Request for the group
 

I am writing this request because of a problem that I have. I have a 1983 240D which I purchased new. It now has 67480 miles on her. She is in really nice condition and has spent her life in my garage and does not go out in the rain or in the winter months. She has no rust and runs good.
Now my problem, I have been diagnosed with advanced stomach cancer and will be going for surgery. After the surgery I won’t be able to use or take care of the car any longer. I am going to have to sell her. My question for the group what would be a fair selling price for this car. I am in New York City, Queens if that has any bearing on the price that I should sell her for.
I really have been addicted to this group and it has answered many of my questions in the past. I will really miss tinkering with the car but really have no choice.
Thank you in advance for your response to my request.
Anthony

My friend,


I wish you the best of luck in your surgery. :)

However, I highly advise you not to sell your 240D. Since it only has 67,000 miles on it, you will only hate yourself for selling such a wonderful car.

At best what major mechanical repairs are left on the car? Are their any problems?

Finally, have you considered finding a trustworthy indy to do the work? You're located right in New York so I'm almost 99.5% positive you will find someone who can assist you in your time of recovery.

Don't sell the car. It's obvious you love it very much. My stepdad put his 300D away in storage for 10 years to hide it from my mother and regretted every day of it. He's happy to see it on the road once again :D

I am sorry to hear about your medical problem.

You should not have any trouble selling it. Does it have auto or manual transmission ?
Do you have the service or parts records for all that time ?
Fair selling price is very subjective. I suggest you set a price which you would be happy to get for it and advertise it at that.... if it does not sell within a reasonable time period you can lower the price and try again.

Athony: It is my prayers,you will recover as fast as possible,and with NO LIFESTYLE CHANGES.If I were in New York I treat her for you till,you once again command her.
You may talk to me anytime. Nate

My sincere wishes go out to you for a full and speedy recovery.

I know this is not the question you asked, but don't sell her; at least not yet anyway. I really think you'd very much regret the decision. It seems like you have an absolute treasure and I doubt there's any way you would ever be able to get the true value as you and I would see it out of the car. Even if you can't drive or work on the car you can still look at it and sit in it - maybe very gently put a flat screen on the hood!

To actually answer the question, I've seen ones go in the mid 20's that were one owner low miles absolutely pristine examples. I'm sure they didn't sell overnight but it only takes one person and I know, should anything drastic happen to mine, I'd be first in line to pay that for a cherry W123.

well, the inflation adjusted price for the car should be somewhere north of 140K, (figuring 16K original purchase price, and a 9 fold inflation value...) so with only 25% used miles, and a care condition due to age, I'd figure the value of the car at somewhere around $60K now, I don't expect you would find anyone quickly that would be willing to pay that for the car, but that's what it's worth IF it's been meticulously maintained, and is in pristine condition. If you really have to sell the car (and I don't see why really you do have to sell her) I would not take less than 19K for it. so you will be looking at the car for quite some time. enjoy it!

Just want to say - best wishes through your operation and recovery! I wouldn't sell personally, the value will just keep increasing with age as more and more w123s rust out.

from what i have seen, high teens to mid twenties is not uncommon for these cars providing the car is basically pristine. I would check Ebay, their prices are usually high, but then again, you could sell yours there, so it would be market correct.

Good luck with your surgery and recovery!

screwnail,

Hang in there do what the doctors tell you and get on the road to getting well.

The car will bring $20K+ to answer your question. It sounds like a gem.

Take care...

Anthony,

Bummer of a situation; best wishes with your treatment.

IMO the car would bring more than $15k, with a national auction being the best way to get top dollar. That being said, I'd suggest you not be in a hurry to sell it. It will be worth that in a week, month, or year, after a sale period of less than weeks. You have it now, can dump it at anytime, and can't get it back.

This car is really great if you ever find yourself (or someone else) in a wheelchair situation. The doors open much wider than most cars; and also the car sits low enough that if you drop one side of the wheelchair, stick in a gang-plank board to slide over on, and you can just be shoved right over from the wheelchair to the passenger's seat even by someone who is small. I have had quite a bit of experience with this and believe me it it is a whole lot easier using the right vehicle (and a wheelchair that allows the side to be moved down out of the way to facilitate a slide-over). Just try this is an SUV, though, and you'll wish you had your Benz back!!

Keep the beautiful car and get a good-looking driver to go along with it.

Sorry to hear the bad news. Hang in there.

Keep it!
 

So sorry that you have such a challenge to overcome. My thoughts are with you! In fact, I'd like to think that everyone on the forum is behind you.

I'll put in my 2 cents and encourage you to follow the majority sentiment -- keep it! Understandiing that you may not be able to drive it much, but maybe a (trusted) friend can chauffer you!

Hang in there, stay positive and beat the cancer! We're here for you.

God bless you through your surgery.

Sounds like a good car and it also sounds like you really are into it. Keep it!

Best of luck with your upcoming surgery and with whatever you decide to do with the car. It sounds like a real time capsule!

Scott