Overpriced sellers and junk

[jake12tech]

Been trying to find a less than perfect, but acceptable w124 diesel. Almost impossible it seems these days. Not expecting cream puffs that are between 24-31 years old but it seems these cars are all about trashed these days or people want $8500 for their clean 300D and I just don’t see something like that worth more than $3k on a good day. Here’s yesterday events

Craigslist Prospect #1 92 300D 2.5 270k miles. Looks a bit ugly first impression, nothing a good wet sand and buff couldn’t clean up. Clean interior. $1600 obo.

Upon arrival, see the car. Rust everywhere, quarters fenders doors, sunroof is about to rust a hole and the sunroof is calked shut. There’s sheet metal self tapped holding up the headliner. There’s some toggle switch mounted on the vent with wires zip tied running to the fuse box. Guy who’s showing it to me says “it might start”. Turn key, glows. Zero crank. Vents blow out hot air except the two centers that blow nothing. Threw him the key and he said you want it? $1300 no less. I said scrap it, it doesn’t even run and it’s rusted everywhere! The ODO read 380000 not 270. What a joke!

Car #2. 95 E300 345k miles. Looks REAL clean in pictures. $2500
Lifter noise, head gasket leaks oil, block heater cord has two extensions and flops around near the fan shroud. Wiring harness looks a mess like someone rewired it running to the shut off valve. Hole in wheel well. Rear brakes shot. Shifts super smooth but kind of kicks into the next gear and just slips in. Tires about to blow out from dry rot.

Brake lines ran and crimped super hard at the rear wheel it looked like it was going to break. Water in coolant system. Muffler is rubbing the control arm and safety wire hung it up. Vibrates hard when driving at low speeds. Subframe mounts are rusting. Injectors are shot and puffing white smoke at idle, reeks of diesel.

Guy asks me what it’s worth and I told him about 7-800$. He says I’ll throw it on eBay they’re going for $4-5k. The paint was great on the car and hid everything but that was about it. Maybe Stevie wonder would buy it for $5k.


So I’m getting to the point is there any diamonds in the rough out there anymore or just overpriced garbage and unrealistic sellers? Looked at a few besides this. I saw a 92 with 90k miles for $8500 on Craigslist