How to Value a Low Miles 1985 300D with Rust? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

shertex · #1 02-27-2012, 05:13 PM

There's a 1985 300D near me with 145,000 miles, nice interior, nice paint for the most part, and apparently drives fine....BUT some nasty (though not huge) rust spots, no repair history, no recollection of any suspension work done over the course of last 100,000 miles since car was purchased in 1999, and needs a muffler.

How much would you pay for such a beast?

Brian Carlton · #2 02-27-2012, 06:30 PM

Not owning a vehicle with rust: PRICELESS

shertex · #3 02-27-2012, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

Not owning a vehicle with rust: PRICELESS

No argument here.

Biodiesel300TD · #4 02-27-2012, 06:41 PM

Where is the rust? If it's body sheet metal that's easy to fix, but if it's support structure for suspension or something like that its a bigger problem.

shertex · #5 02-27-2012, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biodiesel300TD

Where is the rust? If it's body sheet metal that's easy to fix, but if it's support structure for suspension or something like that its a bigger problem.

It's at least typical wheel well and jack point rust, plus a little chunk out of the left side of the hood. Don't know yet whether it goes deeper than that.

shertex · #6 02-27-2012, 07:01 PM

Just trying to put myself in other buyers' shoes....if a car has a great 617 engine with not a whole lot of miles, if it works as it should, if it has a nice interior, and IF the rust is body rust that could be treated with POR-15 and painted, that's got to be worth something.

vstech · #7 02-29-2012, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shertex

It's at least typical wheel well and jack point rust, plus a little chunk out of the left side of the hood. Don't know yet whether it goes deeper than that.

... waaaayyyy more difficult to deal with than you want.

IF the mileage is verifiable, the donor parts are worth it for sure, but YOU'VE gotta put in the time to pull everything to make it worthwhile.

I'd love to see it near me for 1K, as I need a good 85 donor, but you may not be in that position.
as a driver until it falls apart, I'd not put more than 700 in it.
selling it will be a chore.

ah-kay · #8 02-27-2012, 06:46 PM

Everything, anything has a price.

The price of a car is equal to how much a seller is willing to pay, Period. The bottom line is that you can replace parts in a rustless car but it could be very expensive to fix rust. You price it accordingly.

Brian Carlton · #9 02-27-2012, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

The price of a car is equal to how much a seller is willing to pay, Period.

...........don't we wish............

Period.

tangofox007 · #10 02-27-2012, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ah-kay

The price of a car is equal to how much a seller is willing to pay, Period.

Ah kay.

POS · #11 02-27-2012, 07:13 PM

It needs to be cheap. Under $2000 cheap. And usable by you as a tool to do a job, because the car is nothing work bragging about.

ah-kay · #12 02-27-2012, 07:25 PM

Typo is what makes this forum so interesting or get people banned. What is new?

stcbenz83 · #13 02-27-2012, 07:45 PM

I'm confused, are you looking to purchase the car as a daily driver? or, to use it as a parts car for the "low" mileage engine and decent interior?

As other's have advised, it depends how much time you want to dump into it, what your goal is for the car (I.e. Daily driver, commuter etc.) Also, the amount of money you want to through at the rust. Given what's known; No service history, No major work done ever to the suspension.. Your more or less looking at a parts car.. Or at least that's what the current owner is treating like. Some people buy cars and drive them until they're dead i.e. neglecting service, noises, issues that should be addressed.

As everyone else has advised, I wouldn't even give it a second thought... If you even have to question it, walk away unless you want a parts car and, it's going for a max of $500.

Suspension work can be a real PITA!! and, if you arn't mechanically inclined to doing it yourself (removing springs for the LCR, dropping subframe/ replacing subframe mounts) the you are also looking at dropping A LOT of $$$

If It has visible rust, walk away. Even with NO visible rust on the body, it's not uncommen for memebrs to 'un-cover' hidden rust which is much easier in a way to deal with and, in a way a "justified" expense.

UN-like my 240D, My E300 has a bit of rust. Not terrible but, enough to make me cringe. It also had the suspension neglected to a point. In Jan and Feb. in Chicago is not a fun time to be replacing subframe mounts.

shertex · #14 02-28-2012, 06:53 AM

Purpose of car would be to play with, learn on, then sell to someone else. Owned by a woman who no longer drives and her two sons are trying to sell it on her behalf. While it is listed for $2000, one of her sons told me "she would be thrilled to get $1000-1200 for it."

It seems like, with the low miles and the condition of the interior, it ought to "live to see another day." But I hear what you're saying about rust (both what I can see and what I can't see) and the cost of suspension work.

ROLLGUY · #15 02-28-2012, 12:39 PM

At $1,000-$1,200 I would be all over it. Even if just for a parts donor, that would be a bargain. That is a small price to pay (IMO) even if it has some rust. There are many cars around that have no rust, but have engine/trans/interior issues (actually that is easier for me to say, as I am in CA). We have the opposite problem around here. Most of the 123's are totally rust free, but have many other issues that would take them off the road. I think the 'Benz enthusiasts from the "rust belt" should get together with the folks out West and keep more of these cars on the road. We have the rust free bodies, and you have the low mileage drivetrains and interiors. I have scrapped two 123's over the years that had no rust, but became donors for engines, trans's, mechanical & interior parts. It would have been nice to have them live on with "rust belt" mechanicals, but I guess it might not have been economically feasible. Anyway, next time I get a 123 that was used as a donor, I will try to offer it here to be used as a donor to replace a rust bucket.