Hey all you mystical Mercedes diesel gurus! I've been lurking here on and off for a while. I'm completely new to diesels in general and MB in particular, but I do know my way around alternators, coils and plugs. I am looking for your opinions. Here is the car I'm looking at:
http://tinyurl.com/3caasj
Anything you guys can see wrong with this? I've noticed that there isn't the obligatory gauge photo with the car running, but this is a dealer...
Thanks for your time helping this diesel noob!

1: It's overpriced.
2: NEVER, EVER bid on or buy a car from eBay unless you see it in person first.

Holy crap that is expensive for a 240D

I paid $1100 for mine albeit it wasn't in as good of condition but even for a good condition 240 I wouldn't pay over 2-2.5

Check Craigslist

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-Dan
1983 240D AT, 163K running on VO, "The Patience Tester"

Good points above. I would only add that, before buying, you should also have it inspected by a good independent MB mechanic...

Car looks nice, appears to be at a Mercedes dealership...but still, check it out beforehand.

Oh, another thing...it's a 240D automatic...you'll need to build up your momentum for those onramp merges...

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99 E300 TD -- sold
01 540i 6 spd

Why do noobs always go for the cutesy salutation.

Looks nice, but is already too high priced. Keep looking......and welcome.

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Also, it's FAR more easy and quick to use the "Insert Link" function in the reply box tools.

Example: Link to eBay auction.

[quote=JimmyL;1538842]Why do noobs always go for the cutesy salutation.

Civilized?

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83 SD

84 CD

OOOH it has manual A/C!
The front seats are faded like mine in the 300D. Must have spent lots of time outdoors.

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Judging by the apperance of what I can see of the front seat it has less than 250k on it might even be the posted milage but never count on it with these. I think the automatic puts this car out of the running for this kind of money right now.
I have nothing against the automatic yet the additional drivability of the standard 240d is not to be sneezed at. You might be happier with a turbo 82-85 model as there is no fuel milage penalty over that car and it generally offers a lot more. At this kind of price the car has to have a serious inspection for faults and work required. Many times people get really stuck and occasionally get fair value but one should never take anything for granted. Especially on ebay.

Not if you don't know how.

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1982 300CD Petrol/Black Leather

Look closer and consxider:

It is for sale at a white glove Mercedes dealer in Tennessee.

If I could live with the automatic transmission and the awful color, I would definately consider the car, providing I could see all the books and records, 155k is low mileage for a car like that.

Obviously it's too old for a CPO certification, but it's pretty rare for a Mercedes dealer to offer a car that old for sale on its lot.

A mint turnkey car is always worth a premium. This could be the exception.
You could buy a "Good" condition used car and have $3000 work in paint or repairs before you knew it.

This dealer is also running a silver 1991 560SEL they claimed to have cared for since new, when they sold it, starting at $15,000, and it only has 32,000 miles. That is in fact a reasonable price for a mint ultra low mileage '91 560SEL with history and records, and this car is INSUDE the dealership showroom, pretty good for a 16 year old sedan.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270132806761&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_Pr4_PcY_BID_IT&refitem=270104995964&itemcount=4&refwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_LogicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

I bought my Mercedes second hand, about 5 years old, and got it as a dealer CPO Encore (Now known as Starmark or CPO) vehicle, that was absolutely cherry, and with all records of the CPO work done at the dealer. The car needed absolutely nothing with 50k on the clock.

Over the long haul to buy it that way turned out to be well worth it.d

Just my experience...

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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)

Thanks for all the great comments! I never expected this thread to be replied to in a serious constructive manner, but it was, thanks!

So, the negative points are it's overpriced, it's of unknown quality, the seats are faded, it's a 'matic and it looks like a beautiful shade of puke that's been recently repainted.

On the positive side, it's for sale by a MB dealer(MB of Knoxville)that would most likely not want to risk it's reputation over <$10k trying to sell a clunker that it took on trade-in, it's far more rust free than anything I'll find here in the buckle of the rustbelt and it's been recently painted that lovely shade previously mentioned.

My prior experience is...I've purchased a couple "bargain" classics that I've sunk way more money into and gotten way less enjoyment out of than I would have if I had bought the best I could afford, eg., my ex-rustbucket '72 mini that's been my daily driver/fixer for 3 years. I love it to death now and woudn't trade it for the world, but that first year was complete nightmare and I put far more into it than it will ever be worth.

Anyway, I'll quit my blabbering and either do the duty or get off the pot. Thanks again everyone!

Well, you hve an hour left. BTW, these are very slow cars.

I did buy an Ebay MB from a wholesaler out of Philly/NJ. Other than a PC issue ( with 220K on the clock) the car was as represented fairly. Got lucky since I was dealing with a pretty honest dealer.

The non-turbo 95 is much quicker than the older 4 cyls, and gets better milage ( 33-37). No chips to fool with either. Just a bit harder to work on due to the plumbing. Fwiw.

Where are the hubcaps? I thought all the 240's came with hubcaps. I also don't understand the "extra" tank in the trunk.

P.S. I have a 240d in better condition, lower miles, listed in the for sale section, I'd sell it to you cheaper then the dealer. Chuck

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2000 C230 Kompressor "Frosty"

2007 PT Cruiser
2001 VW TDI Beetle
1999 Landrover Discovery II
1971 Corvette

Gone: 97 Cabrio, 83 240D, 93 VW Eurovan, 95 Volvo 850, 93 Chevy Astro Van, 77 VW Bus, 99 VW Jetta, 74 VW Bus