Warren,

My car had 162,000 miles on it when it succumbed to the bent rod syndrome. I bought it with just under 75,000 miles and had it Starmarked. I never had any real trouble with anything during the next 25,000 miles, and I mean nothing. Thereafer I started having problems with window motors due to children playing with them and using them to give each other "rides" which is not the car's fault. And the window wiper mechanical set up failed. Everything else, muffler change and so on was "normal" and I looked forward to another 15 years with the car as it had absolutely no rust or paint damage.

To answer your original question, I got what I put into the repairs taken off the price of the car of my choice, plus the low blue book value of the 350SD, as the opening offer. We negotiated the remaining delta to what I was able to pay for the car of my choice, which was the 1998 E300D Turbo. This car was also Starmarked, and had only 40,400 miles on it. I did some comparison shopping at another dealer in the vicinity, and I got no more than the low blue book value for the car in trade, and relatively little movement on the price of an E300D they had which was listed for about $1K less (it was the same year and mileage, but it was not as well cared for by the PO as the engine compartment was grimy and filthy, it did not have a CD player, and it was white with a black interior while the one I got is silver with a grey interior, which I like better). So, I believe I got a reasonable reaction from the dealer. I know he sold my old car within a few weeks, and I am sure he got a good price. The car looked, smelled and felt fantastic.

Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)