81 240D 4spd
 

What is it worth? 4spd manual, sunroof, crank windows,122k, always garaged, minimal winter driven, some door and lower rear body rust that I have yet examined, appears to have some new parts. Owner claims Blue book is 4200 but would take $2500. What do you think and what kind of fair offercould I make? I will drive it tonight and report back. Thanks

$2500 is reasonable if it is as described and the rust is treatable.

IMHO

Not nearly enough information to make an informed guess. The biggest issue is the rust, and how bad it is.

You might as well lowball on every purchase, unless you can tell the guy is a very proud S.O.B. The PO of my wagon didn't even haggle with me, and immeditately accepted my very low offer. You never know.

I agree with what Zeke said.

If it was surface rust and receipts to prove the mileage and the AC works. It might be worth that.

Well I took it for a drive today. Short glow time, instant ignition and smooth idle. Clutch throw feels high to me but this is my first manual MB. A bit stodgy pulling off from 1st and 2nd is very long in getting going, 3rd pulls ok and 4th feels restricted got up to 70 before I had to slow down and it still took a while from 45mph. My auto 240 feels somewhat stronger.
That said, it has only had 6000 miles of use in the last 10 year. Garaged year round and driven infrequently by absentee owners who I heard were not mechanically inclined. The car was not really serviced at all during those 10 years.
Bad stuff: broken off driver side shock absorber shaft.
breaking and broken down U&L c/arm bushings.
3' rustholes on both p/side lower door edges and p/side front jack point has a 2" rust hole around it but solid metal beyond that.
rear axles boots dry and cracking but not penetrated yet.
no ac
p/side doors, trunk and fuel door locks inoperative, not surprising.
A lot of water poured out of the lower trunk well drain. Master key would not unlock the trunk!
New 3 inch mouse chewed hole in headliner with corn still falling out.
Star crack in windshield in lower rt d/side quadrant that will spread into drivers vision and not pass inspection at that time.
Other trim and fit issues that will have to be tended to.
Good stuff: Clean solid tan mbtex seats
Becker amfm cassette radio.
rest of body solid
tight steering but it shakes a bit at 40 that could be wheel balance or maybe the broken shock?
Local DMV trade-in value tax appraisal is $3000.
I was thinking of offering $1000.
What do you think

3 foot rust holes??? Sounds like a ITU is in order. I wouldn't pay more than 1200.

Oops
 

3 inch!

Parking brake light always on
 

I bought it. She is a friend who has had hard times lately so I couldn't haggle with her so when she asked for $1500 I took it.
The p/brake light stays lit even with the brake off and I have verified it releases and the wheels spin free.
MC is up to level.
The light occasionally flickers when driving along.
What do you think it might be, how do you check out that circuit and will the dash have to be removed?

Push the buttons on the reservoir. Are you sure both chambers are full int the reservoir. Dash does not have to be removed, console pops out from behind if needed. I would check the test buttons on the reservoir and the ebrake switch.

Sounds to me like it is the brake fluid though. How does it shift? The clutch feeds off the brake reservoir.

Does the 240 use the low brake pad indicators on the front like the 300?

Yes

Well then, he should check the pad thickness as well.

Yes but they are two different lights. ebrake says brake. brake pad is circle with dashes

Its the ebrake light.
where is the ebrake switch?

could be the tension spring on your ebrake pedal, might be worn & doesn't allow the pedal to "pop" all the way up