$800 for an '83 300D ?? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TeaBiscuit · #1 04-03-2007, 10:54 AM

I took an '83 Diesel 300 out for a test drive last week. The price is $800. Here is what I know about the car ...fairly new engine, worn interior, brakes are good, tires good. Engine starts right up. Car handles smoothly. Slow acceleration. No sputtering coughing or hiccups. Sunroof works, but the pasenger side rear window doesn't. (Power windows.) Car is gold, with a 4 year old paint job. Small areas of rust/corrosion on the body near the wheel wells. Odommeter is broken, so mileage is somewhere around 210,000 +/-. AC is also broken.
Is $800 a good price for this car?

Also, any ideas of what maintenance and reparis would run for these items?

Thanks,
Tori

rrgrassi · #2 04-03-2007, 11:05 AM

$800 is not a bad price, but get ready for lots of TLC for the car. Accelration is slow, but you should be able to feel the turbo spool up. Clogging fuel and air filters, clogged banjo bolt, etc. can cause slow acceleration as well.

Try to talk them dowm to $500. Also the rust can be a problem, especially if it's in the jacking points.

HAve the car thoroughly checked out with a pre buy inspection. You can find diamonds in the rough, but those are few and far between.

Check the transmission fluid. It should be a nice healthy red. Also check the engine oil level and the coolant. Coolant should be golden, not green.

Welcome to the forum!

sailor15015 · #3 04-03-2007, 11:10 AM

There's no such thing as a cheap Mercedes. It all depends on how you want to spend your money. You could spend 4k on a beautiful car and not have to deal with anything for several years, or you could spend less initially but it will more than likely catch up with you in repairs. As long as nothing major like the engine or tranny goes out, most everything else is diy and you may wind up ahead. That wasy you can pick and choose how to fix and spend your money as you go along. You have to really enjoy working on these cars, though. At times it can really get you down with the amount of maintenance it might need. Having the best looking car in the parking lot at work keeps me nice and motivated, though.

TWeatherford · #4 04-03-2007, 12:07 PM

Rust already on a 4 year old paint job, maybe a lot more will be coming through soon. I'd pass, get something with less issues for maybe $2K.

mespe · #5 04-03-2007, 12:12 PM

If it runs, and your not embarassed driving it, It's prol worth it. Slow accel,,, are you comparing it to a gasser?

Any smoke out of the exhaust?

Usually cleaning the boost line to the IP fixes sluggishness. Also has the ALDA been messed with?

You've got alot of searching to do on this forum, as most every thing about Mercedes has already been posted, specially the 617.95x engines.

Good luck and Welcome to the forum,,, we love new Mercedes Owners.

TeaBiscuit · #6 04-03-2007, 02:13 PM

Yes, I have compared it to a "gasser" with the slow acceleration. No smoke -will chek the boost line and ALDA. Will definetly have it checked out before handing over $$. Thanks for all the replies!

Glad to be here!

bgkast · #7 04-03-2007, 03:17 PM

That's $50 more that I just paid for one and it is rust free.

TeaBiscuit · #8 04-03-2007, 04:39 PM

Yes, good point. I will offer something under the asking price.

rrgrassi · #9 04-03-2007, 05:33 PM

See if maintenance records are available as well.