As some may remember, I was looking for a head recently 300D that I sold a year or so ago.

I drove this car for about a year and addressed a number of issues with it as I planned for it to be my daily hack. During my ownership. It got the following:

1) Entirely new brake system (master cylinder, calipers, hoses, pads etc).
2) New shocks all around
3) New sway bar bushings
4) New set of good year tires.
5) Front seat covers redone and they look new.
6) New paint job
7) New glow plugs

The a/c had a Sanden conversion and blew ice cold (seriously, I have a youtube vid from last July where ice cold vapor was blowing out of the vents during that 110 degree summer).

When I sold it, it had a couple of issues:

1) Paint job was OK, but it could really use a wet sand and buff in some areas as there are a couple of runs.
2) The drivers side window regulator needs help lifting the car the last two inches.
3) The ignition switch does not spring back when you engage the starter so you have to do it yourself.

Unfortunately, the new owner overheated it once and it needed a new head gasket. He put one on but it blew shortly after so he sent the head out and the guy at the machine shop said he cannot skim the head as it would take too much off.

Fast forward 12 months and I'm buying this car, along with a 450SLC 5.0 that I sold back as my buddy has his hands full and is tired of paying for storage on these.

I'm really only interested in the 5.0 (I love the W115 but it's too slow) but I'm in a dilemma with what to do with this car.

Apart from the head, it's a very presentable car that's been well taken care off and if I decide to fix it, I'd like to fix it so that that I can sell it.

However, when I run the numbers in my head, I don't know that I can sell it for what I have in it after it's fixed. I've sold a couple of my cars recently and it's pretty tough for a seller these days.

So should I part it out? Is there anything on this car that's worth anything to anyone?

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With best regards

Al

It seems like a decent car and I think your suspicion about money invested vs money recouped is right on the money.

Why not sell it "as is" to someone willing to pick up where you left off? If the rest of the car is as good as described, someone would probably put a donor engine/head and have a serviceable car for a long time to come.

You might not get as much money for it in its current condition, but you wouldn't risk losing as much, either.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

When I started reading the thread I thought you were asking in the context of taking care of a car that you drive. Since this is strictly a business situation in that certain amount spent vs. certain amount gained, this would be a tough one.

If you can do the work yourself, and the parts bill doesn't total up more money in than you can get out of it, is the work worth it to you?

Buying and selling low dollar cars is risky because there is just no room for an unexpected expense. If it's part of a package, I think you just need to do some math and see if what you can get for the car as is, makes the package deal worth it.

This probably doesn't help, but that's been my experience in trying to make a buck off of a low dollar car.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

If you were closer i'd take it off your hands

Al.

I know the dilemma that you speak of. I bought the 1958 220S in the hopes of restoring it. I can't handle a project that big, so what did I decide to do? Basically sell it someone on the forum to get most the money/effort back out of it and see a car saved. Sometimes, it's not just about money.......think abou it. You sell the car to someone on the forum and they carry on with bringing it back to life.....and in 3 years when you see/hear the fun they are having with the car, you get a warm feeling inside and a big grin on your face.

Hope this helps.

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

This. +1

I see my W115 as part of the family and have tracked down several owners, even driving to upstate NY to show it off in person to the original buyer. To a person they have been delighted to know that it was in good hands.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

Thanks guys, I really like this car and if I did not have 17 cars already, I'd want to keep. However, right now I have way too many cars and I need to unload a few as I'm seeing myself turn into one of those hamsters that runs on a wheel but gets nowhere fast.

In the next few weeks, I'd like to get rid of the following cars.

1991 560SEL
1989 560SEC
1976 300D
1973 280CE - abandoned project that will be used for parts to feed another 280ce
1974 Jensen Interceptor - abandoned project that will be used for parts to feed another Jensen Interceptor

I will not be doing the labor, a friend will and I will pay for the parts. We will then split the profits. The problem is that the more I think about it, the less I think that there will be much in the way of profit which is not so bad for me, but will most certainly pee him off.

It may be best used as a parts car as I fear that it's worthless as a fixer upper.

The brand new tires, brand new shocks, brand new brakes, sanden a/c compressor can all be moved to my blue 72 280CE 4 speed.

Some other parts can be sold off and I can probably get $200-300 for the shell? What's it worth as it is? $800? $1000? If anything less, it's worth more in parts to me on just the stuff that I can use on the CE.

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With best regards

Al

I would be interested in coming and taking a look at it if you decide to sell it for parts or complete. I have a '76 240d with some rust issues. Does your 300d have any rust? I am located in fort worth.

If you're local, come on over. I'm usually at the shop during the weekend.

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With best regards

Al

I didn''t understand what the car needs besides an engine. To me, selling a repairable intact car is preferable to the effort of parting it. Will a 617 fit? If so, that is a good route.

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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.

Not really much, if I remember correctly. The window regulator on the drivers side needed help on the last inch before the window was fully raised and the ignition switch does not spring back when you engage the starter so you have to turn it back manually.

The engine in this car is a 617 and selling it intact is also preferable to me. Loosing my butt on it... not so much

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With best regards

Al

Nearly perfect car in need of a cylinder head? And it's green? Slap a used head on it and sell it. Or you can sell as is but I think you'll come out ahead selling it as a runner.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

Call me Monday afternoon.
May have a buyer.


.

Nice car, Al. A new head, on a car that looks that good, wirh all new brakes etc? Why can't I find deals like that when I'm looking?

I gotta believe someone would pick that up in a New York minute!

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Chief

1991 350SD

my favorite machinist will put a device on an warped head to pull on it and bake it overnight in an oven he has to straighten them. skimming a warped head changes the combustion chamber volumna, nor permissible on a diesel.

skimming a diesel head is only for cleaning the mating surface.

Tom

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.