I've been MB shopping...

I have been Benz shopping.
I found a '80 300D, automatic, less than 50,000 miles (47000 I think), very minor parking lot rash, otherwise slick. He is asking $5500 but says so far no takers. Is this too much?
Also, I found a '72 250, automatic. I know, I know, spark-ignited (gasp), around 80,000 miles, and slick. He wants $4500. Is this too much?

It was owned by a little old lady.

[speedy300Dturbo]

If it runs well and the interior is PERFECT, I'd say it's a decent price.

[CBGraves]

Be sure and check the odometer. I've seen several that only seemed to work occasionally or not at all. 50K miles on a 23yr old car sounds too good to be true. If you are really serious about the car you might also get a car fax report. It won't give you the whole history but you might uncover something fishy. Did the "little ol' lady" keep any maintenance records?

[kerry]

My 77 300d had 51k original on it when I bought it last year. It's possible. Mine belonged to the wife of a couple that used it as a second car after the first few years of ownership. Records confirmed the mileage. You must decide what it is worth to you. It would probably be worth that to me.

How can a 20 year old car in Texas have only 50K miles? West Texas is 200 miles from nowhere. I lived in San Angelo growing up and we always racked up mileage when we needed to go somewhere. Unless it's a one owner I would suspect the mileage. I can replace the speedo cluster in an early 80's car and give it any mileage I want. I bought a 300D last year for $500 with 43K on the odo. Only thing was this car was on it's third speedometer. The other two speedo's had broken down at around 180K each. The owner was honest and told me he did not know the mileage. If you found a collector car in very, very good condition I might go $5K. If the rubber is drying out and the paint is fair, consider 4K. Particularly if the car is in need of maintenance.

[Mike123]

What is the cutoff on Carfax reports? I got reports last year on a 1981 and 1982.

I'm starting to think really low mileage diesels are trouble. Diesels like to be driven.. if you can find an excellent example even with high mileage that the owner takes care of and drives.. I would pick that over a car with a low odometer reading.

[BoostnBenz]

Miles really don't matter that much to me, just the motor condition. My 84 has 84k miles more on it than my 83, but the 84 doesn't burn hardly anything, where as the 83 I suspect burns a couple qts. per oil change. However after buying the 84, then the 83 I've decided no matter which car I get next (W124?) it will be a southern car. Everything on the 83 is rusted so it is hard to work on, while the 84 is almost a dream to work on.

I would also be concerned of the seals if a car was parked that much. Myself, I would also like having a turbo in my 300D.

Jeff M.

[sixto]

Too much is in the eye of the spender.

Maybe look at it from the standpoint of what else you can get for $4500. You can probably get a really nice 84 300Dt or 84 300SD. Not 50K mile cars, but 150K mile cars aren't necessarily ready to be southern lawn ornaments either.

That's not to politically incorrect, is it?

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[mechmagcn]

Hey Sixto, I resemble that remark. It always helps to keep a few parts cars around when you are driving something thats 20 plus years old.
Jeff

[sixto]

Jeff,

I do it the more stylish west coast way -- I keep the 91 300SE around in case the SD or SDL don't feel up to it

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD