How much is a fair price for a 1983 300D turbo with a four-year-old engine and one-year-old tranny? The engine got replaced from a not at fault accident in 2000. The car has 220,000 miles on it and is in great shape. It has a couple spots of rust and one of the rear windows doesn't work. What do you think?

I'm also going to convert it to veggie oil. Any thoughts on that one?

Thanks,
Nick.

nobody has any comment?

You might check out e-Bay for prices on currently listed cars of comparable age and mileage. Also, the auctions that have closed give some idea of what they were won for in the recent past, although believe you need to be registered to view those.

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150

personally I stay away from any car with any rust or body work, but thats just me as i hate doing anything with the body other then replaceing panels, i hate doing half ass bondo work

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

unless you have rust in structural areas I would think that the year old tranny and four year old engine is a very big plus........

William Rogers.......

Nick,

These cars have pretty much bottomed out in price. If all the systems-engine, trans, A/C, electrical, suspension, brakes- work, and it has only MINOR rust , it might be worth $2K.

On the other hand, it could be a $500.00 parts car.

What's the asking price?

Wray

well, I guess this took a little longer than I thought. I bought it for 1750 from an asking price of 2500 but the car is in near excellent mechanical condition. The rust is very MINOR, nothing on the frame and only a few spots the size of a quarter. What's the best way to handle that? I've heard of some stuff that's like nail polish you can spray over the rusty spots and they won't rust anymore?

Do you think I paid too much?

Nick.

Nick,

I've been looking for a 300D or 300SD for a few months now. I'd love it if something matching your car's description for that price were to turn up in my area. (That's my roundabout way of saying that, for whatever my opinion's worth, I don't think you paid too much.)

Here's wishing you many happy miles with it!


-- eskimo

Dear Nick:

Congratulations on your purchase! I own the same year, same model. I had some little rust spots in the usual places and used a product called POR-15 ("POR" stands for "Paint Over Rust") and was pretty amazed with the results. You can click here to order directly from the company:POR-15 or you can search it on eBay, like I did. There's usually a few folks selling the "starter kit", which is what I got.

Good luck!

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Diesel Fitter
Lily Von Shtupp: 1983 300D w/199k
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