I'd want one of each...

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yes they do. You can read about it on page 13 of the 420SEL/560SEL/560SEC owner's manual....

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I almost had one for $13K.....but i had to get rid of the W140 to buy it and by the time that was gone so was the 500.....

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

For about half that, I can find something in a junkyard and bring it back to top condition.

Not that I wouldn't buy it, if I had the money; but half my life has been spent figuring out how to do a $50 project for $5 - and the other half is spent scraping together $5.

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1983 300SD 467,000 km - 473 champagnermetallic

location: 34°5' N 106°53' W (Socorro NM, USA)

Just the paint would cost more than half if you really want "top condition."

For that kind of cash...

You can get a 6.9 or a 6.3 and bring them up to condition, or even get both!
There you have 2 powerful potential collector items. No idiot engine light. Classic, timeless elegance that eats a 300D for breakfast.

BTW if the car would have been a 1983 or 84 federal that would have been better. But i am sorry a 85 california 300CD can only reach that kind of money if delivered and homologated in Germany or Holland. I seriously doubt it can reach that price on this side of the pond.

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Aquilae non capunt muscas! (Eagles don't hunt flies!)


1979 300SD Black/Black MBtex239000mi
1983 300TD euro-NA. White/Olive Cloth-MBtex 201000mi. Fleet car of the USA embassy in Morocco
1983 240D Labrador Blue/Blue MBtex 161000mi

I suspect that you are stretching it for emphasis but if not, I never would have realized the inflation rate in mile-high Mtn country was so much more than services cost around here. How unfortunate if accurate... if I were in your area and were planning to do a dedicated restoration or a major mechanical re-set, I would definitely run the numbers to consider shipping the unit to a tradesman located in the Midwest or the Southeast.

Hmm, now I'm beginning to understand why your area's market seems so overpriced to me. I guess I've been spoiled and really appreciate the midwest and southern work ethic and what that means to the consumer. Man, am I thankful!

Motor on & Have a nice day

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Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis

How many hours? 1000? 2000? Maybe the junkyard you go to has perfect cars? I can relate to your financial situation very well, but I know that besides the parts that have to be purchased to cover deferred maintenance and fix anything that is broken, there will be many many hours spent.

I used to work in a Porsche restoration shop and 10,000 hours were spent on some of the better cars. Yes, that is 5 guys working for a year to restore 1 car. Note that when cars like this are done, they are 97 to 99 point show cars.

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Doug

1987 300TD x 3
2005 E320CDI

Even my 1988 300SEL has a CE light. Damn things

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I'm sick of .sig files

I suspect we have different definitions of "top condition." I agree you can get a pretty decent paint job for under $10K, but nothing even close to "top condition." Plan on another $10K if you want a "like new" engine and tranny, that doesn't even include redoing the interior, suspension, etc. I agree that you could probably turn a junker into a driver for a few $1000, but it would still be pretty ugly.

I would love to find a good 6.3 for $13K, do you know of any? Most of the good ones I've seen recently are $20K+.

Peace

Not sure why discussion side-tracked off the topic and missed the point, but I never buy with the intent to restore. That especially was not the thrust of the discussion. I want one to enjoy, drive and keep it running right...

You might revisit my comments on the $21K 85 CD at the thread URL below and also note the reseller's own description indicates the paint is checked on the hood...which frankly is not top condition. Do you agree that at that price point the car should be absolutely pristine, with impeccable provenance and have 100% complete documentation? Well that is my expectation and this one isn't pristine and by the seller's admission, it doesn't.

It is an excellent condition, nice old survivor and may be just the thing for someone with more money than sense (or patience). Sure, I'd love to have that car but not at an unrealistic price. Just as you said, I'd spring for a 6.3 instead. Or how about two three-week European cruises for two and one realistically priced Coupe?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=190012

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Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis

Peace

Not sure why discussion side-tracked off the topic and missed the point, but I never buy with the intent to restore. That especially was not the thrust of the discussion. I want one to enjoy, drive and keep it running right...

You might revisit my comments on the $21K 85 CD at the thread URL below and also note the reseller's own description indicates the paint is checked on the hood...which frankly is not top condition. Do you agree that at that price point the car should be absolutely pristine, with impeccable provenance and have 100% complete documentation? Well that is my expectation and this one isn't pristine and by the seller's admission, it doesn't.

It is an excellent condition, nice old survivor and may be just the thing for someone with more money than sense (or patience). Sure, I'd love to have that car but not at an unrealistic price. Just as you said, I'd spring for a 6.3 instead. Or how about two three-week European cruises for two and one realistically priced Coupe?

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=190012

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Bama1


2008 SLK 280, Firemist Red - "Hurricane"
2001 F150 Lariat 4x4, Black on Black - "Badboy"
1982 240D 4 speed survivor -"Pearl" - Donated to Vietnam Veterans
1962 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88 -"Gertrude"

1954 model original owner - ~2.5M
Gray softtop/solid exterior/modified chassis

If you're at all interested in the car, you should contact John Fitzgerald, aka Mr. Diesel...

http://www.misterdiesel.com/

He is obsessively honest about the condition of his cars, so when he says there's some checking in the hood paint, it's probably something he's noticed only after studying the car with a magnifying glass. I'm not kidding. I was talking to him about a 25k mile 300TD about a year ago, and he described the few flaws of the car down to the detail of noting a single pinprick in the dashboard. He's definitely not your typical seller. I'm sure he'd be happy to talk to you about the car's price and condition as well as why he thinks it's worth so much. He's a really good guy. I'd recommend talking to him before making up your mind about him or his cars.

No, bringing one back from a good body would cost about $30k.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200