Would you recommend i get this Mercedes diesel? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

JamesDean · #16 01-25-2013, 12:41 PM

The 300D 2.5's are a fun little car. The fuel economy claim is a LITTLE inflated but not horribly. I get 32-33 MPG with winter blend diesel doing 70-75mpg on the turn pike. I expect that to go up marginally when we return to non-winter blend fuels. I also suspect that at a lower speed you would probably do a bit better.

I paid $3800 for mine. It was largely rust free (only two spots, in the engine bay). It had rebuilt front end, replaced injection pump, and newer style vacuum pump.

I had to sink some money into it, but nothing I would consider major. I had to replace the front springs, a tensioner pulley, and the brake flex lines. A few weeks later I had to replace two plastic gears in the transmission.

As long as you are DIY or willing to DIY. I would do it.

Diesel911 · #17 01-25-2013, 01:05 PM

If you want to see what others are dealing with DIY Repair Links
DIY Links by Parts Category - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

PeachPartsWiki: Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles

My thoughs are that these are sort of Hobby Cars and that you need to have another Vehicle to get you to Work.
Every Year My Car ends up sitting it the Drive Way waiting for Parts. Just before I was finished fixing the Vacuum Lock System My Car developed (2 days ago) now it is sitting in the Drive way with the Steerin Colum/Ignition Lock Housing Removed waiting for Parts.

My steering Colum Lock thread
Steering Colum Lock (Ignition Lock Housing) causes Ignition Switch Failure

My neutral safety switch thread
Neutral Safety Switch Troubleshooting 84 300D

My Mercedes has caused more work than any Car I have owned since around 1969.

JamesDean · #18 01-25-2013, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

If you want to see what others are dealing with DIY Repair Links
DIY Links by Parts Category - PeachParts Mercedes ShopForum

PeachPartsWiki: Do It Yourself Articles - Mercedes Vehicles

My thoughs are that these are sort of Hobby Cars and that you need to have another Vehicle to get you to Work.
Every Year My Car ends up sitting it the Drive Way waiting for Parts. Just before I was finished fixing the Vacuum Lock System My Car developed (2 days ago) now it is sitting in the Drive way with the Steerin Colum/Ignition Lock Housing Removed waiting for Parts.

My steering Colum Lock thread
Steering Colum Lock (Ignition Lock Housing) causes Ignition Switch Failure

My neutral safety switch thread
Neutral Safety Switch Troubleshooting 84 300D

My Mercedes has caused more work than any Car I have owned since around 1969.

That just means you need to get another Mercedes! One that you work on when the other is down! and vice versa!

and if they are both down..well that just means you need to get another Mercedes!

Walkenvol · #19 01-25-2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

you need to have another Vehicle to get you to Work.
Every Year My Car ends up sitting it the Drive Way waiting for Parts.

X2, although I think this would apply to any car with similiar age and mileage.

I wouldn't be comfortable with an old mercedes (or any other "old" car) as my only mode of transportation. I restored a '68 "antique" about 10 years back which serves as my emergency back up transportation to work if the MB is down. Maybe a motorcycle would serve others as a "fun" back up.

Of course the wife keeps a fairly new ride as the main family transport.

JamesDean · #20 01-25-2013, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkenvol

X2, although I think this would apply to any car with similiar age and mileage.

I wouldn't be comfortable with an old mercedes (or any other "old" car) as my only mode of transportation. I restored a '68 "antique" about 10 years back which serves as my emergency back up transportation to work if the MB is down. Maybe a motorcycle would serve others as a "fun" back up.

Of course the wife keeps a fairly new ride as the main family transport.

My daily driver is a 91 300D. I keep it in tip-top shape. My backup is a 93 190E which is also in pretty good shape. In an emergency I could probably put one of the others into service but so far it has not come to that. My dad's daily driver, a 300SD is down for the moment waiting on a replacement lower control arm.

My grandfather's 300SD is in long term slow restoration. One day it will be road worthy.

dahlfest · #21 01-25-2013, 07:02 PM

Quote:

The harsh trans shifting could just be a leak in a vacuum line, or a bad VCV (Vacuum Control Valve that meters the amount of vacuum the trans modulator receives at a specific engine RPM)

That is what he said it was i just could not remember what he called it.

What it looks like everyone is saying is that this car will constantly needs parts and could be broken down for some time until parts are replaced? I'm getting confused with the post derailing and people talking about their cars. I intended for this car to replace my Altima which is my daily driver and the Mercedes would become my daily driver. Based on the feedback i'm hearing it looks like it would not be a good choice for a daily driver? My friend said he would fix the strut and the hard-shifting before he gave it to me and would replace any parts that needed replacing free of charge unless he did not have the part then i would have to purchase it. I do like the idea of owning and driving a Mercedes and impressing some friends (and the ladies) so according to you Mercedes gurus is this car worth the trade?

ROLLGUY · #22 01-26-2013, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahlfest

I do like the idea of owning and driving a Mercedes and impressing some friends (and the ladies) so according to you Mercedes gurus is this car worth the trade?

I talked my brother into getting a Mercedes Diesel, and it was very hard to do. That was a couple years ago, and he now has 4 MB Diesels, and will not go back. These cars will grow on you, and you will get attached. You have the chance to experience what others have experienced here. Yes you may have to put some time and effort into repairs and fixing, but I think it is money and time well spent. There are many here that would agree. You will find more support and help here than anywhere else on the www. This community is the best in my opinion. Just read the memorial thread for Phil. You will not find a more dedicated bunch of folks anywhere, on any automotive forum. I say ditch the Nissan, and buy the 'Benz! (again, just my opinion)...Rich

cooljjay · #23 01-26-2013, 12:32 AM

As Janis Joplin said, "oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz"

If he is willing to stand by his words that he will fixes what's broke then grab it, my main concern would be the transmission.

