new to forum, been lurking a little while, advice please

[cooguyfish]

So I've been lurking here for a little while and gathering information. I bought an 84 190D before I got on here and I have since decided that it's not for me, my wife thinks it is uncomfortable, it's a little beat up, and it's a smidgeon slower than I like. I want to stay with a diesel but wanted to get something a little nicer, I stumbled across an 87 300SDL that is exceedingly nice looking (at least in the pictures) and I might buy it. It is a one owner that was traded into a dealership, with service records and they are asking $1400. The catch is that it has 528K miles on it.

So, should I be scared of this car or no?

secondly, compared to the 190, I know it's a lot bigger and that doesn't bother me, but is it more comfortable, and is it any faster? (I don't need a hot rod just something that doesn't feel like I'm killing it trying to climb a hill).

thanks in advance

-Brandon

Welcome to the forum.

Well, the SDL is a fine car, but 528K miles is a lot (even for us). Unless this car has extensive documentation of it's maintenance/repairs, it is likely to have issues that will significantly exceed the purchase price. I would shop around for a well maintained car with about half that mileage.

[Astroman]

What he said.

[cooguyfish]

this is the car in question BTW,

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=237642481&dealer_id=1147887&car_year=1987&num_records=25&systime=&start_year=1981&keywordsfyc=&keywordsrep=&engine=&certified=&body_code=0&fuel=Diesel&awsp=false&search_type=used&distance=200&marketZipError=false&search_lang=en&make=&keywords_display=&color=&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&min_price=&drive=&default_sort=priceDESC&max_mileage=&style_flag=1&sort_type=priceDESC&address=45013&advanced=y&end_year=2008&doors=&transmission=&max_price=1700&cardist=8

and I also found out that my cousin personally knows the guy that works there and he said he's a pretty good guy

[bgkast]

It looks like a nice car to me. I would give it a shot for $1400

[blackestate]

Sweet looking car.
I would drive, and if it seems ok, offer 1K and come up to 1200. It sounds like he just wants it gone, 1K and walk away and see if he calls.

[catmandoo62]

i'd check to see what head it has!

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by cooguyfish

So, should I be scared of this car or no?

Scared is not the operative word.

The real question is whether the engine has ever been rebuilt. If it is the original engine, the wear is certainly quite high at this mileage. Starting will be an issue and oil consumption will be an issue.

With regard to the other accessories, without some extensive documentation on what was replaced and what was not............you really should avoid this vehicle. It can easily cost you $3K per year in parts.

[Telecommbrkr]

Cooguyfish, are you a hands-on mechanical type?

For me I'd buy it in a heartbeat! It looks flawless. I'm thinking that if it was a dealership trade-in with that many miles this unit must have been dealer serviced it's whole life, and it looks it too. I'd drive it and begin picking away at replacing whatever needs it on a priority basis. If you were to spend $3K a year on this car doing the work your self this car would be brand new in 3 years. $9000/ 36 months = $250 month. Show me where you can get this kind of ride for $10400???

My two cents........

[Hatterasguy]

I swear I have seen that car before. I think another member was asking about it a long time ago, at the time the price was crazy high like $3k+.

I'd offer him $500-$800 for it tops. Its just a driver until something expensive breaks. Provided it runs and drives well enough currantly. I'd buy a car like that for a 2nd winter car, provided it runs and drives decent enough.

Its not worth fixing up, its a money pit that you will never get ahead on. Unless you go nuts and dump thousands upon thousands into it. A rebuilt 603 plus a trans alone is at least $11k. Throw in everything else that it needs or will need very soon and you are at $20k before you know it.

[Hatterasguy]

Originally Posted by Telecommbrkr

Cooguyfish, are you a hands-on mechanical type?

For me I'd buy it in a heartbeat! It looks flawless. I'm thinking that if it was a dealership trade-in with that many miles this unit must have been dealer serviced it's whole life, and it looks it too. I'd drive it and begin picking away at replacing whatever needs it on a priority basis. If you were to spend $3K a year on this car doing the work your self this car would be brand new in 3 years. $9000/ 36 months = $250 month. Show me where you can get this kind of ride for $10400???

My two cents........

No it won't be brand new in 3 years, it will need a $3k-$5k paint job, $1,500 transmission, and with this car probably an engine. $10k ain't much, not going to restore an SDL for that. For $10k you can buy a damn fine late 90's S320, (my friend will see you has 97 with 85k miles on it for $9k) that in 3 years will probably need very little work, maybe $1k worth of repairs total, and they drive better than these cars. With the cost difference in fuel, fuel costs are a wash.

So yes you can drive a nice MB cheaper than this car after 3-5 years. But the SDL has such charm that they are hard to resist.

[JimmyL]

For that price, and looking at the pics I think I would give it a chance. {if my personal inspection and test drive proved satisfactory} I would wear the miles like a badge of honor.
I would certainly walk in with a $1000 bucks cash and start there, and might even consider ending there. If you can wrench a bit I think it is worth at least a chance. Can't be rusty though..... {could be asking allot for OH.}
We like to talk about longevity, but that is a ton of miles on one car!!!

[bistromatic]

are they highway miles? lady driven impatient start-ups? what's the one owner like? it's all about gut feeling after 300k...

[cooguyfish]

Just so we do know, I've not worked on a mercedes before but I have to things going for me, #1 I am mechanically inclined, I've done motor swaps, rebuilt engines, replaced a clutch, stuff like that. and #2, I have a friend that's a mechanic that does work dirt cheap. He works for saturn and granted he is fasted/cheapest when working on saturns, but he will do a motor swap in a saturn for $200 start to finish.

I think a few people have gotten my intentions, the only reason I want to look at it is because of how clean it looks, the one owner, and the service records.
I figured for $1400 it's worth looking at if for no other reason because it's 8 miles from me and I can see if I like driving and SDL compared to the 190.

and yes, whoever asked about seeing this car before, they told me over the phone they started out asking $4900, $2900, $1900, and now just want it gone. so I may be able to walk out of their cheaper than $1400, especially since I now know that my cousin knows the guys that works there and is trying to sell it.

[RUN-EM]

Then come up if need be. Be the first on your block to get the 1,000,000 mile badge . Then e-bay the badge alone for more than that.

Regards

Run-Em