its an 87 with 215k on it.I've driven it a couple times, runs great,drives great, looks great except for the clear coat peeling from the roof, no rust anywhere. Interior looks pretty dang nice considering the milage. Inside has some issues its damp all the window were foggy when showed up . I found a little water under the passenger side carpet in the front.The tach doesn't work , one power mirror doesn't work and no dash lights. I could see that tach had some fog in it.
Are there some places that water come in that are specific to this model.
So since its an 87 I am a little wary of the head cracking issue, oil and coolant both look good. One injector seemed to be leaking a little from the small rubber tube.
I told the owner I'd give him 2k but he didn't want to budge lower than 3k, he said he could get more parting it out, we exchanged numbers and I left.
anybody got opinions?
nate

The old "I can get more money parting it out" line. If only I had a dollar every time I've heard that. I'd say if he meets you halfway you would be getting a decent deal for $2,500. If the ac works, then I'd say $3k isn't even too bad a deal. Oh, and be weary if it has all new fluids in it. I've known people to mask a head issue by changing the oil right before showing it to people. If it looks like it's had a recent oil change, I'd investigate further.

A new window seal is probably in order, you will want to fix whatever is causing water to get inside.
You should have an experienced mechanic (experienced with this model BTW) perform a PPI. pre purchase inspections are important on this model because of the cracked head possibility and the transmissions also tend to go out around the 200K mileage figure. I'd stay away if its anything over $2000 without lots of records. The vac pump must be the later style (it has 4 torqx head bolts attaching it) if you want to own that car, thats about $300 less labor. With no records you don't know if the timing chain has been replaced, probably about time for that also.
I paid $2250 for an extremely clean '87 300D with good paint and a newly rebuilt transmission and considered myself lucky, I had to put $3000 into the car to get it the way I wanted it to be (almost perfect, A/C working and no leaks! )

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

There aren't any service records to go with the car. I called a benz dealer and they said trap oxidizer was replaced in 97. I'll have to check the vacuum pump when I go look today.
AC works good.
This will be my third trip to look at it , I think the owner is getting tired of me at this point.

..........well, then, maybe he should sell it to the other 20 people who are banging down his door to purchase it................

ha ha - my thoughts exactly

the oil and coolant didn't look 'out of the bottle new' but there did not seem to be any cross contamination going on.
Was really easy to get the car up to 85 though.fyi
nate

I see none of the other 20 odd would-be buyers were in the way when you went to take it for a test drive!
Yes a good running '87 300D turbo will cruise at 100 MPH no sweat. It's diesel that was made to run on the autobahn and keep up with many gassers of similar size. Does the rear end make any clunking noises when the trans shifts?
And did you do the radiator hose pinch test on a cold engine?

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

If someone is willing to make 3 trips to view a car...and are acting serious about it...why would they start flipping crap?

Last time I checked...when you were selling a car...you were selling it...not uh...expecting someone to come drop 4k on something they don't want

I tend to run away from cranky sellers. If that's what you have here.

BTW, my 87D was purchased for $3750 two years ago. Now I have a total of around $9000 in it, trying to make it like new. And keeping up with a few things unexpectedly failing. It is worth it. But old cars need love too, and like wives, they can be expensive...

__________________
DS
2010 CL550 - Heaven help me but it's beautiful
87 300D a labor of love
11 GLK 350 So far, so good
08 E350 4matic, Love it.
99 E320 too rusted, sold
87 260E Donated to Newgate School
www.Newgateschool.org - check it out.
12 Ford Escape, sold, forgotten
87 300D, sold, what a mistake
06 Passat 2.0T, PITA, sold

Las Vegas NV

Ask gsxr, he has had three or four '87 300D's. I own 2 of them (I must be a glutton for punishment)
Owning them is better than having a few wives or girlfriends.
Putting over $3500 into my first '87 300D was not a painful experience, considering how these cars run so nicely. I consider it a pleasure to invest a few thou in order to see how they must have felt to the individual who plunked down over $29,000 when they were new.

__________________
'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

I worry about the wet floor. How long has it been getting wet like this. Look real close for rust.

...one power mirror doesn't work...
BTW, they ONLY have one power mirror.

...felt to the individual who plunked down over $29,000 when they were new.
Wow that'd be a good deal for that then! They ran about $40K+ new.

__________________
DJ


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