I bought a 300SD about a year ago with 215,000 miles on it. Presently, it has 240,000 miles on the clock and is my daily driver. I've put less $ in this one than the low mile (125K) 300D I bought two years ago.

My theory is, these cars have two lives. One up to around 175-185K, Then another beyond that after some previous owner has replaced the A/C,tranny,brakes ect.

I think $5K is in line for a clean low miler, but if you have to make the repairs mentioned above,you're looking at $5-6K. Now you have $10K invested in a car worth $5K.

Whatever you do, NEVER buy a desil without having a compression check done first. I looked at one a couple of months ago that was pretty nice with 125K on it,but it had thrown a rod. Miles don't mean a thing if the oil hasn't been changed.

The other thing to consider as mentioned by the other respondents is driveability for your area. Desils don't like to start in very cold weather and hills can be a challenge for such a heavy tank as a 300SD.

A 300E is a whole different animal. It's everything mentioned by the others. I'm partial to the old "oil burners" because they have charachter, require less maintainance and if some jerk is riding your tail, open the throttle and he's plowing through a cloud of black(hopefully not blue) smoke.

Let me know if you become a member of the "German Yact Club"

Mr. BILL

85 300D
84 300SD