[Some of you may remember a year or so ago I was (kinda) throwing out this same question, so please be patient wit me! ]

You see from my sig I have an "old" MB that I trust with my wife, son, daughter and myself on daily local jaunts or just about any destination/trip - although we do not travel much at all. We are planning a trip from SW OH to the U.P. of MI mid-July and will take the MB without hesitation. (Well...the driver's seat is not all THAT comfy for more than a couple hours, so I'm not really looking forward to that part!)

I have wanted to get into a newer diesel but am concerned that I'm exchanging a generally dependable model for one not so "proven" yet concerning longevity and dependability. Am I wise to think this way?

The other thing is - I'm a CHEAPSKATE! I don't WANT to spend "big bucks" on a 15 year old car - no matter whether it has a 3 point star at the end of the metal landscape outside the windshield! Some models are known to make grown men cry and some to empty their bank accounts. Don't want to go there!

BUT, I'm still wanting into a newer model just the same. Scoping out ebay almost every day for the past several weeks I have come across several that I'd have bid on in a heatrbeat had I made my mind up to sell mine. (Yes, I need to sell it to 'bankroll' the next adventure into MB-dom.)

Here's one that has my interest at the moment but not sure of the "salvage" title issue. Seems like a decent car BUT so many unseens. I'm not new to buying cars off ebay - three times I have made very good choices and have not been burned even the slightest so I'm comfortable withe ebay. I have not spoken to the guy about the car (a bit afraid I won't understand much of what he is saying - based on what I read from his auction!). Has a 100% feedback rating with over 400 transactions. Anyway will you guys give me some of your thoughts on this particular one?

Thanks for feedback guys, I appreciate it.
Happy Fathers Day

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Dale

6 cyl. ?

The bumpers look pretty rough. It is VERY difficult to tell in pictures how nice a car is. I can say that I was very frustrated before I bought the one I have now. I drove over 2200 miles within the state of Florida looking at cars before I bought my current MB. There is some real garbage out there.

So, bad moldings cause a salvage title huh? In what state? There are some major grammar problems there. Looks like a scam to me. IMO.

As you can see at this picture the car was not damage .Only the molding were off


The molding was on the trunk. The only thing we buy for this car was the clips, oil change, and new tires

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

Also the rear bumper has holes in it, and drivers side of the bumper is quite scuffed up, probably rear ended & totaled, and somebody got some bondo . . .

He claims "no damage" but . . . I say otherwise . . .

Carpet is quite worn for that mileage to I think, what happened to the mats? If the PO can't take care of that what else did they neglect?

Wood is cracked up too . . .

There is a reason why his buy it now is SO much lower than "book value"! It is already above what I would offer . . .

"Book value $8900?" What book--Grimm's Fairy Tales?

If the seller were a little more honest about why the car has a salvage title, it might be worth more research but with that description I wouldn't even go look unless it were next door.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

You guys bring up valid points - much of what I was thinking/seeing as I viewed the pictures! Like the holes in the rear bumper. I didn't notice the "scuffed" drivers side as one noted.

This is what I have run into in times past when I get this "hankerin'" to find a newer MB! I start looking at the one I've got and begin appreciating it for what it is! I'll keep looking though I'm sure

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Dale

Looks like you have a fine car, just keep it up, and it will reward you with mant more miles!

I hear ya! It just needs a good paint job on the top/hood/deck lid...why stop there - the sides too!

Back window needs to come out and a small rust spot needs attention then replace it with a new gasket. Front windshield needs to be replaced along with the gasket. If I had these few items completed I would keep it for several more years! I don't have the time or the space needed to carry out such activities so that's why I'd like to find something without these issues .

PS: Less than 24 hours ago I put a new set of Michelins on it. It was time...

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Dale

I think your best bet is to find a car on Craigslist. That way you can drive/check out the car and actually see the owner before making a decision. Plus, there is much better deals on craigslist.

