Anyone who knows me either by chatting on the forum, or dealing in person with me knows I am in the slow painful process of De-Benzing myself as I move to a new house in a very restrictive subdivision. A while back, I gave my wife my 85 300D to replace her previous DD, an 1987 300D I sold to a forum member here. The car is (was) beautiful. Anyway, she hit an 8 point buck recently and knocked it unconscious for some seconds before it finally got up and hobbled away, but in the process crumpled the driver's fender on the car. I'm attaching pics of the car before and sadly after impact. The panel damage was localized thankfully to the fender, no hood impact at all. There's a very small crease in the door that should be repaired as the door would need to be sprayed anyway to properly blend the paint.

My question is, I'm planning on selling every Benz, including hers. So, should I just put her car in storage until I have time to bolt a fender on it, and take care of the paint in the spring when it warms up? Or, should I just sell it needing a fender. I already have 2 replacement light assemblies, so I wouldn't be out the parts money there. It's literally just the fender I'd have to source. I guess what I'm asking is would I take a huge loss in the price selling the car needing a fender and paint? Opinions welcome. The car is perfectly driveable, just unsightly in that quadrant. That was the favorite W123 I've ever owned. Eh, well.

With this being as close to rust free as I can determine after crawling all over and under it (couldn't find a speck), what would this be worth realistically? I realize the later model wheels may not appeal to a purist, and if that's an issue, I can swap them for either Bundt's with tires, or the aluminum blanks with matching hubcaps. At first, I didn't care for the wheels, but they've grown on me given the color of the car.

A/C blows cold, everything in the car operates as it should.

Please advise gents...

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Before...

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

After...

Attached Thumbnails

   

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Obviously, I was upset when she first told me, but she wasn't hurt, and I'm at least thankful it was all focused tightly in the fender. Could have been much worse with the size of the animal. Still stings a bit though, ha

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Looks like a easy fix, paint/replace the fender. Not a hard job to remove/install the fender.

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Jim

I Vote to Fix

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Collector of Fine Hose Clamps
'77 240D 'AVA' is in heaven now
'80 240D Kanarienvogel
'82 300TD 343k was my daily driver 'ADOLPH' In Surgery for a severe Deer Bite to the Nose
'88 560SL 102k 'White One'

What kind of subdivision does not allow Mercedes Benz?
A BMW subdivision or worse an Audi subdivision? LOL
No offense but I wouldn't move into a community that was that communist controlled.

I would repair it now. Glad to also hear that your wife and hopefully the deer was OK. By delaying the repair there is a good possibility that additional rust will creep in. Does the car drive straight and true?

I vote she hit a body and lied to you to cover her tracks!

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

That's entirely possible... I haven't seen my father lately, haha.

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Yes, drives the same way it did. No pulling either direction.

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

The issue with the subdivision is that you cant really work on anything. So, until I find a place with some acreage to put a shop up, this place will have to do. I like the job, but this drive is killing me. I'll just buy a couple recent model cars for the wife and I for now, and start from scratch collecting Benz diesels again when I find a better place (gathering them has been a source of true enjoyment anyway, haha). I bought this house 80K under tax assessment, so I'm in it right. Not concerned about unloading it later once I find what I really want.

My question is, what would the car go for with a new painted fender, and the door repaired and painted, versus letting it go and letting the next owner get it sorted out.

Fixed? Not fixed? Ballpark, what am I looking at both ways selling it? I'm trying to get cash together to make the down payment on the house, so getting a bit here and there helps!

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D

Sorry to hear about that, I've hit quite a few of those forest rats and they've left their mark.

Really interested to hear when you start selling Benz's off, you're pretty close .

If you're selling that one on the list, let it go as it is, people here like a 'good deal' and a chance to fix things. If you're looking for max value and willing to wait for the right price on CL or fleabay, then fix it up. My .02.

-e

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Eric, CPO, Submarines, retired.
Here's a sig line...
Mine: '68 Corvette LS1/4L65E, 83 240D, 2000 GMC 4x4, 08 FLSTC Anniv
Hers: '72 Corvette 454/4spd, '99 MB SLK, '93 Metro vert, 78 240D, '92 Silverado, '65 Fjord Rustang, '59 Fjord Fairlane, '17 Slingshot.

I don't think that anyone here would be put off by the condition of the fender so much if it were to be offered up for sale.

That said, it could fetch more all cleaned up nice.


I vote stick it in storage until spring, when I can afford to buy it.

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1991 300D

They are a nuisance, no doubt about it.

I'll probably list and sell one at a time to be able to keep up with things better.

I also have parts cars, mostly and all complete (W126 short and long wheelbase) that will also be listed to buy as a car only, not parting any of them out.

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1987 300SDL #1, 1987 300SDL #2, 1980 240D, 1982 300SD, 1994 S350, 1990 350SDL, 1991 350SD, 1985 300D, 2005 E320CDI

Gone, but not forgotten: 1981 300SD, 1982 300SD, 1987 300SDL, 1983 300TD, 1980 300CD, 1981 300SD #2, 1987 300D, 1987 300TDT, 1980 300D