Inside Tour Of A 1969 Mercedes 280SE

[@FrenchValleyAirport]

When you said 5 i thought $5000, and even then for $5000 i thought that was a great deal, but $500 is unbelievable. Great buy

[@jerryscott6924]

Right?

[@WrenchOnRebuilds]

$500 !!!?? What a deal, Mike!!

[@1chish]

Mike: "I have wood ..." Viewers: (polite coughs) "..OKaaay.... But moving swiftly on ..." Those carpets are SO original Mike. German cars of that era all had the same carpets - Black edged the same, footwell carpets came out etc. Go check a VW of the same year. Germans did things very much the same as each other and used many shared fittings. I know you will bring that beauty back to life properly and not rush to start it. Some WD40 (or diesel) in the bores, let it soak, drain the oil (or sludge), change the filter, spin up with no plugs in... and THEN! Can I just comment how very respectful you have been to that poor lad Leonard who lost his wife and had to take that decision we all have to at some point. To move on. Well done Sir! (And God bless Leonard)

[@waltpartymiller6802]

Remove plugs, then 2-3 oz's Marvel Mystery Oil in each plug hole- let soak at least 1 day, drain all old fuel from tank (get it out of the system), change engine oil & filter, hook up battery then check engine compression in each cylinder/write down results. Then you'll know what you have & you won't have done any damage. Exhaust valves tend to wear at 100-150K miles, i.e.- valve job. Seat material is called MB-Tex- it's good stuff. A M130 full engine rebuild runs about $10K.

[@LunarOutlawsGarage]

Hot darn what a classy car. Look at the wood grain beautiful

[@saintfunny]

The interior looks just as good as the exterior, this will be a great series. 👍👍👍

[@mexicanspec]

It is odd there seems to be more wear in the back seat than the front.

[@saintfunny]

Bouncy bouncy...😉🤣

[@juandominguez5487]

$500 for a mint condition 1969 Mercedes Benz 280 se that is a steal Mike cant wait to see it put on the road again.

[@manierwarsaw9820]

What is Mint Condition?

[@chrisparenti2461]

WHAT A GEM!!! You are a lucky dude and she’ll be happy to go to a loving home

[@garycook2355]

oh boy, oh boy! a REAL restoration project. I can hardly wait. I had a 1968 Mustang fastback that I restored in the late 80's and it had the same type non-retractable shoulder harness. It was the first year for shoulder harnesses in the Mustang. have fun with this oldie but goodie.

[@alfredlearlyjr1780]

You maybe correct Mike, I always thought it was some sort of stiff leather. I don't know of anyone who has had problems with any of the seat covers. Thanks for setting me straight on something I assumed all these years. Watching you is definitely a class on older Benz. Just brings back so many memories driving all around Germany. I'll try not to bother you so much, blessings.

[@phillipclaridge3112]

A brilliant find - should keep you amused for years!!

[@richardkafka5625]

Absolutely Beautiful car! When you said $500.00 I almost fell out of my chair!!! Real wood. Back when cars were cars. I can't wait to see you bring this beauty back to life Mike. This will be a great series of videos. I can't wait. So happy for you with this one!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Richard!!

[@mp330600]

Nice car Mike. Years ago I owned a 72 280SE that looks exactly like yours. I think the carpet is original to the car. These cars are built like none other. High quality everywhere. Once you clean her up and get her running you will have a beautiful classic Mercedes, congratulations.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks!

[@mexicanspec]

The only Mercedes I have ever had, out of the hundreds of cars I have had, was a 1973 220D stick shift. I was impressed that after 25 years the doors still closed like new. I also loved the factory option that if anybody was too close to my rear bumper I could floor it and fill the street with black smoke to get them to back off. Right now I also have a 1969 model, but it is a Chevrolet Kingswood (Impala) Wagon.

[@bradentworow9750]

Just cause of the condition I assume it only has 56k miles. Great car Mike!

[@soelenny]

Mike , you got a beautiful car . Back in the 1975 my dad drive in this . Great man

[@chadmarkle3278]

Beautiful time capsule, and a steal of a deal! Can't wait to see more!

[@larogersii1]

Mike this was an amazing deal and will make lots of videos for you. I love the car.

[@chadcarter9581]

This is a great car!!! Can’t wait for you to make this a daily driver!!!

[@45AMT]

I'm shocked at the price. It's in exceptional condition! Let's hope there's no engine damage. Flush those fluids ( especially the gas) check everything over real well before trying to start it.

[@manowaari]

That is in amazing condition!! So nice!

[@fastfiatjamest6437]

That's a really good price the old owner sounds like a good man probably just wanted it to go a good home. Good luck hope it doesn't need much! Dought it will.

