Folks of the Benz knowledge,

I am most certainly still a newbie to this realm, but was hoping to acquire some advice on potential TD wagon purchase.

I posted here last summer while looking at what I thought was a 'sweet' rig, and got GREAT responses. The passion and truthful opinions from experience were greatly appreciated. In the end it seemed that the 82 td wagon w/ too many issues for my economic/living situation stayed in Duluth.

In the ensuing months I looked at this car and that one... Found sweet deals (or so I thought) and others where I felt the seller was out of their mind. However as my seasonal employment has brought me to the south west I may have found a potential match...

1984 300 TD wagon
216 K
5 Cylinder inline
3.0L engine
Body in STELLAR shape
No rust on frame or body
Tranny shift = smooth
Glow plugs = Awesome
Alternator = Solid
Oil = holds its own
Smokey starts = none
Rear end = SAGS
Tailgate = have to use pole to hold it up
Brakes = needs new pads soon
Tires = probably need them soon
Spare tire = shot
Interior = Nice not immaculate, but not FUBAR'd

So on the initial I am thinking pretty highly of this potential project (fixing on doing the bio blend thing) - but need to keep a straight poker face b/c there are still some things to get sorted out (especially I am going to travel back to southern Wisconsin for the summer (car and myself are presently in Utah))

From what I have experienced with this vintage of MBs is the rear suspension always seems to sag b/c of that vacuum autolevel business - the local place "Werners Mercedes" quoted $850 to convert to 300SD shocks, noting that would take care of the sag. Is there a more economical way to do this? I mean if its not a HUGE deal I wouldn't be totally loading it with stuff to get back to the midwest, but had figured it might be important to do something for this.

Then I didn't know what the brake pads would be, but that HAS to get taken care of.

Was figuring that tires would be in the 280-400 range...

Is there anything else I am really missing? Is 1984 a solid year for this model? I seem to remember a friend mentioning some type of switch on the engine head after 83 (e.g. swapped to aluminum vs. steel) Are there disadvantages to that?

The guy is asking in the 2K obo range for price... knowing I am going to have to drop another 1+k or so into it on the initial is it a complete faux paus to offer 12-15 hundred? Didn't want to slam any good karma out there...

Of course since I have found this car I'd found several other 81-87 sedans that seem to be in rocking shape, get better mpg's and are in a similar ballpark price range. I however seem to be thinking the wagon would fit my lifestyle better, haul more gear/ sleep in it whence needed... Are there any reg flags to the wagon that may be overlooked?

So that's the beginning of the saga, hopefully as the intro and additional chapters get written it will be more a complete story, but until then, any and all advice/ commentary is appreciated...

Thanks
-Brian