87 TD on Craigslist - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

2.5Turbo · #1 10-09-2006, 12:57 AM

What do you all think based on the info presented? 174k for $6500 with no reported rust. Not too far from where I am living now too

. Not sure about the head though...

http://ithaca.craigslist.org/car/213012430.html

POS · #2 10-09-2006, 09:00 AM

You live in WA and the car is in NY - don't buy it. You really need to see it prior to purchase. Photos will do nothing to help you in your decision, but I made a rule awhile ago to never again buy a car unseen by my own eyes. The descriptions may sound good, the photos may look good, but when you see it for yourself you'll ALWAYS find lots and lots of stuff that went unmentioned. Some of those things can turn out to be major - too much risk.

Jmana · #3 10-09-2006, 09:33 AM

Unless that car has been garaged every winter, I can almost promise you there will be rust somewhere on that car. They sometimes get up to 125 inches of snow a year up there in the finger lakes region. All that salt is terrible for a car. And just because it's not visible, doesn't mean it's not there. My wife's car if from PA, and it's actually starting to rust from the inside out. And one thing to keep in mind about MB, is they have very thick undercoating that will look good, but if it gets water behind it, the frame will rust out and not even be visible. I had a 300SD that looked fine underneath, but when I started poking the undercoating, I realize there was nothing behind it but crusty rust. In some spots I was able to push my finger completely through the frame. If I were to buy another nothern car, I'd put it on a lift, and get under there with a spotlight and a flathead screwdriver (and perhaps a magnet to check for fiberglass). If there is any deep rust, I would pass no matter how good a deal.

2.5Turbo · #4 10-09-2006, 01:13 PM

Forgot to update my location...I'm living in Ithaca until the end of the school year. So the car is really about 30 minutes away.

They say it was a southern car, but I will have to do a carfax on it to confirm the date at which it was moved up here. If it has been up here for 10 years, then the damage probably has already been done. But if they brought it up recently for their grease conversion, it should be all right. Definately will check for rust, as well as do the 603 tests

I wouldn't mind driving around in a TD while my 2.5T rests at home over the winter. Sucks not having a car in a town with a mediocre bus system.

pwogaman · #5 10-10-2006, 08:39 AM

It looks like it has a Maryland tag on it. If it is from Garrett County I will probably see snow all winter. If it is from Worcester County it might see a day or two a year.

pwogaman · #6 10-10-2006, 09:19 AM