200K miles, looks clean.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?&default_sort=priceASC&dealer_id=81854&end_year=2001&address=11771&make2=&start_year=1981&systime=1194486619045&fuel=Diesel&certified=&keywordsrep=100105101115101108&car_id=232563835&search_type=used&max_mileage=&body_code=0&marketZipError=false&drive=&min_price=&engine=&distance=200&transmission=&awsp=false&make=MB&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&keywordsfyc=__ZGllc2Vs__&sort_type=priceASC&num_records=&ref=&ref=&car_year=1997&doors=&style_flag=1&cardist=33&max_price=&advanced=y&search_lang=&model=&color=&ref=#vdptop

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

good price. If maintained 50% of the life still in front of it.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

I bought my 98 off autotrader in July for $10.5K, lower miles plus the turbo. I think you can find a better one for that price, especially if you stay with the 96-97. Just my $.02

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Muleears
'07 E320 Bluetec 133K my DD
'04 Jaguar XJ8 VDP, 34K
'10 Hyundai Accent 60K Grocery Getter
'02 VW Golf soon to be on the road again
'97 E300 Diesel Son's DD
'61 VERY tolerant wife

Hampton Roads, VA USA

Gone but not forgotten:
'67 250S 95K
'86 300SDL
'87 300D Turbo, 364K! R.I.P.
'98 E300 Turbodiesel, 213K
'02 S420, 164K
'01 Prius 138K

I have a 96 e300d which I bought with almost the exact number of miles. Purchased it from a private seller for $7,300, but it did have some minor rust along some of the door trim and grill area. If you are considering it, I would insist on a Carfax report from the dealer prior to sale. I would also suggest that you have it looked at by a Mercedes tech to insure that it is as solid as it looks. Any and all service records would be a good indication as to how it was kept up, along with giving you an idea of what types of major issues need to be addressed. Know issues with this model are the spring perches, which have a tendency to rust out. I have had my car for about 4 months, and have really enjoyed the ride and engineering. Not the fastest car off the line to say the least, but once on the highway it handles like a charm. After 4,500 miles of driving, my mileage has averaged out to 31 miles per gallon with mostly stop and go traffic. On the open road, I have averaged about 34-36 miles per gallon. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.

It has an aftermarket radio, and the steering wheel is messed up.

I'd hold out for a lower mileage turbo charged car. The NA ones are slow, you want the turbo.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

They are asking a lot but this one, but it looks real nice:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=232750293&dealer_id=100017458&car_year=1999&num_records=25&model=E300D&systime=1194546253686&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=100105101115101108&keywordsfyc=__ZGllc2Vs__&certified=&fuel=Diesel&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=MB&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=11771&advanced=y&end_year=2001&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=16

Not bad:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=233567956&dealer_id=81156&car_year=1999&num_records=25&model=E300D&systime=1194546253686&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=100105101115101108&keywordsfyc=__ZGllc2Vs__&certified=&fuel=Diesel&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=MB&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=11771&advanced=y&end_year=2001&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=53

Lots of miles but looks clean:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=228246861&dealer_id=4389939&car_year=1999&num_records=25&model=E300D&systime=1194546253686&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=100105101115101108&keywordsfyc=__ZGllc2Vs__&certified=&fuel=Diesel&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=MB&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceASC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=yearDESC&address=11771&advanced=y&end_year=2001&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=180


The diesels command a huge premium!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for the replies!

I called up, and they said teh $6,475 was an error, I see now that they corrected it.

Hatterasguy - yup, the ones around 100K miles seem to be going for about $16-$18.

Hell, add about $10K and get a 2005 CDI.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2006-E320-CDI-TURBO-DIESEL-NAV-XTRCLEAN-1OWNR-N-S-EXC_W0QQitemZ320176641128QQihZ011QQcategoryZ6335QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

I would, I like the W211 a lot. IMHO its a better car than the W210.

The I6 CDI engine is pretty much a 603/6 block, even the water pump looks the same.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The W211 has slightly less head room in the back though, and the rear could be mistaken for a Ford. But the CDI engine has awesome torque and it's probably much easier to work on than the new V6 Bluetecs. I might get one some day, but the electronic brakes kind of scare me.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I think 2004 was the last year for the SBC brakes.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Browsing autotrader and saw this

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=236974730&dealer_id=2869557&car_year=1996&num_records=&model=&systime=&make2=&start_year=1981&engine=&keywordsrep=100105101115101108&keywordsfyc=__ZGllc2Vs__&certified=&fuel=&body_code=0&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=100&marketZipError=false&search_lang=&make=MB&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceASC&address=11771&advanced=y&end_year=2002&transmission=&doors=&max_price=&cardist=93

No turbo,
blue interior (meh, gray is much nicer),
Mileage is nice tho.

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

Firm on price, but should take $8K

Anyone have Carfax?

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

My only concern would be the chrome wheel openings might be hiding some rust..

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Dennis
2006 E320 CDI Black/Black Leather. Nav, HTD Seats HK stereo 32000 miles.
2000 VW Passat 1.8t 300,000 miles as of Dec 09, 2009 original owner
1997 E300d Silver 300,000 miles As of Jan 05, 2010
3rd owner SOLD

I could check it out. What do y'all think of the car overall?

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1986 190D, 2.5L, 5-speed swap, 180,000 Miles (60K by me).
Jeep CJ-7 with Cummins 4BT/NV4500/AtlastII 4.3.
Grand Wagoneer 4BT project in progress!

Good value for the mileage. 606 NA's are slow on take-off but quite driveable once up to speed.

96's came with the 722.438 4spd trans; switched over to 722.608 5spd eletronic trans part way through 97.

Prior maint as with any car, is key.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)