Anyone interested in a $800 '84 300DT?

[braverichard]

There's a small used car dealer just two minutes from my house. He has an '84 300D Turbodiesel for sale. It has 188,xxx miles. Carfax came out consistent with mileage. Car's in overall good shape. Paint fading considerably from hood. Seems fine elsewhere, though I didn't look thoroughly. Engine not clean, injectors/injection pump/valve cover area is clean, but the area around the water pump is just covered with grease. The car is an exceptionally loaded W123. It has a power sunroof, power windows and locks and leather seats. The heater works, no guarantee on A/C working of course. You'll have to find out about that in the summer . All instrument cluster gauges work, including the clock. No rust at all from what I checked, exceptional considering that they use salt all over the roads here when mother nature gets nasty. I drove the car and it runs very well and the transmission shifts well -- in fact, my 300SD transmission makes a clunk sound when it downshifts sometimes and this one doesn't make that sound at all. Excellent performance, obviously faster than my 300SD (given they both have the same engine, same power specs and the 300D is lighter). Transmission fluid didn't smell burnt. I went to the dealer 11am two days ago (same day I saw it) and at 39 F, the car started up without a single hesitation (after glow plug cycle of course). Leather seats (yes leather not MB Tex) in great shape with minimal wear and no major tears/rips, wood on dash almost fully there -- just a single piece missing. And oh, leather is palomino, exterior is green (Anthracite? sp?). For some strange reason though, I'd swear the engine sounded less noisy than mine!

Tiny issues: Radio doesn't work (original Becker Grand Prix). Driver's and front passenger's window motors seem dead (could just be the switches or regulars), left rear passenger window seems like it is getting stuck and can only be raised from the switch on that door, sunroof works but closes slowly (probably just needs grease), power antenna didn't work (probably related to non-functional radio). The car does need an alignment as it seriously pulls to the right. You literally have to hold the steering in a strange way to keep it straight.

Dealer told me that many many people have looked at it so it will sell fast. I believe him as I've done business with him before. He actually informed me of the fact that he was getting the car from the M-B dealer (it was a trade in) two weeks ago but at the time I was too busy with other stuff and didn't really get back to him with a response. I know he purchased the car for $450 (showed me the purchase receipt) so I wouldn't expect him to go lower than his asking price of $800. He has learned a lot about what people knowledgeable about old M-Bs look for when searching for one to purchase. I've stressed the importance of service records to him many times in our discussions. So when he went to purchase the car from the M-B dealer, he asked about any service records but he was told that the previous owner didn't want to submit any service records with the car as he feared identity theft from her personal information which would obviously be on the receipts. Apparently he's been a victim of identity theft before. So, here's the real kicker: NO SERVICE RECORDS!! The dealer said he priced the car low after taking that into consideration. Plus, having purchased it for $450, he didn't spend even a cent on it, so it will be purely profitable.

Didn't take any pics as I wanted to do so if only anyone here's interested. I've thought about getting it for myself considering the engine and transmission are exactly the same as what I have in my 300SD. But I don't think I can spare even $800 right now. I was beginning to think the car was made for me as that would be my third M-B and all of them would be from the 1984 model year. But if someone else here wants it, I'd be more than willing to buy for them and then they can pick it up from my house or something. Just let me know if you're interested and I can take the pics tomorrow. While getting one of these cars without service records is a risk, you can't go wrong for $800.

[TwitchKitty]

Bump for a good deal.

If you buy it, won't there be other charges since it is from a dealer? If he sells it directly to someone out of state it may be cheaper.

This one is tempting and sorta within range. I need a truck I can run on Veg to run around and get these good deals.

[JimmyL]

Darn, I was in KC about 6 weeks ago. That's how good my timing usually is....

[leathermang]

"So, here's the real kicker: NO SERVICE RECORDS!! "

I have no problem with a lack of service records.... If a person runs a car out of oil.... or overheats the engine ... that will not show up there anyway...

If one is interested in the condition of a car.... have an INdependant Specialist in ' checking cars'.... like Lemon Busters or something...check it.... who do not do any fixing of cars...thus no conflict of interests in telling you the results of their tests... compression test and if any problems show there... then leakdown test....

Last time I looked these tests cost about $100...and could save someone big bucks in terms of finding hidden mechanical situations...

[braverichard]

Originally Posted by TwitchKitty

Bump for a good deal.

If you buy it, won't there be other charges since it is from a dealer? If he sells it directly to someone out of state it may be cheaper.

This one is tempting and sorta within range. I need a truck I can run on Veg to run around and get these good deals.

No there will be no additional charges. This "dealer" is a really small, family owned business you know. I think that if there were to be any additional charges then perhaps it will be about $15 or so for the title. But then again, the asking price isn't exactly $800, it is something like $755.

Originally Posted by leathermang

"So, here's the real kicker: NO SERVICE RECORDS!! "

I have no problem with a lack of service records.... If a person runs a car out of oil.... or overheats the engine ... that will not show up there anyway...

You are VERY CORRECT there. I just stated that because I know from reading some posts that some people here would never purchase an old M-B without service records. Granted, those posts were all about gasoline M-Bs not diesels, but I was just trying to disclose all the information I felt that everyone had to be aware of before they decide if they are interested in the car or not.

[MTUpower]

Originally Posted by leathermang

"So, here's the real kicker: NO SERVICE RECORDS!! "

I have no problem with a lack of service records.... If a person runs a car out of oil.... or overheats the engine ... that will not show up there anyway...

If one is interested in the condition of a car.... have an INdependant Specialist in ' checking cars'.... like Lemon Busters or something...check it.... who do not do any fixing of cars...thus no conflict of interests in telling you the results of their tests... compression test and if any problems show there... then leakdown test....

Last time I looked these tests cost about $100...and could save someone big bucks in terms of finding hidden mechanical situations...

I fully agree with Leathermang on this one. Service records can be a great indicator- but really are secondary to a full mechanical checkout. Quite a good price on this car...

[braverichard]

Just came back from around the dealer. The price is $788.

[snipsa]

I am in Columbia, MO and would like to come out for a look.

Thanks,
Ben

[braverichard]

Unfortunately another forum member has already purchased it.