What it's worth? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mercedesidiot · #1 10-23-2010, 01:06 PM

Hi All,

I am looking for an honest appraisal of what I can get for my 1979 300td. I will list everything major wrong with it.

To start with the car has rust, doors, quarter panels, rear hatch, and some underbody and floor boards.

Climate control only has defrost, but the blower motor is out, so it is not working currently.

Alternator just went out.

Slight oil leak coming from pan.

Bushings needs replacing, shocks need replacing.

Missing motor shock.

Brake calipers in need of rebuilding.

Driver's seat shedding horse hair.

There are other various cosmetic issues to list, but you get the picture.

The positive:

Head rebuild and valves ground 40,000 miles
Cylinders and pistions rebuilt, new cylinder sleeves 40,000 miles
Transmission shifts smooth.
Glow plugs replaced - 2500 miles.

The real question is: What is the value of the motor and trans? What is the value as a parts car?

Will happily give more details as requested.

Thanks
Car runs smooth.

mercedesidiot · #2 10-24-2010, 01:48 PM

bump

Aquaticedge · #3 10-24-2010, 02:16 PM

as a parts car most people wont pay over 500 bucks for it. the engine and trans can be sold to someone for more then that but you may sit on it for a little while

kerry · #4 10-24-2010, 02:18 PM

$800? Mostly because heads with the SLS pump are hard to find.

TheDon · #5 10-24-2010, 02:19 PM

It's a parts car and probably worth at least $500-750 since the engine is probably the only thing going for it... if there is paperwork to back up the claims

Skid Row Joe · #6 10-24-2010, 04:47 PM

As is, $300 TOPS.....

vstech · #7 10-24-2010, 04:54 PM

unfortunately, the crusher will pay more than someone looking for a mercedes wagon.
rust and non functioning controls are killers throw in bad interior, and mounts, and suspension issues. I'd pull the engine and offer to sell it as a rebuilt motor, then part out the rest of the car. it's going to be a hard sell as a car...

ROLLGUY · #8 10-24-2010, 07:05 PM

I too have a '79 300 TD, but mine has a blown motor. The body only has 4 small rust spots (1 in each of the rear doors, one on each side of rear drip rail), but overall good body. The interior is decent, with only a cracked dash, and a few carpet issues. It would be a great project car, but no takers even at $650. I have had it on the 'list for a few months, and it still has not sold. Someone could pull the SLS head and put it on a turbo block and have a decent TD for cheap!
I think it is just a bad economy. I probably could have sold this car a couple years ago for a over a Grand, and maybe even had a bidding war.

kerry · #9 10-24-2010, 07:13 PM

Not a good idea to put an NA head on a turbo engine, at least without some changes. The turbo valves are different.

vstech · #10 10-24-2010, 07:34 PM

true. the valves are different, but the castings are the same. to do it totally right, you need to have hardened seats installed, and replace the valves with sodium filled valves from a turbo head, but turbo heads are super easy to find, so that's not an issue.

DieselPaul · #11 10-24-2010, 07:39 PM

Aren't the prechambers different as well? And do the blocks have oil-squirters?

ROLLGUY · #12 10-24-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

true. the valves are different, but the castings are the same. to do it totally right, you need to have hardened seats installed, and replace the valves with sodium filled valves from a turbo head, but turbo heads are super easy to find, so that's not an issue.

Yes, I was aware of that. The only usable part of the engine would be the head casting with the SLS pump. I have another project that involves removing all the parts from a recently rebuilt turbo head (non SLS) to use on my turbo TD that ran out of oil and broke a camshaft (among other things). I am hoping the casting is not damaged, as I know they are hard to find.

vstech · #13 10-24-2010, 09:04 PM

ditto.
I do not know about the Pc's but I will inspect them when I swap everything over to my 85 euroTD