Why Not $10,000 for a '80-'85 300TD Wagon?
 

For simplicity, milage, comfort, and quality I've been looking for one of the above cars. I've decided that I want a nice one with good expectation of a fairly trouble-free car for reliable transportation.

At first I believed that $3000. or so would be enough but I've seen several cars command a premium and have pretty much accepted that for a good one $10K may be required. They seem to be high on the list of desirables for the people interested in conversions and biodiesel operation. Perhaps the additional room in back is needed to carry all of the tanks and paraphenalia of a greasecar? :D

I'm pretty new to the MB game though not to diesl power and wonder if I've just overreacted to the ebay presentations. You tell me.

Is it really necessary to pay so much for an old pig-in-a-poke? If not, someone prove it - sell me your car. (JK!)

I'm in southern Washington state, about 40 miles north of Portland, OR.

Sadly, alot of wagons are going for the upper limits near or at 10k.

You are right about pig-in-the-poke. If you are dropping serious money
get a pre-purchase inspection by a good Mercedes mechanic.

Personally, I would not pay that kind of money unless it was the original
owner with very well-documented service...

Tom

Here you are! BO over $10,000 http://www.craigslist.org/sfc/car/143016586.html

I spent a long time doing the same search from Portland. I wanted to spend $10,000 over the first two years, including purchase and all maintenance. My research and experience suggests that it's possible, but it will take you a while to find the right car.

After about three months I found a one-owner 1984 300TD in Seattle. I called 30 minutes after it had been posted to Craig's list and bought a train ticket for the next day while I was on the phone with the seller. He got dozens of calls. I drove it home for $6,500.

In all the time I looked, it was the cheapest 123 diesel wagon in decent shape that I saw. It has lots of little cosmetic issues, and we've spent about $1,500 on various things (front end, freon charge, etc) in the last 3 months. The engine and transmission are in great shape and there's no rust -- pretty much everything else you can fix yourself.

So ... keep looking. And for god's sake yes, make sure you get it inspected. Unless you really know your ***** you can get taken, especially in this market with the prices so insane.

To get a beautiful body and an engine and tranny worth bragging about you are going to have to spend upward of 10K, especially in the PNW. If you are patient you can find a good deal on one. I have a wagon, and my fincee and I are a one car family. I cannot imagine having a sedan not at this point anyway, the dog loves the space. Sedans are great cars too, probably a little more problem free with the whole rear self leveling system. But the wagons are a sweet cars.

I was able to find my wagon in Portland for $3400, but I have put around $1500 into it getting the vac system all sealed up, and all kinds of other parts here and there too many to remember off hand. But mine has it's flaws, the cracked dash, the big scratch near the driver's front wheel well. I haven't even dived into the AC yet. The belt was gone when I bought the car so who knows if the compressor works.

It's not worth it. Don't get caught up in the craziness. $10K for a car that's not going to be anymore reliable than a used Japanese car, you'll pay a premium for fuel and the car won't get good fuel economy.

If you have the $$, why not. I say go for it. If you keep your eye out for awhile you can probably find a better deal though.

Its worth getting a Kali (rust free) body... engines and transmissions can be changed, but rust-bucket is forever... I'd be looking for a a clean body and an effed-up drivetrain (preferably a dead automatic tranny, so I could replace it w/ a manual tranny)

Have you figgered out weather you want a turbo or NA?

$10K seems outrageous. If you buy a 20-year-old car it will have problems, that's the one thing you can count on.

If I were you I would try and find one outside of the PNW. Old MB deisels seem to command a premium here as people are more interested in alternative fuels than in other parts of the US.

The TD's are very cool, though, and sought after to a degree where it's likely to hold its value.

Good luck.

You can pick up under 100K mi 740iLs here (98-99s) for $8500 if you shop... sure they have maintaince too but BMWs aren't that hardcore to work on.

Of all my cars, I find that I drive the 300TD much more often than any of the others. They're great cars. I bought this one 13 years ago for $7,000 and truly believe that it's been worth it. Next month she goes up on jack-stands so that I can tighten everything up, fix some leaks, adjust the valves, fix the vacumn system and a few other small things. $10K sounds to high when Kelley Blue Book says that an "excellent" car is worth $6,200. Good luck with your search!

Got lucky
 

I live in Portland and just got lucky.

My first car I bought I got sorta taken on $500 dollar junkyard special (still not running :()

But after messing around with another car I got for $400 (had a lot of work to do....Thanks to Brandon314159 I got it done...is my almost perfect baby) But worth the money I saved.

Ok to the reason I'm posting. I was looking for a crankshaft for my 240D and while talking to a guy my dad works with in Eugene it came up. He said he had a freind with a old Mercedes Diesel that he was going to part out. Didn't know anything about it other than that. The guy lived about 5 miles down the road (cheshire) so after work that day we took a drive.

When I came up the the drive I couldn't beleive it. It was a black 83 300TDT. It had black interior but needed some major loving. He bought it for his son's coupe for the seats (interior upholstery is almost perfect) but realized after buying it they didn't fold forward. I looked it over and it looked harsh but nothing that a little love couldn't take care of. He said it needed a new turbo and to get it done was going to cost 1200 so he just let it sit. It had been sitting around 4 years.

I thought the guy was going to ask around 2000 or more becuase the market is so crazy around Portland. He said $300. Even though I already had to many projects I couldn't pass it up.

Besides the turbo (again thanks to Brandon having an extra) and a tie rod end, a radiator we later found to be boogered, one tail light, and rebuilt front brakes, in theory it needed nothing..even though it got a lot more. There are a lot of filters on these cars :eek:. But what was going to be a parts car is now an awesome running car. Even though it will take a lot of work on my part I'm hoping by the time I'm done (new paint job, all new tires, and parts here and there I will have under 1500 in it. That is my goal (as my funds are pretty much dry already :).

If I can find a dash for the car it will be almost perfect and that is a lot less than 10K and I will know every little quirk about the car. Besides I like the cars becuase they are fun to work on. If you want a fun car to drive get a 115. The wagon handles like crap on a poop stick, but it will be useful to haul stuff in, gets way better milage, and a fun one to convert to WVO.

There is a HOOPTY :)hahaha for 300 on CL right now. I noticed it needs a rear window and a lot of other goodies but that may be a good place to start.

You don't buy one of these cars because it's an investment. The only true investment cars are so rare that it would be insane to drive one.

I bought my 300TD because I was sick of supporting oil companies and wanted to run biodiesel, and a good W123 wagon is the best diesel available under $10k. It runs beautifully, will last forever, is safe, and is easy to work on. I might rather have a W124 wagon with air bags, but I can't afford one. Other than that this is the perfect car.

Sure, $10,000 will get you a newer, more reliable, cheaper to maintain Japanese car. And you'll continue sending money to Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Exxon. Does my not buying a few gallons of gas from them make any difference to the world? No. But it makes a difference to me.

I make no moral judgements about other people. This is my choice, and I'm happy with it. Plus, my ride kicks ass :)

Here you go...send me the change! :D

http://seattle.craigslist.org/car/143184170.html

I just bought an 81 300D for $700 USD today. And Drove it home!
 

I'll be posting a new thread about it but I thought it would be appropriate to mention it here first. I realize mine isn't a turbo and isn't a wagon. My frame is solid but there is a bit of body rust. Especially the right front door.

But $10,000 for an 80 to 85 wagon? I don't know man, It would have to be pretty well perfect.

I noticed you were looking at ebay, have you checked Autotrader dot com?

If you make really good money and can afford the 10k, great. Go for it but if it were me, I'd keep looking.

Best of luck on your search,

Wayne

yes
 

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

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? :D

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.

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:).

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.

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.

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.:)

1985 300TD wagon

$4,425 Low Retail

$7,475 Average Retail

$10,650 High Retail

Classic Status

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.

87 300 Diesel wagon in Chicago
 

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...

personally
 

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

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

$10,000 is too much!
 

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

Here is one in Portland
 

http://portland.craigslist.org/car/143341186.html

This guy must have been reading this forum. Everything you have been asking for and required by others on this post in the exact price range.
This might be one of those times when someone asks you to jump you should ask "how high", and scoot on over. I contacted him on your behalf to see whats up with the car as of now. He is about 1.5 hours away from you.

Good luck.

I posted that one too. It's the one that had a tree fall on the hood. Guess that's why no pictures of the front. :rolleyes:

Here are a few more:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/car/143149721.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/car/141911679.html

Sorry moderator you can get rid of this in a few mins.....brykast get on messanger if you are still arounds. Sorry!

Your link didnt work....when I clicked on it.....But yea looks like a good car

GREEN coolant! Thats got to be worth at least $1800 off the asking price. :D

.
 

That blue one in the Portland Craigslist is the same car that's in the Seattle list posted earlier. The car with the tree strike. I see that the price has been lowered by $100. - not enough to repaint the hood.

Oh, the '84 posted above, also listed in Portland craigs sold in ebay last night for $6200. It surprised me to see that the seller had come off his original ask of $7500. to sell at a reserve of $6000.
I really expected that his reserve would follow his previous price more closely. The car was/is actually in Ashland, OR - some 500 miles south of Portland. Gone now, oh well.

Everything works the way it is supposed to, but in the need of a good cleaning and maybe some touchup paint.

Be patient. 10K is unreasonable for any car that gets driven much. Someone has to do regular maintenance and repair on it because it's old. It could be a terrific car to have but paying a real lot for an old car does not mean that maintenance will consist of oil changes and wax jobs.

I agree if its in excellent condition with records to prove all maintenance etc going all the way back and no rust etc. $10K is in line with what someone would pay who wanted a 300TD
Here's what someone just bought for $10,000 on ebay (hint, it's a W124 diesel turbo) Lets see what kind of feedback they leave. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1,1&item=4617132221&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Perhaps you diesel experts can explain why....
 

How and why are diesel cars going for such high prices? In Europe, diesels do have a good resale value... but a comparable diesel car like the one shown in the auctions would not fetch that sort of money. Is the reason for the high prices that the purchasers will be converting the car to run on old oil? Is it the hype about diesel engines reaching 500,000 miles before needing major servive(meaning people will believe that you simply fill up and drive and do the oiil change until you hit 500k)? For that sort of money one can purchase a pristine gasoline powered car with all the luxury items working. I just don't get how a signal red diesel 124 with cracked dash pad and mb tex seats that have sagging nets in the rear sell for a price that one can buy the gasoline powered version in PERFECT mint shape and have fuel money for 2 years still in the bank.:confused:

A fool and his/her money are soon parted.

No way I'd spend $10K for a twenty year old diesel wagon. Ever.

NADA collector car guide shows average retail and high retail for a 82 300tdt as 7200 and 10300 repectively. Almost as much as my 69 280se coupe.

Well, the buyer liked it leaving this feedback:
"Great Mercedes. As described. I am so happy. Thank you. Will buy from U again. A+"

Still a LOT for a 29 year old car, cool color though.

ginny in denver

Their is no practical reason Snibble. Take a 350SDL vs a 560SEL. Put two mint 60k mile examples side by side and the SDL will fetch probably 50%-100% more. They do get better mileage but not that much better, their is no logic to it.


You can buy nice driver 560's all day long for $6k, hunt all over the country and come up with a 300SDL thats not as nice with 100k more miles on it for the same price.

For that price, you could buy one of the best '91 560SEL's in the country. It doesn't make a lot of sense.

Would you pay $13,900 for a old MB diesel wagon? Someone did on ebay at least for a w124. The winner was newly registered on ebay which would make me leery, but it did receive active bidding from others to $11k. From the pics, its the nicest w124 wagon i've ever seen.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-6-CYL-DIESEL-1987-MERCEDES-300TD-WAGON-TURBO-DIESEL-WAGON_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6330QQitemZ4620307720QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

No, it actually received bids of $13,100 from others before the winning bid. At that pricepoint the bid increment looks to be $800.
http://offer.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=4620307720

I guess what I can say is that diesel buyers on ebay are not the smartest bunch. Even 300SDL's that are close to 200k miles and worn interior sell for more than a 560 thats got half the miles and twice as nice interior. This diesel-mania is now simply a fad... just like the beanie babies, pogs and the like were. People will soon find out the hard way that its not diesel that makes a car last, but the car's condition and maintenance. :silly:

Just under $14K for a 20 year old wagon? Ebay is the place to sell that's for sure...

I agree completly, if I were in the market for a W126 today I wouldn't even consider a diesel one. I'd rather just get a much nicer 560SEL with probably 100k+ less miles and pay the difference in fuel costs.

I don't know...I haven't seen a single 123 gasser. Granted there were fewer sold, but still.