Looking at buying a '81 300SD. 175k miles. Seems super clean, non cracked dash, Interior very nice, can't find any evidence of rust(even that one spot I always used to see it on the fender).

Now I'm trying to figure out what a reasonable price for it would be, nada shows from 5-10k(retail), but I think thats pretty high for private party. Looking around online I see plenty listed across the country for $1000-1500, but it would seem most of those are not particularly clean or well maintained examples. On the flip side I then see some that seem very clean but are listed around 5-7K.

So what's a reasonable price?

Whatever the going rate is... $1500 sounds fair if its in decent shape. NADA is way off.

Any 29 yr old car is going to have some isues with all it's rubber components. Suspension bushings, weather stripping, vacuum lines, dash vacuum pods.. will all need attention so beware.

that sounds like one of the cars that that ebay guy buys, cleans and flips for 10-15K... over 100K makes it out of the mega car price though. garaged all it's life, verified miles, and original owner documented service would make it a very valuable car, so be prepared for high price if the seller fits that mold. that said, I'd not pay more than 3K for it without some serious serious serious new components in the suspension/accessories.

You must be reading my mind. I should have been clear, I am looking at this from a perspective of me flipping it. I'm not interested in trying to gouge people for a 30 year old car, just wondering what a fair price is on the open market. I don't have any disillusions about this being a 12k car. I'm just looking for something with a fair return on investment.

Do you own any MB cars now? Or have you in the past? What is your familiarity with them?

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

Not currently no, sold my 98 E300 last summer, I currently have 3 volkswagon vanagons(went from owning the best engineered car in the world to owning probably the worst). Have had a 87 300SDL, and a couple of W123's way back.

Familiarity, the W210 is most recent in my mind, but I still remember the W126 pretty well. Can't recall anything really about the 123's.

It would have to really blow my mind to ever give more than $3-$4 for one.

The impeccable examples bring $5K to about $7K.

Don't overpay for anything near run-of-the-mill condition...

It does not sound like you have bonded well with your Benzes.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

Copy that, thanks for the input so far everyone. Hopefully the numbers can work out, I would rather see this vehicle stay in service than get sent to a junkyard.

What is the seller asking?

__________________
85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
11 Subaru Outback 67K
98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

There is a clean looking SD here. The guy is asking 3700. He didn't sell it the first time around. I haven't looked at it in person but...pic looks clean. $3700 not selling. I'd hit it at 3k after checking it out. Paint & climate control repair will cost more than that on my current SD.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

If it's limping along, isn't pretty inside/outside - and in a needy state of too many things don't work OR need replacement - It becomes a $1,500 300SD.

I'd like to add that the really, really good stuff can conceivably run you from about $8K to $10K.....

Dollar for dollar - you have to be the judge of what you're looking at.

I like them, and I REALLY liked my 98 E300, problem was, it was a sedan, and it was 2WD. It didn't meet my needs that well. In this case I am not looking for a vehicle to keep, just to flip.

Its an auction, if I don't buy it it will goto a junkyard, mostly likely sell in the 500-1000 range.

Plus taxes fees title costs, repairs etc. I gotta keep that in mind for calculating my return and risk.