Would it be a better buy to get a mint 300td 84' garage kept and well maintained with 100k for $13,000 or a 300td 84' with 240k in ok condition for $2000 with the idea of rebuilding it?

Depends on your idea of rebuilding. You'll spend more than $11,000 getting a $2,000 240K mile TD to the condition of a pampered $13,000 100K mile TD, and you won't have the resale or insurable value. The thing is, $13,000 for any 1984 300TD is a questionable use of money (unless it's John Lenon's or Elvis'). To put it in perspective, you can buy two good W124 300TDs for $13,000. Not that you would, but you really have to want that specific 300TD to pay $13,000 for it. Put in another perspective, you can get a 94 S500 with 130K miles for $13,000. Again, not that you would.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Also depends on your definition of "well maintained" . If it has all new front and rear suspension (ball joints, etc), new flex discs, support bearing, brake hoses, windshield/back glass rubber, motor mounts, oilcooler hoses, tranny lines (you get the idea), then it may be worth it. If it just means they changed the oil then it's a 20 year old time bomb. There are many items that rot due to age rather than mileage and regardless of "care".Take the sound fixer-upper. But its good to find one with good seats, dash, carpet and wood because THOSE items can be very pricey

Rick

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Take the 94 S500 for $13K! Sixto, isn't it ironic that in today's lease and throwaway society that a $90K car still looking new can depreciate to $13K in 8-9 years? I have been perusing Ebay listings for a 3rd car and I have noticed that 90's MB Diesels sell for much more than their gas counterparts. Ricci, I would never pay $13K for that car. Keep in mind that you want a daily driver, not a collector car. That should keep you from paying too much for a car. Also diesels are NEVER a collector car. That appreciating status if for low production convertibles and coupes which are fast and rare.

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Thanks, That confirmed that my instict to be patient and wait until I find one with relatively low miles in good working condition. Not to mention, I dont have 13k and to rebuild an entire car is a daunting prospect. Patience is the hard one. My list of criteria is limiting me.
82' - 85' w123 300td with relitively low miles, well maintained, no rust, good interior with no bad odor, etc... a wagon that basically needs nothing. How much should I expect to pay for a car like that?
Vaj

I paid $3200 for my 85 300td with about 135K (the odometer had broken in the recent past and showed 124k). It needed a few vacuum repairs in the vents but no rust and runs fine. Wait for a better priced one. Keep looking in your local papers, Auto Trader, Cars.com Ebay, etc. I found mine at a local Chrysler dealer where it had been traded in(even though I was looking nationally). It was mislisted as a 190 wagon on Cars.com. They knew absolutely nothing about diesels and wanted to get rid of it.
There have been a couple in our local paper in the last few months at less than 5k. There was an immaculate Burgandy colored one whose owner I saw on the street and talked to . They wanted 8700 and I thought that was too high even though it was beautiful.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

This whole thing started with seeing a wagon like this outside a local cafe.
My wife looked at me and said "wow, look at that!" We have since been looking all over for one. We recently drove an 85'. After that, Our 98' corolla
has lost its appeal. Its a great car but it doesn't hold a candle. Any way, we learned of this forum from Jim Smith after inquiring about a wagon that he sold on ebay not too long ago and have found it to be a valuable resource.
If anyone hears of a good 300td for sale I wood appretiate a heads up.
Thanks, Vajra

Right first name - wrong last name.

The fella that purchased the wagon has since joined this forum. In emails with him he is very pleased with the car. I turned it over to him last Saturday morning around 10 am and he arrived back home at a quarter past midnite Sunday morning, stopping only for fuel/food and such.

__________________
Jim

ricci, for you:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2416935848&category=6330

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

You'd have to be a total die-hard W123 freak to pay $13k for one. That's way overpriced unless it's your wet dream car. As others mentioned, you can get a LOT more car, in EXCELLENT shape, for way less money. Shoot, I'd sell you my white 87 for $10k, it's perfect in & out except it needs a head...

http://www.meimann.com/images/mercedes/87_300D_white/

Oh, and btw, on the $2k fixxer-upper: Keep in mind that there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes. Only buy one of those if you plan to drive it into the ground and not spend a dime on maintenance or repair, or it will cost you a fortune. Better to look for something in between, with high miles & low price but full records & well-maintained. They exist but you'll need to travel to get one, probably out of state (western/southern USA if you want rust-free).

__________________
Dave
Boise, ID
Check out my website photos, documents, and movies!

I second that comment.
Whichever way you go, make sure it's as rust free as possible. No car is worth it if it's gonna rot out from under you. I see you're also from the great pacific north-wet as I am. We have the advatage of no salt on the icey roads, but we do have perpetual wet weather. If you find a nice local car, it should have at least spent it's parked-time in a garage, as mine was.
As far as getting a fixer goes, that'll depend on how handy you are at doing your own work. Parts for these jewels aren't too expensive, unless you need to pay a shop the big bucks to put 'em on for you.

__________________
past MB rides:
'68 220D
'68 220D(another one)
'67 230
'84 SD
Current rides:
'06 Lexus RX330
'93 Ford F-250
'96 Corvette
'99 Polaris 700 RMK sled
2011 Polaris Assault
'86 Yamaha TT350(good 'ol thumper)

ricci
I see you live in Seattle. I noticed a 300TD for sale at MBMW last week. That shop is 8110 Aurora North. I think this is Abes car. He sells them after driving them for a few.
Maybe worth taking a look at.

Yup, I agree here. If you buy any used MBZ diesel count on putting $1000 in parts alone in it over the first year. These are such great cars that I am suspicious of anyone selling one. Why would you unless it has a problem?

The real issue is, do you do your own work? If you don't then an old Benz diesel will eat you alive, but if you work on cars and like it--as I do--then it's a useful and relaxing hobby. Certainly more useful than hitting a small white ball into a hole 300 yard away.

M.

ricci, you can have this for only $13,000:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2417609730&category=6332

__________________
85 300CD Signal Red/Tan sold
83 300D Manganese Brown 109K
97 E420 Midnight Blue 197K sold
98 BMW 328i Vert White 100K, sold
95 BMW 525i White 125K, sold
93 BMW 525iT Red 193K, sold
95 E320 Green Wagon 125K, sold
94 E320 White 127K, sold
85 300SD 156K Grey (Annie), sold
84 300D Lapis Blue 170K (Judy), sold
99 ML 320 Black (lease), 1998 C230 White (lease)
00 Honda S2000 Red (lease)
86 Mercedes 300E (sold)
84 Porsche 911 Red (sold), 1965 Porsche 911 White (sold)

Wow! Too rich for my blood. Anyway I'm a sucker for the W123's
$13,000.00 and $2000 were just arbitrary figures. Everyone here knows too much about these cars to not be precise. That reminds me. When you enter 85' 300TD 80,000 miles Excelent into the kelley blue book .com it comes back with $2,900.00. SAY WHAT!!!! is this a lack of reaserch on their part?