hey guys, first post on here. I am looking for any MB diesel car that runs, is in decent shape, and is under $4k. I've been looking at 300d's, 190d's, and 240d's. I dont really know what the best model is but im not that concerned. I just want a diesel MB. Please let me know what you have or where to go to find them if not here, craig's, autotrader, or cars.com.


thanks and have a wonderful day,
chris

I don't see 300SD's on your list, I own one(1980 116) and have studied the market considerably and think that they represent to most up side potential. You get the big car body, ride and handling and the diesel engine. As to how to find one "Google" criagslist + mercedes + diesel (or specific model #). This will give you easy access to every car on craigslist across the US. I also like Ebay.
Good luck
Richard

hey thanks for the craigs tip. ive been looking one city at a time, so this will help me get broader results faster. i got a guy with an 83 240d pretty good shape, 150k miles, good body, good interior. he's asking $4900. is this reasonable or should i try to shake him down?

I would say that HIGH for a 240D...do an "advanced search" on Ebay for "completed sales" on that specific type car and you will get a good estimate as to what the market is paying.

Another idea is run down all the independent MB techs in your area. Visit their shops and ask em if they know any for sale, leave yer phone number with em. Often the best deals are unadvertised and shop techs know the unadvertised market better than anybody else.

thats what i did to find the 240d i mentioned earlier. i think i am gonna get it from him for $4,000. i hope im still not overpaying even with him dropping a grand off the price...

Follow the wisdom offered and check out completed sales on eBay.

Unless she's just incredibly-perfect-without-a-blemish, NO rust, EVERYTHING works (i.e. clock, all gauges, cluster lights, sunroof, all switches , windows, etc.), has less than 50K original miles, has obviously spent her entire life in a garage, and is your all-time dream car, I think $4k for a 240D is appalling.

Look at my signature -- I buy a fair number of cars, so I know whereof I speak.

For less, look for a 1981 - 1985 300D (5 cyl. turbo, instead of 4 cylinder N-A) in good condition. There were so many of these built/sold both here in the US and world-wide that parts are still reasonably available, which is not true for the models even one body-style or engine previous to this.

Also, much as I love our 300SDs, a Mercedes parts desk manager friend recently warned me Daimler-Benz is discontinuing a lot of the parts support for that w126 chassis.

In your place, depending on what you want the car for (ours are daily drivers) I'd be looking for a w123 chassis. It's smaller, a little sportier, there were jillions of them made, and many have survived in good shape. I'd want it with a 617 turbo, which is both literally and figuratively a cast-iron engine. I know you're in the Rust Belt, but still, you should be able to find a MUCH more reasonably-priced MBZ diesel from that era.

best of luck --

Sunny

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

I would look for a decent '86-87 300SDL. You get more room than a 300SD, a more modern car (airbag, antilock brakes) and the wonderful OM603 engine. I cannot believe how much more pep this has over the OM617 five cylinder turbo. It is like night and day plus I am getting 3~5 mpg better in the SDL than I got in the SD! I can go from WV to NY at 80+mph and return 28mpg and this is a lot of uphill driving!

Just make sure that the car does not/has not overheated and that the cylinder head is not cracked. Do a search on how to spot a cracked head on this site...


I would also look at the 86+ 300D with the same engine. I am sure it is a much sportier and fuel efficient car than either the SDL or the previous W123 300D

__________________
"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

It's all a matter of the intent and purpose of the purchase. We intend to drive ours forever.

That being said, the Ds are the easiest (simply designed) and most economical to maintain because of the sheer number produced and the ongoing support available both through Daimler Benz AND aftermarket suppliers for both the w123 chassis and the 617 turbo engine. Also, with all those 300D owners out there, new tricks and bits are being developed all the time -- I just met a guy who's developed a replacement tach amp and a programable speed intermitent windshield wiper relay, both of which are amazingly effective, and are built to be simple plug-in replacements. You won't find that happening for most other cars because there are not enough buyers to make it viable.

After that come the SDs. They're not as simple, have more bells and whistles that add to the luxury (but more to go wrong, too!), and get slightly better mileage. And, as I said before, Mercedes is dropping a lot of their support for the w126 chassis. But you can maintain the engine, because it's the same one as in as those bred-like-bunnies 300Ds.

Then there are the SDLs. They are true luxury cars, VERY long-bodied. You'll have to look for gassers to supply chassis parts, since there are just not that many of the diesels. That's not a problem, except that this is also a w126 chassis, which means Mercedes has dropped and will be dropping a lot of their support for it. The 603 6-cylinder turbo in this car is an aluminum block that took 22 sequential head castings in two years before Mercedes believed they finally got it right (or gave up -- it wasn't available again for several years right after that last casting). Mercedes tried it again in '91 & '92, but that time instead of cracked heads, they earned the name "rod benders".

While you'll find good 617 turbo engines for sale when the body is too rusted to save or it gave it's life to protect it's driver, you will rarely find a good 603 engine for sale -- there were few built, and fewer survived. It's quiet, it's smooth, it's lovely while it lasts. I have dear friends who own them. I've had my fun with the 603, but we decided we wanted a car to keep, economically.

Ultimately, both these chassis are safe and solid -- the crumple zone is the other guy's car. There are, however, widely differing opinions about the longevity of the 603 engines. You might do a search on the diesel forum to get a sense of both.

__________________
Anthracite 1980 300D -- 64k original miles with a new engine, on the road again!
Silver 300D -- second owner, Sunny's old baby, Ilse, 210 miles,
Having to thin the herd….
Silver 1983 300SD -- second owner, 325k miles
Gold 1981 300D -- well-traveled, solid little car
Beige 1984 300D -- 292k miles, grease machine, parting out
Seafoam green 1981 300SD -- 250k, windshield frame damage
too many assorted w123 & w126 cars, parts cars, and extras

check out www.crazedlist.org you can search all craigslists across the US. just make sure you modify your browser the way it shows you, and it you will find whatever you are looking for.

Dan

__________________

Grey '91 350SDL 214k Dad's car
Beige '81 240D 4 Speed 254k SOLD
Blue '82 300D 225k SOLD
White '95 E300D 46k SOLD
Blue '87 190D 2.5 Turbo 315k SOLD
Brown '80 240D 4 Speed 716k SOLD
Beige '80 300D N/A 119k SOLD
Blue '85 300D Model 186k T-Boned

Whats the 240 have? i would def. do a manual, the auto 240's are so slow. Also price depends on were you live. if you live in the rust belt, then 4k is great for a nice shaped 240D

__________________
1983 Euro 240D 277K
2016 Mazda 6
Coming Soon, 2013 Mercedes E350 Bluetec
Formers:
2012- Mazda 3
2007 Outlander- complete pile
1995 E300 Diesel 208K
2007 VW Passat 2.0T 63K SOLD
2003 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sport Sold 04/11 w/88K
2009 Lexus RX350 9061 miles. Sold 04/09
2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS:Totaled Sept.,09 @ 24,000
2003 Infiniti I35 58K Sold
1984 300 turbo diesel 222K

its an automatic. i dont mind going a little slower or accelerating slow so much. i just want it to be dependable at least for the next five years. i really appreciate the input you guys have been giving me. as a newcomer i didnt expect much attention. i think i am going to purchase the 240d from the local dealer. for the condition of the car and the condition of any other MB diesel i have found within reach, i feel this is a good move. so once again, thanks a lot guys and i'll be happy to join the proud owners of these great cars...
chris

This 240 has been on Craigslist for a while. Might be worth a call.

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/car/648237530.html