Considering a '85 300SD with very low miles - should I do it? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Johnt49 · #31 10-14-2010, 11:10 AM

Another thing to consider...will it appraise for that amount & will your insurance pay out that amount if it's totaled? You could end up taking a big hit financially if they won't.

Skid Row Joe · #32 10-14-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

You have hit upon a purl of wisdom here - a massive purl of wisdom.

Friends of mine here in Dallas, Texas - somewhat wealthier than me, bought the same exact car as my sig. car brand new at the same exact time I bought mine new. Right down to the color combo, with the exception of heated seats.

In June of this year they sold their's for $12,500.00 on Ebay with 87K miles on it.

Mine with 122K has been ignored at or near the same asking price, because it has 30K more miles, however mine has had $5K +/- parts replacement done to it - where my friend's E300TD had NONE of the wear and tear parts replacement done to their's.

This family is worth $7 million, give or take - and did not give a hoot about parts replacement in any of the Mercedes-Benzes they have owned over the decades. They aren't stupid people to have amassed that kind of wealth - but they are down home, self-employed folk like me.

Some guy from Fort Worth, Texas da#n near broke his neck to buy the car, all with NO maintenance done to the car for 11 years. He was so fixated on miles, he had no idea of how much money that $12,500.00 car is going to cost him to drive normal miles in the near future.

Lessons learned in used car buying - is what I call it.

To illustrate:

As an FYI, here's the list with records, of procedures and parts replacement done, none of which were done to my friend's car:

Front bucket seats covered since day 1 with cotton denim form-fitting full seat covers.
Front and Rear Factory Carpet Floormats Brand New - Never Used
Glow Plugs Replaced
New MB turbocharger
New Left/Right Engine Mounts Installed
Both Rear Door Window Lifts Replaced
Lower Ball-Joints Replaced
Front Rotors New / New Front Wheel Bearings / New 4-wheel Disc Brake Pads / Brake Fluid Flush
Radiator Flush Completed
Transmission Fluid/Filter/Gasket/Sending Unit Replaced
4-wheel alignment completed
2-year old MB battery
New Fuel Filters Replaced
New Engine Air Filter
Mobil 1 Engine Oil Replaced
New HEPA Cabin Air Filters

Skid Row Joe · #33 10-14-2010, 04:10 PM

One like this might be a better car at a better price for your needs:

1987 300SDL
Pearl grey metallic on royal blue
• $8,000.00

• Call Richard Scott at 214-632-2318 - Serious inquiries only please
• Pearl grey metallic on royal blue
• 180K miles
• Strong books and records
• Local Dallas car
• 2 owners
• Garage kept all of it's life

http://sections.mbca.org/northtexas//MBCA_North_Texas/Der_Marktplatz.html

#34 10-14-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjlipps

I think the low mileage is being over-emphasized. I would rather buy a 200K car that the guy just climbed out of after a 1500 mile trip than a 78K car that had been driven 1500 miles over a several year period.
The question is: How much will you drive it? If it's 5-10K per year, you might as well spend under $4K on a 200,000 mile car and expect (with proper maintenance) to never wear it out. If you are going to drive 50K miles per year, you would soon have a high mileage car that you spent too much for. And, a 25 year old car might not be the best to drive that much.
Either way, this car is too expensive. Heck, I have a 1981 300SD for sale in the "Cars" section for 17% of the asking price of this one. It does need work but your total cash outlay would be much less.

Good luch in your search.

It depends what he's looking for. I agree that there is no point in buying a low mileage car if you intend to put lots of miles on it. If you want something with low miles and don't intend to drive it much, this might be a good deal. Any $4000 car is likely to need a bunch of work to make it correct, so I wouldn't go too far down-market either. At the end of the day, buy what you like and don't worry about the initial purchase price too much; you will spend more than the initial price over the first 5-10 years of ownership anyway.

Zappa · #35 10-14-2010, 04:55 PM

Ok guys, it's all yours!

http://huntington.craigslist.org/cto/2006190307.html

I've decided this one is above my raisin'

The seller needs more $$ than I'm willing to risk given it's history (or lack of) over the last 6 years.

We'll continue our search for something that is more appropriate as a daily driver. I'm guessing the 300 DT (wagon) is where we'll end up.

Thanks again for helping me dodge this cannonball!

vstech · #36 10-14-2010, 06:44 PM

it's TD, not DT, and I have 4 of them, and love them.
I will have an 83, with full options for sale some time soon. and my 85 euro leather wagon will be ready for sale sometime in 2011

Manual Life · #37 10-14-2010, 07:05 PM

This is my opinion. I would not do it.

What is 79k miles at $10k versus 150-175K at $5k. The answer, both excellent vehicles with a lot of life left and $5k.

Also, the low miles means nothing to me, again opinion, and as previous people have mentioned seals, mounts, hoses, anything rubber will have to be replaced regardless of miles. (i notice some of this has been done)

I found an excellent interior and strait body on a 84 300D for 1/5 of what you are looking to spend. $1000 dollars later almost everything is perfect except the paint and even that's not bad. And that's me being happy when I had to do more work on mine than most owners have to do. I.E. engine.

I say find excellent interior, low miles <175k, strait body, good paint, and you are good to go.

But besides all that, even if you disagree with my opinion, make sure you are not sick with the "want to buy" fever. It has consumed many a wallets and broken more hearts.

Zappa · #38 10-14-2010, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manual Life

But besides all that, even if you disagree with my opinion, make sure you are not sick with the "want to buy" fever. It has consumed many a wallets and broken more hearts.

You are so right, sir! I've got a fever of 103!!

micalk · #39 10-15-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zappa

Ok guys, it's all yours!
...
Thanks again for helping me dodge this cannonball!

Good choice. Two years ago I bought an 84 300SD with 89Kmiles for $3500. When I bought it it needed a ball joint, front brake rotors, brake guide mounts, an AC recharge, front wheel bearing and driver's seat rebuilt. Rear window defrost lines were only half there. It needed a paint job, but there was no rust (I love SoCal!) All work except ball joint and rotors done by yours truly. (would have done rotors, but it was more of a convenience than anything to have it done with the bj). A year later I smushed the front end. I was devastated, but not as much as if I had spent $10K on it plus all the maintenance. I only hurt the soft parts (didn't touch the bumper, frame or engine) and right now it's getting painted. But that's going to make it a $9000 car (with all the maintenance) that's been in an accident. If it didn't have such low miles on it I would have walked away.

The point is that there are better deals out there than this one. Keep your eye on Craig's List. That's where I found mine. And when the maintenance is all up to date your "new" car will have cost much less than this one, and you'll love it just as much or more.