Washington state is probably one of the highest resale places for mid-vintage diesel Mercedes, and I don't believe that they are allowed to use salt?

My neighbor paid around $7k for his nearly perfect '91 350SDL IIRC, about the same miles, smoke silver with cream-beige leather, heated IDK but his has the ASR and hydropneumatic leveling (optional). He has kept it out of the salt, paint is perfect, stored winter and professionally detailed at least once / year. Does not use oil.

I feel that he paid a bit much for the car considering the market here, had to drive a distance to get it also (not a local car), but he wanted the latest and best 126 diesel he could find, which always bumps your budget a bit.

You can find tired and neglected ones, like sloride says they're scrap to $5k normally here, a local used car dealer had one with ratty driver's seat and peeling clear-coat for $3,500 and it sat for a long time (don't know what he got for it eventually). My neighbor is looking to "thin the herd" and will probably have a tough time getting what he has in his, but if he sent it to the Pacific NW maybe not.

Condition is the big one. These cars are old, if not well maintained the seats will look worn, paint clear-coat sometimes peels (especially if not garaged), suspensions sloppy, accessories like A/C or central locking not working, BURNING OIL, quickly turn the car from a collector's to a project and the value will collapse.

Options are another, if you have ASR/Leveling, heated orthopedic seats, I believe there was a high-spec audio option, Bose?, colors, others? If it is in very good condition and has unique high-line options (that work) and desirable colors you might have an ebay sweetheart.

Finally there's history. If it has a one or two-owner history in a non rust-belt state with documentation, dealer or reputable independent service, bonus! Unknown owner history and no documents, WVO conversion, definitely a value killer. Both of my 3.5s were purchased used, and both had reman engines. If yours is original at this mileage and doesn't burn oil it is likely a good one (not all were bad).

Best of luck!

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff