Time to say goodbye
 

Our 1987 300D has served us faithfully for 22 years, and while still chugging along it needs much work. We bought a VW Golf Sportwagen TDI to replace her. Among the things she needs, AC, although the compressor is not very old, the system will not hold pressure and I do not know where the leak is. The suspension is probably in need of parts as we have never done anything to it except brakes, the clear coat is peeling and the transmission leaks, although very slight and it needs shift bushings. She has around 180K on the clock and a new battery, and in the garage (to fix the sun damage from the rear and front windows) I have a new rear deck with first aid kit and brake light, new rear head rests, new rear pillar coverings, a new shift console cover and new visors. (I don't mean factory new, but perfect, used parts) The seats and headliner are good and the body is straight with zero rust (Arizona car). The dash has been covered and is good, pods replaced a few years ago, vacuum pump replaced with caged before it came apart.
Problem is I don't have a clue what to ask for this car, or if anyone would even want it. I would like to see it go to a member who wants to restore it, or needs the parts or the rust/dent free body. Any ideas? I know there is a for sale forum but I wanted to get some ideas here.

You do realize that outside of the trans leak, most of that stuff is fairly easily fixable and well documented, right? Unfortunately, she's not worth a ton of money...

You'll regret selling it, also W124 suspension is CHEAP compared to the W126/W140/W123.

Yes I do except the paint and the AC could easily cost 2-3 times what the car is worth.....I'd pretty much give it away to someone who wants to fix her up.

It's time to for me to road trip to Arizona lol

Do it dude! I wished I could. I’d fly down and drive it back.

Please do not think the car looks like the pic, that pic is 20 years old. Still no dents but peeling bad.

Hell, long as the engine runs better than OM603 in my SDL I'm okay with that.

Part out the SDL and get this car. The use the money from the part out to get a maaco paint job on this car.

I traded a W124 for a brand new VW Sportwagen TDI 6 speed....after 9k miles I traded it back and went for an 8 year older 110k miles on it W203 gasser wagon....great car for the 50k+ miles I had it, no failures on anything! Traded that in for my Metris van half a year ago...love it, going to keep it forever as long as it holds up. So far so good!

My TDI wagon was a servicing/repairs nightmare, and it was brand new, I hope yours does better! If yours is the "golf" version is that a 2015? Thats the next generation from what I had (a 2013) so maybe its better.

If AC is your biggest worry and you're about to sell out anyways.... Get some soapy water in a spray bottle, then shoot some compressed air into the system. If you use a manifold/gauges/charging hose it'll make life easier. Maybe you'll get off easy and find a giant leak somewhere visible.
If ya find nothing then... the system is already open and you're selling out anyways. And... if you find/fix the leak on the cheap, toss in a new rec/dryer, get a HF vac pump, then try to find some R12. I hear Freeze 12 also works, but it's definitely not the same thing

Yes the 2015 MK7. (EA-288 engine) It is an engineering marvel:D Seriously though I haven't seen anyone report any major problems yet plus VW extended the emissions warranty to 162,000 miles and the power train warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles.

Fix the mechanical, remove all that should come off to paint and throw a cheap paint job on it. Probably $1000-1500 but you'd have a car you like more than a $1500 car. I've seen several at car shows with really good looking paint from any of the McPaint places.

I know a couple people who bought those and they have liked them so far (other than the leaky sunroofs lol). I doubt many will see 300k miles though, I know someone who had one briefly that had about 250k and it still sorta ran but it was already worn out beyond being able to be repaired for cheaper than just buying a new one.

I got the "S", no sunroof. I am too tall for a sun roof, takes up headroom. This is the roomiest small car I have ever driven, I drove 1,000 miles over Christmas and no back/leg issues whatsoever. The MPG is phenomenal. I love the car and it didn't cost very much at all. I really don't have time to fix up the 300 and I would rather see it go to someone who does.