Looking at '95 E300 Diesel (non-turbo)
 

This car is sitting in my neighbor's field. It was running a year ago. 122k It seems like it mostly has cosmetic issues, according to a guy I trust who drove it then (complicated story).

Anyway- what do you folks think of this model?

A couple things I noticed: it seems to have an airbag where the glove box would be, and no glove box? Really?

Also, it seems to have less headroom than my '83 240D and '85 300D. But the seat was not rolled back all the way (no battery in it) so maybe it gets lower as it goes back. I'm 6'2" and need headroom.

The clearcoat is really messed up, but I think the black paint underneath may be ok? I gave it a once over and didn't see any rust at all- even looking underneath, but there is probably some somewhere.

No price has been discussed yet. I'm thinking $1000 range.

Here is a pic:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/oqmho20edb...19.39.jpg?dl=1
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wnbocp5xcj...14.23.jpg?dl=1

The 95 E300 is one of the best cars MB ever built in my opinion. There are a few minor warts but once they are behind you it is all good. It will eventually need a new engine wiring harness and maybe a head gasket.

Why do you like this year? I guess '95 is the last year before ODB2? And is that a good thing?

I read something about biodegradable wire insulation. WTF? Is that why I might need a wiring harness.

The guy that drove it a year ago said he recalled some fuel leak somewhere around the top of the engine. Maybe the diesel return lines? This has the crazy manifold over the top so kinda hard to get to the injectors.

What is the performance of these non-turbo models, and mileage?
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0ylc24uks...21.17.jpg?dl=1

If it runs and not a rust bucket, leaking fluids, at a grand grab it.
Yep no glove box there,
I like mine, not a luxury model, but that was not what I was looking for. Non turbo, thanks EPA, for nothing.

The seller is 80 years old and has a yard full of variously messed up cars that he bought at auction, and generally wants wayyy too much for anything. But we'll see.

Get it. Offer $800 and see what he says.

122k miles is nothing. I gave my youngest son one and I think it has about 340k miles on it now. 122k is nothing on these cars.

Regarding WTF - the biodegradable harness was to satisfy the environmental folks. New ones are not the same. Easy to replace but the part is about $700 last time I bought one. I'm sure someone with good wiring skills could rebuild one.

What part of the world is it in?

I just spoke with the guy who knows the seller- he is crotchety and would get angry at an offer of $1000. So, I'll see how things are looking next year and offer something higher after I put a battery on it and get it started. If it runs mostly, perhaps $2000 or more. Car is in northern VA and is not advertised anywhere.

Regarding the wiring harness- I'm an electronics guy and I could certainly replace the wire. I wonder how hard it is to remove the harness?

Not hard at all. I am of the opinion it is more cumbersome to deal with the intake manifold than the harness (once the intake manifold is out of the way).

$1000 for a car that has been sitting in a field and hasn't run for a year? And has paint that looks that awful? That's nuts. I wouldn't pay more than about $250 for this car i.e. scrap value. The pile of seeds on the plastic engine cover tells me rodents have been living in here, likely chewing up wiring and vacuum lines, and corroding things with their acidic urine.

You'll spend $3000 in parts and countless hours of your time fixing this car up, and in the end, you'll have a car that's worth $1000 and still looks like crap.