Selling my '85 190D stick shift, should I paint first?
 

I'm going to sell one of my Mercedes, the 1985 190D 2.2 stick shift with about 148k miles on it. Mechanically, it is perfect, as well as the interior. However the clear coat is pealing off quite drastically making the car look terrible. Should I pay the expense to have it repainted before listing it for sale, or just let it go as is?

And if I can ask, where would be the best place to sell it? Not many people understand and appreciate a stick shift diesel, (present company excluded), especially one that is a 31-years old.

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

Those are always tough calls. If the rest of the car is as good as you say, an inexpensive paint job might be a good idea. Many people are incapable of seeing the potential. But, it's probably unlikely that you would recoup the cost of a first-rate paint job. My auto body guy would charge a solid $1750.

Where more specifically than "Laurentia" are you located?

Thanks for the feedback. I'm in SoCal, but moving to Idaho when I retire next summer.

While I'm not sure what the market is like around you. But in my neck of the woods you would never recoup your money... The 2.2 isn't exactly a sought after model as far the diesels go.

Have to agree with everyone else. Even a Maaco paint job could help it sell, but there's not a snowball's chance you would recover any of your cost. Best is to keep it and drive the wheels off, otherwise sell it as a "transportation" car for whatever you can get. If you keep it for long term use, you can paint it not care the cost. Don

Yeah, it's pretty gutless. About the same power as my original 50cc scooter back in my teen years. Pretty nice once you're up to speed, but getting there takes 'forever'. And, heaven help me if there is a long hill ahead.

Main reason for selling the 190D is because I really can't fit inside comfortably. I'm 6'3" tall and the 190 body is made for people 6' and shorter. I went to the junk yard and got the seat bucket from a newer model. One that will raise and lower. Even at the lowest position, I still have to recline the seat back too far for my liking. It works, but it really is too small for me. Shame because I really like the manual transmission. Sometimes I play a little game when coming to a stop. If I plan it right, and have enough room in front of me without anyone behind me, I can actually come to a complete stop by downshifting at the appropriate time.

Driving it until the wheels fall off means that I'll be driving it until I become worm bait. These diesels last 'forever', and at only 148k miles, it is just now getting broken in.

Maybe I should sell the coupe instead. The 300CE. Nothing wrong with that one either. I just have too many cars since I purchased my new Idaho car last week.

It is not like yours is the only 20+ yr old car w/ a bad clear-coat. You should see all the 1990's cars here sunny CA in the parking lots that look terrible. But not as bad as the 1990's ones w/ peeling topcoat (new primer solvents had issues) or the 1980's ones where the primer didn't stick to the then-new galvanized sheet-metal.

Not an expert, but I don't think you can just paint over a failing clear-coat and have it last long, so you would be making problems for the next owner. The clear-coat is almost off all the horizontal surfaces on my 1985. People say these cars weren't today's basecoat/clear-coat, but rather more of a final coat w/ clear-coat, so once the clear-coat is all gone you can buff the remaining paint and use it. I have kept mine presentable by scraping the loose clear-coat off and sanding w/ 1000 grit, then wax. That lasts ~1 year until I need to scrape more. My 1984's clear-coat is also going, but since a white car it is barely noticeable.

Wrong thread...sorry.

Really I would love to own one, because of the fuel mileage but like the OP I wouldn't fit...I would need two, one for each foot....Losing a foot and 100lbs....I would love to have one....reminded me of trying to get in a MG at the junk yard....had to lift the roof off to get in....

In all reality it would just be a beater car for someone, so I am in the same category....don't paint it....but a cheap o macco job may appeal it more to the folks looking to own a mercedes for the name....but the you have to be able to find a person able to drive a stick shift.....fun but not many newer generations can drive a stick....specially out in Cali....shesh getting to the point folks can't even start a car with out a "start" button lol

Very interesting! I'm in the Antelope Valley and the sun has really attacked the paint on the 190. I'll try your trick. Just might be good enough, especially if I start parking in the garage.

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shertex, I think you meant to post what you did in a different thread.

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cooljjay, yeah. Dontcha know that a manual transmission is one of the most effective anti-theft devices in SoCal?

haha that's the truth.....first they have to post a photo of it on Instagram and wait for a response back to know "what" it is :P

Have you considered a 602 transplant?

What I would say is if you are going to paint, take a lot, and I mean a lot, of photographs to show you are not hiding anything.

Another suggestion is put it on Idaho and Oregon, that latter having those folks who more prone to buy a diesel. ;)

I bought my Mercedes from Oregon and shipped it to California, then drove it here to Arizona. In your case, you might be taking it up to Idaho.

Hope this helps! :D

Was shopping a lot recently, and bad paint out here is both painfully common and completely relegated to beater status. I looked at a ton of CL ads... and the ones that ended quick all had passable paint (and A/C :rolleyes: ).

I did see a "miracle" clear coat product a while back... some thin coating that bought you a couple months... long enough to sell. Only offered for lighter colors though, what color is your ride?

If you repaint, a potential buyer may ask what is hidden under the new paint. ( Rust / dents ) Sometimes a honest but worn car has more value than something obviously freshly painted up.

Old MBs are a very narrow market but I'd expect someone that really wants one of these cars won't be put off by bad paint.