Good morning! We’ve reached the end of a short week, where I’d normally do a “Track, daily, burn” showdown between the three winners, but I just don’t feel like revisiting any of this week’s cars, and I have a feeling that neither do any of you. So let’s take a look at two new cars. And by “new” I mean, of course, old and beat-up.
Yesterday I showed you two really boring and generally undesirable cars – and generated a lot more comments than Tuesday’s “good” choices did. I suppose it’s the same sort of bias you see in Yelp reviews: If everything is good, no one says a word, but if there’s something to complain about, look out. This is why I annoy you with unlikeable cars; they get you talking.
The Topaz won, and I suppose if you’re looking for a decent used car, it’s probably the better choice. But I personally think I’d have a lot more fun owning that E-Class. The crystal Chrysler hood ornament, the talking message center, the Reagan/Bush bumper sticker – it’s just a perfect time capsule. All it needs are a compass mounted to the dash and a box of tissues in the back window.
All right. Let’s take a look at a couple of German project cars. No, wait – come back! These aren’t the modern scary German cars. These are old and simple and friendly, and they both run and drive already, so the hard part is done. No special diagnostic tools are needed for these, and the cooling systems aren’t made of plastic. You’re safe here. Let’s take a look at them.
1971 Mercedes-Benz 220 – $2,900
Engine/drivetrain: 2.2-liter overhead cam inline 4, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Odometer reading: 134,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
This old classic Benz is mislabeled in its ad. Shocking, I know, to find incorrect information in a Craigslist post, but there it is. The seller calls this a “220S,” when in fact no such car existed in 1971. This is a W115-chassis 220, one of the fabled “Stroke 8” models, arguably the first modern Mercedes-Benz sedan.
It’s powered by a carbureted 2.2 liter four backed by an automatic transmission with a torque converter and four forward gears (though no overdrive). Gone was the swing-axle rear suspension Mercedes had been using since before, well, you know; in its place was a semi-trailing-arm setup that gave the Stroke 8 a reputation for much improved handling over the previous “fintail” sedans. This one runs well and “sounds good,” according to the seller.
Inside, it’s a little scruffy; even M-B Tex can’t always hold up to the California sunshine. The seller says it needs the carpet replaced, as well, and I bet there are some cracks under that dash cover, unless it’s been on there since Nixon was in office. It does have one cool detail that hasn’t been seen on Mercedes sedans since this era: a column-mounted shifter.
When I first saw the ad for this car, I thought it had been lowered, but now I don’t think so. The ride height looks about the same as other W114/115 sedans; I think it just has bigger wheels that fill the arches more. It’s a good look, actually; I’m not a fan of the modern “stanced” look, but this is more subtle. The paint is toasty, of course, but it doesn’t look bad dull. The driver’s side vent window is broken, by the way, but I think it’s flat glass, so any good glass shop should be able to make a new one.
1985 BMW 528e – $2,800
Engine/drivetrain: 2.7-liter overhead cam inline 6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Lake Forest, CA
Odometer reading: 407,000 miles (!)
Operational status: Runs and drives well, but needs a little work
The 1980s were good to BMW: greed was good, yuppies were making piles of money, and BMW’s sedans, especially the 5 and 7 Series, were status symbols. I’m sure some of the yuppies appreciated the fine handling, the smooth-revving inline sixes, and the commanding driving position, but I bet most of them just wanted to be seen driving one. And the cheapest, most efficient 5 Series was the 528e, a fuel-economy special with a de-tuned version of BMW’s famous six.
The 2.7-liter “e” engine was about sixty horsepower down from the 3.4-liter engine in the 535i, and it didn’t rev nearly as high, but your average mid-level investment banker or second-year associate lawyer didn’t care. It was made to help BMW meet Corporate Average Fuel Economy rules in the US, and it must have sold well; most E28s you see for sale these days are 528e models. They certainly are durable engines, probably because of the low state of tune. This one has more than 400,000 miles on it, and it runs “amazing,” according to the seller.
Even if the engine is in good shape, all those miles take their toll in other ways, of course. The interior is shot, as are the suspension bushings, according to the seller. All that stuff is available, of course, but at a price. It may be best to fix up the mechanical bits and just live with the worn-out interior.
It’s got some bumps and bruises outside, but nothing serious. And I think these look good in white, myself. The giant US-spec bumpers are a letdown, but those could be changed too, I suppose. This one has been lowered a bit, on some fancy aftermarket springs and shocks, and also has larger wheels than stock. Again, like the Mercedes, it’s a subtle improvement, but definitely an improvement.