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1983 300 Turbo-"Nora"
1983 240D Auto "Lucia"-slowest on earth-1st love
1985 300 Turbo-Blue Goose-slowly plucking parts

http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o...ly15/mbsig.jpg

The 95 was basically the last year of the biodegradable engine harness. I'd want to know it had been repalced; would also want to know if the GP's had been changed recently or if one had snapped previously and might have a buggered hole that could cause me greif the next time.

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Terry Allison
N. Calif. & Boca Chica, Panama

09' E320 Bluetec 77k (USA)
09' Hyundai Santa Fe Diesel 48k (S.A.)

My MY96 (built in late '95) had the biodegradable harness.

Yeah, I've been watching CraigsList as well...good point about being able to 'touch' it and drive it etc.

Being the bicyclist I am, on my ride this morning I rode past my Indy's shop and to my surprise they were there working so I chatted with him briefly about 'moving up' and he commented on how my '85 was the "last of the good ones..." but IF I could locate a nice W124 that would be the latest model he would recommend. He said they're getting harder and harder to find though (as we all know).

He mentioned that he's got one that he's working on that had been bought on ebay from the west coast and he said it is a mess and the guy is pretty sick.

I'll keep my eyes open....

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Dale

Yeah, I don't know about that ebay find. Stay away from salvage title. I would stick to craigslist unless you're really in a hurry, cause with ebay it's tough to look at the car.

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1983 240D 3.0T 4-speed manual, now sold

1989 Subaru GL Wagon 5-speed Touring Edition

Instead of rolling the dice and spending $8k on an unknown, put less than half of that into the one you have. You'd probably come out ahead both in terms of $ and quality of car.

I just made a similar decision last week. Found a 2006 E320 CDI for $19k with a salvage title. Decided instead to put money into a repaint of the one I have and know. Way ahead in $$. Also ahead in terms of knowing what might be wrong with what I'm driving.

Fixing the seat is easy even if you need a set of springs. The driver and passenger springs are the same and easy to change. Search on the forum.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=296386

Thanks Charles for the encouragement to spend the $$ on the one I have! My wife and I talked about that today and it seems like a very feasible alternative.

What I think I'm looking for is a true daily driver - meaning, whatever the weather. Living in the rust belt I never intentionally drive my W123 on salty winter roads but have been caught out a time or two when an unexpected snow started and had to get home! I don't believe the rustproofing and metal treatment on the W123's was as good as they later became so I'm a bit paranoid that if I were to start using it as a DD, it will start breaking out with rust here and there. The newer ones wouldn't be so apt to do so? Yes?

Incidentally, concerning the driver's seat, I recently did the pool noodle fix on it and wow did I ever change the way that seat feels! The seat bottom feels flat and hard! It's time I think to do what is suggested and that is take a passenger seat from a donor car (which I have!) and switch it over to make a "new" driver's seat.

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Dale

If I were looking for a 95 300D my 2c is that is one I would consider.

This is a 14-15 yr old car and the interior & exterior look like they were well maintained by whoever were the POs. It is not a new 300D but then again these were I believe $50,000+ cars 15 yrs ago. I like the fact that it still has the original Becker radio/cassette in the dash. To me that usually means it was an elderly couple who probably also did their maintenence at the dealer vs a kid who pops in a Sony HU and tries to burn rubber in a sedan.

Of course I would either go there in person if possible or find someone on this forum who lives close enough to it and pay them a few bucks to bring it to their own Indy for a total inspection. If it got a "thumbs up" I would grab as fast as I could.

These were awesome cars and for 5000. BIN price IF it passed inspection, buy her a new OEM matching carpet set & someone is getting a heck of alot more car then a hole in the rear bumper and some loose trim.

And FWIW, just cuz the seller's grammar is not perfect his rating is 100%, plus he puts his # in the add clearly for anyone to call and talk to him. In case anyone here hasn't noticed there are plenty of new hard working honest neighbors in the ol USA who are still learning to perfect their grammar.


...

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."