#1 option- flip, fold, and removable rear seats

I wish the one touch turn signals would blink for 4-5 blinks instead of 3

Yep. Vw has had this since standard since 1992 at least, my first diesel Jetta. It's always pissed me off mb couldn't do this.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

I've been searching on the MB used car site for the past couple of months. I'd not had any luck finding what I wanted locally and, living in NH, I was hoping to get a southern car that hadn't already been through 10 New England winters anyway.

I found the car at the MB dealer in Asheville, NC. The salesman I worked with was very accommodating with service records, extra photos, and questions. Flew down last Friday evening; test-drove, inspected, and purchased the car Saturday morning. Drove it home by Sunday afternoon. The trip was great -- the car is fast, quiet, and smooth.

Some details:
130K miles
White with beige leather
Heated seats
Rear sunshade
In-dash CD changer
New tires
New MB battery
Religious, documented dealer servicing, including transmission fluid change at ~100K miles, regular brake flushes
Incredibly clean for 10 years old -- only one minor paint blemish and the headlight lenses badly need polishing

Asking price was $14,900. I paid $12K.

Now, sadly, I must part with the 82 300D...

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

Congrats. Welcome to Realisticlally priced 211 cdi club. You'll get over your loss pretty quick I suspect. Why do you have to part with it? A back up car is handy. It will pay for itself in the long run. You could get antique tags for your 82 and insurance for your 82 300d

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

I'd love to keep the 300D, but I already have a backup vehicle (old pickup truck) and unfortunately I don't have the garage/driveway space for the truck, my wife's car, and two MBs...

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)

You don't have to hold the key in the start position either!

Yes, it is! It would take forever to get heat otherwise. This past winter my CDI often required up to 10 minutes of highway
driving to warm up (thermostat is recent & functioning), but was producing heat within only 1-2 minutes!

BTW, if your temp gauge never reaches 85-90C, replace the thermostat.

The vehicle itself regardless of options is really great....well designed and MB build quality.

My favorite options or convenience features (that I have) are:

Sun roof (this was not standard), Dynamic seats, bi-Xenon head lights, Nappa leather, fold down rear seats, residual heat, heated seats, HK stereo (has surround sound logic built in), Parktronic and electric truck closer.

The TPM (Tire Pressure Monitor) and oil level monitor (TPM was optional....later mandated by feds?) is a nice feature.

Options not experienced firsthand would include seat ventilation and panoramic roof. I am not sure how much I would use ventilation. Pano sounds really nice but I have read about problems with them and they are potentially VERY expensive to repair.

Trunk is huge and my wife can fit a Cello in hard case in back without seats being folded. Lots of power....very comfortable on long road trips.

Vehicle seems to be well designed for routine maintenance.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Cool. Its about time they got smart about making heat early. Its not like its a hard thing to engineer.

I'm learning to use the one touch on the start on the 210 and 211. I kind of like it. I noticed in the winter it does take a while to warm up but it does hit 85 or 90C perfect. And heat seems to be made earlier. However, I was looking at getting a new heater control valve as I was getting only cold air sometimes and that is a common problem and they sell two versions on pelicanparts . One says: "Not for cars with auxillary heater - Code 208" and one is for cars with auxillary heater . I sent them my vin to check the epc and they said I didn't have code 208.

So what auxillary heater are they talking about? Could that be the "REST" function? I don't have that. That would make sense as that would effect the monovalve. I thought the rest feature on the 210 was really cool and couldn't believe they took it away on this new one. Although honestly i didn't use it much.

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

So you have a REST button like the 210s have? Where is it? That is cool. Wish i had that. The surround sound is nice. But mine and my sisters both have the center speaker kind of blown. Anyone else have that problem? Any recommendations for a new center speaker?

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What Would Rudolph Do?
1975 300D, 1975 240D, 1985 300SD, 1997 300D, 2005 E320 , 2006 Toyota Prius

I am not familiar with the W210 but assume from comments made by others it is the same function.....keeps heat circulating for up to 30 minutes once engine shut off. It was discontinued early during the 2005 model year production....perhaps at same time they went to center console with roll top.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

The complete history of your car is priceless when buying it.

There is a commonality that is unavoidably mounting here. The used CDIs bought from Mercedes-Benz dealers are over-the-top better values from the standpoint of transparency, care and maintenance histories.

When Tyler cited his new-to-him CDI's history, I was blown away that an MB dealer would sell a CDI with those miles on it - until I read the care the car received over those one-owner years of ownership. Miles alone do not hurt these cars. The previous neglect and shoddy care of them does hurt them.

The Freeh Cousins, Tim and Jim are also recent recipients of outstanding used CDIs from MB dealers, bought through Tyler. Their testimonials are elsewhere in Diesel Discussion.

I'm very glad I bought mine from an MB dealer that originally sold it new, would accept my offer under book values, and had over-the-top records, care and transparency included in the sale. In almost (2) years of ownership, my CDI has required only one servicing for a single glow plug. The rest of the service work done since buying it, has either been totally routine maintenance, or pre-emptive care spending. Mine has proven to be a cream puff.

As far as I'm concerned, Tyler gets the Gold Star for value on this thread with his particular outstanding CDI.

Definitely is an example that high mileage examples are good buys as well.

Wouldn't hesitate to buy a 400k example as long as all maintenance had been done and it was well cared for.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Absolutely.

The LINKED-TO 400K+ mile '05 E320 CDI w/records and a 100% clean Carfax in terrific condition which sold in the $4Ks, set the benchmark Nationally for me.

Do you have pics? Sounds nice and good price. Seems like MB dealers are definitely willing to negotiate on these. I really think in some areas of the country, diesels really have a limited market.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Here's a shot from when I first got it home.

Attached Thumbnails

 

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05 E320 CDI - 175K miles
82 300D - 200K miles (sold)