Instead of worrying about a few $100 on the sale price, I would find out if this thing is going to need an engine, or just a head, that will affect the final cost by $5000 unless you are just going to out a junk engine in it either way.

I agree the dealership is normally not setup to find a replacement engine for the older Mercedes, but a car like that could be gone pretty fast. You will be surprise how many people are looking for cars like that. Word of mouth and the internet brings the availability of such a car to a much larger audience. I would get the info from the dealership (head or engine needs replacement?) and then make them an offer. I think the asking price of $2000 is not unreasonable, especially if you have or could find a good low milage engine to drop into.

I got a similar car (good body, bad engine) for $300. That is about all I would pay.

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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

Isn't that the truth... In Seattle that car probably would go for 10k with a new motor...

yes. Really clean cars are in short supply and desireable.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I agree with this too. While most dealers would not want to fool with such a project, you never know.

If I liked it I probably would pay 2K for a really clean car from a dealer. I would try to get the price lower, but would not fool around much 'cause it will be gone.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I bought a really clean one with good body and good engine for $600.(bad axle). Where is the car located? If you are in the northwest or the south makes a big difference in price.

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81 Mercedes 300SD 289k.......SOLD
82 Mercedes 300CD 252k......slow ride

82 mercedes 300 SD...mi Unknown
83 Mercedes 300D ????ksniff..gone too
84 Mercedes 300D 148k........SOLD
85 Mercedes 300TD 386k and holding some one elses project

Reckon on rebuilding the whole engine if it was overheated enough to crack/warp a head. Bearings cant be worth another 100K miles, no how. Agree that a dealership wont be monkeying with putting an engine in and selling for big bean. Cut through the front line sales guys and get to the top. Sorry but imho, front line sales guys cant tell the truth. Cant. Genetic thing.

2K is way too much. I have gotten several W123s in "near perfect" condition, for $200 - $400 with blown engines or trannys. Offer those guys $500 or so and tell them you'l get it outa their lot pronto.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

If the car only has the indicated overall milage they are getting a little scarcer as time goes on. Of course that influences pricing to some extent. Also getting a good replacement engine is a major consideration. The chances of an auto wrecker having a 617 engine with 135k true miles on it are slim but possible I guess. Just not probable. Where would he get it? A 135k mile car of this type is not likley to be parted out unless it had extensive rust damage or a major collision occured. Or he aquired a wreck that had a rebuilt 135k engine with paperwork.
You have to balance everything yourself and decide. If you cannot do your own work it probably is a good ideal to pass it by. I would try to save the overheated engine if the milage on the car was correct or at least investigate it to determine the extent of problems before deciding on a replacement.
In my area it probably would be snapped up for that price if everything else checked out well. In some areas it might be a different story. There are just tremendous regional variences it seems. Try to rationalise even the cost of a paint job alone if the exterior is really great. A good outside finish alone with no rust or dents has got to be worth at least a thousand dollars to aquire.

$250-350 max, it DOES NOT RUN.

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I'm not a doctor, but I'll have a look.

'85 300SD 245k
'87 300SDL 251k
'90 300SEL 326k

Six others from BMW, GM, and Ford.

Liberty will not descend to a people; a people must raise themselves to liberty.[/IMG]

running or not, a car is worth what the owner can get for it.
if it's worth 3000 to you, then there you go. if it is indeed in as good a condition as you say, the seats, windows, doors, etc, are worth quite a bit to somebody... me however? I would only pay 500.00 tops. good luck with it! keep us posted on the outcome in this thread. if you do not get it, try and find out what they do get for it, and if they put in an engine, or as we think, ship it to a wholesaler...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Actually, I don't think $2K is bad if it's really in excellent condition. Just do the math, you can buy a good reman engine for $6K (assume another $1K for installation and miscellaneous), and you have a nice driver with a fresh engine for about $9K. You should be able to sell it for $10 - 12K with out much problem (at least a dealer could). I would write a $10K check for a good 300D with a fresh engine if I was in the market.

If you buy it for $2K and put a junk engine in it it's still worth about $2K (or less), so that's not such a good deal.

I like your logic, Too me these cars are worth spending the money on. I never regretted rebuilding the engine, or buying a seat cushion (new) actually the wife loves these cars looken good and running right but that could take a nose dive should she break down on the way to a meeting or work. So spending some money for a nice one and keeping it up saves money in the long run. Anyway a W123 with a rust free, well taken care of body, is WORTH two K, it just hurts too pay that

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Yes, you could have a great car for $9K but it would be worth $5K or so max (don't let the shill bidding on ebay fool you, nobody will pay $10 K for a 25 year old car).

I don't see what your problem with salvaged engines is either. When you buy a used car the engine is used, but you check its condition...same thing with a used engine. A good used engine probably has another 100K left in it, and it's not really hard to swap it in.

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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