I'm new to your forum and have exchanged some messages with Jim (the moderator) about the 123 wagons.

I want to buy a 123 diesel wagon to run on WFO (waste fryer oil) and I need to give my "advisor" a test drive before I'm allowed to purchase. So I need to look nearby.

I may have found the car, but it has a salvage title. '84 with 150K miles, Carfax suggests 3 owners; Carfax doesn't suggest odometer roll-back; no a/c, no door locks, no cruise control. Small-time dealer says he reconstructed title in 2002 after an accident that "totaled" the car. Accident "pushed in" front of car, breaking headlamps. He replaced headlamps, radiator and fan clutch, but didn't paint hood(?!?). Scoffed when asked if the frame was bent in accident. He wants $2K, which, according to Kelly Blue Book is between what a dealer might charge and a private party.

I have sold, purchased, and enjoyed "salvaged" major home appliances and understand that an insurer/retailer may decide to scrap an item that retains significant value. My questions:

1) When I drive the car, what should I look for?
2) Who should I have check out the car and what should they look for?
3) How expensive is fixing a/c? My '87 Dodge Colt has no a/c and I've survived, so it's not imperative.
4) Will I be giving my otherwise peaceful existence over to the cult of Mercedesism if I purchase this car or something like it?

Thanks

The first one's free . . . HAHAHAHAHA

Really, this car has vacuum problems (door locks), cruise control issues (might be related to vacuum issues) and no A/C (also might be vacuum related). Salvage title doesn't scare me, but those other things do. My advise is offer him $500 dollars and when he "scoffs" at you, run away.

It could cost over a grand to get the A/C working. Paint is expensive. It probably needs flex plates and a timing chain.

Be patient, find one in better shape and pay a little more. You will be glad you did. I paid $1500 for my 77 240D (4-spd), everything works, from the original owner with all the service records. Good deals are out there for those with patience.

Do you know when a dealer is lying? His lips are moving!

M.

I bought and thoroughly enjoyed a car with a salvage title that was totalled on a technicality. I was able to verify most of the history since it was passed on from friend to friend to friend before it ended up with me. Unless you can get the same certainty in this deal, I agree with Spock.

Actually, a 300TD without working AC probably isn't worth $2000 with a good title assuming the non-working AC is representative of its condition and not the only thing wrong. Sounds more like a $800-1200 car if it's decent and has no rust.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD