1982 300D
 

Hi,

I am thinking about adding another Benz to the fleet - loving the 420SEL!... I found a 1982 300D with 196K - sounds decent. Here is what the guy says about the car. He wants $4K. What do you think? Most worried about the "minor rust" and shifting...

The master cylinder has a slow leak. I add a bit of brake fluid now and again to keep it topped off. Ideally, it should be replaced at some point. One of the jack holes below the main body ( I believe the rear one drivers side had some rust around it and I broke away the inch and a half section to its right that was rusted and neutralized it. The A/C compressor is seized and has been so since I bought it 3.5 years ago.
The compression is good, new motor mounts and heating coil in 2010, new starter last year, new alternator this year, I change the oil and air filter at regular intervals.
The car drives smooth and wonderfully in moderate and warm temps. When it is cold it really needs a good ten minutes to warm up otherwise it shifts hard until the internal temp stabilizes.

doesnt sound like 4k to me... more like $1500

X2. Get it on a lift and look for hidden rust!! Even w/o extensive rust, still a $12-$1500 car....

Just my .02

You have to see it but generally without the air working especially 4K for a northern example is pushing it. Add to that the transmission issue and the value just is not there I suspect. Sounds like a car that once you get into it you may find a lot wrong. That kind of money deserves better I think.

Price is unrealistically high, especially without working AC.

Yeah, take the problems listed and double them on average for the real problem list.

For example, since he didn't mention where the master cylinder is leaking from, just assume it's leaking in to the brake booster and it has or will soon kill that. Which is an expensive part...

Next example, if the A/C hasn't worked in 3.5 years assume there are other problems with the climate control.

Like the previous posters, Usually I just see the tip of iceberg when purchasing a vehicle or piece of farm equipment.

Here is the ad (not that it shows any of the "minor" rust): 1982 Mercedes Benz 300D (196K)

The paint looks beautiful (maybe I say that because mine is awful!), but the front seats are filthy! If you go look at this car, pull up all the mats, crawl the car underneath, and pull the inner fenderwell linings looking for rust. Let me know if you would like pictures.

Always remember this equation for cheap old MBs: price paid - 50% of price paid + 25% of money spent on repairs = the end value of the car, which all future buyers will tell you is too high. This equation will change if you do work yourself -- it would incorporate the projected amount of injuries, and whether any will be incapacitating.