How much for a low-mileage 85 300CD? - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

my83300cd · #16 05-17-2008, 11:22 PM

Do the rear windows go down ALL the way? If they do, do they do it without any clunking noise? Noise means regulators are tweaked.
CC work? AC? Sunroof?
Screw covers missing on knee panels
Do the seats fold when engine is on? They should not.
Make sure all the underbody plugs are there.

I'd go PPI it, run it through a car wash to see how much water comes in thru the window seals (the joint right by the mirrors typically) and take the milage with a big grain of salt unless the documentation is there.

3K? More with docs.

Where did the side trim go? Where did the wood trim go?

bustedbenz · #17 05-18-2008, 12:46 AM

Looks pretty rough to me. Missing trim on the left front quarterpanel, climate control missing wood veneer (proof of this is that M-B did not leave visible screws...) - although the seats aren't torn (bonus points) they look sort of sun-cooked.(negative points).

I'll tell you from my experience with the SDL that the little roughnesses get to be more and more noticeable to you as you start to drive it and start to realize how many little things are detracting from the overall car.

My max offer would be $3000, coupe or not, maybe less - and wait for a nicer one to come along and throw more money at it.

An engine can always be fixed. An interior with even one or two little squeaks or scrapes that you aren't fond of... is often prohibitively difficult or prohibitively expensive to fix.

If I wanted a CD to keep nice, I'd be shopping for the one that Granny left in her garage and be prepared to spend probably nearly 10 grand for it - if you just want a daily driver and can live with the trim missing and so forth... then it's not a bad little car. Wouldn't pay a premium just b/c it's a coupe though... pay whatever the most you'd pay for a 300d sedan daily driver/almost-beater would be.

rcounts · #18 05-18-2008, 01:18 AM

Hatterasguy, the interior color is Henna - kind of a slightly reddish-brown. Kind of a dark rust color. More brown than red. Personally I'd choose that color over palimino. Its less common and being darker it doesn't show dirt. But that's just my practial side. The seats don't look "baked" to me - they don't appear to be seriously faded or have any tears or anything.

To each his own, BustedBenz. Some people aren't fond of the coupes, but there is no question that they fetch higher prices than sedans. If for no other reason than the fact that only 8007 of them were ever made. Check eBay. Total beaters routinely go for $1,500-$2,000. Nice ones go for $6k - $8k and perfect ones go for as high as $16k - $18k. When was the last time you saw a 300D sedan go for $16k?

I just licensed mine and if I hadn't have had a bill of sale from a registered dealer (admitedly a real SMALL dealer, but registered none the less) for $4,800 the DMV would have charged me tax on LOW retail - which they said is $5,600. They showed me the numbers and AVERAGE retail was $7,600, and HIGH retail was $11,600. Admittedly those are prices for my area, and the NW is a notoriously expensive place to buy a diesel.

But realisticly, how many sedans you ever see going for those prices? Around here a totally CHERRY low mileage 300D W123 goes for $4,000 - $5,000, $6k TOPS.

Now this one obviously isn't perfect, and the mileage is definitely suspect unless it is documented with records. It is true that its imperfections will become more glaringly obvious to you day by day as you drive it, but as long as the body isn't rusted out, the little imperfections can be tolerated until you fix them - one at a time. To me, that one looks like a pretty decent place to start. Maybe a little better than mine (though I like my color combo better).

So, Blevinsax, now that we've all pointed out every imperfection we can see in the pictures and discussed the relative value of coupes vs. sedans, scratch our curiousity itch and tell us how much the seller is asking for it.

Blevinsax · #19 05-18-2008, 09:24 AM

Wow, thanks for all the helpful advice! I now have a few other questions about this car in general...

1. How difficult would it be to find replacement chrome trim for the driver's side?

2. How difficult would it be to find replacement wood trim for the CCU unit?

3. Is there anything in particular I should know about the motor in this model car? (I ask because I also own a '91 350SD - see signature - and I only learned of the infamous 'rod-bender' motor after I bought the car!

)

The seller is asking $7500 for the car. Seems like he is somewhat inline if the mileage is authentic (I'll try to confirm that for sure) - maybe somewhat high from the comments I am seeing here.

Thanks!

