Ok...I'm looking at a lightly wrecked 300D..... 1984, 119,000 miles, MBTex. No leaks in trunk or interior, very clean. Here's what's bad:

Grill
Headlight assembly
Turnsignal Lens
bent cross member that has hood pin...

The hood is still factory perfect as is the rest of the body. I see no areas that require mending.

Paint on the roof and trunk is checking and clear is thinning.

Interior is very good with just a couple of cracks in the drivers seat, but they are not torn or falling apart.

I've looked up the parts and if I buy all brand new (and I need a radiator...I couldn't tell) it will come to just under $1,000.

I'll have to put in some labor and contract some (the bent cross member), but other than that, it should be a simple job to fix.

Any idea what I should offer? This is a friend, so I don't want to insult, but I don't want to end up paying double what I could pick one up for.

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

Fuzzball,

What about $1,000.00? Then with another $1,000 in the parts you mentioned and another $1,000 for misc. parts and repairs you have a nice 300D for $3,000.00.

__________________
Anders

1995 E300
2015 VW TDI Sportwagen 15K
1977 240D (197K)
2002 Subaru Legacy L Wagon (115k) (Wife's)
Gone but not forgotten:
2005 Buick LeSabre
1998 C230
1984 300D
1983 240D
1981 300SD
1974 240D
1974 Fiat 124 Spider
1968 Triumph TR250

If you decide to buy it, I have most of the parts mensioned for cheaper. Give me a call at (805) 720-5057 and I can see what all I have and give you prices.

Andrew

Here are some pictures

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__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

More Pictures


Hard to read it, but the odometer says 119114

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__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

Andrew,

I'll let you know if I need any, thanks.....I've got a line on some parts here in town that may prove to be a great deal...or at least a good deal....who knows!

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

Believe me, I'd love for him to say I can have it for that, but I would never risk my relationship with him by lowballing him. This is a very respected friend of the family and I value our friendship much more than I value any one car.

If I get it for that price it'll be because he decides to give it away to me....

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

I understand and respect you for having such an attitude toward your friend, but $1000 in todays market seems like a fair price. Maybe I missed it, but has there been an estimate from a body shop on the repair?

It is a light hit that can be repaired and not effect handling or structural integrity. If you want to do it right, get a new core support and pull everything back in place, cut out the old core support and fit the fresh one in place and mig weld.

I did not exhaustively examine the pictures but it appears that there is no damage below the bumper, and maybe no force was applied to the bumper from the crash. If there was, don't overlook the bumper mounts, the plastic grilles below the bumper, the lower valance and the pieces of the front fenders that wrap around to meet the lower valance.

It's hard to know for sure from the pictures, but this looks like the kind of crash damage that could be repaired very well by an amateur who can weld or has a buddy that can weld.

Best of luck with it and keep us posted. It looks as if the car might very well be a diamond in the rough.

Hope this helps,

Unfortunately, you are asking two different questions.

1) What is the vehicle worth?

2) What should you offer?


In answer to #1, let say the vehicle is worth $4K in a condition where there is no body damage and everything is functional. I think this is at the high end of the range, unless the vehicle is pristine.

Now, the cost to fix it must be factored in. If you were to take it to a proper body shop, what would they charge you? It would be at least $2K, judging from the photos, maybe a bit more. So, the value of the vehicle is not more than $2K, and probably less. If you do the work yourself, this should be a benefit to you. It does not affect the value of the vehicle.

In answer to #2, my strong advice is do not make the first offer on the vehicle.

You have no idea what your friend has in mind for a value. Most people, mentally, will not consider the cost of the repair in proper perspective. He may feel the vehicle is worth $3K as is. If this is the case, you can politely decline to purchase it. However, if you offer $1K, you have immediately insulted him, and potentially compromised your relationship, if he is thinking $3K.

Since your friendship to him is far more valuable than the vehicle, I would tread very carefully here and refrain from making the first offer.

funny.. mine took a hit in the same spot but did not move the radiator supprt..

just took out the light and RF fender

4 speed 130k miles
I found a headlight for $20
New fender ( reproduction) $50
I can straighten headlight frame and pound out the hood

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I had a 240D that took the same kind of hit, but a little worse (the hood actually buckled a little bit). One thing to look for that is somewhat hard to see is damage to the hood hinges. It is hard to see since there is a natural bend to them anyways - best to compare to a non-damaged car. If there is a bend to the hinges, they can be bent back straight but it requires the removal of the fenders to properly get to them. I fixed mine with a little TLC, $200 for a used hood that was the same color as the car (impossible to tell the difference from the original, I really lucked out there) and $75 for a grill off of eBay.

I like Brians answer to this.....seems the best way to deal with this and not lose what might be a good deal.

__________________
Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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