300 D TD for $3,500? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

yblocker · #1 08-30-2010, 08:05 PM

Checked out a 1983 300 TD today. The first one I've ever driven.

The Good: Nice, rust free body, good blue paint.
Has a two tank veg oil/diesel system- looks like it was well done-gauges and all.

The Bad. Interior can be described as fair. Broken glove box, with duct tape adhesive still on the vinyl. No door panel on the passenger side, windows on that side inoperative. Gennerally seems pretty worn out.

Only getting part throttle?-- No engine response for the first 2/3ds of pedal travel. The linkage moves with the initial throttle push, but when the pedal is on the floor, the linkage can be then pulled at least another 75%. The funny thing is then when the accelerator is then released, the linkage moves back too...

Trans shifts hard into 2nd. Pulls to the right, front end feels loose, but tolerable. Odometer stuck on 230k miles. I removed the oil filler cap while the engine was idling and there is blowby- not sure how much is acceptable, but smoke was being gently pushed out of the hole.

She wants $3,500.
I thought $2,000 at most, but walked way without making the offer.

Is the car worth $2,000?

rscurtis · #2 08-30-2010, 08:10 PM

IMO, that's a $500 car at best.

pawoSD · #3 08-30-2010, 08:20 PM

$2000 for a destroyed wagon that has been run on VEG? I'd not even give then $500!

yblocker · #4 08-30-2010, 08:25 PM

Wow. OK then.... reality check. The car was her husband's, (RIP), and she didn't know how many miles were run on the veg oil. Destructive is it? Guess my instinct was right, but my low ball price is still way too high!

-=DeanstuD=- · #5 08-30-2010, 08:30 PM

I was gonna say, I am pretty new but I think it is 3 or 5 hundred, not 3500.

You said it yourself "Gennerally seems pretty worn out."

From what I have read these cars are good, the engines last blah blah blah and the reason people ditch them is when the front end wears out. Every thread I read on someone buying one used says front end parts are real expensive.

Another controversy is WVO. I am not trying to make another pro/against wvo thread. NO PLEASE. I think it is important to mention though, that even the people who are pro wvo would say how very important it is to have clean wvo yadda yadda. Well, the consensus is that takes discipline and attention to detail.

If they didn't take care of the car "Gennerally seems pretty worn out." they probably didn't take care of the wvo aspect either!

MY money says they used it, it broke, now there done. OK fine I can see that, but that makes 3 or 5 hundred $ cars, not $3500.

Nothing you listed about the car is good! It ALL sounds bad to me.

Let me see, going only by what you have told me;

Looks like crap
Drives Like crap
Runs like crap

Oh, and you have NO IDEA the mileage, and I can assume she told you nothing of any past repairs.

You were cautious and wise to walk away. $3500 is allot of money lets get you into one that is really worth that kinda $

P.S. old forum people, did I pass the rookie test?

kerry · #6 08-30-2010, 09:05 PM

Sounds like a parts car to me. Head and SLS components are the most valuable. $500 max if you really want the parts.

Fattyman · #7 08-30-2010, 09:42 PM

Wagons get a premium but without a good history on the car $3500 is a little steep based on the condition you mentioned. Remember that the vegi tank is inside the car with you on a wagon so you better get used to the smell of WVO!

layback40 · #8 08-30-2010, 10:06 PM

All of the above is true !! There is 1 too many 0's on the price. best stay away from it. Sounds like a poor choice for a parts car as well as much of what you would want is beyond being re used.
Best you run from this one & dont look back !!!!!!

yblocker · #9 08-30-2010, 10:24 PM

Ok then. I appreciate the opinions. She really talked it up over the phone and the Craigslist ad was nothing but sunshine too. Personally, I think a seller is better off listing the good AND all the bad. That way a buyer can determine if it's something they can live with, and the seller becomes instantly more trustworthy in the eyes of the buyer. When things are hidden during the phone conversation and then become a surprise after making time for an appointment... well nobody likes that!

I also found out that the head on top of my 6 foot 5 inch frame barely clears the headliner in a sunroof car like this.... Almost a deal breaker right there. I guess i'll try to find one without the sunroof.

Thanks again.

kerry · #10 08-30-2010, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yblocker

. I guess i'll try to find one without the sunroof.

Good luck with that.

vstech · #11 08-30-2010, 11:31 PM

... where do you live? I've got a great runner that needs front ball joints, but it does have a sunroof. never been on VO or WVO, and pretty much everything works and interior is great, and it has 3rd row! with rear headrests.
I'd LOVE to get 3500 for mine. I doubt it will pull that in the condition it's in, but here's dreaming. "ebay has them listed this way for 15K all the time!!! "

okyoureabeast · #12 08-30-2010, 11:35 PM

Missing a door panel?

So you can see the window regulator and all of the assorted internal goodies?

Nice

vstech · #13 08-30-2010, 11:42 PM

I have never paid anywhere near 3500 for a MB diesel, and I've got an 87TD in nearly showroom condition!
unless you are living in WVO central, (Seattle, WA.) the WVO is a detriment, but to do it right will cost you in the range of 3K... sooo... if you are looking for a trial vehicle that's running, and already has the conversion... I GUESS it's worth it, but if you are looking to get into a decent MB diesel, for a reasonable sum, this is NOT the vehicle to start on.

-=DeanstuD=- · #14 08-30-2010, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Good luck with that.

As others have said, we have no idea where you are. I have no affiliation, and I don't know if this car is good or bad. When the no sunroof topic came up, I remembered seeing this one...

I never thought of a non sunroof car having more room. At 6'5" myself, I pop the sunroof open to fit

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/cto/1922586549.html