Been keeping my eyes open for a late 240D with a stick, and found one 4 miles away. An '83 with 165,000 miles (verified via Carfax), it's being offered by the second owner (of 22 years) for $4500, (he invited me to offer more, since he 'already has a full-price offer'). I asked the seller if it had any issues, and he said "just the minor dents in the body." He says they haven't been driving it very much lately (I'd think not, since it's out of license since June of 2005). Here's what I noticed: A/C inop--was converted to R134a in '97. Power antenna inop. Throttle begins taking effect when depressed almost to the floor--no response at all to that point. Less power than my old 48hp Rabbit diesel. Started right up, no observable smoke. Pulled breather tube off valve cover, and could feel some blow by, but almost no smoke. Smells bad inside--suspect old mildewed carpets. No apparent rust. Maybe all the issues are actually trivial, and this is a deal, I don't know. I'd appreciate any comments. I'm tempted to hang in there for something better.

--Rob

If someone is really willing to give $4500, let them. You can do better.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

It would need to be near perfect to bring that kind of coin. Plus, why did he NOT take a full price offer already. He is either lying, or is devoid of proper character. Neither case would make me want to deal with him, or trust his product.
Just my opinion. I want a little manual 240D as much as anybody, but wouldn't give that one a second thought......

__________________
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

Unless it's near showroom quality. $4500 is too much for the 240D you described. $1500 sounds better.

I agree with JimmyL, the seller sounds pretty shady if he wants you offer MORE than the asking price.

I think that's too much, also. For that money, it should be a one or two owner, all records, very good interior/exterior and mechanically sound. Talk him down or keep looking would be my recommendation.

Kevin
1979 240D manual
1984 190D manual

I agree, $4500 is too much, by the time you get everything fixed you'll be into it for $6000. I know the stick will bring a premium, but that's too much.

Agreed as well. You can do better. I just posted one here the other day, stick whole nine yards, for $2000. It's no longer on craigslist so either sold or expired. Body and interior looked great.

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

I'll sell you mine for $4000, and it's converted to veg oil with a 2 tank system.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

this just popped up in DC..
http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/car/199735988.html
a little ways away, but with the $2500 you save you could fix that tweaked paintjob

__________________
1982 300TD 210K miles ("The Replacement" aka "The Anvil") - SOLD
1979 300SD 245K miles (never ending project)
2007 Pinarello F3:13
1995 Ducati 916 (SOLD, sniff)
1999 Ducati 900SSie (SOLD)

People in Seattle are stupid, and want way to much for their older W123s, and people are stupid to pay the prices. If you look around the state more, you might be able to find a reasonable priced one. I remember a few years back, when I was visiting family, I saw a bunch for sale in the Medford/Ashland area, and many were looked very good...

I would say you're half correct.

Seller just called and said he'd decided to wait and see what happens, what with all the email traffic he's getting. Hopes to get more for it. I just said, "Fine, I can wait." Clearly not the car for me. Thanks for all of the assurance that I was making the correct call on this!

Rob

Interior is clean on that one.....

__________________
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

$4500 US for a 240D i'm amazed i live in Canada and i bought one for Can$900 and another for $500 both are the manual 4-spd and in near perfect condition...ok one needed a couple panels, but otherwise the interiors of both were perfect and the leather was in perfect shape, no fade or cracking. I'm gonna paint them but only because i hate the
off-white they currently are. There are currently tonnes of the things for sale up here, not as cheap but still...