I posted this over in the Cars for Sale section but havent gotten any hits on it. I think this is a better place for the question anyway I may be selling my Mercedes and I am trying to find a fair price. Its an 81 300D with 286k on the clock. The motor and trans were rebuilt by a mercedes tech 50k ago. No smoke, great shifts and good power. It has new tires on the rear and 1 year old tires on the front. A/C works and has been converted to 134a with a new compressor. Within the last year it has recieved the following:New starter, new glow plugs, new center bearing for drive shaft, new fuel lines under hood, rebuilt push button unit, rebuilt cruise amp, new motor mounts, new tranny mount, new pads and rotors on front. The minus points are non-functional auto door locks, ripped pass side seat, ugly carpet, and NJ rust. The pass side jack point has rot. The driver side door has some rot and the driver side fender has some rot. PO installed new floors in the rear a few years back and front floors are fine. I run this car every day for about 100 miles. Very reliable and rides great. I used all winter long(bad NE winter) and never plugged it in once. I will be putting a for sale sign on it and Im looking for some advice about price. Im thinking about asking 1200 and taking 1000. Any advice very much appreciated!
Thanks!

I think you could ask for a higher price, given that the engine and transmission have recently been rebuilt. Of course eventually the price will come down to what people are willing to pay and body condition plays a big role, but it's better to set the initial price a little higher. You can always come down on the price, but you can't come up. Try, say $1900.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Wow, i guess perhaps I under valued it a bit. Then again, In this forum we all love Mercedes and perhaps put a higher price on them than your average person In any case, would EBay be a smarter option then the driveway? I would obviusly like to get as much as posible but I have never sold a car on ebay. Is it more trouble than its worth? Again, any and all opinions very much appreciated!

Endust,

I just purchased my 82 300D Turbo with 287K on the original everything and, like yours, brake pads(front & rear) replaced, cold AC, some minor rust, driven approx 100 miles a day, interior good shape with some torn items and cracked dash parts, glow plugs replaced, oil changed, all new filters, all locks work, all power works, shifts great, auto climate control working, good tread left on tires, and The only thing not working was the Cruise Control. All of this I got on April 14, 2003 for $1000 when they were asking $1200 OBO. I have attached this picture so you can see what I got. My point is I got what I feel is an extremely SWEET deal. Ask for more then go down from there.

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If it was me, I would start out at $2500-$3000 and see what happens from there. Maybe go as low as $1500, but I don't really know what MB's go for in New Jersey...

I'd say $2000 max. Body rot is a deal killer IMHO. Mechanical things are easy to fix by comparison. Body rot is tough to fix well enough for it not to return and there aren't many people who have the skills, tools and time to do what it takes to make it right. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

To some degree, it depends on what part of the country you are in. In the Rust Belt states, where any 20 year old car is gonna be rusty, you might find somebody willing to pay a kilobuck or so. In Texas, NM, AZ, etc where 20 year old cars have no rust at all, you could hardly give a rusty one away as a parts car.

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Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE

Endust, as far as whether Ebay is worth trying, I'd recommend you to take a look at it to see what other MB's are selling for in your part of the country. Since these cars are relatively cheap, Ebay might get you a good price. However for selling newer, more expensive cars I feel Ebay is a waste of time.

I might also add that I bought my 82 300D with a few small dents, faded paint in some places and without the rear window but otherwise in great condition mechanically for just a $1000, although their original asking price was $2800 before the window got damaged. I'd say I got an unusually good deal.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

I don't think you were too far off on the price, given rust. In minnesota there is bunches o' rust too. I would give 1200 for the car, but I would be buying it as a parts car, not for driving very much longer. -Andy

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles

I don't think you were too far off on the price, given rust. In minnesota there is bunches o' rust too. I would give 1200 for the car, but I would be buying it as a parts car, not for driving very much longer. I got a rusty but running 300d with no records off ebay a couple years ago for $600. The car was in rough shape, but the engine and trans. are in my daily driver now and the carcass is slowly going away via ebay. -Andy

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andy t
'78 300d
'95 volvo 850, wagon
'86 300sdl - engine out, maybe I'll have it rolling by June

whole bunch o' bicycles