Should I? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

NoSparkNeeded · #1 10-19-2010, 09:54 PM

I ran across this 84 300D today. I've driven past it on the way home from work for 9 years. Just so happens that the daughter of the owner was standing in the yard so I stopped to inquire. The car has been parked for 10 years. Interior is perfect. 88k on the odo. Original owner, her father, died 10 years ago, and the car was never run again. She said it had, for whatever reason, a warranty replacement motor installed at some point, as she recalls, so the 88k is just on the chassis. Not sure what would have caused a warranty motor failure, but I have yet to talkwith her mother. It has a bit of "California" rust, but nothing even as bad as what I repaired on my wagon ( check my gallery ). I'm thinking a 500.00- 800.00 offer, providingI can get it started and drive off. Does that sound OK, or insulting to the owner? I need another car project like another hole in my head, but it just happened. As a money making deal, maybe I could get 2500 when it was done, so it would be just a fun project,heh, I guess. I've never really made money on a car. If this turns out to be what it seems, think I should snag it?

vstech · #2 10-19-2010, 10:05 PM

an 84 cali car... with a warranty replacement engine, and the vehicle has less than 90K on it? um. yeah, I'd say 800 is an insult.

that is the type of car that SELLS on ebay for 15K

it will take a lot to get it in the condition for such a sale, but if papers are complete, history is accurate, and original owner is established, you could offer 2500, put another 1500 in parts alone to get it pristine, clean it, and have the paint refreshed, and have a car that could pull big numbers easily.

don't insult the owners with a sub 1K offer.

layback40 · #3 10-19-2010, 10:12 PM

Sounds as good as a barn find !
It would probably, with a clean, bring much more than you are offering.
It would be a low act to take advantage of a widow.
88k is like new.

If all is good on it, they should put it on ebay.
deceased estate
1 owner
not used in 10 years
like new interior
no accident damage
The bids would come in fast.

See it as an act of public service to assist them. The friendship is going to be worth many times what you would make on the car.

bustedbenz · #4 10-19-2010, 10:37 PM

Warranty or not, that engine is worth well more than an $800 offer despite the ten years, if the mileage is genuine. Rarely does one with that little wear and tear come through, and once the time-caused problems are fixed, that's destined to be one of the better examples out there. If I saw a car on eBay or in the classified ads that had 90K on it, a newish motor, and could hear it run in their yard after I tinkered with it -- I'd just plan on spending $2500-3500 on it or else let it sit until somebody offered them that for it. W126 with the same engine in it, I'd be more in the $3500-5000 range but would REALLY need to see that it could be made to run before I agreed to purchase.

The "tell them it's not in good condition, buy it for $500, and then fix it for 50 cents and drive it forever" approach just never feels right to me. I freely admit that my 240D, given to me by my uncle, was not running when he brought it to us having given up on fixing it, and we started it with WD-40 and backed it down off his trailer. But that's... family. I'd feel worse doing a deal like that with a stranger, especially when the car has a family history with them, etc etc etc. Besides, I offered it back to my uncle once we had it running and he felt like doing me the favor and really didn't care about a Benz anyway.

Just saying. I think this is one I'd offer to get running for them (if it could be cleaned out and cranked without major parts being thrown at it) so they could sell it for a fair price in the yard, rather than trying to low-ball something that potentially nice.

Renntag · #5 10-19-2010, 10:41 PM

Wow. Have pics?

If the family is really nice, this could be a great opportunity to help someone out.

vstech · #6 10-19-2010, 10:46 PM

you could offer the family you take 1500.00 of the sell price, to clean and upgrade the car to ebay high selling standards, they pay for any parts the car needs, you clean and list the car for them, and sell it for them.
odds are good the family will not want the hassle of dealing with a mechanic repairing the car and make you an offer for you to buy the car.
the car will sell much better from the ORIGINAL owner than from someone fixing up a car bought from the original owner, but it'll still sell very well online.
I imagine Tyler could flip this in great style.

I could not in good conscience attempt to low ball a family car from someone.

NoSparkNeeded · #7 10-20-2010, 12:48 AM

I gave my number to the owner's daughter. As of now she has not called me back. Heck I've driven by this car daily MANY, 6 plus years before I got my wagon. Just the last 3 years ish did I even notice it. Maybe the last 8 months
did I even think about stopping to look closer. I did just that a few months ago. Quickly I looked through the window and around the car. Wife said, "another car project?, You told me to beat you with a stick if......". Low miles.Hmm. Rust in the normal places cosmetically only, simple body work required with some mig work. Look at my gallery on my wagon. About the same repairs, but no dent repair, just rust around 4 "body holes". I could fix it in 2 days properly and easily. Nothing structural at all. IF she calls me back, and there are in fact records to substantiate history, I guess I'll get it, if less than a grand.
If they want more, I'll point them here or help them sell it for more. I'll post
as things proceed. Even nice 300Ds are rarely more than 3k ever, here. I paid I think, 3800ish for my 106k mile 85 fed TD. If it were a wagon, I would have snagged it long ago

. I just started "seeing" sedans,heh.

Skid Row Joe · #8 10-20-2010, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

I ran across this 84 300D today. I've driven past it on the way home from work for 9 years. Just so happens that the daughter of the owner was standing in the yard so I stopped to inquire. The car has been parked for 10 years. Interior is perfect. 88k on the odo. Original owner, her father, died 10 years ago, and the car was never run again. She said it had, for whatever reason, a warranty replacement motor installed at some point, as she recalls, so the 88k is just on the chassis. Not sure what would have caused a warranty motor failure, but I have yet to talkwith her mother. It has a bit of "California" rust, but nothing even as bad as what I repaired on my wagon ( check my gallery ). I'm thinking a 500.00- 800.00 offer, providingI can get it started and drive off. Does that sound OK, or insulting to the owner? I need another car project like another hole in my head, but it just happened. As a money making deal, maybe I could get 2500 when it was done, so it would be just a fun project,heh, I guess. I've never really made money on a car. If this turns out to be what it seems, think I should snag it?

I would be there with cash-in-hand for the Mother of the girl - ASAP.

Go for it!

Skid Row Joe · #9 10-20-2010, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

I gave my number to the owner's daughter. As of now she has not called me back. Heck I've driven by this car daily MANY, 6 plus years before I got my wagon. Just the last 3 years ish did I even notice it. Maybe the last 8 months
did I even think about stopping to look closer. I did just that a few months ago. Quickly I looked through the window and around the car. Wife said, "another car project?, You told me to beat you with a stick if......". Low miles.Hmm. Rust in the normal places cosmetically only, simple body work required with some mig work. Look at my gallery on my wagon. About the same repairs, but no dent repair, just rust around 4 "body holes". I could fix it in 2 days properly and easily. Nothing structural at all. IF she calls me back, and there are in fact records to substantiate history, I guess I'll get it, if less than a grand.
If they want more, I'll point them here or help them sell it for more. I'll post
as things proceed. Even nice 300Ds are rarely more than 3k ever, here. I paid I think, 3800ish for my 106k mile 85 fed TD. If it were a wagon, I would have snagged it long ago

. I just started "seeing" sedans,heh.

Need pictures of the new engine that was installed - regardless whether you get it or not.

Seeing pictures of the new engine is worth the price of admission here!

NoSparkNeeded · #10 10-20-2010, 01:23 AM

Promise. If I get a call from her Mom, I'll take my old camera. If they don't
call back, I'll take pics and even post the address. If they want more money than I want to risk, I'll
do the same. If the paperwork checks out, I'll take it for less than 1k. More
than that, I don't want the risk. If I can make it sweet for my labor and another 800.00 bucks or so , and cannot lose ,I'll pay what will make that happen, i.e. if it dies on the table, about a grand is all I can expect. I don't
need a profit, but I'd like my investment back easily plus 25% including labor

.
I'm a perfection freak, I've never ever, ever got anything near a labor investment, or
a profit off a vehicle. Check the prices on V12 Jaguars,heh. I even sold my 61 Corvette for 3100.00, because no one wanted it,lol. I'll post whatever transpires, and pics for entertainment, AFTER the opportunity passes, or is realized,hehe

Skid Row Joe · #11 10-20-2010, 02:13 AM

My bad - sorry.....I meant my price of admission here, not your's.

