I'm a happy VW TDI owner planning to take the plunge into MB Diesel ownership if the financial stars align. The two cars I'm considering are these:

'87 300SDL, 150k miles. VG-E condition in all respects, trap oxidizer removed & bypassed, owned and maintained for 1/2 its life by an excellent DIY mechanic who's fixed a lot of niggling issues and identified a few more (none of them serious). Price: $7k, plus another $2k or so for e-code lights, new wheels, timing chain replacement, etc. that I'd do if I bought it.

'82 300D, 100k miles. Mint, I mean straight out of the showroom, I've never seen a car this age this clean. Stock except for replacement stereo. Maint. records not available but based on condition presumed to be maintained by the book. If there are any major systems about to fail, however, I doubt they've been touched. Price: $4500

I've driven and inspected both cars and would be happy owning either one, though I haven't had a PPI done (and I'm a mechanical layman, not expert).

I'm waiting to get some financial issues resolved to let me buy, and one of them might be gone by then. Disregarding that, I guess I'm looking for guidance on likely problems, costs, maintenance issues to look for in these cars at these ages and with this mileage. Assume very moderate mechanical ability, though willing to learn.

Thanks,
Dave