Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Diesel Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-29-2011, 07:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 105
Question Opinions Needed: Sell it or drive x-country

I've moved out to California from NYC area and left my 1987 300TDT in the Catskills, where it has been sitting for the better part of 5 months with a dead battery and most likely covered in three feet of snow.

I was planning on moving back to NYC but my consulting job is going to become permanent so I need something other than a motorcycle to drive because of the constant fog and rain around San Fran.

Money is an issue unfortunately, so buying a used car means I would have to sell my beloved 300TDT. However, I can hardly sell it unless I get it running again and take photo's of it. Doubt it's really worth much anyway, maybe $3000 if I'm lucky.

The car is in decent condition, probably has about 280,000 - 290,000 miles on it, odo broke a bit ago. The exterior is not great, lots of dings from parking in and around the city but in general it's in good shape and the engine is strong.

I'm currently living at my brothers place and he has 400 gallons of veggie oil I can have. Therefore if I get it out here, I can do a veggie conversion and hopefully not have to pay $4.50/gallon.

So my questions is what should I do? I have a return flight that I need to use. I figure it will cost me about $500-$600 to get across the country in roughly a weeks time with gas,oil, food and any hiccups along the way. Plan on sleeping in the car and driving about 10-12 hours/day.

To have it sent via auto trucking company will cost about $1,200 and I don't see the point in that.

Nobody is around where the car is to take pictures for me, it's in the woods by friends house who will not be there until the summer.

So what do you all think? Try and get the old girl back under my wings on the west coast or just wait and try to sell it somehow?

Thanks in advance for your opinions, really not sure what to do.

__________________
1994 Toyotal Landcruiser 220k (Sold)

1987 300TDT 278K My Addiction (Going Going Gon...)

2001 Volvo V70 (New Ride)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-29-2011, 07:58 PM
JB3 JB3 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: RI
Posts: 7,246
you made all the arguments for us!

you have a return flight.
you know the car runs.
It would be a much bigger hassle to try and sell it 3500 miles away
it would be more expensive to try and ship it.
It could probably really benefit from the CA climate.

I say get ready for a nice road trip!
__________________
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-29-2011, 08:04 PM
92 300D 2.5L OBK #59
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 1,108
X2
__________________
92 300D 2.5L OM602 OBK #59
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-29-2011, 08:43 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: San Diego
Posts: 3,537
+1

If the car runs and you are reasonably handy with car then I would go for it. My daughter just did a round trip from SF to San Diego during spring break in a 83 300D with 340K. She did about 1.2K miles with the run around in SD. It is her daily driver and she loves it. I did a PM on the car with oil, fuel filters change, diesel purge, check tranny fluid etc before she left. I also put the car on a ramp and found one of the CV boot has splitted. I did not have time to fix it so I just duck-taped it and wait until summer when she is home.

I believe most cars in reasonable shape can do 2-3K miles without issues. Just fire her up and do a PM and you would be on your way.

Good luck.
__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-29-2011, 09:09 PM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
Be ready for a fuel filter change or two, just in case. I'm along the way, make it this far and I have tools, 10 minutes off of I-80/90.

It would be a shame to leave behind. If it's rust-free, it'll be worth more and easier to sell on the left coast than where it is.
__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-29-2011, 09:12 PM
Aquaticedge's Avatar
Bump on a log
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: See Biography
Posts: 3,148
bring it back with you. You know the car. you know what work you have and hell, it's a sweet car. I vote for keeping it
__________________
hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-29-2011, 09:31 PM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
It also will be a great vehicle for moving any items you have remaining in NY.
__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-29-2011, 10:05 PM
JHZR2's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 5,265
Id probably keep it and enjoy the trip. However, you may have a good opportunity to move up in niceness for not a lot of money. A little patience will find you a nice diesel out in CA.
__________________
Current Diesels:
1981 240D (73K)
1982 300CD (169k)
1985 190D (169k)
1991 350SD (113k)
1991 350SD (206k)
1991 300D (228k)
1993 300SD (291k)
1993 300D 2.5T (338k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (442k)
1996 Dodge Ram CTD (265k)

Past Diesels:
1983 300D (228K)
1985 300D (233K)
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-29-2011, 10:33 PM
Save the manuals!
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: .
Posts: 3,463
Road trip!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-29-2011, 10:47 PM
vstech's Avatar
DD MOD, HVAC,MCP,Mac,GMAC
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mount Holly, NC
Posts: 26,835
depending on the "dings" it could be worth it to road trip her.
before you do, you might wanna scour the want ads for a replacement vehicle. left coast beasts are plentifull, and prime. likely, yours has rust in the usual spots, and will not survive much longer, so selling it to someone willing to clean it up and treat and repair the rust that's there should be worth it.
I figure it's likely worth in the 18-3500 range where it is, and if the rust is not bad, or not present at all, she should sell easily.
at 300K there are a lot of things to go wrong on a long mountain trip, and PM could cost 1-2K... cooling system, vacuum pump, brakes, flex discs, timing chain etc...
I think I'd get my friend to photograph it, and put it up for sale, here, and on craigslist etc. pocket the money, and buy a better example locally to you.
__________________
John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-29-2011, 11:13 PM
ashedd's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Seattle
Posts: 1,790
sell it to me, sell it to me
__________________
08 R320 CDI current

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

Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-30-2011, 12:16 AM
Skid Row Joe's Avatar
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: #KeepingAmericaGreat!
Posts: 7,071
I would sell it as is, where is.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-30-2011, 01:30 AM
bustedbenz's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Valle Crucis, NC
Posts: 2,283
I might be inclined to drive it, if I thought it was mechanically capable of making it. If I were going to sell it, I'd definitely sell it for what it is, as is, rather than messing with it. If "getting it running again" is as simple as fluid changes and battery charge, then go for it. If it's in need of repairing, you'll never recoup your costs.

I have to respond to one specific "other aspect" of your plan though. 400 gallons of veggie oil @ 25mpg = 10,000 miles of driving. Optimistically. Depending on the cost of your "conversion", 10,000 miles is likely just a "drop in the ocean" of the sum total of miles you'll be running the car. If you're proposing to get into the dumpster-diving business and running on veggie for the rest of the car's life, then this makes sense. Spending $1000 on a proper two-tank heated conversion (if you can do it for that) to drive 10,000 miles (about 6 months for me, your usage will vary) is hardly cost-effective or time-effective.

For the last comment I'd make, if you're serious about sleeping in the car, try to at least find a semi-safe place to do it, and yet one where the police won't object to your presence. If it was me I think I'd probably spend the nights in the cheapest drive-up motels I could find, on the grounds that no matter how unpleasant they were, it would still be a better night's sleep than I could get in the car, leading to safer driving conditions. You'd also have a bathroom, a shower, a little insulation from people walking up and trying to rob you as you sleep, etc. Remember how long a day that many hours on the road is. Good luck to you however you do it.
__________________


~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-30-2011, 09:05 AM
babymog's Avatar
Loose Cannon - No Balls
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Northeast Indiana
Posts: 10,765
If the car is decent and trustworthy, you know the car, and you want an '87 300TD it will be hard to replace.

Seems that the cars are (fairly) plentiful, but as the craigslist and ebay threads tend to show, they mostly need considerable work to make them right (which is why they are for sale).

I looked for 2 years to find mine, and settled for a solid car that needed lots of details and repairs. I was not interested in a white one which narrowed the field (355 dealers and they each had a white one for service), as did my aversion to anything that has been driven in winter/salt.

Even a handful of the normal repairs; suspension spheres, fluid changes, tires, suspension links and bushings et al, can quickly add up to $1000-$2000 or more for hidden problems. At 25years old, you're better off IMO sticking with a car that you know unless it is one of the troubled ones.

Also, if you need to hit the ground running with your replacement car, and sell the one in NY as-is, plan on losing most of its value in a non-running car, and for $2k or so you'll be buying someone else's troubles.
__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 03-30-2011, 09:52 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Middle TN
Posts: 4,154
Better be sure of the condition before you road trip. You have little bargaining power when stuck on the side of the road and hotel/repair bills can eat up any savings. Not having it running is a problem & will reduce the price. Many times, your first loss is your best & cheapest loss.

It comes down to choice. Do you want to road trip? Go for it but don't think it is an economic decision. I always use the excuse "because my wife is cooking chicken soup" when I want to do something. One excuse is as good as another.

Logic and facts will dictate one thing. If you want a trip, cook some soup.

__________________
85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page