Thanks for your efforts!

Sorry again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSparkNeeded

Promise. If I get a call from her Mom, I'll take my old camera. If they don't
call back, I'll take pics and even post the address. If they want more money than I want to risk, I'll
do the same. If the paperwork checks out, I'll take it for less than 1k. More
than that, I don't want the risk. If I can make it sweet for my labor and another 800.00 bucks or so , and cannot lose ,I'll pay what will make that happen, i.e. if it dies on the table, about a grand is all I can expect. I don't
need a profit, but I'd like my investment back easily plus 25% including labor

.
I'm a perfection freak, I've never ever, ever got anything near a labor investment, or
a profit off a vehicle. Check the prices on V12 Jaguars,heh. I even sold my 61 Corvette for 3100.00, because no one wanted it,lol. I'll post whatever transpires, and pics for entertainment, AFTER the opportunity passes, or is realized,hehe

Marvelicious · #12 10-20-2010, 02:19 PM

Its not taking advantage if they were just letting it sit. Unless they like it as yard art or sentimental reasons (very possible in this case), they'll probably feel you're doing them a favor getting it out of their way. If it sits 'til it turns into a rust pile, no one wins! If she is insulted, tell her its what you can afford and you just don't want to see it go to waste.

Chad300tdt · #13 10-20-2010, 02:42 PM

If you're worried about offending them, ask what they'd consider letting it go for.

JB3 · #14 10-20-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvelicious

Its not taking advantage if they were just letting it sit. Unless they like it as yard art or sentimental reasons (very possible in this case), they'll probably feel you're doing them a favor getting it out of their way. If it sits 'til it turns into a rust pile, no one wins! If she is insulted, tell her its what you can afford and you just don't want to see it go to waste.

Agreed! Why start with thousands of dollars as a first negotiation price? The car has been sitting for 10 years, I think 800 bucks for a vehicle that is dead in a yard and will need lots of work to get up and running is actually a very reasonable offer.

For sentimental reasons though, they may not want to sell it which is why they may not have called back. We have a car like that in our family, has been sitting for about 8 years, no one wants to let it go because it embodies it's former owner. To the lady, that car might represent her husband. I would go back, leave a card and say if you ever want to sell this car, let me know. You might get a call, you might get a call in a couple years, you might never get a call.

When I kick the bucket, im gonna make it very clear in the will that all personal vehicles are to either be given to people I name in the will to drive or sell, or to be sold outright to finance the oceans of booze I intend to have available it the funeral.
Another example, I rented a room from an older lady, who had a rat rod in her yard that by the time I rented from her, had been sitting for nearly 15 years. It was worth nothing and was TOTALLY rusted away, but she insisted that she would only sell it for 10 grand, its value in 1990 when her husband drove it and it won several local awards.

Skid Row Joe · #15 10-20-2010, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvelicious

Its not taking advantage if they were just letting it sit. Unless they like it as yard art or sentimental reasons (very possible in this case), they'll probably feel you're doing them a favor getting it out of their way. If it sits 'til it turns into a rust pile, no one wins! If she is insulted, tell her its what you can afford and you just don't want to see it go to waste.

Why would a seller be concerned with some guy that doesn't "want to see it go to waste?" Any more than some guy should be concerned with taking advantage of a seller?

If they didn't want it to go to waste, they'd donate it to a charity like St. Vincent DePaul, or Goodwill..... Perhaps they actually enjoy owning the car.

Just because someone has a 26 year old car, doesn't mean they're financially needy. Albeit true that 83% of people that own a luxury car brand like a Mercedes, are not balance sheet millionaires - anyone who buys a Mercedes-Benz, especially a person that can afford to buy one new as this person did, in all likelyhood are not stupid people.

Friends of mine worth in excess of $5 million dollars, used to own an old '99 300 ETD that they bought new - and no, they didn't pay cash for it. And before that, owned an '81 300SD they bought used and drove 300K+ miles before buying the '99.

I would try to get the car at $1K or less, if the engine even turns over.