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#1
04-18-2021, 07:50 AM
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Thoughs on BaT sales and value for our cars
I recently saw this 300D auction on bat for $12,750.
235K miles.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-mercedes-benz-300d-turbodiesel-20/ I know that every vehicle on BaT seems to come with a "BaT Tax" if you're going to buy something from there, but my opinion is that this sale was 2X what I would have expected anyone to pay. I'm hoping this doesn't set a precedent for what sellers are going to expect for every old W123. I've always wanted to pick up another but that's never going to happen if these are the new pricing standards. What do you guys think?
__________________
-------------------------------------------- Old Blue - 83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648 Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500 87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts. Low-ish miles..? Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD 333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 -SOLD 
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#2
04-18-2021, 08:56 AM
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Yeah I’ve noticed the prices rising in the Southern California area on Craigslist and OfferUp.
I guess all markets go up and down. Too many people want to try a diesel Mercedes during the pandemic and not enough cars to go around I guess. I do wonder how much the cars are actually moving for on Craigslist. They ask a lot but perhaps they sell for a lot less. After buying my 1985 300d in a desperate state of owner neglect for $1400, I have trouble believing there are a lot of other people wanting to immerse themselves into a back breaking project like that. It takes a certain amount of dedication or craziness. Perhaps people are getting big dreams while locked inside. The guy I bought my car from in 2018 had 0 mechanical skills. He dreamed that he’d learn and make things work but dreams don’t fix these cars. The reality of hiring somebody else to fix it hit him like MOG. He parked it. The battery drained due to a parasitic (botched stereo install). Then he sold it to me. I spent a year fixing a hundred of the little things that break on these cars. I estimate I have $20,000 of labor at shop rates sunk in it. Imagine some uninitiated person trying to face that? The mood is changing. I notice more people giving me waves, thumbs up and nods as I drive the diesels around. I guess they are starting to stand out in the sea of Toyota’s, Hyundai’s and Tesla’s in my town. All that said I think this is the time to hold or sell the cars. I hold because I love mine and I don’t need money, I need a car. BAT has always struck me as insane. It’s for people who don’t have the time to search down a car or lack the patience to wait for the right deal to come up. There is a premium for that. Just my thoughts. They are good cars but I’m not interested in paying over $5000 for one. Maybe it’s like the biodiesel craze and it’ll eventually blow over as people come to their senses.
__________________
79 300TD “Old Smokey” AKA “The Mistake” (SOLD) 82 240D stick shift 335k miles (SOLD) 82 300SD 300k miles 85 300D Turbodiesel 170k miles
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#3
04-18-2021, 08:58 AM
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A Lot of auctions go this way. There are some W123s worth that price. That one no. Its not just cars. Its been this way since when. There are deals at Auction though. One of my brothers goes to auctions. He does get some deals on stuff. One was a Marlin boll action .22. It looked new, but did not function. I think he bought it for $45 or less. Its about a $200 gun. He handed it to me to see if I could get it to work. I put the sear or cocking piece of the bolt in the correct position. It worked then.
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#4
04-19-2021, 09:16 PM
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What might also play some role is this notion of inoculating yourself against digital irreparability with a forever repairable analog car.
What this notion appears to be in denial of is the NLA parts dilemma.
__________________
'83 SD, 2x '85 SD You are entitled to your own opinions, you are not entitled to your own facts.
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#5
04-19-2021, 09:52 PM
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W123 Values
That's an interesting case as most of the really $pendy B.A.T. sales are for cosmetically cherry examples .
I think I'm close to selling my 1984 300CD , if I thought I could get $12K for it I'd prolly let it go .
__________________
-Nate 1982 240D 408,XXX miles Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better
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#6
04-19-2021, 11:16 PM
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Well I guess I just sold our 240D waaay too cheap! LOL
__________________
1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.
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#7
04-20-2021, 01:23 AM
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The fact is it costs a lot of money to maintain and store a 37 year old car. For rust free examples, there comes a time when they don't give them away anymore. If it is a running and working example it goes on BAT, if it is not a running example it goes to the wrecking yard.
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#8
04-20-2021, 04:04 AM
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Quote:
Also, I sold my Ponton in a decent condition rust free, on BaT and got under $9k. Baffles me that a high mile 123 is worth more. Perhaps it's the maintenance records that I lacked.
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#9
04-20-2021, 08:05 AM
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Value is one point but availability is another.
In this area just a couple years ago you had you pick of decent specimens to choose from on CL in various price ranges. W123's and W126's were a plenty. That is no longer the case. Glad I got my W123 when I did.
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#10
04-20-2021, 08:30 AM
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I've noticed this as well. There is nothing worth buying locally. The only thing I can see myself buying is some salvage low mileage W123 that has been in an accident but otherwise has good parts. These mostly show up on copart in CA lol.
__________________
-------------------------------------------- Old Blue - 83 240D 6 speed manual trans, OM648 Green Machine - 2001 Europa G500 87 300SDL Bought on Peachparts. Low-ish miles..? Family Truckster - 2012 VW Touareg TDI Patchouli Wagon - 2004 E500 - SOLD 333k mile 97 BMW 750il V12. - SOLD The Californian - 85 300TD - SOLD Daily Super Sedan - 03 Audi S8 -SOLD
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#12
04-20-2021, 10:00 AM
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As One Old Timer Said .....
Way back when I was young : 'kid, you're selling the sizzle, not the steak' .
He was right, I always concentrate on the mechanical end of things .
__________________
-Nate 1982 240D 408,XXX miles Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better
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#13
04-20-2021, 10:56 AM
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I was wondering when this subject would come up. These cars are now in the classic category just like square box suburbans and 12 valve Cummins Dodge pickups. All great rigs and people are finally waking up to their durability and repairability......IF YOU CAN FIX THEM YOURSELF. Otherwise they can be money pits and forget it if you can't fix them yourself. MB are always said to be million mile cars...NOT! unless they are maintained! Thery have indeed almost vanished from CL except for way overpriced units.
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#14
04-20-2021, 11:23 PM
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The music business brings us the right idea. Many musical instrument manufacturers are now making re-issues of vintage instruments. Mercedes needs to remake the mighty W123, W124 and W126 line.
PERHAPS THE BEST CARS EVER BUILT, NOW BUILD THEM AGAIN. I know I'd be the first to plunk down my coin for a new 300D!!
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#15
04-21-2021, 07:41 AM
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