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Biggest mistake ever?

Started by ptashek, 13 April 2020, 06:47 PM

ptashek

Gotta put myself out for public flogging, LOL :)

Before tossing them to the bin, I was going through the docs for my long-scrapped parts 350SE today. The car was in super bad shape for the most part, and I really only bought it out of pity, to save the glass and chrome. I've never really checked any of the service history. The car has never seen the road under my ownership. I should've paid more attention! Found this super-faded fax copy of an MB invoice from 1999 for a brand new replacement W3A 040 gearbox, supplied and fitted at just under 80k miles. No idea how much it cost though, half the page was illegible. The car went to the scrap heap at 112k...

Please don't hate me  ::)

Turns out the bumpers, which are now (re-chromed) on my 450SE, were also replaced with brand new ones in 1993.
I knew they looked too good!
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

floyd111

Who'd expect it! Not a small thing to drop the gearbox for a lab-check every time you dump a car! (but you should have checked the paperwork, haha! Ah well. You can't take it with you anyways..

daantjie

Yup it's a fine line between hoarding a bunch of crap you'll likely never use and letting go of that one very useful part ::)
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

3l33ter

Hindsight...

I once bought a red 944 only for its engine - the entire car was clean and intact. After taking the engine and some other bits, I gave the car away for free. A few months later, my other car got rear-ended, and I decided to retub it. I started looking for a clean red 944 body for a reasonable price, and I've been looking for 7 years. Doh!
'75 280S
'77 6.9
'82 300TD

floyd111

I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt. ;D

ptashek

Quote from: floyd111 on 06 May 2020, 07:29 AM
I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt. ;D

How's that going? Any news? :)
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

rumb

Not buying a w108 250S about 5 years ago for $1500, Not buying a 300SEL for $2500 about 3 years ago.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

UTn_boy

Quote from: rumb on 06 May 2020, 12:55 PM
Not buying a w108 250S about 5 years ago for $1500, Not buying a 300SEL for $2500 about 3 years ago.

I'm not sure what prices are like where you live, but W108 6 cylinder carbureted cars are still really inexpensive to buy....at least where I live.  As an example, a few months ago there was a 250S on Craigslist.  It was cosmetically tired inside and out, needed a gas tank (but ran well), and had zero rust on it. The seller started out at $800, so I offered $500 and he accepted.  W109 cars.......unless it's a 6.3 they're not all that valuable/desirable either.  Even though I own three W109 cars (not by choice) I avoid them like the plague.  A little secret.....a well sorted W108 will always drive, ride, and handle better than the best W109 in the world.  I'm not kidding.  I drive both regularly.  The W109 is horribly overrated.  Trust me.....your W108 is the better car.  Granted, a W109 has extra chrome and wood with choices of different wood veneers, but that's cosmetic.  With the exception of the 6.3, you could get the same engines in a W108 that you could in a W109....even the weak, short lived M189. 
1966 250se coupe`,black/dark green leather
1970 600 midnight blue/parchment leather
1971 300sel 6.3,papyrus white/dark red leather
1975 450se, pine green metallic/green leather
1973 300sel 4.5,silver blue metallic/blue leather
1979 450sel 516 red/bamboo

marku

Many years ago did pass up an R107 it even had would you believe my initials as its registration. It was in a small rural garage I happened to pass. Didn't have time then and never went back.
1974 450SE silver green/bamboo velour/green vinyl roof

daantjie

Quote from: marku on 07 May 2020, 11:47 AM
Many years ago did pass up an R107 it even had would you believe my initials as its registration. It was in a small rural garage I happened to pass. Didn't have time then and never went back.

Here in North America you can pick up nice 107's all day long for walking around money now, there were so many made and shipped here, you really would not be crying in your beer here if you don't pull the trigger on any given one.
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

Inshan

Quote from: daantjie on 14 April 2020, 01:42 AM
Yup it's a fine line between hoarding a bunch of crap you'll likely never use and letting go of that one very useful part ::)

My garage and shed are proof that I am unable to balance this fine line.
1980 300SD

nathan

ha ha. no hoarders here, only keepers of the past!

ive moved into a new house, and now have the task of moving the remnants of probably 10 116s I stored at dads.  I am not looking forward to this part of the move.
it includes 3 6.9 engines, a spare 6.9 and 280te (at least they drive!), a 560 and 2x 500 engines, and about 3 million parts.

the good news is, I needed the trim for a drivers side of a 116, piece of cake - just go through the baskets and pull out what you need! told you id need them!!
1979 116 6.9 #6436
2018 213 e63
2011 212 e63
2011 463 g55
2007 211 e500 wagen
1995 124 e320 cabriolet
1983 460 300gd
1981 123 280te

floyd111

Quote from: ptashek on 06 May 2020, 10:08 AM
Quote from: floyd111 on 06 May 2020, 07:29 AM
I once bought 3 W116's in Taiwan, planning to do a 0-mile rebuilt. ;D

How's that going? Any news? :)

Pretty much focusing on the Museum/workshop for now. My mechanic is stuck in the UK, can't fly back here, so that's that for now. The old workshop has moved AGAIN, 4th time in as many years, and now told me they have no room for my NOS parts anymore. So, this week we'll probably setup some transport, and have the imported W116 and my NOS parts shipped here first. Then a second shipment with my refurbished chassis . Let's see. Nothing seems to be what it was globally, and here's things aint too different.. All is on hold.