what do you think its worth? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

jimmy hat · #1 10-27-2004, 12:42 PM

i know this is always a tough question...but hopefully some of you will give it a shot.
since buying my 300CD and reading this forum; i have almost convinced my wife that diesel is the way to go... i certainly have convinced myself. (although my coupe still isn't on the road

) i think these cars are great values considering they can go for so many miles, they look great, and are still luxurious. trying to talk the wife out of her car payment considering she puts about 7000 miles on her car per year. i found a 78 300D for sale locally and i am going to check it out tomorrow. its described as being in fairly good condition and running well with good maintenance to keep it in "excellent working order". power windows etc. no mention of rust, but i am assuming it will have some. 175,000 mi and i believe its an auto. non-turbo obviously which is kind of discouraging but we could live with it im sure. so, my question to you guys is, what are the trouble spots on a car like this and what would a ball park figure be... as far as what to pay before i pass.
thanks a lot guys

#2 10-27-2004, 01:15 PM

The climate control on these cars are the biggest problem, they can be very expensive to repair, and very hard to trace the problems down. On the 1981 and newer cars with ACC, they are much easier, and aren't as expensive...

#3 10-28-2004, 01:45 AM

Make sure the AC servo is working, since that is a $1400 part if you have to buy a new one (rebuilt ones go for about $400). A broken AC servo can cause problems to the cars other systems, such as vacuum and electrical, and will always be draining the battery...

boneheaddoctor · #4 10-28-2004, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 123c

Make sure the AC servo is working, since that is a $1400 part if you have to buy a new one (rebuilt ones go for about $400). A broken AC servo can cause problems to the cars other systems, such as vacuum and electrical, and will always be draining the battery...

True, I had to replace servo, servo amp, and aux water pump, cost a nice chunk of coin.

#5 10-28-2004, 10:16 AM

"senior" models...cost me $1,500 to get climate control system working in my CD.

jimmy hat · #6 10-28-2004, 10:43 AM

okay. how do i test the servo? to make sure its working? thanks for your patience guys. t minus 2 hours til i go check it out.

thanks again
dan

boneheaddoctor · #7 10-28-2004, 10:53 AM

Hmmmmmmmmmm mine had a big ole crack down the side. So it was obviously toast. THe servo amp had the charred parts that identified it and the aux water pump didn't spin with power.

If the servo even has a remote chance of working you will hear it moving etc when you turn the key on and again when you turn it off. if its dead silent its toast.

one usually talkes the other out so replace the servo amp with it, and check the aux water pump too, if its siezed up it can smoke the servo amp.

jimmy hat · #8 10-28-2004, 12:36 PM

okay i am pretty new to these cars so i am really lost. i guess i should have said this before: i have no idea where the servo is, what it looks like, what it does, or what it should sound like/look like if it is working. second water pump? man, i had no idea. im assuming thats under the hood. i did a search for a picture or diagram highlighting these parts but turned up nothing. can some one give me a little more info? a picture speaks a thousand words

thanks again guys

boneheaddoctor · #9 10-28-2004, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmy hat

okay i am pretty new to these cars so i am really lost. i guess i should have said this before: i have no idea where the servo is, what it looks like, what it does, or what it should sound like/look like if it is working. second water pump? man, i had no idea. im assuming thats under the hood. i did a search for a picture or diagram highlighting these parts but turned up nothing. can some one give me a little more info? a picture speaks a thousand words

thanks again guys

Big black thing on passenger side firewall with a bunch of vacume lines going into it.

Rick Miley · #10 10-28-2004, 12:43 PM

Test all functions of the heat/vent/air conditioning system. If they all work, then the servo works. What might concern you more is the performance of that non-turbo engine in Denver. It's going to be pretty slow, and odds are the wife won't like it.

jimmy hat · #11 10-28-2004, 03:06 PM

it was pretty slow. but not as bad as i thought it could be. my wife complains about her honda, but the vtec feels like a rocket compared to the diesel. it would be great for me though, i don't need to go fast

it was a decent car! just a tiny little amount of surface rust in couple spots. paint was well faded and a couple of trim pieces were missing. needs some tlc and few junkyard parts, same with the interior. the ac was disconnected (no belt on the york compressor) but the heat worked fine. if someone didn't mine doing some cosmetic work on the weekends and buttoning up the loose ends this would be a solid daily driver, never show quality but it would look good for a few feet away. anyway, we are going to pass but if anyone in the denver area wants to take a look at it email me and i will give you the guys info. he's asking 1500, i am certain hell take less... the car was gift in the first place.

#12 10-28-2004, 06:03 PM

The above text says it all....
Best wishes always,
spo out

#13 10-28-2004, 11:39 PM

Make sure to check the box well for cracks, and if you can, pull the glove box and check the Control amp, even if there is heat, there can still be a problem like mine had. When I first got the car, it would hold the temperature for like and hour if I was on a long drive, then it would go full blast or turn off and blow cold air...

#14 10-29-2004, 09:31 AM

The fact that gas and diesel engines have different power curves takes some getting used to, but you'll very often find that after a week or so of driving, you've made your own mental adjustments and don't notice it so much.

Off-the-line acceleration (in der gasser's favor) is the biggest thing you miss...except that this is an overrated aspect of driving, IMHO. I often compare diesel and gas passenger cars to the difference between sailboats and power boats in the skills one must develop, as well as what you expect the artifact to do.