Chad300tdt · #20 05-18-2008, 10:13 AM

Here's the info from the Russian VIN site:

VIN WDBAB53A2FA228518
Model 300 CD TURBO
Chassis 1231531A228518
Engine 617952 12 094794
Transmission 722315 02 581877
Order 0 4 705 24646
Approx. year not defined
Lights BOSCH
Cab 01727
Dealer United States (USA) (705)
Interior Unknown code (157)
Paint
623 light ivory (T) (с 01.01.1972 по 1993)
57 Unknown code
Options
286 luggage nets on front seat backrests (с 01.01.1962)
339 front seat, left lower (с 01.03.1967 по 29.02.1996)
340 additional 3rd stop lamp (с 01.10.1989)
front seat, right, lower (с 01.03.1967 по 28.02.1986)
410 electric sliding roof (с 01.03.1965 по 29.02.1988)
440 bumpers with guards, front and rear (с 01.10.1970 по 30.04.1974)
bumper with horn and rubber buffer front and rear (с 01.03.1964 по 30.09.1970)
tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975)
451 revolution counter (с 01.12.1972 по 31.10.1993)
tachometer
power brake (с 01.01.1963 по 30.09.1963)
windshield (laminated glass) (с 01.01.1964 по 31.05.1972)
467 central locking system and instruments with english lettering (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)
461 + 462 + 463 (с 01.07.1968 по 31.08.1969)
491 USA version (с 01.01.1963)
504 outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (с 01.11.1978 по 29.02.1986)
outside rear view mirror, right, electrically adjustable (l.h.d.)
taxi version, f.r.g, and outside rear view mirror on the right
500 + 503 (с 01.02.1966 по 30.06.1968)
501 + 502 (с 01.08.1968 по 31.10.1974)
519 Becker radio Grand Prix electronic cassette - USA (с 01.08.1980 по 30.11.1990)
Becker radio Grand Prix LW/MW/SW/USW - USA (с 01.01.1963 по 29.02.1972)
Becker radio Grand Prix stereo MW/USW - USA (с 01.10.1972 по 31.12.1976)
Becker radio Mexico Grand Prix, electronic (USA)
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
543 exhaust-pipe cover trim (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1963)
seat adapter between the front seats, and halogen lamp unit (с 01.01.1967 по 31.12.1972)
sun visor with vanity mirror, illuminated, left and right (с 01.11.1978)
570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
588 Thermoking air conditioner and electric window lifters (front doors) (с 01.04.1970 по 31.12.1972)
automatic climate control and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.01.1977)
592 wyellow foglamps (с 01.01.1963 по 31.10.1965)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
heat-insulating glass, side window panes (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
639 radial-ply tires, elimination of warning triangle (с 01.11.1973 по 31.10.1974)
elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
640 aluminium disc wheels with radial-ply tires (с 01.10.1969 по 31.12.1989)
tires with tube (с 01.01.1963 по 31.08.1965)
15-hole light alloy rims (с 01.01.1990)
673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)
805 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year

rcounts · #21 05-19-2008, 12:17 AM

$7,500 probably isn't an unreasonable price - IF you can verify the mileage.

I'd still do my best to talk them down some though.

Aslong as it hasn't got rust issues, if you can verify that the mileage is for real, and you can get it for $6,500, then I'd go for it if it were me.

If the mileage can't be verified, I wouldn't go more than about $5,000.

That's my $0.02

TylerH860 · #22 05-19-2008, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

$2k-$3k. I hate red interiors and this one looks kind of baked. Wood missing, other than that not to bad.

Don't care what the odo says if their are not records mileage is unkown. They break all the time and it's childs play to roll one back.

Mr. Lowball has spoken.

TylerH860 · #23 05-19-2008, 12:43 AM

Something I don't understand:

Why pay the premium for a 300cd? Why are they more expensive anyway? Of course they're rare and very attractive, but not enough to justify paying $3,000++ more for a comparable sedan. I can see the utility of wagons, but not coupes.

Can these cars really be that collectible already?

bustedbenz · #24 05-19-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcounts

To each his own, BustedBenz. Some people aren't fond of the coupes, but there is no question that they fetch higher prices than sedans.

That's fair enough - I'm actually right fond of the coupe. If I were in the market for a w123 I think my coupe would be my pick out of the three.

I was simply saying that a "needs-work" car is going to cost quite a bit in time and effort if you ARE concerned about certain things just being perfect - so no matter what the price really, starting out with one that's got more needs-work projects awaiting... would put me off one. Maybe some people are less afraid of interior refurbishment than I am... which suits me fine. I wouldn't argue against a coupe being worth more than a sedan in identical condition by any means... but at the same time, if I was buying one to actually drive, use, and enjoy with as many wrinkles as I could get out - I wouldn't choose to start with one that already looked half-used-up if I had the choice to wait longer, pay more, and get more.

