I decided to pass on looking at the original car I posted. We were too far apart on price. I don't want to waste anyone's time. I really need to decide what I want also. I don't know for sure if I want to go back into W123 land. I think if there's doubt, I shouldn't. There's just nothing that excites me for a car in the 3-5K range. Maybe an 05 E320. I know....diesel forum.

Thanks for the replies nonetheless.

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RT


1984 300D---Sold
1995 E420 - 106K - Brilliant Silver Metallic/Orion Gray --- Sold
1984 300SD - 151K Manganese Brown Metallic/Mostly Black --- Sold
1982 240D - 79K - Manila Beige/Palomino---Sold

Well, with a little more telephone negotiating, I am back to checking it out tomorrow. He reeled me back in.

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RT


1984 300D---Sold
1995 E420 - 106K - Brilliant Silver Metallic/Orion Gray --- Sold
1984 300SD - 151K Manganese Brown Metallic/Mostly Black --- Sold
1982 240D - 79K - Manila Beige/Palomino---Sold

Looks to be a solid W123, although the salvage title I personally would steer away from especially if you plan on ever reselling. To get a good one of these cars for a good price you really just have to camp on craigslist and be patient. Anything that's been up for a while isn't going to be that good of a deal/car.

If you're in a rush to get in the game try to get that car but for cheap. I think the way things are going right now you could find a really nice one for not much in the near future.

I also watch the greater LA area W123 market pretty regularly. My view is that prices have come down a lot over the past couple years since I bought mine. You still see some popping up at higher prices (high 4s/5s), but also some good-looking specimens in the high 2s/3s range.

If he'll come down on the price and everything else checks out, then jump on it. But otherwise, I think if you wait around a bit, you'll be able to find something just as good or better at a good price.

You might be surprised with a non-turbo acceleration. The 3.46 gearing helps with a good running 617 and it could be faster than some turbo 617's out there.

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

Well that didn't go well.

Car is beautiful. Not a spec of rust anywhere. Not a show car by any means, but a solid 7.5/10 looks wise. The car was repainted and I really dislike when they don't paint it the original color, although I loved the blue color that was chosen. One thing that stood out were the bundts...they looked amazing. There was some evidence of an accident. Some gaps near the passenger headlights not present on the drivers side, and some misalignment on the drivers rear side. AC actually did work. Long hesitation into reverse. Took it for a test drive and it ran well. The valves had just been adjusted and a tranny service had been done. It shifted well at WOT, but pulled very hard to the right. Could just be an alignment, but combined with the probable accident and the salvaged title I felt a bit uneasy already.

The biggest drawback is the SEAT! I forgot how uncomfortable the seats in a W123 are for me. It's been probably 6 or 7 years since I sat in one.

Then I talked to the mechanic who was supposed to do the PPI. He heard salvage and pulls to the right, and said I might want to save the PPI cost. He also said that he really can't tell without a proper machine if the frame is completely straight. I kept going back to the salvage title, the undocumented history, the probable accident, and those SEATS. I also kept seeing the warnings on here to run away from the salvaged title in my head also.

I couldn't do it.

I had him to 3K, too.

I now know for certain that I don't want to go to W123 land again. I felt a little bad, but I drove an hour and he only drove 15 minutes to meet me. He was enraged. Cussing at both the mechanic and myself. It got a little ugly. I apologized to the mechanic and went home. Thanks for all the advice guys. I appreciate it.

__________________
RT


1984 300D---Sold
1995 E420 - 106K - Brilliant Silver Metallic/Orion Gray --- Sold
1984 300SD - 151K Manganese Brown Metallic/Mostly Black --- Sold
1982 240D - 79K - Manila Beige/Palomino---Sold

What the hell? You're not obligated to buy the car. You shouldn't feel bad, he should.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

More evidence of the price of these cars being way over priced. Listed at 5 and worth less than 3.

But ya from what I understood the first time I read the add you posted that the guy stated not only is it just a salved title, it is a salvage. By that quote I assumed he was saying it has been in a major accident and rebuilt.

If it was just totaled by a bumper ding or something I don't think he wouldn't of stated that second detail

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I guess I felt bad because I really was considering buying it for a minute. A better salesman might have been able to sell me that car. I'd like not to think that, but it might have happened. It made me really miss my first ever Mercedes. The 1984 300D. I don't remember the seats being so bad in that one, but it's been close to 15 years since a divorce forced the sale of that one. Maybe its not the 15 years on the car, but the 15 years on me. Can't buy a car based on nostalgia. Anyway, I do love these cars, but it might be time to move on....or just find a really good one. Anyway, I'm still itching for a Benz. 3-5K. My son will be learning to drive soon and he likes them. Might be nice to teach him the little that I know. Sorry for the rant. Thanks for watching the brief drama. Thanks for the best section of the forum.

__________________
RT


1984 300D---Sold
1995 E420 - 106K - Brilliant Silver Metallic/Orion Gray --- Sold
1984 300SD - 151K Manganese Brown Metallic/Mostly Black --- Sold
1982 240D - 79K - Manila Beige/Palomino---Sold

Don’t feel too bad, the fact that you set up a PPI means you weren’t just a tire kicker.

I’ve also had people get mad at me because I didn’t immediately agree to buy a 38 year old car. One guy in particular had to drive 10 minutes to meet me, so maybe it’s a sales tactic? Maybe it’s regional here in SoCal?

Good luck on finding your new wheels!

What a mess. Both the car and the owner