W123 BAT Records
 

I'm sure some of you have seen the recent sales on BAT but I find it to be shocking how much some of these W123s are sold for.

This wagon with 97k miles sold for 56k!:

https://i.imgur.com/6vkaZQUl.jpg

To me it is insane, and I can even spot some cancer bubbling:

https://i.imgur.com/EwMCuoQl.jpg


Even a 240d went for an insane price of 41k, albeit it had 50k miles on it:

https://i.imgur.com/PX60wH4l.jpg


I get that the wagons are rare, especially in decent condition since they were pretty much always family vehicles and they didn't make too many of them. I just find it interesting/nuts to see the price of these cars change year by year.

I wanted a wagon for a long time but I have no idea if I'll be able to snag one in the future now. It's like the popularity increased a ton recently.

Here are the links respectively:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1985-mercedes-benz-300td-turbo-36/

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-mercedes-benz-240d-25/

Time to find a car with no/little mileage history on carfax, fix it, sell it

Does that really mean the money changed hands? Lots of auctions happen but they never result in a sale. I do know that old German steel in the JYs is practically non-existent nowadays. So, maybe there’s a breakthrough for the W123s?

I'm wondering this as well, I know BAT struggled with this a lot back when they were newer but I figured they found some ways to verify their bidders as to hold them accountable. Although ebay does this and there isn't exactly anything they can do to make someone pay. They just nag you with emails I guess.

I sort of disagree with this, my observation is the reneging is happening more now than earlier. I watch most all the 90's and earlier M-B auctions, not just diesel, and have been noticing more relists due to non-paying bidders. There was even a recent 240D that went off at no reserve, then the seller refused to sell it at the ending bid:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1983-mercedes-benz-240d-30/

BaT does charge the buyer's card a fee of 5% of the initial bid (minimum of $250) if they win whether or not they follow through, so there is some financial penalty to bailing out. I think it's safe to say the car sold for the ending price, no matter how ridiculous it might seem, if the car doesn't pop back up on there within a month or so.

I bet a lot of the same discussion with the surprise and questioning of price and values was in the 911 and other Porsche forums not more than a few years ago. The supply and demand of these w123 vehicles has dramatically changed in the last 5 years. 10 years ago I would see many more on the road and many to pick from in the junk yards. The last 2-3 years its shocking when I see one on the road and even more shocking for one to pop up in a junkyard. I have a 1979 70k miles wagon and a 1982 53k miles sedan. I wondering when it is going to be the best opportunity to time the market them for sale?. Sell now or do a dope head slap when in another 2-3 years if and when that wagon with 97k miles sold for 56k is viewed as a bargain basement entry price. Not saying that will happen but other make/model/marquis have followed that pricing/value model.