Well, my 300 SDL is coming along, but a new challenge has come up.

I have found a 420 SEL that seems to be a good buy (I know, the gasoline motor can be an issue, but hey it is for a second home ).

Here are the issues. These are not motor specific so I am hoping the sage people here can help me determine the viability.

1. The owner tells me the "engine shocks" are worn. They look like little shock absorbers holding the engine in. What do you think? also, how hard are these to replace?

2. The AC doesn't blow really cold..... (I know, I know)

3. Most important issue - I see little bits of rust remnants around the rear window and antena hole. Now there is not much, and the guy says he took care of the rust with some stuff and sanding/painting. I will have it repaired by a good body shop but I don't know if this is a show stopper. How would I tell? It looks like surface rust.

4. The passenger front door has a ding in it and the bumpers need to be refinished.

This car is in excellent condition other than that. The original paint shines and the motor purrs very quietly. It has only 111k on the clock and all service records (with the original books). The interior has some wear on the seats, but the cargo nets look new. He wants $2950 for it which seems a fair price to my novice self.

I can have a PPI done on Monday, but should I?

__________________
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

The rust is the biggest potential show-stopper. Have it checked carefully by someone who knows where to look. After that, the a/c could cost $1000+ to repair, depending on what's at fault. The other things you describe are less critical.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I agree with Jeremy

The rust is the #1 issue here.

The engined shocks are a pretty quick fix, you should get a set of motor mounts and shocks and do them together. It takes about two hours from start to finish for your first time.

Where will the car be? Is AC all that important?

Good luck!

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

The AC is pretty important - the Wife will b*tch pretty much non stop if it does not work.

Any ideas of a chicago area body shop I could have check out the car?

__________________
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

At some shops, it won't matter what's at fault. It's going to cost $1000+ anyway!!!

When people $^(&# about the lack of AC in my car, I just explain to them that it has all-natural air conditioning. I open the windows and the sunroof, and the wind conditions the air.

__________________
1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Sure. thats the old standard 450 AC system.

4 Windows open at 50 miles per hour.

Or the upgrade system is 550. .... with Sun roof.

__________________
1983 300D-Turbo - Deep Blue w Palomino MB Tex (total loss in fire 1/5/09 RIP)
1995 E320 W124 Polar White/Grey Mushroom MB Tex
2005 F150 Supercrew - Arizona Beige - Lear topper
1985 Piaggio Vespa T5 - Black and Chrome

www.cphilip.com

I agree that AC is not always needed, but man...

Some battles just are not worth it.

Besides, I am pretty happy she even considers older cars. One of my previous girl friends would trade in a car if it did not start every time she turned the key.

Talk about high maintenance.

$1000 seems reasonable for peace and quiet in the car.

__________________
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

Use the known issues as a lever on the buying price but check out the rust anyway. Almost all mechanical issues can be repaired through the application of money but significant (yes, that's a weasel word) rust is like cancer, it just won't go away and stay gone.

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

This will probably come out bad, but I will ask any way.

1. Can you have significant rust and never see it?
2. Where will it rust?

__________________
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

Rust is easy to stop and encapulate.. Get on line with por-15 it really works... a good body man can tell you all you want to know the rust on that car.. Jim16671836

__________________
James A. Harris