'81 300D 5cyl.... with only 108k. Assuming correct maintenance (or fanatical, if you wish), what will be at risk, regardless? Only 4800 miles a year, but no assumption that it's been spread evenly. Any possible trouble area suggestions ("A/C blows cold!")appreciated... mid 6 asking price, looks good.

Rust, rust, rust! Look for rust! If their is none at all them your in good shape. As long as it was taken care of 108k miles should be no problem. The front seat should look and feel like new at that mileage, unless the owner weighs like 300+ pounds. Don't trust the odometer the maintance records should confirm the milage to.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

First by way of caution:

Weird thing about unused cars..... they can suffer insidious corrosion of miscelaneous parts including electrical components, generally a question of one alloy reacting to another.

For example, alloy alternator housings are notorious for seizing steel bolts that run through them. Another example is copper fuse holders causing corrosion against zinc fuses and so on and on. And hell yes, the body can rust away just sitting there if the car is stored outside.

Next some recent first hand experience:

Just a couple of yrs ago I bought a 1979 New Jersey 240D with 111k miles on it, verifiable by service records, pedal wear, etc.

A wealthy woman owned the car, she killed a deer with it and was never comfortable driving the vehicle again. For awhile her 18 yr old son had the car, but the spoiled brat hated it and hardly drove it at all because the 4-spd 240D was too slow for him.

I snagged this 111k mile bargain Benz on ebay for $500 (yes it has lots of rust)...... I've put about 40k trouble free miles on it over the past 2 yrs and expect to get at least 8-10 yrs out of the car before the body rusts to smitherines, in which case am still expecting the engine to be running well.

Its a weird thing about 123's on the American market..... am utterly convinced they get traded so often and taken off the road just because the previous owner gets bored with the car - LOL - somehow I just dont see this happening with me!!

Around here they get traded/sold because the a/c quits working. My 300D will be getting a new evaporator once the weather cools off some. That was the reason the single owner got rid of it. Dealer quoted him around $3k to replace the evaporator.

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Jim