I found a 77 240D one owner car locally for sale. The lady wants $1000 obo. It has been repainted and looks like crap. There is no rust and there interior is in decent shape with a cracked dash and a worn steering wheel. The A/C blows ICE cold. She said she just spent around $600 on a/c repair on unknown parts but also stated that it has a leak. Luckily its R134. The car shows 389K miles on the ODO but had an egine overhaul about 100K miles ago. I opened the hood and everything seems to be ok but the valve cover gasket. Also I notice some strong vibration under acceleration which i think is probably the rear cv's. What do you guys think? Should I buy this car? If so, what should I offer? Oh BTW, it has no sunroof and no power windows :-)

If you pass on it let me know, sounds like what I need for a spare.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

A friend would actually buy it for himself. I'm just doing the negotiating since he knows nothing about these cars. What do you guys think i should offer?

Most 240s I've seen don't have power anything.

Sounds like a great deal on a good rust free work car. The CV axles are cheap at AZ.

Forget the paint job, if you want a shinny new car, buy one.

I'd buy it.

Anything with working AC is worth $1000 MINIMUM in south texas.

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1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

Try offering $750 cash and see what response you get.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

I was thinking $600 but i guess that wouldnt be too fair huh? The lady is really nice that owns it. She is having a hard enough time getting rid of it since she's had it so long. I guess another $150 wouldnt hurt. I guess i just got too good of a deal on my 300SD to want to pay anything for a 240D. :-)

I would think that if it runs ok, the AC works, drives ok, and it isn't real rusty it's worth probably $750-1,000.... that's why I said $750, if you think you can get it for $600 then go for it, she'll either take it or not (it's up to her to decide if you're being fair).

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

Offer her $400 ... and if she won't take that offer the $600.... she will feel much better about the $600 doing it that way.... LOL
The only people who get the really good bargains are the ones willing to try the low offer...
Without compression test, etc... you really don't know much about it .... so even at $400 you may be at the right price...
She may consider ANY money in hand better than that old car sitting there deteriorating.... you never know until you offer....

The car you describe...if it was mine I would not take less than $1000 for it and would even ask more as a starting point.

If you can get it for less you got a real good deal. Just how BAD can the paint job be? You did say RUST FREE, COLD AC, decent interior. Any dents? Broken glass? Current inspection or do all the insp items work?

The only issue is the CV axle? what's a fair parts & labor estimate?

Bottom line, you can't go wrong on this one for $1000. Any less is a bonus for a new cv axle.

__________________
1987 300TDT
1981 VW MKI Caddy 1.6 diesel, waiting on engine swap
1983 D-50 Power Ram 4x4 "Mitsubishi" 2.3 turbo diesel
assorted gas powered crap and motorcycles

RIP: 1984 300TDT, 1982 300TDT, 1984 190D 2.2, 1992 300D 2.5, 1987 300TDT, 1982 Maxima LD28, 1983 Maxima LD28, Isuzu C223 P'ups X3, 1983 Holiday Rambler 6.2 Banks turbo diesel, 1984 Winnebago LeSharo 2.1 TD, 1985 Allegro 6.5

I will offer her 600 and move up from there. Honestly I don't think the car is worth $1000.