Think I might buy this car (need some advice) - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

redassag00 · #16 07-21-2006, 11:42 AM

My car is a local texas car too, and it has cancer all over it!

DrLou · #17 07-21-2006, 12:21 PM

Price seems a tad high to me, especially if a private purchase...

But it looks like a beautiful car. And if the service records can be trusted, they've already done a lot of the heavy service items you would have run into shortly. Can you be sure it's original paint?

Lou

DogPollen · #18 07-21-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrLou

Price seems a tad high to me, especially if a private purchase...

But it looks like a beautiful car. And if the service records can be trusted, they've already done a lot of the heavy service items you would have run into shortly. Can you be sure it's original paint?

Lou

I'm not sure of anything yet. I am going to check out the car this weekend. Even if it's not, that doesn't bother me much.

I'd prefer to pay a little more than 'supposed' value in order to have those wear-and-tear items already be taken care of. It seems like to me that most of the things that have been fixed are things that I'd worry about on a car that has not had those things repaired. So there's that.

Rick Miley · #19 07-21-2006, 12:57 PM

First, let me say that I'm not above paying $6,000 for a W123 300D. But that's pretty much the top end and there is simply not enough information here to support that kind of price.

I'm guessing you're in Texas, but you really should put your location in your profile to help us out. Texas is not a particularly spendy market like some parts of the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, or SoCal. And also, if you're in TX, then the price depends a great deal upon a properly working A/C that is still running R12.

From what I can see in these pics, it looks like maybe a $4000 car if the body really is completely rust free and the A/C is working correctly.

Finally, any time you're paying this close to the top end price for a car, you really really must get a prepurchase inspection, on a lift, by a technician who knows Mercedes-Benz cars very well.

Maroon 300D · #20 07-21-2006, 01:13 PM

Is that car an '85? It looks cab red to me but it's hard to tell with pics. Cab red would mean '85 unless it's been re-painted.

It's a really nice looking car. The price seems slightly high to me, but you're really better off paying more up front to get a car that works rather than having to fix lots of stuff. And these cars seem to be worth more and more these days. Go for it!

Maroon 300D · #21 07-21-2006, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StefanoDimera72

Those front seats sure look like they've got 300,000 miles on them. Unless the car was used for a local pizza delivery route...or if the owners are obese. My buddy's family are all over 300 pounds and their seats wind up looking like that in a 200,000 mile period. Seems to me a "little old lady" wouldn't put hardly any wear into the seats unless it was battered by the sun. How does a garage-kept interior look so rough in 140k miles?

My parents have a crazy lady living a couple doors down, she's had cars sitting outside for decades and the seats look better than this. Every now and then she needs a battery jump or something, so I've been able to gauge the wear over the years. My favorite was the old aston martin db5 that sat out in the elements for 20 yrs. When i was younger i'd cut her grass and she'd let me sit in there and i'd pretend i was James Bond.

If it's an '85 they don't usually have the odometer problems other w123's have, which was why I was asking (at the same time you posted this).

My interior looks far worse than that car and I have 246K.

JimmyL · #22 07-21-2006, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maroon 300D

If it's an '85 they don't usually have the tach problems other w123's have

Please tell that to my '85 wagon with inop tach......

It isn't listening.

DogPollen · #23 07-21-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maroon 300D

Is that car an '85? It looks cab red to me but it's hard to tell with pics. Cab red would mean '85 unless it's been re-painted.

It's a really nice looking car. The price seems slightly high to me, but you're really better off paying more up front to get a car that works rather than having to fix lots of stuff. And these cars seem to be worth more and more these days. Go for it!

Again, the Carfax report checks out. If something's been falsified, it's been a pretty elaborate ruse at this point.

And i think it's b.s. to say that the leather shouldn't look like that after 140k+ miles. My 2002 Acura only has 66,000 miles on it and the leather is already starting to look warn. I don't think it's far fetched to assume that the leather can start looking shoddy at that age. Besides all it take is a pin-prick hole in the leather to start a major tear after a short amount of time.

I'm not trying to defend the car before i've seen it, I just think some of these claims seem a little far-fetched. But then again, I'm a noob, so I could just be talking out of my ass.

d.delano · #24 07-21-2006, 01:44 PM

That looks like a leather interior. Tex doesn't crack like that. So, for the mileage and the climate, seems normal.
Just because it's a TX car doesn't mean jack. I got mine from Middle GA where cars DON'T RUST and I found some, in the trunk, underneath the trunk liners where the trunk drains are located. If you don't check there you might see some rust at your rear wheelwells very soon as the water that infiltrates a 20 year-old rear window seal drips down into the trunk well and pools up in front of the trunk drain and makes rust happen. I think people exaggerate the benefits of not living in the rust belt; rust can happen to a car anywhere at anytime.

Maroon 300D · #25 07-21-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyL

Please tell that to my '85 wagon with inop tach......

It isn't listening.

OK....White Car, get your rear differential in gear and start keeping track of your mileage!

Your wagon should be fine now after that stern talking to.

Seriously, though, I thought the reason it was set up differently than previous MB odometers was to get rid of the bugs the MB odometers were known to have.

DogPollen · #26 07-21-2006, 02:49 PM

Just to clarify, I asked the owner if the seats were leather and he said they are. He also said that he thought the artificial material that MB developed was better than leather. I know nothing about that.

DogPollen · #27 07-21-2006, 03:20 PM

Well, for those of you offering opinions, I'll also be looking at this car this weekend. They are priced exactly the same, so maybe I'll get a good comparison out of them.

The Link

no-blue-screen · #28 07-21-2006, 03:36 PM

The passenger seat doesn't look too much better IMHO. It doesn't appear to have any tears, but it looks cracked and discolored. The back seat looks very slightly discolored. Even though the body is in good shape, I think 5500-6k is a little high. I paid $3500 for mine last Sept and the interior was perfect, exterior had a ding here or there, and aside from a few minor mechanical issues, the car was in very good running order. 152k on it and it now has 159k.

Even if everything he says checks out, I wouldn't pay any more than 4500 for it...but that's me. If you feel like it's worth it, go for it....but.....buyer beware....oh and I second the suggestion about having someone inspect it underneath.

JimmyL · #29 07-21-2006, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogPollen

Well, for those of you offering opinions, I'll also be looking at this car this weekend. They are priced exactly the same, so maybe I'll get a good comparison out of them.

The Link

That's funny, I was going to attach the link for this car for yall to see.....

riethoven · #30 07-21-2006, 03:51 PM

[QUOTE=Maroon 300D]Is that car an '85? It looks cab red to me but it's hard to tell with pics. Cab red would mean '85 unless it's been re-painted.

It's a really nice looking car. The price seems slightly high to me, but you're really better off paying more up front to get a car that works rather than having to fix lots of stuff. And these cars seem to be worth more and more these days.

If it is an 84 or 85, it could be Pajettrot. I would be concerned if it is not the original paint because a paintjob could be covering other problems. I think the stated mileage could be correct because we had a Volvo with leather that we bought with 39K and sold with 98K and the leather was noticeably cracking. The car was never garaged when we had it for 3 1/2 years. The thing that doesn't make sense is that the car looks great except the seats. I think he did a hit of acid before he determined his asking price. $6,000 for a sedan is just too much. Offer him $4,000.

As for the other car. It looks like it is from a used car dealer. Watch out. Used car dealers are not considered the lowest life form for nothing.

Good Luck!