I alway wonder about which is a better buy - a newer diesel with high milage or a older diesel with low miles, assuming that both comes with records, and the engine and tranny works well. A friend said that he would go for a newer car, saying that the milage is likely to be freeway, but for a high milage car there are worn parts that need to be changed. What is your opinion?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-E-Class-DIESEL-1997-MERCEDES-BENZ-E300-DIESEL-MULTI-CONTOUR-SEATS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6335QQitemZ4599220257QQrdZ1

dont go for that E300. i came across it yesterday on ebay. Those bodys are prone to rust. I really dont know why but they are and as you can see it already has rust all over the place. And to make it worse its been driven in the snow. They use salt to melt the snow, so salt+snow+w210=

Try finding a better diesel. Plus looks like it wasnt taken car of the leather is cracked too many miles probably just ran it without proper oil changes the car looks like a mess.

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

I would have no problem buying a newer car with 200k miles. They last longer and since they are newer the parts are not that old.

However that looks like a pretty tired example, I'd stay away. Also never buy a car out of MI, or Ohio they rust like crazy up their.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Again, the most important things are rust, rust, rust, compression, what needs replaced and above all, the independent inspection by someone familiar with these cars, be that yourself or someone hired.

You might say the mileage is an item of trivia when compared to the hard and fast mechanical facts of the particular car. Well, in my opinion. Plus, mileage can be faked and lie. Compression and professional inspections are more objective, at least in theory.

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

That guy must be dreaming for ~10K. Especially a non-turbo with 210K miles in the condition its in. Absolutely dreaming.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I absolutely hate that picture format!

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I don't think he's dreaming. The seats are a bit cracked, but leather always does that to some degree. Note the controls for the optional orthopaedic seats also. You might be surprised at the blue-book values for this car, even with the miles.

While it is true that some W210's rust, this is not universally the case. Like any used car, they need to be inspected for rust.

Mine isn't rusty, and spent its life in Missouri. They use lots of salt there. And in my opinion, the W210 drives better than any of the older models.

Its not worth it. 200K + miles on a car in poor shape for nearly 10K. Blue book value only accounts for cars.

The trade-in blue book value is $3638.

The retail for a fair conditioned car, as-is, $6,595.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

I agree that guy is dreaming. I would not consider a W210 with cracking seats, I am tired of buying someone elses junk. Any well taken care off W210 should still look and smell like new inside.

That is a $6k maybe a $7k car on a good day. John's E300D is in much better shape then that car, if you want a high mileage W210 make him an offer.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I second that.

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1999 Mercedes-Benz S600, 103K miles - garage queen
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL, 89K miles - daily driver
2007 Hyundai Sonata Limited, 31K - daily driver

IMO, the older cars hold up better for the same mileage than in a newer cars. The older models were built better and used higher quality materials. I have both 123 and 124 300D's with similar mileage and the 123 is holding up better.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Look at the maintenance record. See what has been changed. If a lot of hard parts have been change, why not?

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Looks like a nice car, but man, how many imes have you seen this particular car up for auction already?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/West-Coast-car-lovingly-maintained-Beautiful-condition_W0QQitemZ4598976926QQcategoryZ6330QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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PagodaLOVER
1967 230SL, manual
1959 180D, manual

Wow ... did you notice the feedback on the 300E seller? ABout 10% of his sales are negative feedback ... one of the highest I have every seen.

And, the price is way over the top.

George

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George Stephenson
1991 350 SDL (200K and she ain't bent, yet)
former 2002 E320 4Matic Wagon - good car
former 1985 300 CD - great car
former 1981 300 TD - good car
former 1972 280 SEL - not so good car
a couple of those diesel Rabbits ...40-45 mpg

I'd choose the 3rd option. Older diesel with tons of miles

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed