Low serial M3 DS - worth a CLA before sale?

[Disaster_Area]

So I recently acquired a first year production M3 DS (serial 702 xxx). It's had an overhaul in the late 80's and seems to be in good working order except that the rangefinder is pretty dim. I'm not looking to hang on to it, it was part of a package and I just wanted the lenses.

Is it worth getting a CLA done before offloading or am I better off just selling as-is? One caveat is that I'm in Canada and my options for CLA are limited... Kinderman is good, but they're expensive and turn around time is like 3 months right now. There seems to be a lot of great options in the US, but between exchange rate and probably getting dinged for customs when it gets shipped back, I don't want to go outside Canada.

 

[Timmyjoe]

If it were me, I'd sell it as is. I doubt you will get the cost of the overhaul back when you sell it, and even if it is not completely functional right now, someone might be interested in it for historical reasons and won't intend to shoot with it. If it sells to someone who does want to shoot with it, they can send the camera to their preferred service person. We all have opinions/experience with different service persons, and a very bad experience from one has kept me from purchasing a number of camera bodies that are listed as being CLA'd by that person.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Mackinaw]

Agree with Timmy, probably better selling as is. I too, have an early production M3 (704XXX) that is much like yours, a dim rangefinder/viewfinder. I was told by a noted Leica repair tech that there’s not a lot that can be done to improve the rangefinder/viewfinder outside of a total rebuild. There are people out here who will do that (Kanto Camera in Japan comes to mind), but it will cost big bucks. I doubt you would recoup the cost of a viewfinder rebuild when reselling the camera.

Jim B.

 

[rfaspen]

I also agree to sell it in current condition. You're unlikely to recoup the cost of the service, and the next owner may want to "splurge" for a more comprehensive overhaul than you would want to fund. If the camera is reliably functional now, it should not be difficult to sell.

If I were to purchase said camera (because I like the really early M3s), I would appreciate just buying the camera in current condition, at appropriate price, and then I would send it to Don (DAG) for a real treatment. That way, I would be paying less $$ overall, and you (the seller) would likely net more $$ because no need to recoup service cost.

 

[Disaster_Area]

Well I'm glad you all seem to agree with my initial gut feeling... what do you think a fair price would be to set for it? I'm having hard time finding M3's for sale in similar condition for comparison... most are either recent CLA's or in much worse shape.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

https://lightprogroup.com/pages/kindermann-canada

Jerry was about wrapping it up earlier this year. My M4-2 might be one of the last Leicas he touched.
Where is another older technician in Toronto who still does it.
But here is no problem to send it to USA and get it back. It just cost money for insured shipping.

I sold my M3 DS ELC for what I purchased it for locally. It was working fine and RF, VF window in them to be deem seems to be normal. I didn't have any issues with this camera and it has C (Canada) seal then I purchased it and then I sold it.