If the price is right, diagnose the starter. You might be able to get the thing to start, if you know how to approach it. Then, you can make a real assumption about the purchase. Also, if it is cheap enough, buy a starter, NEATLY replace it. If the car is worth it, buy it. If not, pull the starter, clean it up, and returnm it. The owner would have to agree to letting you work on it before purchase, which if he wants to get rid of it, they probably would.

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1989 300E 144K