WTB 3.0CS or CSI. Or...?

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antoine

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Hello everyone,

First time post for me, been lurking for awhile and lusting for these cars for God knows how long. I've been trying to soak and read as much as I can about these cars, and it sometimes feels like drinking water out of a fire hose!

I think I am ready at this point of my life where I want an older car that I can use reliably (relatively) and for occasional weekend road trips to Napa or down the California coast (that is when the world returns back to normal). I've also been thinking it would be pretty neat to show up to my wedding in a classic vintage car. I've floated the idea to my significant other and suggested three cars: Volvo P1800, BMW 3.0 CS/CSi, or a Mercedes W113 SL (not sure 230, 250, 280). She surprisingly likes the Volvo just based on looks alone. She actually countered that I should rent a vintage car instead of owning one, worried that it would spend more time in the shop and less time on the road. Of course, there is a big price range across the three cars, and I am sure they all offer very different driving and owning experiences. I can turn a wrench and tackle on basic mechanical work, but if it comes to electrical, or tuning carbs, that's all black magic voodoo to me. I haven't driven any of these cars or rode in any personally, just vicariously living through youtube videos and articles and going through all the commentary on BaT.

So with that said, I imagine the BMW would offer a more engaging driving experience, the Mercedes would offer a more comfortable plush drive, and the Volvo is a unique design and might be the cheapest of the three. She likes the Volvo, I still lean more towards the BMW. But E9's are hard to come by, the rust thing scares me, and they seem to be fetching higher prices. Whereas it looks like the W113's are a little easier to find and can vary from $30K to $100K+.

Has anyone driven or owned any of these vehicles and can share your experiences? I would be grateful to hear your thoughts and welcome any advice as I continue my search for my first classic car.

Back to lurking I go. Hah! Thanks everyone for reading.

Ant
 
You can get the Mercedes or the Volvo, but I can assure you that you’ll get more joy and complements out of the BMW by a long stretch. It is by far the most beautiful car ever designed.

It runs great.

Yes, the prices are going up but that’s because they are going to continue to appreciate. Not sure I can say the same for the other vehicles at the same level.

I bought mine about eight years ago for $21,000 or so off of eBay sight unseen with the help of one of the members here.

Since then I have spent well over $40,000 and counting, but I believe that if I wanted to sell the car I could get that back and perhaps more. I haven’t put a nickel into the car since a mini restoration done two years ago.

There was a little rust but it was all manageable.

It has been extremely reliable once attended to properly. Personally, I’d recommend getting a car that’s all sorted out as there was a great deal of time and energy involved with getting my car where it is today.

I couldn’t have done it without the resources of this amazing forum in either case. They are awesome.

Enjoy whatever decision you make as I am sure it will be
.

I hope Siri did not butcher this too much.
Feel free to give me a call and reach out to me by direct message if you want to talk further.

scott
 
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Thanks Scott for the warm welcome and for your advice. I think deep down, you're right, in that the E9 is one of the most beautiful cars ever penned. I would prefer to get one that's sorted out mechanically and structurally. If there are minor issues or cosmetic items, I think I can try to get them sorted out over time--it would definitely allow me to bond with the car and truly make it my own!

If it's one thing I've learned about enjoying cars, it's the people behind them that can make or break the experience. I've met some great friends over the years and it's unbelievable how much knowledge, camaraderie and generous help one can find in these communities. From what I've read on here so far, this group seems like a bunch of good folks. And after the ongoing fires settle down, I definitely need to pay SFDon a visit and check out his shop!

Siri can use some improving--I'll send a note to Tim that they can do better. :D

Cheers,

Ant
 
Hey Ant,

I too was in your position. I owned a 1973 agave 2002 prior but my dream was always the 3.0cs. These cars have only been getting more expensive and good examples are getting harder and harder to find so finally I pulled the trigger and decided to find one to purchase!

Got delivery this past Friday! I was lucky enough to find a decent car for a good price. With the help of some forum members, the decision to make the purchase was easy.

I plan on doing some restoration soon when the rainy season starts here in the bay.

I drove the car a lot this weekend, it’s such a fun car the drive. The surprising, misdocumented m90 that was swapped in the car makes the car fly!

I daily drive a Saab 900 Turbo but I don’t want to go back to it anymore haha.

PS: my wife loves it the car
 
Btw, it sounds like you’re close to the bay. I’m far from an expert of these cars but if you want to see the car I just purchased I’d be happy to show you :)
 
I've owned one MB 280SL, and three BMW e9's. All but one of the e9's were back in the 70's and '80's. Owned the '74 3.0 CS from '14 through late '19. I do love the pagoda MB's, but they are not 'luxurious riding' cars. To me the e9 is more luxurious, and better looking. But the MB had fewer mechanical problems in that earlier era. I think any well cared for e9 has probably had the mechanical issues sorted out long ago. I believe one of the issues for you will be which car the 'bride' feels best in while riding or driving - don't lose sight of that!

Good luck with both the car search and the marriage.

Gary
 
At the resto shop where my car was painted, he had a Volvo P1800 in kind of a Turkis color. I must say, it was quite a looker. That said, I know nothing about the car wrt drivetrain etc.
 
My observation of about three dozen older bimmers is that once they have been gone through to fix their needs, and the rattly bits tightened, they are quite reliable. However, I live on an island 20 miles by 30 so we don't see major mileage. As I do almost all my own work, each time something comes up there is a consideration whether the effort will be worth the time, money and elbow grease anticipated to be required. If you don't do your own work, you'd better take the usual advice to buy the best car you can afford.

Apparently I have a preference for Bimmers, know next to nothing about the others. Availability of competent service should play a significant role in your choice.
 
Made it through another night. Got a warning from city officials to pack bags in case of new fires from lightning strikes, but luckily nothing came of it and I think I can start to relax a bit. Whew!

@posix Where are the pics??! And if you happen to come across another good deal for a solid car (even better if it's a sleeper like yours!!), let me know! Congrats man! Now share some pics! I'm located in south San Jose, at one point 5.5 miles from the fires, but the winds have pushed the fires south and east and I think we've dodged a bullet. I may take you up on your offer once things settle down.

@Gary Knox Thank you for the insights! I would've guessed that the Pagoda MBs were super cushy luxurious cruisers. I'm also pleasantly surprised to hear the MB had fewer mechanical issues. I have gone through the technical info sub forum and went through the FAQ and other informational threads. From what I can gather, rust and insufficient cooling were the most common issues for the e9. Hoping to find a sorted solid example to enjoy. And duly noted on your advice--I need to make sure she enjoys being in the car, or else my wallet and my future marriage will be at risk!

@bavbob I have never heard of Turkis, but a quick search led me to this: https://petrolicious.com/articles/this-is-the-turkis-green-bmw-an-enthusiast-spent-years-looking-for What an amazing color!

@Honolulu Thanks for the feedback. I think there are a few indie shops in the Bay Area for German classics, so I have the task of sorting and narrowing down go to shops if I should need their expertise. I do like doing maintenance and mechanical work, it's kind of therapeutic sometimes. That is until I strip a thread or shear a bolt.

Anyways, thanks all for the advice and feedback. The search continues.

Cheers,

Ant
 
@antoine here's some pics i just took this weekend near the stanford campus. was lucky that the smoke subsided a bit and was good enough to go out. https://photos.app.goo.gl/3NkyoQFAPB9C5MeDA

the fires are getting pretty crazy! stay safe!

depending on how much of a project you want, i was looking at another coupe in monterey that might still be available. (it is much more of a project)
 
posix said:
@antoine here's some pics i just took this weekend near the stanford campus. was lucky that the smoke subsided a bit and was good enough to go out. https://photos.app.goo.gl/3NkyoQFAPB9C5MeDA

the fires are getting pretty crazy! stay safe!

depending on how much of a project you want, i was looking at another coupe in monterey that might still be available. (it is much more of a project)
Click to expand...

Excellent use of Palm Drive. How long until golf-cart security "invited" you to relocate?
 
posix said:
@antoine here's some pics i just took this weekend near the stanford campus. was lucky that the smoke subsided a bit and was good enough to go out. https://photos.app.goo.gl/3NkyoQFAPB9C5MeDA

the fires are getting pretty crazy! stay safe!

depending on how much of a project you want, i was looking at another coupe in monterey that might still be available. (it is much more of a project)
Click to expand...

Gorgeous car! And very nicely taken photos! Love the detail shots! I would probably have taken the week off from work and just drive the car all around and take advantage of the emptier roads! Shoot me a PM on the Monterey project if you get a chance. I am curious how much work we're talking about here.

They lifted the red flag warning early. Hopefully more good news come our way. Everyone, be safe and drive well!
 
In my opinion the only advantage to driving a pagoda is top down, otherwise the e9 is far and away the better looking and driving choice over the other 2. But i'm biased :cool:
 
I owned a 67 230SL that I restored but I sold it to buy my coupe. They are lovely cars with a four speed but you will be turning high rpm at freeway speeds and the auto isn't that much fun, it starts in second gear. Someone now makes an adapter for a Getrag 265/6, now that would be awesome!
0220440-R1-E001.jpg
 
My wife's 280SL is definitely a cool cruiser, but since it's an auto, not very sporty. And as Chris says, the steep rear end (4.10!) makes for a high RPM freeway ride. If you were to get an SL, try to find a four-speed and if the high rpm bothers you, a 265 swap or a 3.27 rear end is a good solution.

P1800...I can't get past that front end.

Both the E9 and SL are priced about the same given same condition. Maybe SL a little more.

You should try to find some samples to at least sit in, if not get driven around in one. Perhaps a dealer would be your best bet.

20190629_174354_HDR-1.jpg
 
Took a quick look on Turo to see if any are available to rent--all I see are Teslas and Nissan Leafs. Blah! Will keep an eye on any local dealers . Thanks for the advice!
 
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