Very hi mileage '95 e300 diesel - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

nevremj · #1 04-14-2011, 08:58 PM

This is the highest mileage car I've actually driven. Car looks good, paint faded but ok. Interior excellent.

I was offered the car for $3k, with new timing chain, vacuum pump, and test of glow plugs.

Mileage - 408,000 miles. Price $3,000.

Opinions invited.

vstech · #2 04-14-2011, 09:36 PM

3K might be a tad high unless the rest of the car is totally pristine!
you're due a timing chain, injectors, etc... not to mention all the subframe stuff, and suspension up front...
still, a nice car.
leather? heated seats? color?

compu_85 · #3 04-14-2011, 09:40 PM

With that many miles it could probably stand to have the cylinder head refreshed too.

-J

layback40 · #4 04-14-2011, 10:27 PM

Depends on the type of driving that it has done.
My first impression would be to walk on by & then run.
A car has too many things that have a limited service life.
Probably the trans is ready to fall to pieces.
The suspension & steering will be about to need major work.
At about that mileage just about every moving part on the later cars like that will be just about in need of replacement well past its replacement mileage.
I get low mileage cars & then put a lot of miles on them, then junk them.
Look at my signature to see my experience with high mileage MB's.

Would you buy an ex taxi?

Zacharias · #5 04-14-2011, 10:38 PM

As someone else mentioned, how the miles were accumulated makes a big difference here. However, even if it rolled on the highway day and night, the fact is that it has incurred a great deal of wear. Even if maintained to a high standard, it's well used.

If you are handy with automobiles, and are familiar with the model, I would take it to a reputable Mercedes specialist and have it evaluated.

If you have to pay a shop for the work you get done, then I'm afraid this car won't be for you.

PS; I used to be fan of high-mileage cars, in the days of limited electronics. But unfortunately my experience has been that the newer cars, even if well maintained, can start having electrical and electronic issues when they're this worn. Just my opinion, others might say otherwise.

jbach36 · #6 04-14-2011, 10:55 PM

408,000 miles on a diesel Benz. Oh c'mon! Sure, maybe the transmission could need rebuilt, IF it has problems, but other than that, the car should still go another 300k or so.

Mine is now 20 years old, with only 159k on it, but there are always things that come up in the course of life, with any car. I've replaced the glow plugs when they went, the a/c are problems on Benz's anyways so I had to put money into that, front shocks, tie rod ends, etc., are replaced on any car when they have problems. I'm sure it's not like no repairs were ever done on the car, and suddenly they all need done at once, that's ridiculous. Just find out when repairs were done, drive the car, see how it runs.

jeff 1991 300d

vstech · #7 04-14-2011, 11:02 PM

oh, if it were an 82-93 I'd agree, but the final gen 124's were getting pretty sophisticated... and 95 was the pinnacle with a LOT going on that the older ones didn't have.
I'm not saying run from the car, but it's going to need a lot of repair, and soon. IF it's had a lot done to it lately, and receipts are present, that changes things.

GregMN · #8 04-14-2011, 11:37 PM

It's good to see that engine with that many miles still viable (assumption). Maybe my wife doesn't need a replacement car when her's hits 300k later this year.

Kelly blue book private party values:
Excellent $3,850
Good $3,450
Fair $2,800

compu_85 · #9 04-14-2011, 11:39 PM

KBB does not update their prices beyond 250,000 miles.

-J

Skippy · #10 04-14-2011, 11:39 PM

If the overall condition of the car is good enough to risk needing to refresh the engine/trans/suspension, then it's a viable buy, but I would still try to get the seller to come down some on the price.

BTW, the highest mileage passenger car I've ever driven is my 300D, at 311,000 miles and still climbing. However, I learned to drive tractor-trailers in an old Freightshaker with a worn out 3176 Cat that had something over 800,000 miles on it.

connerm · #11 04-15-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevremj

new timing chain, vacuum pump, and test of glow plugs.

Mileage - 408,000 miles. Price $3,000.

Opinions invited.

I'd have to see proof of new timing chain, and vac pump (no aftermarket pump please). I'd test glow plugs myself. Look for all fluid leaks, check that the sound encapsulation panels are in place, see if it drives straight on the freeway, see if it has any accelleration, see what the steering wheel does when you brake hard, pray the A/C works properly. If all of that was okay, I might offer $1500 and negotiate a bit from there.

My daily driver has 265,000 with 75 hard miles added each weekday (93 stoplights from morning till night).

Chris W. · #12 04-15-2011, 12:36 PM

$3K seems high unless all the suspension bits have been refreshed and you have evidence that the trans has been rebuilt. With that many miles on it you are in the realm of a major failure meaning you scrap the car, because it's just not worth anything.

My trans is getting tired with a 2-3 flare starting, which I hope to fix with the K-1 kit.

I have seen a '95 in my area with 430K on it, no idea of the history.

I agree with Zacharias, if you can't work on the car yourself, forget it.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 338K

Graplr · #13 04-15-2011, 12:56 PM

I made an offer on a 300D turbo diesel with 510k on the clock just over a year ago.

The thing was actually in great shape. He was trying to sell a rust bucket wagon with about 200k on it as well. I offered him $1k for both. I think he tried to get me up to $1500 so we did not make a deal.

$3k seems high to me. I would think under $2k would be more along the lines of the purchase. Realize you are most likely going to be putting money in to it to keep it running and if you don't do the work yourself you will end up paying way too much as opposed to buying a more expensive car with less miles.