[@manierwarsaw9820]

Through the

[@manierwarsaw9820]

Moon

[@manierwarsaw9820]

Le Fhrame

[@MikeBMW]

Mike, you are a true gem! I love your videos. Also, what a gem of a car, too! Looking forward to more vids! :)

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Thanks Michael!

[@jessev4615]

Congratulations Mike, can’t wait to see videos on on that Beauty. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 , what gem

[@0386rm]

That is a beautiful car, Mike. I love the wood in the dash. Very classy.

[@derekrichardson762]

Mint!!! Super clean classic.

[@mikeycunningham2307]

Can't wait to see you get her running and driving

[@stevendelacruz3009]

Beautiful car

[@southshorecollectibles]

The car looks amazing Mike and of course alot more valuable than what you paid, in fact if there's a Mercedes-Benz museum or a collector out there once you get it fixed and you enjoy it for a while you could probably get a pretty penny for it. After all the car is over fifty years old.

[@johnulrich5572]

If that's MBtex on the seats it lasts for ever. Better than vinyl or leather. From the looks of the interior I'd say that it looks like 50K miles. Great find and I'm sure Leonard will appreciate it that you'll take good care of it and give it a good home. I'm glad you found it, Mike.

[@lincolnalbrecht6874]

Great car Mike. Beautiful! Elvis has one in this body style a limousine. Fit for a King 👑

[@dmcars147]

Great score. You deserve it!! Based on the overall condition, I wouldn't be surprised if that ends up being mechanically solid as well. Shows you that you always have to be inquiring and asking. Think of all the years people walked past that car and wondered about it and you were smart enough to leave the card!!

[@bobber22]

Here’s hoping there is no or only minimal engine damage.

[@ImpalamansGarage]

Great looking interior. Spark-O-Matic baby !! I remember those radio. :)

[@nickpanico5441]

Mike what a steal . Looks all stock but the radio is not . Most of radios were becker back then or blawplunt . The ones I have had all had steel wheels with color keyed hubcaps to match the color of the car . GREAT CAR !!!!!

[@Casey.seeK.]

I wish I could smell it. Those old Mercedes smell so good. I trust you are going to make this beauty like new. New tyres, brakes, check the fuel and brake lines. Flush the tank. Make it safe. Then make it look good. The carpet looks period correct, looks pretty orignal.

[@Djwally13]

You got a fabulous deal! We are so happy for you! Look foward to the next video! 😁

[@NorthShoreWaves]

Takes me back to the spring of 1966 when I was a junior in high school. My neighbor bought a new Mercedes just like this one and asked me to drive it home from the dealer. He wasn’t trading in his current car so we had to bring two cars back. His current car was a stick shift and I didn’t know how to drive one so I got to drive the brand new Mercedes with its automatic transmission. I can still smell that leather interior.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great story! Love it!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great story! Love it!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Great story! Love it!!

[@tazmod7272]

Hi Monkey Wrench Mike. I have loved the old Mercedes. I wish I still had my 1974 240D. I remember when kids would steal the “Star” and wear it around their neck. That was a hell of a buy.

[@Jddvs]

$500 bucks is a super bargain if the engine isn’t seized. It is good to see a car that had been stored that long that the “animals” hadn’t set up house keeping in. Love these older Mercedes being made roadworthy once again.

[@davidkrueger3227]

Great find Mike!! Enjoy it!!

[@OrlandoLazardi69]

Beautiful car, my father owned 2 of those : a 280s and a 280se when I was a child , It’s a 50 years old car that has always been my dream car. I wish one day I could own one, I have had w201 then W124 and currently a w204 the only thing is the steering wheel and rims are from a later Mercedes model but they look good on the W108

[@alfredlearlyjr1780]

You're going to love that Benz.

[@jaysmith5084]

That's a killer deal Mike !! It looks like it could run with a bit of work the rest of it looks pretty good to me so let's get it up and running again 👍

[@russellcaldarola9707]

Wonderful car , great deal. Can't wait to see you get it running.

[@alfredlearlyjr1780]

Mike, you have the jewel of German craftsmen in your hands for 500 dallers. The Benz museum in Stuttgart will pay you a very large some for that car. I would keep it and ride like a king.

[@ARAR148]

I thought that you would have paid a lot more than $500, that’s a great deal, considering how nice of cosmetic condition it’s in for 51 years old

[@phillipmiller6747]

that is a phenomenal deal. only wish i had found it first.

[@timfenrich5328]

Congrats Mike, going to be a great video series as you recon the Benz👍

[@bwolper]

I was hoping for a tour of the interior. Thanks! Let's trake a look at the undercarriage next time.

[@tony_25or6to4]

The engineering was great back then. I love the solid sound of the door closing.