Personal preference

rcounts · #25 05-19-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Something I don't understand:

Why pay the premium for a 300cd? Why are they more expensive anyway? Of course they're rare and very attractive, but not enough to justify paying $3,000++ more for a comparable sedan. I can see the utility of wagons, but not coupes.

Can these cars really be that collectible already?

Law of supply and demand. The fact that there were so few of them makes them command higher prices. That is just the nature of rare items. Here are some production numbers to illustrate.

NA-engined 123s - 300D 331,999 - 300TD 36,874 - 300CD 7,502
So in the NA cars
sedans outnumber the coupes by 44:1
wagons outnumber coupes by 5:1

Turbo-engined 123s - 300D 75,261 - 300TD 36,875 - 300CD 8,007
So in the turbo cars
sedans outnumber the coupes 9.5:1
wagons outnumber the coupes by 4.5:1

If you just look at coupes vs. all W123 300 series
NA cars 7,502 / 368,873 = 2% of all produced were coupes
Turbo cars 8,007 / 112,136 = 7.1% of all produced were coupes
Combined 15,509 / 481,009 = 3.2% of all produced were coupes

Personally, when I was shopping for mine I was open to a sedan or coupe, turbo or non-turbo. What I was looking for was value. If a turbo sedan had come along that was in equally good shape and priced at or below book, I'd probably have jumped on it.

It just so happened that I found this coupe in good shape (I'd rate it an 8 or 8.5 out of 10) that I could get for about 85% of low book, so I snapped it up. The fact that it will hold its value - or even increase in value - is just a nice bonus. Heck, if I were to fix a few things to bring it up to about a 9.5 out of 10 I could probably sell it pretty easily for close to twice what I paid for it right now.

The only way you can do that with a sedan is if you find one of those deals where you buy it from someone who doesn't have a clue what its worth.

TylerH860 · #26 05-19-2008, 02:05 AM

As I mentioned before, I understand the rareness of the coupe; I also understand the law of supply and demand. Thank you Mr. Obvious.

What I don't understand is why anyone would pay more for an average condition coupe as a daily driver. Why not get a cheaper sedan? The sedan will hold its cheaper value just like a more expensive coupe.

Alberta Luthier · #27 05-19-2008, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

As I mentioned before, I understand the rareness of the coupe; I also understand the law of supply and demand. Thank you Mr. Obvious.

What I don't understand is why anyone would pay more for an average condition coupe as a daily driver. Why not get a cheaper sedan? The sedan will hold its cheaper value just like a more expensive coupe.

I suppose you pay more for a coupe if you like it better....

(o.k. it's obvious but you DID ask

)
its.....sportier

Problems with coupes...
-windshields, some coupe specific trim pieces, and weather strips are hard to find and expensive.
-difficult (if even possible) to get perfect door window seal... so more wind noise.
-dang doors are really long and you have to get 'em open a long way to get the heck in or out... a real problem when some dork parks too close, and even in the garage.
-the folding forward front seat backs are supposed to lock in place when the engine is running I think.... doesn't work for me, and it doesn't look like it was ever a good idea.

Hatterasguy · #28 05-19-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Mr. Lowball has spoken.

I'm always looking for deals, and thats why I get them to.

I have never paid more than $2,500 for a MB diesel, and I have found some damn nice W123's that I could have picked up for $1k-$1,500, slightly nicer than this 300CD actualy.

I sold my 300SD for twice what I paid for it, and if I wanted to I could have flipped the SDL right away for a similer profit, now not so...

Hatterasguy · #29 05-19-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

As I mentioned before, I understand the rareness of the coupe; I also understand the law of supply and demand. Thank you Mr. Obvious.

What I don't understand is why anyone would pay more for an average condition coupe as a daily driver. Why not get a cheaper sedan? The sedan will hold its cheaper value just like a more expensive coupe.

Coupe's are cooler. Thats why super mint 560SEL is a $10k car and a super mint 560SEC is a $20k-$25k car.

toomany MBZ · #30 05-19-2008, 02:34 PM

Under hood looks scary to me. And the missing trim on the front fender, and the missing trim surrounding the climate control. They're pricey, some can be brought back to life.
As others have mentioned, low ball it.