What I know is that this car has a salvage title and the owner's ex-husband bought it this way 4 yrs. and 50K ago. They've been changing out the synthetic every 3K and states there are no issues. The car currently has 84K on it. New tires 2 and a half yrs. ago. One small parking dent and the rest looks good. There are no book and any service record in the owners possession and claims no major work has ever been done since they've owned it. They will send more pictures in addition to the four I've seen. I'm
8oo miles away from seeing it and I would like your help in sizing this up so far before I take the next step. I have had salvage titled cars before and if it's done right I'm not afraid of them. What do you all think?

Why does it have salvage title? That should drop the price a fair chunk. The car will be worth less every time it is bought and sold, but you must know that having owned salvage title vehicles before. No service records? I think I would be want to pay at least 3k less for that, if I was willing to consider it at all. It should be a crime to own a $50,000 Mercedes Benz and not keep service records. The best way to predict future maintenance is to know all you can about the past work on the Brakes, Glowplugs, Maf's, oil changes, Transmission fluid, Coolant service, AC, Engine mounts, Air filters, Fuel Filters etc. etc. I love service records
Paul
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98 E300

Well in my area a 1998 E300D with 85k miles and a clean title is probably about a $20k car.

With no service records you have no idea what the owner did.

No service records + a salvage title in my book is a pass. Why chance it or throw good money after bad? I'd rather spend a few extra grand up front for a better car.

You want one owned by a picky owner who did do major work to it! For example the po of my friends had the dealer replace stuff on a whim. He didn't like the way the rear view mirror looked and coughed up like $700 for a new one. Or at 100k miles wanted new shocks. The dealer loved him.

Look for an E300D with full records that show the owner wasn't afraid to spend a few bucks.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

I'm thinking if I can peel back a few layers into some history and find out what damage was done and considering it was 50K miles ago along with some recent maint. records, might it be worth a shot? This is my next task and I think I can/will find out through some dilligence. If these things come back as cometics and not related to the drive train or any type of frame work, what would be a fair price given the salvage trail and the current market? Thanks for your good comments so far!!

Well considering the salvage title is 4 years old the incident would have happend in 2002? Figure a 4 year old E is worth what? $30k-$35k with 30k ish miles on it?

So a salvage title would have to be pretty major for them to total such a new car.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Salvage title means an insurance company totaled it at some point. 50K miles ago this car was worth $30K or more. It had to be one hell of a whack to total it. I don't think we're talking fender bender here. I'd pass.

- JimY

For Tennessee, Kelly Blue Book shows private party value to be...

98 E300D
Good - $13,500
Fair - $12,300

NADA shows Low Retail $14,500 to High Retail $18,500. And this isn't retail.

But with salvage title, dent and no records, I don't know if I would consider it fair. Is it worth a look costing a plane ticket? Your call.

Post the zip - maybe a forum member can eyeball it.

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1983 300SD 307k miles
1993 Ford Escort Wagon 215k miles
1995 Isuzu P'up 214k miles

The blue books is useless in estimating the value of an MB diesel. A better way is to check out completed auctions on Ebay. I'd go to autocheck.com and get a history report. Find out why it's been salvaged. From your description, assuming the car runs and looks good, I'd say it's worth about $16K. If it had a clear title it would be a few thousand more.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

The ZIP on this is right in the area of 80018. If someone out there is in a position to take a "look see" for me, PM me and we'll go from there. The whack of four yrs. ago had to be a good one which does get my attention. However, for someone to drive it at least 50K after that may suggest it turned out ok.

If it has had major damage, then it could be front half of car "A" and back half of car "B"? Or worse yet just bent and banged back out with new body panels.

If I were looking at it I would like to look it over 360 degrees physically. Pull up carpet in trunk, do panels line up, overspray in odd places, all the door jambs, etc. would have to see it up on a rack.

Were the car seriously damaged previously it is possible that the structural integrity and original MB designed crumple zones etc. may be compromised.

Just because someone has had a car for "x" years does not mean they like it. They are selling it for some reason.

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raMBow

1999 E300DT Obsydian Black Metallic, Heated Full Leather Parchment options, E2, K2, 136,000+, best 36.5 mpg - GP's 12-04 & 11-12 Zero Stuck
2010 Honda Odyssey - The BrideMobile - best 26.5
(2) 2005 Honday Accord- (1 -Corporate 1 - Personal) - 110,000 4-cyl 30mpg
2000 VW Golf GLS TDI, Upsolute Chip (sold to Brother, now 300+k on it) 48.5 mpg like clock work
1987 Honda CRX HF - Sold 87,000 always over 50 mpg Max 67 mpg

Well it depends on how picky the owner is. The local used MB dealer had a 97 E300D that had a clean title but had been in a "fender bender". My friend drove it and it pulled like crazy to the left and the dash was light up like a Christmass tree, the po drove it that way for a long time.

These are MB's, the panal seams are supposed to be perfect, and the doors are supposed to close and fit.

I hate accident damage, for some reason I can't imagin being able to look over this thing and wondering why it has such a title.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Just an update. I ended up flying out and driving the car home which was 760 miles. This car was a sleeper in the true sense of the word. All the glass was original and all spacings, mouldings, or other indications of any body work were non-existant except for a slight bit of oversparay under one of the headlight trim pieces. She drove out straight with excellent power and performance. I got 34.3 mpg at 75mph interstate. Interior was nice and clean, but has a couple slight crack in the dash off the right vent. At 85K on the odometer, she should last a long time. I'll do the fluid changes to establish a solid starting point and service history. Thanks for your input guys!!