I saw the 78 I believe it was 300D bring in above 10K. My question is could a person possibly expect to derive somewhere in the neighborhood of 7 to 8K for a pristine very late 240D on ebay?

$7k for a pristine, perfect example is very possible. How many miles are on it and how well it's presented has a lot to do with it. If you're thinking of doing this, you'll want 60 or so high-res photos imbedded in the text and a detailed description of the car - good and bad. Skip writing the part about the history of the w123 and it's role in American society - no one cares.

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- Brian


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

Thanks for the response. I had seen other 80's models still bringing good monies, that weren't excellent. Which leads me to believe that there is still some good interest in them. I intend to probably wait till Spring to market mine. I have owned several Mercedes' and many other cars of various makes, but without a doubt it has been the most reliable car, that I have ever owned.

if it's the best car, then why are you selling it?

I don't need it any longer. I have wrenched and restored cars all my life, and I am looking for another project.

Mileage on the odometer drives the price as much as condition.

A lot will depend on where fuel prices are at when you are selling. If you catch one of those moments where gas is way up but diesel fuel is down, then any sort of diesel will bring stupid money. On the other hand, if gas prices are down and diesel is going for an additional $1 a gallon (as it has at other times) then your luck will vary.

I knew one fellow a few years back who was almost like a diesel day trader. He would buy them when prices wered down and then sell months later when they were back up.

While the real strength of the 240D is its durability, many buyers simply think that because it is a diesel that they will be getting 50 mpg crusing at 85 mph (just like it says in all those ebay ads). That is partly why fuel prices play such a big factor in sale prices.

One thing that is kind of puzzling to me is that dealers tell me that at Mercedes' owned auctions that they will bid like the sky is the limit on the diesels. Then they tell me that is why you don't see them on my lot. My only revelation on the matter is possibly that there is not as many of them as the gassers and people are willing to pay a premium price for them. Then the fact that of the die hard diesel enthusiast. The other day here diesel was selling for .18 less that rug at the pump.

Not many MB dealers are going to put 20+ year old, high mileage cars (diesel or gas) on their lot. Unless it is an exceptional example with all service records, etc. they will treat it like any other used car and send it to auction.

There is no great shortage of late model diesels at any MB dealer. You will find more gassers beacuase they sell more of those in the USA.

I wasn't specifically talking about Mercedes Benz lots. In general around here there is not very many Mercedes Benz diesels that are sitting on car lots. It's like a very, very rare ocassion. I have had several used car dealers tell me if they come up at a dealers auction or a Mercedes Benz lease return auction that they sell through the roof. I wouldn't put mine on a dealer's lot, but they definitely wouldn't hesitate letting it set there. I've had people tell me they thought it was new. But again I don't live in Chicago or NYC!