These are not fast cars. Nor are they luxurious, by any sort of modern standard. But boy, in their day, they were something else, and the fact that they’re still here, intact, and drivable shows that there is (or was) something to the whole “fine German engineering” thing. And I think they would both make interesting projects to tinker with. Which one strikes your fancy?
(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)
My stepfather bought an ’83 528e brand-new. He, then my mother, drove that thing for more than 25 years. Damned good cars, if not at all exciting. The nicest Buicks ever made.
So BMW for me. If the Mercedes was a 250 or 280 I could be persuaded to go with Stuttgart over Munich though.
MANY modern Mercedes, including my ’14 S212, have column shift automatics.
I think both would work,but the Mercedes looks better,even with those wheels. I am not sure I could live with the diving board bumpers on that BMW either.
You really can’t lose here. Both will run until the heat-death of the universe (provided you replace the timing belt religiously on the E28).
This 220 has a rare option: column-mounted gear selector. The customers had to specify this option.
The rarest option for the US model (which I have never seen in person) is the headlamp washers and wipers on /8 model with sealed-beam headlamps. Here’s a page from the owner’s handbook, explaining its operations.
I love the style of those old Benzes because of the Red Pig, so it has my vote 🙂
My answer is neither. There are better beaters to be had for that price. You need a neither button.
Don’t ever buy an old BMW with an auto, it completely ruins the driving experience. At least with the Mercedes there’s not really a driving experience to ruin with the auto.
I like both but will take the bimmer, I’ve always liked those better mostly due to body style
Ugh to both. An automatic transmission on that anemic BMW? And that Mercedes is boring inside and out. Double pass.
You think the Bimmer is slow, that little 4 pot Benz is gonna be 0-60-eventually.
When they’re that old, they’re OLD. If I’m going to cruise around in an old Krautmobile it might as well be a Benz. Always liked the look.
(Old BMWs are cool, but the 5 series never did it for me like the little brother. FWIW if I were going to go BMW it’d be a 1990 318i sedan with a 5 speed, based on some time in Europe with a colleague’s wheels.)
The market has spoken: the Benz is gone; the BMW languishes. All is well in the universe.
As I recall, these, BMWs were sold on the basis of being extremely durable cars for people who didn’t want to drive a Mercedes-Benz diesel.
I wonder what the 528e’s representation in the world’s taxi fleet is.
I’ll take the E28. Then source a suitable swap.
I wanted to choose neither, because no wagons. It seems appropriate that both should have been. However, BMW, just because the Merc just reminds me too much of a previous gent with an odd mustache that favored that style…also a bunch of dictators from the 60s and 70s…I feel like there should be flags at the front corners…
As soon as I saw the prices, I knew these were automatics. I must be getting good at this!
I’ll go for the Benz… it seems like it’s in a bit better condition and I like the look of it more.
I voted Mercedes for the good memories of driving my sister’s 1972 250C back in college. Hers was a worse beater than this one with a couple rust holes, carb issues, rotting tires and ultimately a fender bender to my dad’s truck sent the car to the scrapeyard.
PS. you can bet the dash will have tons of craps but last I looked for dash caps were cheap and it would do much better than the crappy carpeted thing.
I see BBS RSs, even fake ones, It gets my vote. The 220 is going to be slow as heck but this is when Mercedes knew how to make a car.
Put it on airbags and cruise.
The BMW is a decent deal if that’s what you’re looking for, but I really like the Benz. It’s got no delusions of going fast, so cruise it.
Just look at all that character on the Benz!
Benz for me. I would loose those wheels ASAP and go back to the originals. I bet with a little elbow grease, the paint and interior could be improved too. I love these old Benz.
I kind of want to put five-spokes on the Benz and paint it bright red, as a hilariously slow homage to the old AMG “Red Pig” racers. It’s already beat to h*ck; why not?
For that image alone, we’ll take the Stroke 8.
407,000 miles. That’s impressive. What’s the highest mileage shitbox that’s been featured here?
Calling the BMW a slowpoke is ironic when the Benz has a sad carb’d four cylinder.
I can speak from personal experience with both cars that the 528e earns that slowpoke moniker. The redline is like 4300rpm and it hates revving past 3500rpm. It has the character of a naturally-aspirated diesel without any of the low-end grunt. You are right that the Benz won’t be any faster, but those little Benz four-pots are at least willing to try, unlike the engine in the BMW that honestly feels like it was designed to curb any and all enthusiastic driving – even when paired with a stick.
Benz looks better; no diving board bumpers, and better wheel choice/fitment, and since the BMW isn’t a manual either, I’d go benz. It’s a cool car, whereas the 528 is something you buy if you can’t afford a 535/540/M5