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rot13enatre
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| 280GE on Ebay
Does anyone know anything about this G-wagen, or the ex-military ones in general?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1980-Mercedes-G-Wagen-280GE-Former-N...
Or an even broader question, any opinions on ebay purchases in general? I read some old posts about ebay buyers beware and misinformation. Are those misrepresentations typically isolated incidents, or more along the lines of business as usual?
Thanks in advance. Have been looking for awhile, but being new to G's, your advice is very appreciated. |
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Woody
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: Bend, Ore.
Vehicle(s): '84 280GE -> 300GD turbo, '84 300SD veg, 06 Navion
Posts: 570
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
Here's my 2c:
Having never bought a vehicle on ebay, but watching them all the time, IMHO it is good for sellers, not so good for buyers, unless the thing you're after is some extremely rare item. In the case of vehicles I would not buy something on ebay unless you can personally inspect it before you bid. Otherwise, I've heard way too many stories, "I wish I would have asked/checked that..." It seems for every two or three legitimate auctions there is one scam. Buyer Beware for sure.
I don't know enough to comment on that one or ex-military G's.
check www.clubgwagen.com |
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Marsden
Classic MB
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Capital City USA
Vehicle(s): Mercedes-Benz
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
Totally agree with Woody, inspect in person before you commit, or have someone that you trust inspect it for you. Photos almost always make something look better than it does in person. However, there are some straight shooters there as anywhere. BTW that seller doesn't even have a good rating! Neat-looking truck though.
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mortinson
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Madrid, España
Vehicle(s): '98 G300TD LWB, '98 E300TD Saloon
Posts: 1355
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
Just a note: that G is not a military type. It is a BGS (BundesGrenzSchutz or German Federal Broder Police). And those rims in that G are like Giving a Saint two pistols |
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Inkblotz
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Georgia
Vehicle(s): 90 300GD "Thundering Turtle II", w/ 603A turbo
Posts: 3186
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
I bought my wife an E320 wagon on EBay. Has been a fantastic car for her. That said it was local so I was able to check it out first. We got it for $15,000 less than it's true value.
I would do it again. But only if I can check it out first.
Mark |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| Ebay
My G500 was an Ebay purchase in Dallas; and it was a good deal.
Just be sure that you do your "due diligence" on any long distance purchase. |
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Merz-Ben
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Aug 2006
Location: Floyds Knobs, IN 47119
Vehicle(s): 230G, U1200, U1250 DoKa, U1300L, U1500, U1700, 416
Posts: 377
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
Ebay can be good sometimes, and sometimes it can be bad. If the seller has a good rating and discloses issues that the vehicle has (and every 25 year old vehicle has them) you are usually OK, although it is always a good idea to find someone to inspect the vehicle first, or better yet, go inspect it yourself. This is the best way to protect yourself, as you never enter into a contract if you don't bid. If the seller doesn't want to allow you or a third party to inspect the G before you bid, RUN AWAY! If you can't inspect it, make sure to ask as many questions that you can about possible issues that have not been addressed in the listing, and go and pick the vehicle up yourself and pay with cash when you pick it up. This way, if it is not what is listed and is not represented accurately as far as the questions you asked, then you at worst have lost your deposit. If you can't pick it up and pay yourself, make sure you do some detective work on the seller (especially if they don't have a 50 or better rating) before you send your money off to someone who doesn't have a truck to sell. I've sold a few vehicles on e-bay, and I try my best to disclose every flaw that I can find with the vehicle in the listing, this way I am covered if someone who is not serious bids and does not buy, and this way the buyer knows what he/she is getting into before they bid, and it keeps my reputation good with e-bay and the MB community too. That being said, I've fallen into the trap of not asking questions on a vauge listing, and as a conciensoius person I go ahead and complete the transaction and take my beating  (because it is the buyer's responcibility to make anything that they are not sure about clear).
I had an ex boarder patrol truck like that one before, and I wish I had never sold it... It had been a fire truck and was the most fun of any G I ever had, my friends were always hanging out the gunners hatch  .
