Some service history. Had the brakes done recently and a new muffler installed. A couple of oil leaks - one from the reservoir and one from the rear diff. Enough to mark the driveway but not enough to leave fresh ones while I was there.
The interior is in excellent shape. Some cracking in the clear on the wood but no tears/cracks in the black leather. A couple of niggly issues like the driver's window not being in the track and the right rear not working at all. Sunroof works, climate control works but the AC unit has the belt disconnected. I'm not sure if the compressors are prone to age-failure or what they're worth but I'd sure like to have a fully functional AC system for a change.
My biggest concern is the body.
I'm should have taken better pictures (but I didn't). The inside of both left wheel wells/housings is rough behind the tires. The front left has what appears to be a rubber/plastic shell that is broken and peeling away and there's a hole rusted through to whatever lies behind it. The rear is similar with a rusted-through hole into the trunk area (perhaps). There's a bit of rust on the cowl under the windshield corner on the right side and rear left door paint is in sad shape. There's paint bubbling around the leading edge of the right tail light as well. It goes without saying it needs a thorough re-spray but the rusted holes have me concerned as I'm not in any way tooled up for that level of body repair. I'll try and post some pictures later today if I can get them off my phone in one piece. Any idea about the fender well rust?
It is of course saddled with the US bumpers and headlights (but there's a '73 SE for sale cheap down the road a ways with the Euro stuff).
I'm so torn. I also looked at an E28 535i today. It's in no way the Benz but it's in better shape by far paint wise, runs like a top, has functional AC, is a 5-spd car which I like (a non-issue with the Benz, it's a whole different kind of driving), I have a complete spare parts car for it, I know the cars well and have the resources to maintain them. I'm completely in the dark with this 6.9 - no familiarity at all but it's an entirely new level of driving experience. Long term the BMW has no value where the Benz
might if it was restored to it's former glory. The BMW will cost nothing to own and will get somewhere in the realm of 18-20mpg. The 6.9 will of course consume fuel like a fat kid at a dessert buffet but what about cost to own? Is the local stealership the only source of $$$$$ parts or are wear and tear items like pads and discs, bearings and the like available from other sources? What about those spheres? Are they another bucks-up item?
Help. Convince me that I want to spend more to buy the Benz and then spend more to sort it out.
