FWIW I bought the same car only a 1986 model. Same color scheme and everything. The car I bought was probably a 7.5 - 8. A few door dings and the seats needed some love, but the car had 154k on the clock and was meticulously maintained. I paid 6750 and think I got a helluva deal given the reliability and comfort.

My thinking was, am I going to let a few hundred dollars be an issue for my car? My previous car was a brand new E class. I loved the car but I lost more driving it off the lot than I paid for this car.

Good luck with your decision.

__________________
86 300 SDL - Vesuvius

96 SL 500

Assumption is the mother of all screw ups.

Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light. - Dylan Thomas

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing - Edmund Burke

Since he is a higher up at your work, and you will be seeing him often after you buy the car, there could be other dynamics at play here. You don't want to insult him with a LOWBALL offer, and be regarded as a cheap #$%*& or a person out to take advantage. Likewise, he ought not to be making you think he is greedy; you said he is a straight shooter. You be one too.

Well, it's ultra low mileage and has been looked after, and the only problem would seem to be a transmission flare, (and if you are unlucky, and all it needs an entire rebuilt transmission, or an adjstment of the vacuum, a rebuilt AT could be had for around $1500, with luck.... ), and given the real experts around here are jumping up and down, and these are in very high demand for good examples, offer him $5900, and he will probably take it.

IF it's sound, unrusty and well maintained, I would take it immediately, for $6000. Ask for all service records to be included.

They are excellent vehicles.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I bought an '87 SDL back in March. She had 171,000 original miles at the time. She is flawless! Great fuel mileage and very comfortable. Cold A/C and so smooth on the highway. I paid $3,800 for mine.

A friend of mine just bought an '86 on E-bay. It has 125k on the clock and from the ad and the pictures appears to be a beauty. He's asked me to fly with him to New York to pick it up. Got my ticket last night for Friday the
20th. He gave $4995 for the SDL.

I would live to get another SDL. Especially one with less than 100k. Go for it but offer him around $5000.

Kevin

Two years ago I purchased a one owner 86 300sdl with 79,000 miles on it for $3500.00 This has been the most reliable car I have ever owned. It had been maintained correctly by the previous owner. The low price was because of two dents in the passenger front and rear doors and a trunk lid that was faded terribly. The rear end of the car sat out in the sun up under his carport.
I have spent $500.00 to repaint the trunk and rear quarters, and just routine maintenance issues. I average 26-27mpg. The car is light blue with a dark blue leather interior with the reclining rear seats. Your transmission sounds like a vacuum issue. These transmissions are very susceptible to high or low vacuum. High vacuum and they shift very soft, like they are slipping. Low vacuum and they shift very HARD and will slam into gear. I had a high vacuum issue when the car was cold and Brian Carlton solved my problem by having me disconnect an electrical connect at the Vacuum control valve that increases vacuum when the engine is cold to soften the shifts. My car was still doing this slipping when the engine was warm. I disconnected the electrical plug and all is well.
I absolutely love this car. It looks and drives great. It is very safe and I feel well protected in driving it on the Interstate.
I feel anywhere between 4 and 6K would be a really great deal for you.
Good Luck
JOhn

buy it before i do

Haven't you bought the car yet??? What are you waiting for? Hurry up before he trades in on something.

__________________
DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Throwin my hat in the ring - I'LL BUY IT!!!

$6k is very fair price. $5.5k also OK, being the trans is slipping (although my 87 turbo does same thing when fluid gets low - damn seal dripping trans fluid).

The head cracking is of no concern if you dont overheat it. Mines got 258k on #14 head and is still in great shape.

This is prob the BEST of the old benzs to get (IMO!).

__________________
Paul
Benz-less
I need an SDL !

HAHAHAHAHA. You guys crack me up. He's in London on business negotiating with some investment bankers.

He'll be back middle of next week. When he returns, I'll stop by and see if we can come to an agreement.

Don't worry, if I DO get it, you guys/gals will be the first to know.

Gauge.

I bought a 1986 300SDL in March of this year. The odometer had about 84,000 miles on the car. This car is the worse piece of S*#T car that Mercedes every built. Do NOT buy it. Could you please give me the telephone number of the owner --- I need a parts car.

*GRIN*

Seriously, though. The car I bought for $4K was owned by a diesel mechanic for 10 years and I believe the car had the transmission rebuilt. The dash is much newer than the seats thus I believe the mileage is much higher; closer to 180K miles. My car runs great on B100 (*another smile*) and my girls love riding in the big car. My 300D is in the front and the 300SDL is in the rear. It has 2 very small dents in the body. Sunroof works and the AC is ice cold. Needs new seats and windows need help --- all vacuum items work!

__________________
daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more