[@paulcoinc]

This will be your best series. Looking forward to seeing it as you go. What I like most is you don't plan to try to make it look cool with a LS swap, a wing that just looks stupid on a classic, low pro tires on ridiculous rims. All of that may be cool on lots of cars but not that one.

[@jimnielsen4076]

Aren't those monster wings ridiculous? Even worst on a $1000 car who's exhaust is worth more than the car.

[@InfiniteBumblebee337]

Great, all original car. The wood is in great shape so take care as replacements are not available. I had a 68 280SE and a 72 280SE 4.5. Both great cars. The injection pumps can be tricky. Also, the heat and a/c are two separate systems.

[@zacjenkins1258]

Love that old car, hoping for the best

[@stanleyclef3783]

Great car. My dad had it when I was a kid. Will like to see how it will turn up. Love your channel. From Qatar middle East Asia

[@mikegraham8900]

Love your new car Mike! Looking forward to watching you get her back on the road.

[@paulbingville6485]

Aside from the color, the carpets look the way I remember the carpets on the '65 220S I owned 50 years ago, heavy, thick, wool with a berber texture. So they could be original to the car or OEM replacements.

[@michaeldickens7493]

Wow that is so so great id love to have one i had a 1980 sec id love to have it back

[@whizzo55]

Hey Mikey! You got a great car for an unbelievable price.

[@sonnyblazer5504]

Very happy for you - to be happy too! A couple/three months ago, you mentioned you had a surprise coming. Although it was not this car at that time, I got to think about this car as you never really did mention it again (and yes, I watched them all.) '69 was a good year; I got out of the ARMY and back to "The World". Wish you well and I do like the one you're driving. You're doing well for a 'film star'... Sonny (CT)

[@russelltrupia4479]

Boy Mike you scored again good job.

[@pit_stop77]

Lovely car Mike 👍

[@matthewcrossman6137]

What a beauty! Love your videos, please keep em coming.

[@Korium84]

Beauty. Definitely 60s class. Love it

[@nomebear]

When I was a young lad (in the early 70's) I had one of these and can tell you that the valve guides were designed for leaded fuel, and hopefully they have been replaced. Dry rot with the rubber was a bugger bear, and I had to replace the A/C hoses and just about anything else rubber. Be sure to pay attention to under body cavities, and the front fender wells, the hold mud/dirt/road salt and should be flushed, treated with a rust preventative. I see the original compressor has been replaced with a Sanden SD-510 which is an R12 compressor which is upgradable. You've got your work cut out for you, but there's seldom much time passes that I don't think of my MB 280 SE. I loved working on the car, but sadly, the last I heard, the next owner abused it and the MB had become a pile of rust. Wah!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Sounds you could be a big help with getting Janis back on the road! Thanks!!

[@nomebear]

@@MonkeyWrenchMike If I were your neighbor, I'd be a fixture in your garage. (Big smile).

[@alexmcdougall889]

What a beauty, the interior is in great condition along with the wood trim. This one is a keeper :)

[@deadbugdoug]

I like the flower floor mats.

[@redmx5miata]

Great car, you are going to really enjoy working on that.

[@geraldfischer6049]

Junk the other scrap iron and make the IT!! Love the Lady Von Prahtig!

[@drsteele9]

Great Car!!!! I love Mercedes. How did you get so lucky? The Mercedes God's like you. PS: love your channel also.

[@jimmydeen58]

Wow thats such a BEAUTIFUL car..

[@burtreynolds8897]

Congrats on the car.. Its lovely, take good care of it ;-)

[@mchristr]

Pro tip: Check to see if the idle adjustment screw is run all the way in. If so that means the injection pump thermostat is bad and always bypassing air. Once that is replaced you can properly adjust the fuel injection at the back of the pump.

[@gsauve3908]

Hi mike you SCORED on this beauty The car is in next to new condition

[@jimmycarter9099]

Make sure you check the rubber desk on the drive shaft I had one and the drive shaft came through the floor board get them checked great car.

[@willisix2554]

I once owned a 1969 280 SE, it was the euro model complete with the one piece headlight and cloth interior with a 4-speed on the column, it was a really beautiful brown color just beautiful, I sold it and bought a 4.5 by the way Mike, I a O E Nardi steering wheel for that car, make you a good deal

[@cm1971it]

She's a beauty!

[@someonejaw]

very nice mike its a winner

[@russellharris3423]

I would approach Kent to recommission the mechanical side, i.e. engine, suspension, brakes. It would be a pity to have waited as long as you have, only to cause accidental damage. Good luck.

[@dickshoup7893]

Best buy you have made.

