Seller sent me some additional information but is still out of town so I haven't seen it yet. Here's what he said:

"he lights and signals work fine, the driver side headlamp is a bit
dim, but the "brights" aren't super intense so I drive it with the
high beams on. Manual windows (I think a plus), red leather is pretty
good in the back, but if I was going to keep the car I would get some
seat covers for the front. I've never noticed an oil leak and it only
smokes when you fire it up, but after it has been running for 15 min
it doesn't smoke at all. Sometimes when I've pushed it hard, like
going up the hill from Sedona to Flag, I've noticed a plume or two,
but it really runs as clean or cleaner than most diesel pickups. I'm
heading out to camp for the night, but I'll get the interior pics as
soon as I get back. Think about a time next week when you are
available to meet up, I'm happy to meet half way. Thanks for your
interest."

In a previous email he claims no rust. Also claims he can refer me to the previous owner, a diesel mechanic who maintained it well...Hasn't mentioned the AC or the car's history, but if it's an AZ car I'll bet it's equipped. I'm an AZ native and well aware of the elevation and temp. differences between Flagstaff and Phx. I'm about half way in between them, and my temps are much closer to those in Phx. I'd really like AC if possible for a daily driver. My experience with used cars regardless of their make in Flagstaff is that when the AC craps out people tend to forget about it, because Flagstaff only has about 2 weeks of summer anyhow.

He's asking 2900. I readily admit to being clueless about the car's even approximate value if it's in good shape. I missed a rust free 82 300SD with good maintenance records last month at 2600, if that's any clue.

$2900 is too much for the 220D. Even with the A/C working it isn't worth $2000. The A/C on that engine is actually a drawback. The old style York compressors draw so much power from the engine they are just about impossible to keep up with in-town traffic and forget about climbing hills. If they've changed to a Sanden or other rotary style compressors it's much better.

For $2900 you can get an '80's or '90's diesel Benz which will be of a higher build quality. Before anyone gets defensive regarding the characteristics let me say, I own a 1972 250C, a 1973 280, a 1974 280C and a 1985 500SEL and although I prefer my '70's W114 bodies there is no comparison to the '85 W126 as far as build quality.

I owned a 1973 220D for 10 years and loved the car. It still would give me trouble starting in the wintertime even here in Tucson. I had a block heater for those mornings when I knew it would be cold. The only time it ever left me stranded was on a cold winter day, 20 F with the wind blowing about 20 miles an hour straight through the radiator.

2900 is a lot. if there is no rust at all, the price is not to bad, if everything works. Are all the A/C parts there?

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1976 240D
1976 240D parts car
1970 220D daily driver

i second that. $2900 is too much. i was thinking $1200, seriously

Based on the turbo 300D's I've seen for sale in the past couple of days ($1700, 1800, and one at $8100), I'm thinking a 220D with no air is worth well below $2000.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

With air and very, very little rust I'd pay $1000 tops. Too many things WILL require fixing on this car in just a matter of weeks or months to pay much more than that.

Thanks for all the info. I still haven't heard from the guy. What i found attractive about this model is it's simplicity. My teenage son is really interested in diesel classics and it seemed that this would be a good place to start. I've looked at several 300SD's and what I'm seeing is either cars that are good mechanically but have lots of physical issues or cars that smoke and leak and look really nice. There seems to be SO much in the way of bells and whistles that can go wrong on an SD that it may be an overwhelming project. Is the 300D a simpler car? I'm not seeing a lot of them compared to SD's. I don't know that the kid and I will become Merc hobbyists, I'm a rancher, not a mechanic and he needs the car to be a daily driver too. I'm also noticing that prices seem really high on everything. Are the WVO guys driving up asking prices? I'm going up to Flag tomorrow to look at a 300SD that has "light rust at the jack points" and paint issues on the hood but sounds like it's mechanically well taken care of. Valve adjustment, new filters, glow plugs and updated gloplug controller or whatever you call it, no leaks, etc. Asking price is 1800, the lowest price I've seen so far.

It really depends what you are looking for, the 220D is very much a classic and is probably only practical for use around town. The 300D is simpler than the 300SD, but is relatively modern and capable of highway use. Do not look for the cheapest car you can find, make sure you understand what needs to be repaired prior to buying anything.

I think the price is high for this vehicle. And unless it has a brand new refurbed AC with a newer type of compressor and still using R12 I doubt the A/C would be worth a damm sourth of Flag. The fact that it's a manual tranny is nice but I'd need to know a lot more abou it before I'd go for it.

Don't agree withe MIKED about the build quality though. I think everything they made from hte 60's to the end of the 126 was of the same high quality standard, though rust proofing may vary. And that could be an issue in a car from Flag.

- Peter.

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2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

it's still on craigslist - did you see it / drive it? what did you think?

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mjk

'84 300SD 119KMi (Liesl der Diesel)
'84 300D 326KMi when the oil left (former parts car)
'82 300SD 253KMi (new parts car)

I recently bought a 73 220D. I'm no MB diesel expert or even good enough to be called an enthusiast. Consider these comments from a rank amateur.

Very fun to drive. The ride is much softer (in a good way) than my '87 TD. Pretty quick from 0-12 mph, then the world catches up and passes you by. Easy to work on in that the car is simple. (I just spent a weekend pulling parts of a car going to the junkyard.) But changing belts is a PITA. If the paint job is good, it'll be a head turner.

As to price, it's all relative.

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1987 300TD; 166,000 mi/267151 Km - had to make room for the dog
1973 220D; mileage ??????
1978 300D; 178,000

Use the thread search function and you will see that there were a couple very detailed threads about the w115 with OM 615 engine, akia 220D. Most were MT and few had air, tho it was available.

Mine is so strong it has started in the summer w/o GPs.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6