What is it worth - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mkiii88turbo · #1 02-28-2009, 05:00 PM

There is an 86 SDL for sale at a local dealer here. It's got 350K miles, the exterior has no rust but a truck backed into it and is missing half of the grill and has some dents on the hood (both would need to be replaced). The interior is pretty worn and looks like it has 350K on it. I drove it. It drives fine. No slipping or anything like that. It apparently sat for 3 days before I drove it (in 20* weather) and started up in seconds with very little need for glow plugs. They are asking $1400.

Is this a good price? Can I be uber-agressive with them?

Sorry I don't have any pics, they have it locked in a fenced area and they are closed right now.

Thanks.

#2 02-28-2009, 05:51 PM

I Would offer about $1200 and see how that goes. I dont think it will sell for an offer of $1000. I purchased my 83 240D for $1200, and so far I have put an additional $750 into it to put it in good shape. Whatever you do, be prepared to evetually double your purchase price in the end. I am sure it will need some suspension work, with 350k, and work for the damage that you stated. Id offer the $1200, and plan on putting another $1200 into it.

fruitcakesa · #3 02-28-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 83240D

I Would offer about $1200 and see how that goes. I dont think it will sell for an offer of $1000. I purchased my 83 240D for $1200, and so far I have put an additional $750 into it to put it in good shape. Whatever you do, be prepared to evetually double your purchase price in the end. I am sure it will need some suspension work, with 350k, and work for the damage that you stated. Id offer the $1200, and plan on putting another $1200 into it.

x2 - $2k for my 82 240 and so far I have about $1100 in it for mechanicals only with no cosmetics done and it needs them.
$1500 for the 81 and I got at least 500 in it so far with possibly another 500 more.

Skid Row Joe · #4 02-28-2009, 06:37 PM

A grand, tops.

If they balk, walk.

CANDIDE · #5 02-28-2009, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mkiii88turbo

There is an 86 SDL for sale at a local dealer here. It's got 350K miles, the exterior has no rust but a truck backed into it and is missing half of the grill and has some dents on the hood (both would need to be replaced). The interior is pretty worn and looks like it has 350K on it. I drove it. It drives fine. No slipping or anything like that. It apparently sat for 3 days before I drove it (in 20* weather) and started up in seconds with very little need for glow plugs. They are asking $1400.

Is this a good price? Can I be uber-agressive with them?

Sorry I don't have any pics, they have it locked in a fenced area and they are closed right now.

Thanks.

Check to see if the head is a #14. Since its winter it tougher to tell if it overheats. Check the coolant level, cracked heads consume coolant and produce some whitish smoke. On the SDLs a cracked head can set you back thousands. Does the AC work? Setting the AC right is a thousand or so.
I have an 87 SDL and my head was cracked and the AC is broken. I've got about $1200 in a replacement head and have not touched the AC.
At 350k miles the suspension will need attention, are there any service records for it?
Also, parts for the SDL are not as plentiful as for the SD series.

The purchase price can easily be tripled or quadrupled in repair costs.

compress ignite · #6 02-28-2009, 07:09 PM

So,there is no way you could be "Too Aggressive" with them.
[No Extra Points for chasing the Used Car Manager about the lot with a
Baseball Bat.]

That's a $400.00 car.
(that I can almost guarantee you'll spend $4000.00 on just to "Bring up to Par")

My reasons for such a "Positive Accentuation":
No Mention of Provenance (Service Records)
It's at a "Dealership".

LUVMBDiesels · #7 02-28-2009, 07:25 PM

Check for records. If they are up to date the car would be worth the $12-1400.00

You should see that the timing chain was replaced at 150 and 300,000 miles.
The vacuum pump should also have been replaced.

My car has 305,000 miles and still has it's original injectors, turbo, and #14 head.

Check the transmission fluid. It should not smell burnt. The transmission should shift properly (however, harsh shifts are vacuum related and can be fixed)

Check all the power accessories. Pay close attention to the climate control.
Check the tires for cracks and wear.
Check the cruise control for good operation.

When you drive the car, it should move out with decent power right off the line. The OM 603 engine is much better off the line than the older OM 617 engine was. The car should accelerate up to 60 pretty much like a "regular" car and not an old Diesel.

If the car is in good shape except for the truck caused damage and you know that the timing chain was replaced recently you have a good car.

You can expect to spend between $700 and $1000 on the front suspension if it needs work.

I bought my car with just under 300,000 miles for $2300, but there is no body damage or any rust and everything works including the cruise control.

babymog · #8 02-28-2009, 08:29 PM

I'm with compress, maybe $500 but right now it represents a parts car that the dealer will probably junk if you don't buy it.
With 350k miles and showing wear, there is no strong market for it, and repairing the damage will cost more than it's worth, I'm willing to bet he paid $300 for the car in trade telling the seller he was doing him a favor and saving him a trip to the junkyard.

$500 and leave your number, they'll call. Scrap prices are too low to do better.

daw_two · #9 02-28-2009, 08:52 PM

What color is the interior? What color is the exterior? Does the AC work? And you are sure there is no rust and no water leaks?

If the interior was in decent shape (does not have to be excellent) and the interior was anything except palomino then I give extra points.

If the exterior color and paint are nice, then more points.

The AC pretty much has to work....or it gets heavily discounted.

Those 3 things above and I can get to $1200, but I'd offer $800 first just to see if they would move. You've got to wonder how many people are going to be even semi-serious about buying an old diesel with 350K miles on it. Only one of us, right?

Hatterasguy · #10 02-28-2009, 09:09 PM

I wouldn't buy it, thats to many miles.

But if you insist $500 tops, IE scrap value. If you can drive it into a junk yard its worth $250. So if you drive it for 6 months and the engine blows or trans starts to slip you can still junk it and make out ok.

Skippy · #11 02-28-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

$500 and leave your number, they'll call. Scrap prices are too low to do better.

What he said. A dealer was asking 2300 for my 240D. So it sat. After about a year, a co worker of mine offered them 500 and they took it. He quickly realized that driving stick made his bad leg hurt, so I ended up buying it for 480.