Hello, my first post, but have been reading for a few weeks. My questions are:

Looking at a 85 300D turbo in an EL Paso,TX dealer, 200K+, AZ car no rust. Car runs strong, drives straight, stops smooth, AC cold. Dealer wants $3500

Problems I have found so far are, One of the vents does not blow, and tach does not work.

What else should I look for, I realize this is a 20 year old car, and will have problems and needs attention. Just dont want to get burned.

I'am not new to diesels have 2 older Ford 6.9, and a newer Powerstroke.

Thanks Andy

I don't know alot about 300D's but it sounds like a bit much.

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'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I think its a bit high, too. The A/C working is nice, and no rust is nice, too, but these cars aren't rare, and depreciate like anything else. Bluebook is around 2K for a car in that condition. At a dealer it will be more. A dealer near me has an 84 300D for 5500! I would look around and compare. When I bought mine, the seller wanted 3500, and I got it for less than half of that.

If the car has been maintained, and the ACC works the way it should, then it might be worth $3500 with that many miles. Try using the search function, and there are countless threads relating on how to fix the non-blowing vent, and the non-functioning tach...

I agree with 123c, try comparing it to a new POS at $16,000 which you can not work on due to the emmisions and computer junk....

And most of the people on this forum have no idea how far you are from other places.....LOL .... If you find a good one which has been brought to your area and you want a Mercedes you can work on I say jump on it... no harm bargaining with the man though.... not every one is in the market for a car that old....

OldCharro,

Tell dealer you won't buy it unless anything you find that doesn't work is fixed. Then stand your ground.

If he tells how easy it is to fix, tell him it will be even easier for his mechanic to do it.

P E H

You didn't say how many miles. I'm a rookie, have had my 300DT only about ten (great) months. Paid $3000, plus about $700 to drive it coast to coast. If there's say 175,000 miles, the engine looks reasonably clean, and the interior's in good shape, I'd jump on it. Just my 2 cents...

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1983 300D- silver blue, tan leather, 205,000.
1975 Datsun 280Z. Stock, ready to restore.
1983 San Juan 23. Dry docked.

You might be OK. Three years ago I paid $4500 for a clean 300D with 216,000 miles. My wife has put over 30K miles driving back and forth to work. Only big item so far was a oil guage leak but my mechanic found a good used one. The A/C pooped out last year but all the windows and sun roof still operate fine so we're OK. Oh, the glow plug relay took a dump, too, but with the fine advice from the good people in this forum I was able to make a quick diagnosis and replace. If the interior is OK and the paint looks good go for it.

Thanks for the replies fellas, dont look like I'll be buying this one. The dealer let me bring it home for a better look. This is what I found:

The more I drove it the harsher the tranny shifted. My F-250 with C6 and shift kit shifits smoother.

The engine was filthy, so I suspect poor upkeep.

And last the odmeter was not working, frozen at 237K. No paper work to verfiy how many miles it really has.

One good thing came out of it, after driving it. I want one bad, just have to look harder for a cleaner and better maintained one. Got a couple of leads from the for sale section..Thanks Andy

Still might not be a bad car. THe harsh tranny could be a vacuum problem.

As for the miles.. just give him a lowball offer.. Like $1000 max. Who knows, he might take it.

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'84 300CD Turbo 132k (Anthracite Grey) - WVO - My daily driver - Recently named coo-coo-coupe by my daughter.
'84 300D Turbo 240k (Anthracite Grey) - Garage Queen
'83 300D Turbo 220k (Orient Red) - WVO - Wifes daily driver

I'm not a certified mechanic, but I did stay at a HolidayInn Express last night.