I drive mine as a daily drivers, I used to use one as a work vehicle and one for pleasure I am now stuck with just one. I drove from California to Arizona with bad tie rods, bad starter, bad glow plugs and she made it all the way here....then gave me the head ache...but it was an easy fix....cheap parts...with another car I would have been beating my head against the computer code book.....oh did I mention I drove her with bad shocks and broken motor mounts....I would make a turn the car would go one direction and the motor the other! Even lost the brakes in it and was able to drive it home!

giff · #24 01-26-2013, 08:05 AM

Dahl,

So besides what it currently needs (and he is fixing), do you have a feel for what it might need in the near future?

I always ask a seller "If you were to keep the car, what other "things" would you be attending to (replacing, fixing)". Sometimes you'll get the blank stare (which is bad)!!

If he's a Benz guy (or his family members), they should be able to tell you off the top of their head.

It might be a great car OR it could "give up the ghost" on an expensive item tomorrow......you just need to see if you can determine that before you toss the dice.

BTW, a "rough shifting" tranny is a relative thing. If there's a vacuum line gone, it'll shift like a truck, but an easy fix......

Just my .02

Junkman · #25 01-26-2013, 09:19 AM

My standard is to add $2,000 to the price for what I don't see. The 2k includes parts only for DIY and full price for what I can't/won't do myself. I put full value on my time because it isn't free. I just keep DIY to enjoyment.

The 2k amount has been sufficient except once on a 00 diesel ram where I was trying to farm out all wrench turning. I was paying labor on multiple aftermarket steering failures (never buy an AGR steering box). The fmultiple failures and tow bills became expensive. I took labor back over after a "performance" shop charged $300 for a steering box install and stripped the swaybar bracket.

uberwgn · #26 01-26-2013, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahlfest

it will replace my current car which is a 1999 Nissan Altima with a 2.4 gas motor (which i only get around 20-25 mpg in) and has 153,000 miles and needs a motor mount and a wheel bearing or cv axle.

there's the old saying: "Better the devil you know..."

Additional thoughts:

Price differential of regular gasoline vs diesel fuel (! ouch !)
Trying to rely upon a car you know little about as your only transportation
general known reliability of Asian cars
You know what problems/maintenance needs to be done on the Nissan
You don't know what problems/maintenance needs to be done on the W124
Nissan is 6 years newer
153k miles vs 280k miles
Allure of the silver hood star can fade quickly

shertex · #27 01-26-2013, 10:49 AM

Wonderful cars....I've got two of them. PERFECT as a daily driver. BUT you do be realistic about maintenance and repairs. If you DON'T do your own work, I would budget 20 cents per mile. If you're not prepared to spend that, then don't buy the car no matter how good the condition.

ah-kay · #28 01-26-2013, 12:05 PM

Dahl, I think you have the answer but you just want to confirm it with the forum. You want to buy it. Your friend gives you the first right of refusal so it is difficult to say NO.

I think it is a good car. What is your daily driver plan B if the car breaks down? Any car with 280K would have hiccups when you wanted it most. If you have plan B and a budget to fix things then go for it. You may turn out lucky.

Skippy · #29 01-26-2013, 08:17 PM

It sounds as though the OP doesn't know a lot about cars and car maintenance in general. People in that situation are well advised to do one of two things:

1. Learn about cars and their maintenance.

OR

2. Buy a 2-5 year old car, drive it until it starts getting junky, get rid of it, and repeat.

I would probably buy the car in the original post if I were in the market and could get it for two grand or less. I am also an ASE certified automobile technician. I also wouldn't have only one vehicle, no matter how new. Currently my daily is the '83 in my sig. I bought it (for $800) with 293,000 miles and some deferred maintenance. I put a lot into it in the first couple of years, but since then I only work on it about once a month. In seven plus years it's never broken down on me, though it has had "planned outages" lasting several weeks due to suspension rebuilds and tranny swaps. I always have backup transportation, currently of the Kawasaki variety.

ROLLGUY · #30 01-27-2013, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skippy

It sounds as though the OP doesn't know a lot about cars and car maintenance in general. People in that situation are well advised to do one of two things:

1. Learn about cars and their maintenance.

OR

2. Buy a 2-5 year old car, drive it until it starts getting junky, get rid of it, and repeat.

I would probably buy the car in the original post if I were in the market and could get it for two grand or less. I am also an ASE certified automobile technician. I also wouldn't have only one vehicle, no matter how new. Currently my daily is the '83 in my sig. I bought it (for $800) with 293,000 miles and some deferred maintenance. I put a lot into it in the first couple of years, but since then I only work on it about once a month. In seven plus years it's never broken down on me, though it has had "planned outages" lasting several weeks due to suspension rebuilds and tranny swaps. I always have backup transportation, currently of the Kawasaki variety.

Well said. Having and depending on ONE car is not good, especially if said car gets you to work to make money to repair/maintain it. With me being a "car guy", I always have a spare (and am very thankful to have). I don't have to rely on only one car. However, being that car guy, I work on each car either fixing it up, or maintaining it. I have to admit, the daily drivers have been mostly trouble free since the original purchase after the first wave of repairs to to make them road worthy. There have been the planned outages (front end rebuild) as well for me, but having an extra car makes it not a big deal. It may not work for the OP to have both cars, so it might be a challenge to work out transportation when the 'Benz is being repaired (if it is purchased). Another consideration is the lower cost of insurance for the older vehicles. I believe the 124 is at least as safe, or safer than the Nissan, so that might make the decision easier.