Yet another "how much should I pay" question

[kalpol]

I've come across a non-running 73 220D that looks to be in decent condition - the guy says it will stumble a bit with carb cleaner but that's it (and also that it was running a month ago). It has 173k on the clock, and the interior looks clean from the pictures. What's a fair price for a non-running 220D? This is the W115 chassis, correct? anything especially important to look for other than rust?

Thanks!


edit: I just talked to the guy on the phone and he said there's a fair amount of rust in the trunk, but no holes, it's all complete, engine "may or may not be blown", and the interior is in good shape- manual windows too. I'm thinking $5-600 max, or is that even too much?

[Mike D]

Don't even mess with the 220D engine. It isn't worth it especially if it's an automatic. If you do buy it, then plan on dropping a running 240D into the chassis.

$200 is the max I'd pay for the car. If there's rust in the trunk, there is rust elsewhere. Usually in the rear floorboards where the subframe bushings brackets mount.

Check the steering gearbox mount area. They usually aren't too bad on the "D" models because of the tendency for oil and fuel leaks from the IP.

[kalpol]

Originally Posted by Mike D

Don't even mess with the 220D engine. It isn't worth it especially if it's an automatic. If you do buy it, then plan on dropping a running 240D into the chassis.

$200 is the max I'd pay for the car. If there's rust in the trunk, there is rust elsewhere. Usually in the rear floorboards where the subframe bushings brackets mount.

Check the steering gearbox mount area. They usually aren't too bad on the "D" models because of the tendency for oil and fuel leaks from the IP.

Well in that light I think I'm going to pass - if anyone else is interested, it's in Kyle, TX and here's the ad:

http://austin.craigslist.org/cto/958536546.html

[t walgamuth]

It looks pretty nice in the photos. Powder blue? looks very nice with the white interior.

In my experience it could have surface rust in the trunk and be very solid elsewhere.

[meltedpanda]

really needs a look to deternine price, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, may be a decent car for 500-600, heck parts are worth that much. No better way to learn em than taking one apart for parts

[kalpol]

Originally Posted by meltedpanda

really needs a look to deternine price, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater, may be a decent car for 500-600, heck parts are worth that much. No better way to learn em than taking one apart for parts

He said make an offer, I said $300, since it will cost me about $60 to trailer it home. We shall see...surely I can pawn it off on someone here for $300!!!! hehe

[meltedpanda]

good plan

[kalpol]

I went to look at it today - it was in pretty good shape. The engine was clean, and I saw a new valve cover gasket. I couldn't see any oil in the injection pump, but I'm not quite sure what I'm supposed to see when I remove the "oel"cap. Coolant in the radiator smelled a bit odd. The interior is supple and in good condition although dirty. There is a manual sunroof! Dash had a small crack. It has AC, surprisingly. Odo read 10800 something, but who knows.

The rust in the trunk is pretty bad, but it seems to be mostly localized there because of a bad trunk seal - the carpet was wet and underneath was a lot of rust and a couple of holes. I'm not sure how serious trunk rust is but let's just say I wouldn't carry any batteries on the bad spots. I saw a few little bubbles, maybe a centimeter across starting on the bottom of the floor pans, and the driver's side floorpan has a bad patch about two inches across with a dime-sized hole. The subframe mounts, rockers, jack points, fender seams etc. were just fine.

Anyway since it had a brand new set of tires on it I offered him $450, a little more than I was planning but it does look like a neat little car. With AC and an automatic, I bet it might beat a glacier down a mountain but it would be a damned close-run thing.

He's getting back to me tomorrow after someone else looks at it.

[spamman450]

I dont think the 220d engine is something to avoid. It may have slightly less power than a 240, but if you can stand to drive a 240 it wont kill you. My friend has one and it is a great little engine!

[meltedpanda]

i think you made a good offer, let us know what happens

[t walgamuth]

The 220 is a good engine but the block is not sleeved from the factory and will not cover the mileage the later 240 engines will without overhauling it.

[kalpol]

Got it home, put it on the charger and after figuring out the controls gave it a crank...it's got at the least a blown head gasket. There's no compression in at least two cylinders and the radiator was quite pressurized when i stopped cranking it and opened the cap. So I'm guessing things are pretty toasted in there - head gaskets in my experience with the iron-head diesels don't just blow without a lot of trying and so either the engine was massively overheated (my guess) or there's valve damage. Either way, I could take the head off and have a look, but is it really worth it? Any thoughts?

The rest of the car is so-so - the interior is pretty nice except for a small crack in the dash and a couple of missing knobs. There's little spots of rust here and there, and the paint job is a fairly bad respray (also of course, the trunk problems which aren't bad (the tire well is just fine). The AC looks like it is still working, there is pressure and the compressor turns.


dilemma, dilemma...but i never realized before the vast differences between the W116s/W123s and their predecessors.

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The 220 is a good engine but the block is not sleeved from the factory and will not cover the mileage the later 240 engines will without overhauling it.

When you overhaul it, can it be sleeved? Or does it require a bore out?

[kalpol]

Got it home, put it on the charger and after figuring out the controls gave it a crank...it's got at the least a blown head gasket. There's no compression in at least two cylinders and the radiator was quite pressurized when i stopped cranking it and opened the cap. So I'm guessing things are pretty toasted in there - head gaskets in my experience with the iron-head diesels don't just blow without a lot of trying and so either the engine was massively overheated (my guess) or there's valve damage. Either way, I could take the head off and have a look, but is it really worth it? Any thoughts?

The rest of the car is so-so - the interior is pretty nice except for a small crack in the dash and a couple of missing knobs. There's little spots of rust here and there, and the paint job is a fairly bad respray (also of course, the trunk problems which aren't bad (the tire well is just fine). The AC looks like it is still working, there is pressure and the compressor turns.


dilemma, dilemma...but i never realized before the vast differences between the W116s/W123s and their predecessors.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by strelnik

When you overhaul it, can it be sleeved? Or does it require a bore out?

sure can...you will have to bore it to sleeve it of course.