Fair price for 86 300 sdl

[george1988]

I just joined the forum, but I have been reading for a while. My question is I am looking at a 86 300sdl. Owner is asking $4800. OK here goes the list of verifiable repairs, by date
NOV07- new tranny
Nov 07- new behr radiator, recovery tank
May 09-rear bearings, brakes, rotors, boots, timing chain and tensioner, belt shock, new tire in may at same time. glad i did not have to pay that bill

now the does not work list
drivers side rear window
windshield washer fluid leaks out at front wipers.
need shocks all way around and alignment

paint good for age, car came to pa from ga in oct07.
odo broke at 226981 two months ago, can be proven by inspection sticker.

[TylerH860]

Sounds reasonable to me if there are no other hidden issues. I'd suggest a Pre-purchase inspection to make sure there's no multi-thousand issues on the horizon.

At 226k its probably due for more than new shocks with the suspension, likely with the alignment issues a full front end rebuild is in order. A PPI would reveal this, and perhaps give you a bargaining chip to knock some off the asking price.

My local Mercedes dealer will do one for $85.00, but I paid nearly twice that once in KC. Saved me 2 grand though, as the seller knocked off the asking price for the estimate on the leaking head gasket.

[TheDon]

so thats what my SDL should look like.

[CANDIDE]

Originally Posted by george1988

I just joined the forum, but I have been reading for a while. My question is I am looking at a 86 300sdl. Owner is asking $4800. OK here goes the list of verifiable repairs, by date
NOV07- new tranny
Nov 07- new behr radiator, recovery tank
May 09-rear bearings, brakes, rotors, boots, timing chain and tensioner, belt shock, new tire in may at same time. glad i did not have to pay that bill

now the does not work list
drivers side rear window
windshield washer fluid leaks out at front wipers.
need shocks all way around and alignment

paint good for age, car came to pa from ga in oct07.
odo broke at 226981 two months ago, can be proven by inspection sticker.

I guess the radiator was replaced because the car overheated. If the engine has the #14 head, it could have been damaged by overheating. A replacement head and labor...about 2k give or take. Look at the cylinder head near intake #2 and #3 for the head part number, if there is a 14 in the series, my advice: don't buy the car.
Search the #14 head on this forum, many failed. My head had 7 cracks in the combustion chambers and had a new radiator...it ran ok, considering only one combustion chamber had no cracks.
Does the A/C work, if not, that's another grand or so. The stuff the owner replaced are all cheap compared to the head and the A/C. The alignment issue could be an indication of needed front end rebuild. That's 1k or more, probably more. My 2 cents.

[TylerH860]

I wouldn't run if it was a 14 head; it sounds like the PO took care of things, and there are other reasons a radiator needs to be replaced. Since its been nearly 2 years since the radiator replacement, the head is probably fine. If it were 2 weeks ago, that may give me pause.

[Actros617]

If you can check under the wheel arch chrome, they are a good rust hider and look other places for rust, check the radiator hose, if the hose is very hard (cant squeeze) avoid poss head crack, of its hard but squeezable then its ok, temp check it should not hit 90*C even when driving or when the a/c is on it should stay at 80*C to 85*C, anything higher than that = poss able head crack or warped, check if the Radiator fan if it spins fast when its warm and been revved, also check if the aux fan kicks on when a/c is turned on.

[babymog]

I believe that there are many cracked #14 heads out there that do not leak.

[george1988]

the pictiure was from when it was freshly out of detail shop. Went on a 65 mile test drive with the owner in passenger seat. on highway very smooth with a bit of floaty feeling at 75 mph. A/C works better at speed than in town. drivers window needs help for the first couple of inches up or down. (Owner said it needed a regulator?) He told me to stomp on it so there would be no questions on performance etc. Jumps out and up to speed very quickly no noise from tranny. Radio does not work (no big deal) Looked under at front susp and it will need ball joints and trailing arm bushings at least. ( Rubber bushings dry rotted) I found a rebuild kit on e bay for $250. I can do the work myself. I am thinking of offering 4k and see what he says...........oh it is a 17 head from what i could see(was getting dark with out a flashlight)

[babymog]

If it is a 17 head, ... I'd say it's well worth the money.