found an awesome condition 300D w/ blown engine. whats it worth? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #31 08-06-2007, 11:36 PM

I think they will if it is really really clean with a fresh motor and low miles.

I was looking for a trunk lid locally. The local indie who has about a hundred cars sitting about had a fairly nice 300d about an 83 I will guess. With a bad motor. I asked him how much he wanted for it. He said 2k. It did not look as good as the one described above.

And I think we all may have differing ideas on what constitutes near perfect. I have been driving 123s since about 1988 or so. Back when they were a lot newer.

Tom W

#32 08-07-2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

Yes, you could have a great car for $9K but it would be worth $5K or so max (don't let the shill bidding on ebay fool you, nobody will pay $10 K for a 25 year old car).

Don't be so sure, I just saw a friend of mine sell a 84 300D with about 150K miles for $12K. This was a decent driver, not even close to mint. He listed it for $12.5 and had it sold within a week. Personally, I wouldn't have paid more than about $8K for it (he was trying to sell it to me), $9K for a clean car with a fresh engine would be a very good deal.

#33 08-07-2007, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bgkast

I don't see what your problem with salvaged engines is either.

When you buy a used car the engine is used, but you check its condition...same thing with a used engine. A good used engine probably has another 100K left in it, and it's not really hard to swap it in.

As someone said, a junkyard engine is like a box of chocolates... With my luck, I would end up with 240joe's old engine.

IMHO, it's a waste of time to play around with old engines and hope they will last 100K miles. I would probably consider putting a junk engine in a $1000 beater, but it would be a waste to put one in a nice clean car. Reman engines are relatively cheap, and it takes just as much work to put in an old one as a new one.

#34 08-07-2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

And I think we all may have differing ideas on what constitutes near perfect. I have been driving 123s since about 1988 or so. Back when they were a lot newer.

Exactly, I've seen parts cars described as "nearly mint" with just a little rust.

IMHO, "near perfect" is a car that looks and runs like it came of the sales floor a couple of weeks ago, something that will sell for $20K. Most of the cars that are currently selling in the $5-10K range are just decent drivers that probably need a little work, but nothing major. Everything I've seen lately for under $5K is a project car (or worse).

bgkast · #35 08-07-2007, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig

As someone said, a junkyard engine is like a box of chocolates... With my luck, I would end up with 240joe's old engine.

IMHO, it's a waste of time to play around with old engines and hope they will last 100K miles. I would probably consider putting a junk engine in a $1000 beater, but it would be a waste to put one in a nice clean car. Reman engines are relatively cheap, and it takes just as much work to put in an old one as a new one.

For $700 and a weekend of work it was worth it to me. Of course the car was only $300.

lietuviai · #36 08-07-2007, 12:54 AM

I got mine for $150.

Still needs an engine though.

t walgamuth · #37 08-07-2007, 07:59 AM

Its all dollars. If you cant afford a fresh engine, then a used one will have to do. If I could listen to it run I would feel that about 90% of the time I would be able to get a good one. But you never know about that other 10%.

Tom W

chomamma · #38 08-13-2007, 08:56 PM

Believe me the MB dealership does not want that car around for very long. You'll never know what they gave for it as it is all mixed up in the price of the new car. They could say $5000 and up the price of the new car. It is all smoking mirrors.