Old Scruffy German Tanks: 1971 Mercedes 220 vs 1985 BMW 528e

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)