What's a 1983 300D Parts Car Worth? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

kingdoc1 · #16 08-12-2009, 06:24 PM

Buy a rust-free southern car that has a major mechanical issue and simply transplant your drivetrain into it. Any w123 will work except a wagon. The swap is simple, should be able to do it in a long weekend. Lots of rust-free southern MB's available cheap. Just take your time and find a nice one.

BodhiBenz1987 · #17 08-12-2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingdoc1

Buy a rust-free southern car that has a major mechanical issue and simply transplant your drivetrain into it. Any w123 will work except a wagon. The swap is simple, should be able to do it in a long weekend. Lots of rust-free southern MB's available cheap. Just take your time and find a nice one.

Not to be a party pooper, but by the time she buys a nice body, transports it from the south to Philly and pays to have the transplant done, isn't that going to ring up a pretty good bill, too? I guess it might be worth it though, to have the 617 with the 4speed. I think it would kind of depend on what kind of project you want to take on, Dame. If you just want something you can drive right away, you'd probably be better to sell this poor ol' guy and buy a complete and rust-free replacement. I'm honestly tempted to take it; I'm right down the interstate ... but I'm already looking at an epic project with my 240D.

How much are you going to ask?

Squabble · #18 08-12-2009, 07:28 PM

i'd love to tell you to part it out, so i might be able to greedily buy up some euro parts, esp. that manual trans.

but, that would just be wrong.....

kingdoc1 is right, find yourself a $500 "this car wouldn't start one morning so i parked it for a year and now i'm selling it" car. there are tons of them out there and you can swap everything out you like about your car into this one, for a whole lot less money too.

can i ask how much you paid for the Euro? tack on $500 to $1000 more for the swap and you've got the perfect W123 IMO. great diesel engine, manual trans, and all the euro fixin's (bumpers, lights, interior if you want it, etc.)

look, here's one with a blown head gasket for cheap:

http://wilmington.craigslist.org/cto/1318102454.html

and anoher: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/nva/cto/1318134590.html

and on and on....

DieselDame · #19 08-12-2009, 08:34 PM

I really appreciate you guys helping me brainstorm my way out of my sad, sad, sorry situation.

And I *love* the idea of transplanting my guts into a decent body. (I'm talking cars, of course.) But. . .

Yes, there's the transport cost for one -- getting the thing up to Philly (unless you have a good one in Ithaca -- I travel to upstate often). Then, more importantly, there's the small but important fact that I don't know what I'm doing and don't have a shop. Yes, a dedicated off-street parking spot where I can (and want to) tinker. But you're all suggesting something beyond my humble, neophyte capabilities.

Bodhi, if you're seriously interested in the car, please contact me privately and we can talk.

Or better yet, I'll pay someone the amount of the proposed body work to procure a good body and do the transplant for me. And you can keep whatever's left!

cth350 · #20 08-12-2009, 10:19 PM

- Ever change your own oil?
- Know the right direction to turn a wrench to tighten something and the right way to get it off? (don't laugh too hard, my sister never gets that one right using a wrench, but she can take a sewing machine apart blindfolded and put it back together again).
- If you undo a dozen bolts go do something else and come back do you think you can put them back where you found them?
- Have a digital camera?

First, get one of the guys (or two of them if you can) in the North VA/DC/WV area to let you work at their place on a weekend. There are several of them here and they're only an hour or two south of you.

Then offer the owners of those two craigs list ads like 700$ for their cars (let them know that the first one wins) and sit back and wait a week until one says yes.

Moving one of those cars should be relatively cheap, on the order of 200-300$. Cheaper still if the car can still move under its own power and the current owner is willing to travel.

Drive yourself to the car's final resting place early enough to spend the day doing the motor swap. Make sure you've got a plan on how you're getting home that day, not to mention back the following morning.

It should take a day to strip off the essentials from your old car and and about the same time to get the new one operational. Presuming there are about 5 hands doing the work.

It will cost you less than the quoted repair and a good time will be had by all.

-CTH

cth350 · #21 08-12-2009, 10:34 PM

The seller doesn't talk about rust or condition of the cosmetics, but it's an upgrade from your car...

1983 300SD $1000 or best offer

-CTH

matthias08 · #22 08-13-2009, 01:10 AM

I wonder if the guy, bob, still has the 300D with no engine/tranny in Binghamton!?

it would have been great for a project like this (I was about to do the same thing until i found the '87 for the same price it would have cost me to purchase and transport the 123, let alone transplant!

search binghamton in the forum, you'll come up with the proper thread, and I had posted pics of said car...

nice nice nice shell

paint (should) buff right up

Johnson Chan · #23 08-13-2009, 01:43 AM

If its a euro car with euro bumpers, euro headlights, cloth seats, etc. you are better off parting it yourself or using it as a transplant as others have described.

Im not sure how much w123's are worth in PA, but here in MO, I have seen running and driving ones going for $1500-3000. A rusted out parts car is going to be under $1000 here.

The problem with passing the inspection, is if the car is that badly rusted, its not safe to drive. Would you trust your life, your wife, your kids, or other family member in it in a 70mph highway accident?

ImBroke · #24 08-13-2009, 05:45 AM

I was asking 700 for this one. New windshield and seal. You could sell the trans for a few hundred as well. Or, bring yours down and we'll swap it in a weekend. Or, something could be worked out I'm sure. I still yearn for it, but wish I had cash. You like to barter?

kingdoc1 · #25 08-13-2009, 05:50 AM

It looks like from your signature you have a VW to drive while you look for another car, so I am assuming you don't really have to be in a hurry?

If you are able to locate another car, South Carolina is a good place to look. You could minimize transportation costs by getting a bus ticket south and using a rental truck and trailer or dolly to bring your new car home. Once you get them side by side, take as long as you need to swap parts, if you run into any snags you can always post here and get answers.

Don't sell yourself short on your mechanical abilities, you learn by doing it and when you drive your new creation you will have a great sense of pride knowing you have accomplished it yourself. Plus you will have a really nice car.

Unfortunately, work has me away for awhile or else I would locate you a car down here and take you up on the swap offer, although I think it could be accomplished for alot less than the $3200 in proposed bodywork.

DieselDame · #26 08-13-2009, 07:40 AM

Thanks again for all your advice and encouragement. And for not giving me grief about what a bad decision I made. You guys are great.

I find the idea of swapping out the innards very appealing. ImBroke -- can we get my engine into your (presumably immaculate and rust-free) body? In a weekend, really? I'm mechanically inclined but would need help from someone with the tools and space who knew what they were doing.

I could offer you a modest amount of cash for your time and shared labor, plus I'd leave you with the Euro to part out as you please.

And yes, fortunately I have another car so there's no hurry (I don't even have the PA title yet for the 300D), but I don't want it sitting around for too long.

ImBroke · #27 08-13-2009, 07:42 AM

We can work out a deal. I'll pm you.

rs899 · #28 08-13-2009, 07:56 AM

DD-

If you are ever going to learn how to work on cars, you have the ideal candidate and opportunity. If you do go this route (swap) make sure you do some of the easy and obvious "while you are at it" type things, such as new motor mounts, oil cooler hoses (if you have them) flex discs and center bearing on the driveshaft. Could be a real win/win situation for you and IMbroke...

Rick

DieselDame · #29 08-13-2009, 08:11 AM

Yes, ImPsyched if I can work something out with ImBroke. It would be perfect for me to learn about the MB and get a decent car out of it in the process.

If everything works out, I might leave him a '97 Jetta as a lovely parting gift!!

rs899 · #30 08-13-2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

If everything works out, I might leave him a '97 Jetta as a lovely parting gift!!

That may be a bit optimistic. My wife and I drive nothing newer than her '83 300D, but we have 10 cars to play with......you are going to need a spare, at least for now.

Rick