Hey,
If I was leaning towards letting it go I would offer $800 to $1000 and see if he bites. If he does buy it.
You can't really go wrong if you can work on it yourself.

The vacuum system definitely needs to be checked but that's not too much trouble if you have a mity-vac.
How do the brakes work? Do they have power assist? If they do it's probably not the vacuum pump.
The 3/2 switches are probably leaking, and the rubber vac line connectors. The shut off switch is probably broken.
You can pop those linkages loose and grease them if they stick.

This is the same car I bought for $1000. I love this car! Had a lot of the same problems though.

Danny

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1984 300SD Turbo Diesel 150,000 miles

OBK member #23

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Only the CA versions of the '85 300D, 300TD, and 300SD had the trap. The 124 had the trap federally the only year it was offered with the OM603 in 1987 with the 300D and 300TD.

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Chris

'04 ML500 - 53k, Inspiration Edition, Desert Silver
'11 Audi A4 Avant - Brilliant Black
'87 300SDL sold
'99 C280 Sport sold
'85 190E 2.3 sold

My current plan is to leave town for a few days, return and call to see if its still there...If yes offer to by is for 1-1200....Time will tell....I havn't looked at alot of these cars but the comparitive lack of rust is really making it hard to pass....Have a great weekend...Rob M

no trap ox for this car then...original window sticker and owners mnaula show import to baltimore sale to current owner in NH.....Vin check at dealer resulted in no outstanding recalls or anything like that....

'85 is the year to buy for a 123/300D-it has the higher differential gear ratio-gives a lot more top end speed. If it is truly rust free you could buy it for a grand and part it out and still come out ahead!

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1982 300DT 190K (Diesel Purge + synthetic oil=smoothness at last!!!)
2004 Ford E-350 6.0 L PSD 227K
2006 Dodge Ram 3500 SRW HO Cummins 4X4 48RE 42K (brute force tow vehicle)
2005 Scion xB wife's rolling pop can
1993 GMC Sierra C3500 6.2 142K

well another week has past and the seller offered it to me for $1000......its not rust free and I have yet to get fully under it....but as yarsticks to measure rust the jackpoionts seem to have some rust but alot less than other examples I've seen. the inside of the turnmk under the rear window has zero rust....head light areas...no rust....battery area...no rust....I'm going to contact them again early next week and get another look....What other steering parts would ikely need replacement other than the ball joints? and at what cost. (for parts, this will be a DIY project)

Thanks for any additional thoughts!! I may become an owner yet!
Rob M Concord, MA