So, found a 300SD, listed for 1900 bucks... original owner, so I went to take a look.

Holy piles of crap batman...

paint, macco and totally shot.

Half the switches missing in the inside, windows held up by wedges of wood.

In the engine, the air cleaner was held in place with a string.... 3 of the 4 return lines for the fuel were vacuum hose... and rotted and pouring out fuel...

was running but on 3 MAYBE 4 cylinders...

I mean I don'[t think there was a part of this car that would not have to be fixed... even the tires were shot...

320,000 miles on it.

I looked at him and ask if he was serious about the price, he was... I said 400 bucks and only as a parts car. He passed... I'm glad.

I have a hard time believing that he's the original owner since it's been treated so poorly.

__________________
'81 300SD

But don't you know that all you need to do is change the oil and it will run for ever?

__________________
1983 Benz 240D - 263,060 (Current)
1983 Cadillac DeVille - 130,000 (Scrapped - Stupid HT4100)
1992 Dodge B350 - 150,000 (Sold)
1984 Mazda 626 - 299,997 (Scrapped)

320k and that kind of neglect, that statement may very well be true. Just imagine if it was a 84 Chevy Caprice or something.

I was. It was the guys mom's car. She was there also. Driving a newer 500 series. I wish I would have taken my camera with.

Those are the kind of people that just buy things to destroy them. Sad that there are so many with that mentality out there.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Cars are becoming more and more "throw away" as each new model comes into production, it's a shame really. I doubt we will see cars lasting like the old w123 and w126 Mercedes, the "use it up and toss it" mentality is stronger than ever these days. I think a perfect example of that is all these new cars coming with sealed transmissions that aren't intended to be serviced, those probably aren't built to last 200k, 300k, 400k etc.

VW doesn't expect most of it's owners to keep their cars for more then 100K... which is why they have a nasty timing chain replacement at 105K - or so I've heard.

I've got such a rant on this... but I know I'd be preaching to the choir on this...

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1983 Benz 240D - 263,060 (Current)
1983 Cadillac DeVille - 130,000 (Scrapped - Stupid HT4100)
1992 Dodge B350 - 150,000 (Sold)
1984 Mazda 626 - 299,997 (Scrapped)

Most VW's have timing belts....

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Ignorance. If you need to pick-on an American car, don't pick one of the most reliable as your target.

__________________
___________________________________________
'86 300 SDL '83 300D Astral Silver/Blue
354k miles.. 326k miles..

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...ine=1310252049

This might be me is a couple months...

Except my SD is not a total huge POS, just full of rust. And I am only planning on asking like $800

Keep looking, you will find one.

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08 R320 CDI current

Past
95 E420
87 300D Turbo 5spd
90 300TE
83 300SD
85 300TD
92 400E
85 190D

I hope this is joke...

By the way, that was my first car (well 86, but same car). What a heap it was.