Cheers,
Ben |
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Braingears
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Vehicle(s): G320 & ML320
Posts: 1450
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
I have purchased my G-Wagon, and two other Mercedes sedans on eBay. In each case I have driven or flown to the vehicle; inspected and test drove the vehicle, then paid after I was satisfied. I would rather risk a negative comment on eBay than pay for a bad vehicle or even fraud. Always Always Always do the transaction in person. I also NEVER make a down payment or a percentage down on the vehicle. If the person cannot wait until I can arrive in person that same week, it's not worth my time! All of the legitimate buyers understand this, and I have never run into a problem.
In the case with my G-Wagon, the owner lowered his price $1,500 after I got there becuase none of the diff-locks worked. Once I got home, I replaced two of the vaccuum valves/switches and one vaccuum intensifier, and everything worked 100%. |
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
Jesus,
educate me - what's "Giving a Saint two pistols"? |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
4x4abc - 3/17/2007 1:30 PM
Jesus,
educate me - what's "Giving a Saint two pistols"?
A sacrilege? Like swearing in church? |
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mortinson
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Madrid, España
Vehicle(s): '98 G300TD LWB, '98 E300TD Saloon
Posts: 1355
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
4x4abc - 3/17/2007 7:30 PM
Jesus,
educate me - what's "Giving a Saint two pistols"?
Harald,
I thought that your Mexican connection would give you some clues. Just think: how would a pair of pistols suit a Saint?  |
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4x4abc
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: La Paz, Baja California, Mexico
Vehicle(s): 02 G500
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
2 pistols are mandatory on a Mexican Saint |
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rot13enatre
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
Thanks for all the advice and comments. Neat truck, but without the time to get out there and look at it in person before the bidding ended, I ended up not making a bid. |
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9963
| RE: 280GE on Ebay
rot13enatre - 3/17/2007 6:53 PM
Thanks for all the advice and comments. Neat truck, but without the time to get out there and look at it in person before the bidding ended, I ended up not making a bid.
There's probably more than one person on this forum who would have been willing to look at it for you. You only needed to ask.
Also, please fill out your location in your My Profile, so we know where you are. |
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PolishEagle
Regular
Date registered: Feb 2007
Location: New Jersey
Vehicle(s): 2003 G500; 2002 CLK55 1981 380SL; 2007 R320
Posts: 66
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
Basicaly, as long as you are buying from a car dealer who has a rating or a person with a positive rating, I have found ebay to be much more honest then what I am finding trying to sell my current 280GE on autotrader.com. (I receive 3-5 emails aweek from yahoo.uk accts offering me more then I want 4 the truck, i just have to pay their shipper for them with the extra money they send, right............)
Car dealers instead of taking trades to an auction, and paying a driver, tow truck, exct.... have been using ebay more and more. as an auction house
I have bought from EBay:
2000 Ford Excursion_Excellent Buy $11,000 under what market was doing, no problems
1987 Porsche Cab Convert- Bought it with known low compression, bought it
for abour $13000 under market, still has more value then I paid
1993 420SEL- Fair deal no big issues
1999 320S - Good deal, no problems for its 5 yr run
1987 Porsche 944turbo Had if for 1 month, ended up selling it for $3200.00 profit to my mechanic!!!!!
Make sure the person selling has atleast 1 20 rating, EBay used to let you check to see what peeps bought, if they bought 19 combs to get their rating, stay away, but if it was higher ticket items, different story.
Just my 2cents. I have truthfully seen worst StarMark cars at my local dealer then the cars I have seen and bought off of ebay |
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gwagen460swb
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Vehicle(s): 280GE SWB, Toyota Highlander, BMW530i, RR HSE
Posts: 513
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
I bought my '82 280GE on eBay from a reputable person. Luckily, I did not have any issues and the pics were detailed. Seller was very cooperative in answering any and all of my questions. Seller even faxed me any information I wanted. Of course, if I was to do it all over again, I would check out the vehicle first. There seems to be either more dishonest sellers or sellers lacking knowledge of the vehicle. |
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mortinson
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Madrid, España
Vehicle(s): '98 G300TD LWB, '98 E300TD Saloon
Posts: 1355
| Re: 280GE on Ebay
4x4abc - 3/17/2007 9:59 PM
2 pistols are mandatory on a Mexican Saint
Different continent, different customs, I guess
Edited by mortinson 3/20/2007 1:25 PM
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