for 10k it should be about perfect. but if it is, get an inspection by a benz specialist anyway. if you dont have a lot of experience with benzes it is easy to be fooled as to how good the example you are looking at is.

i sold my 82 300td fifteen years ago for 6500 i think, and they are about the same today or a bit higher. very very nice cars on the road. a bit of a lot of stuff to maintain, but they will hold their value, i think.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Good answers - all of them, and much food for thought. Thanks ALL.

I realized soon after posting the question that I'd left off an important adjective in my opening sentence and that is the word "comfort" to be placed between "simplicity" and "milage". I think that that element is the motivatiion that's brought me to consider these cars.

I spent over 20 years commuting 80 miles a day, mostly in Japanese competency and know their advantages well. But there isn't much about them to identify with - all plastic, all the same regardless the name, and yes, no significant and 'personable' quirks.

I wouldn't buy a 740iS on a bet, and would hesitate to take one for free.
An '84-'86 530 or 535i in great condition (not possible)? I'd maybe pay for that.

I do share the frustrations as expressed by Randall Hansen above. How can we not? I like the IDEA of VO power, but don't know whether the details are within my capabilities. I have three free acres and could grow fuel there I guess but I'm damned if I'll go begging at the back door of Chinese restaurants all over the county. Still, to be positioned to use alternative fuels does require the prerequisite ownership of engines able to be so powered.

And there's a magic to those big squared grills that harkens back to what I think were better days. There IS some mystique that transcends rationality and yet does have a practical application in that it can take you places that you need to go. These cars, though of fairly recent build do make me think of other times, my father's time, a time when values much different than those of today prevailed.

stopping to look back at what I've just said: How sick have I become?

bgkast - I've sent an inquiry. Thanks!

I just think that $10k isn't necessary, but the car's value is directly relational to the Buyer's desire. If you're willing to pay $10k, then it's worth $10k to you.

Since "money isn't an object" (I say that lightly, I understand), then maybe you ought to think about it the way I did. I bought a '95 E300D last year and money wasn't much of an object. I didn't want to get screwed, but I was willing to pay close to top-dollar for a top-dollar example. I found one, did my homework on the car (talked to original mechanic, had it looked at by my own MB mechanic whom I trust), then paid for it.

I still think that $10k is a lot for a w123 wagon, but the high end might be closer to $7-8k. So find a real good one that's in that range, do your homework, buy it, and don't look back. I still don't care what I paid for my '95, I love that car so much as my commuter that it was easily worth the extra cash.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

There is one 300TD listed in the Atlanta Paper today. It is as follows:

1980 300TD Wagon, 213k miles, solid engine, 3rd seat, needs fuel pump and side wdo. On owner with records, $2300. I have no interest in this car but if the ad is true (and there is no rust which I would be surprised to find on it) then he should have no trouble getting what he is asking. If anyone wants the phone # pm me.

In addition, in the same paper, there is ONE automatic 1982 240D listed with 152k miles for $5k.

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Jim

Makes sense even a $5k one will quickly cost more then $10k once you start really working on it. But to spend $10k it would have to be a real 10 out of 10 show car. Southern all its life, if I find a spec of rust the deal is off, ditto for a cracked dash or seats. For $10k you buy a brand new dash from somwhere swap it in and I'll pay asking.

I'd also expect a lot of recent mechanical stuff, no original radiators or starters. I want to see tons of recent updateing under the hood.

I could see spending $10k for the right car, but finding the right car is going to take a lot of searching.


Don't forget you can get a late 90's E320 wagon for $10k. Much newer, less work, and probably lower fuel costs. Similer mileage on cheaper premium gas.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

You want a good wagon? Buy a mid-90's Camry wagon. You can get on with relatively low mileage for around $5000 and you won't have to do anything to it for a long time. The engines and trannies last a long time with regular maintenance. It'll have more power, handle way better, get better mileage, have dual airbags and the maintenance is cheap.
Don't get caught up in the hype.

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DJ


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

I don't know if its a glitch or something, but I found these valuations for the NADA used car book interesting:

TOTAL PRICE

$7,700 (Low Retail)

$8,775* (Average Retail)

$15,525 (High Retail)

Those figures are for a 1986 300SDL. Mileage not even considered. Just condition. Seems values rose significantly after it became "classic status". But it is not listed as a classic vehicle.

That can't be right! That is, of course. unless all the SDL's for sale right now are junkers. It is there in print, however, on NADA.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

1985 300TD wagon

$4,425 Low Retail

$7,475 Average Retail

$10,650 High Retail

Classic Status

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

This is good:

A member posted the following link to this thread for a 300TD in northern WA state - http://seattle.craigslist.org/car/143184170.html

Note that the listing is dated yesterday. I emailed the owner of that one and have received four responses (so far).

The first let me know that he or she had been "storing some boxes and stuff" in the car. The next let me know that "a tree fell on the car this winter and that's why the hood is gray". Ummm, OK.

The other two are a collection of photos mostly closeups of a fairly nice looking blue wagon with the palomino interior. In truth the car, so far as I can tell, does look pretty good in it's undamaged areas. There appear to be a collection of binks and dinks to the paint along the sides, but they might be reflections. The hood is completely in primer and there are no headlight bulbs installed. The battery is in the passenger footwell and yes, there is a box, a tarp, and some other stuff inside.

But the price is firm at $5900. and the car is ready to go according to the listing. Thank God for email as this would have been a long drive for a wasted trip without it.

Hello there. I know someone who is selling a 87 diesel, blue/3rd seat, body pretty good. I have driven car and it drives nice. Needs injector work as it smokes alot on start up and then is ok. Good heat and A/C.
I think he wants around 7k. Has 250k. I believe it is a one owner car before it was aquired buy my friend.
He is a VERY wealthy man who OWNS multiple new car dealerships (MB, BMW, Mini, LandRover, etc) These dealerships bear his name as they were founded by his father. I believe his dealership took this car in in trade. He has been driving it himself for most of the winter.

Anyways, email me if you want further information.

mfagus1@netscape.net


Mark

I completely agree with your perspective if not your choice. I rented a Camry in Phoenix once and it was an awful car. Nowhere up to it's hype and it barely got 20 mpg on the trips I made between Phoenix and Sedona while I was down there. Maybe it was a bottom of the line rental version but I've had nicer Subarus than that Camry.
You're right about my falling for the hype though, in a way. I've got plenty of vehicles but there IS a current hole in the fleet for a comfortable long distance cruiser. My wife and I are both retired now and in our late fifties, and her mother is still living down in the SF Bay Area where we escaped from upon retirement four years ago. We have need to go there from time to time and my 4x4 diesel Dodge truck kinda' beats our tired bones down on trips. So this consideration of Mercedes cars. Neither of us wants to put up with the airport BS the way it's become although we've had to on occasion when it seemed there was cause to rush.

Are 300TD's really going for $10,000? I remember looking at a few about 6 years ago, and all were under $2,000 and in decent shape...

i have never seen a 123 wagon in good shape for $3000. but i suppose it depends on what you mean by 'decent'.

tom w

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I bought a '85 MB 300TD in great shape for $2000.00.

The AC doesn't work but thats it.

Everything else is well cared for.

J

If your not in a hurry and look around I know you can find a better deal. Look at NADA and see what the car is going for in your area. Down south (Chattanooga, TN) NADA says about $8,500 and that's car lot price. Off of a private party you should be able to find one for around $6,000 or less. You might think about one that needs engine work and then find one with a mashed tail (just missed one one for $300, the man said they drove it away!) But anyway take your time, you will find a deal you can't pass up!

The Shopboy
74 240D Daily Driver