 SL was at VIN 2980, after that all the other changes for the 1967 United States Dept of Transportation safety regulations took effect (soft pockets, rounded dash, matte finish surfaces, new type door handles, soft rubber heater levers, etc.

[49er]

My 250SL (113043-10-001133) was as Jonny described. Pretty much identical to the 230 other then the engine and 4 wheel disk brakes.

John