[@brianandrews7099]

Woww! I can remember the Sparkomatic cassette player stereos. That couldn’t possibly be any newer than 1991!? They were the super cheapies available at Walmart and K Mart back in my high school days (late ‘80s - early ‘90s). They sounded just terrible and the cassette player usually played too fast and could only fast forward, no rewind in the “cheapest of the cheap” models. They were usually priced starting under $20.00, so as a high school kid, I saw tons of them in my mostly broke friend’s junkers. I haven’t even thought about them in years! I can remember opting to keep the factory Ford Philco AM radio in my ‘80 Mustang rather than going Sparkomatic (this was back when there was still alittle more than political talk radio, Spanish music, and religious programing on AM; so there was some AM Rock and Oldies stations around back then, mostly long gone today, though. I would “Retro Sound” it, but I would hold onto “Sparky” for ole times sake! And, yes, that is vinyl on the seats. I think it was called MB-Tex. BMW used something similar in the late 60-80s in their cheaper models. That stuff could withstand a nuclear attack and still look great 50 years later! Much better than the “bonded leather” garbage used for the past 25 years or so. Thats a fantastic find! Not a fast car but smooth and solid as a rock! Keep it and enjoy it!

[@MrRocky1405]

Its great that you got your dream car! Kudos! Here's hoping you have many many many enjoyable safe miles just enjoying it!

[@terryschleicher8511]

This car is gorgeous

[@waynehayes8237]

Great buy.

[@tombrooks8565]

Love this car! Congratulations!

[@paulmckinney6163]

Sparkomatic stereo 😳 I had several of those exact units over the years in my cars. Speakers make the difference.

[@danielsmithwick5299]

Great deal super nice car.

[@NeukundeHH]

Love at first sight 😃 great deal

[@stephenhorbatiuk2811]

Looks great! Cheers

[@douggerber83]

Love that Car Mike.. My Uncle had one just like it except it was a Diesel 4 speed on the collum

[@gregporsche6162]

Hey super nice 280 se , going back to your 560sec , I just put rebuild fuel distributor in my 560 sec and now engine run smooth , all together I put new injections new new vacuum lines

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Nice! How difficult was the fuel distributor rebuild?

[@gregporsche6162]

Monkey Wrench Mike I send to CIS Flowtech, don’t even try doing your self , I pay 570$ , send fuel distributor and EHA together

[@zenjamin6262]

That is beautiful! What a legend ! Because vests are cool ! So are fanny packs ! I'd buy all three ! Huge fan! I cant help it Mike's positive energy lifts our spirits up to jesus ! I was going to guess you paid 2500 at a great deal ..

[@johnccargill4665]

unbelievable deal

[@classicjalopy]

you've got the 69 only dash with the divider between the two sections. The dash wood looks pretty good actually. Most cars that have sat outside its all warped. Carpet looks good too. That is an amazing price for a car that solid. Good spec with floor shift, power windows and A/C. Seats are MB-TEX (vinyl) - its indestructible. Overall besides the speakers and steering wheel the car looks pretty original. Trunk mat should just be rubber, not carpet.

[@tony_25or6to4]

The wood is veneer and will dry out. Keep it oiled and out of the sun. That is the vent lever and dome light switch. That's a aftermarket radio. I believe Blaupunkt was the factory radio. AC looks like a post manufacturing option. It might have vacuum actuated power door locks like the diesels. Push down the door lock, and they all go down...if there is no vacuum leak.

[@AutoAuctionRebuilds]

Damn I’ll miss you if I have to move. You’re too funny man!!!

[@harvo351]

She's a beauty Mike, when did they "invent" MB-Tex ? . . . could be that on the seats, mindue their leather was known for being akin to elephant scrotum in its texture and durability in days of old !! Hope she is an easy fix for you, be wonderful to see her progress !! Go Well !!

[@kwamedavis7634]

the condition of this car is very good considering its been sitting in the sun for so long .. its insane how nice the seats are , mb tex rly does last forever

[@kevinford6420]

Come the end of the world, there will be 3 things left, crocodiles, cockroaches and MB TEX!!!

[@kathleenlee1]

Monkey wrench mike, your channel is a gold mine! You must be on 100k subscribers. My mission is now just this. Lets grow your gold mine.

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yes please!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yes please!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yes please!!

[@MonkeyWrenchMike]

Yes please!!

[@jimnielsen4076]

I'm surprised that you dont have more. Great videos, you post often & you're fun! Who else has a pet duck?

[@realpropvalue]

The headliner in your car brought back memories of my fathers 230. It might have been from 69 or 70. He couldn't wait to trade it in on a 1972 Ford LTD!

[@mexicanspec]

Your father made a good trade. I still have my 1972 LTD coupe in the back yard.

[@markhoffman5719]

I love it. A friends dad bought a new 71 240D the same color as your 69. The best time of the week?? Monkey Wrench Mike video time.