Conference vmsnet::car$note:carbuffs

    I have found a 1969 300 SEL 6.3! Its has 70,000 miles on it and
    is in good shape. I was thinking of buying it and slowly restoring
    it (not for show). Are parts still available for this very rare
    model (I think they only sold about 5000 in the US from 1968 ->
    1972).
    
    Anyone know where I could obtain a shop manual? 
    
    Its amazing that a car this big can move as fast as it does.
                                                   

RE: -.1

	Hatch & Sons in Wayland, MA (RT20 on the Wayland/Sudbury line) is 
	famous for Mercedes restorations.  Touch base with them for any 
	replacement parts and possibly a shop manual.  Their phone number is 
	in the 508 directory assistance.

    Well the 1969 300 SEL 6.3 needed just to much body work so
    I am now loooking at a 1986 420 SEL with 45,000. Any comments
    about this particular model/year? I saw a note way back about
    parts problems with late model 4**,5** models but I am not sure
    if the author was talking about the one I am looking at.
    
    

    Re -1
    Now that you are no more interested in that '69 MB could you tell what was
    the asking price and how badly it was rotten.     
    
    Cheers,
    Ilkka 

    
    He was asking $5000 Cdn. It was rotten on the bottom of the doors,
    top of fenders, trunk, rocker panels, inside the truch where the
    fender panel joins the body etc. There had been previous body work
    (bondo) done and this was cracking.
    
    
    

    RE: .230 
    
    I'm pretty happy with my '86 420 SEL.  Not aware of any parts
    problems - was that a suggestion of the reliability of the parts,
    or of availability ?  Any problems that I've had with the car can
    be blamed on age and mileage, but it's going stronger than most would.
    
    I've racked up nearly 50K miles, in addition to the 145K that were
    on it when I bought it 3 years ago for $14.5K US.  I did spend
    a bundle on the A/C (short advice: if the compressor goes bad, get
    a new one - don't bother with rebuilt, as not all seals get replaced),
    and a full cams/valves/guides job at 188K.  Expensive repairs, but
    I'm still happier than if I had bought a new car.
    
    When I bought it, I went and looked at a Dodge Intrepid. 
    Unfortunately, I had looked at the MB first, so when I closed
    the door on the Intrepid, I noticed that it felt and sounded like
    a $10K car (to me), compared to the nice solid MB door slam.
    And I'm a RWD bigot.
    
    I found a good source for parts in TX - European Discount Auto Parts.
    On the web at http://rampages.onramp.net/~edap/month.htm
    
    45K miles on an '86 ?  It must be in nice condition.
    
    \chuck