I am very very inclined to purchase this car! I have an addiction to these damn cars! But before I jump the gun, I wanted the input of the forum..

What do you guys think? Obviously I'll haggle as much as I can.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/nch/cto/1432662218.html

__________________

Have you driven this car? If so, are you ok with the slowness of the machine? If you plan on driving it back and forth in Chicago traffic than it's problably a good choice but if it's for highway driving and especially in the hills somewhere they are known to be very slow indeed... especially the automatic ones.

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

It is NOT possible to have 82K on the ODO with the driver seat back worn in the lower corner. My 300D has 330K and the wear mark is better.

In addition, the front driver carpet was missing/replaced. 82K my butt. This is my observation from photos. I may be wrong but I doubt it.

__________________
Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Be very careful looking for rust. I'm not sure if some of the body panels look exactly the same color (might be just the pictures). The seam looks a little weird at the front of the passenger door (not consistent). There also looks to be a new coating near the jack points...

Two mirrors is nice, looks to be power for the passenger side, which brings up the black strip on the center console. I'd guess somebody added the mirror, and swapped the wood, but tried to cover up the window switches (this car has manual windows).

The A/C knobs look like the ones in my old car's - manual. I'm not sure about the temperature dial, maybe somebody else can chime in.

I wouldn't call it showroom condition, but, from the exterior, it looks nice. I'd be a little surprised if it actually was that low of a mileage - the odometers are pretty simple. For that price, you better expect a stack of records, no rust and working A/C. It should fire up easily, and there shouldn't be much blow-by.

PS: That was my old 240's color combination (minus the pinstriping). It's really something when shiney

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

No chrome center cap on the speedo either...mileage definitely suspect, but it still looks like a nice car worth checking out and haggling over.

__________________
1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

The wear on the side bolster was red flag for me as well. However, it could be caused by someone disabled sliding down it when entering the car. In some ways it looks like a low mile example in other ways it doesn't. The door cards are in very good condition.

Look at the pic of the right side fender and door. The body panels are out of alignment. I also see 2 shades of paint. This leads me to think it might have had rust repairs. The rocker panels have been repainted, as well. They were gray, now black.

Buyer beware. I'd check this one out very thoroughly, before I paid anywhere near that asking price. Or just run away.

__________________
1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

That's exactly what I was talking about. Glad I'm not tooo crazy

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Sharp eye there guy! Impressive...

__________________
1987 Mercedes 300SDL; SOLD
1985 Mercedes 300D; SOLD
2006 Honda Pilot - wife's ride; 122K;
1995 Toyota Land Cruiser - 3X locked; 182K

You type too fast. Your post wasn't there yet when I started my reply.

You aren't too crazy, they let me run the asylum these days.

When I was in college I had a very similar looking paint job on my Rabbit.

__________________
1979 240D, 4spd manual, Power Sunroof, manual windows, 147k miles, Pastel gray/Black MB Tex.
1991 300D 2.5 - Smokes like it's on Crack!

It's ok, you did a better job explaining it

I got burnt out on rust on my 240D, and it seems like there will always be sellers trying to hide things from potential buyers. The car I bought was originally listed at $4000, but, we settled on $1200. Knowing what I know now, I should have just walked away (Note to self, never buy a car on a tight timeline ) It was about $1200 worth of body work to get it through inspection (hidden rust holes in the rear fender). There definitely is a noticeable difference between an old body panel and a newly painted one. I'd hate to see someone else have something similar happen.

I didn't have the money, nor the want (or time) to deal with all of the rust (and that was just what was visible), when the shock mount on the trailing arm gave way. I was as honest as I could be when I sold the car, and the guy that bought it from me wasn't scared (he had another 240D parts car). To my best knowledge, it's still driving around (albeit with a new, rather large dent in the driver's door). They're rather stubborn vehicles

__________________
1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

The mileage could be legit. Not all cars spend their lives on transcontinental trips. Some are owned by old folks who just crawl around the villiage. In which case the seat wear could be consistent. Assuming it's as good as it looks I'd be interested in it. But my main concern would be rust and body damage.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I'm also suspicious of the mileage, I would ask for documentation. From the photos, the car looks pretty nice but far from "showroom" or "mint."

+1

If they will lie about one thing (like "mint') there is usually alot more of surprises coming . . . I'd walk away, or run . . . but if you like mysteries . . . and want to unload some money . . .

__________________
82 240D Manual 277K and still rolling!
02 Volvo S60 AWD For Sale

You really want this car, I know all about it. I wanted my 81 and got it...at a fair price but knowing it had some potential costly problems.
I have not had to deal with them yet but I have spent the price of the car in numerous small fixes and body work. But I am glad to do it and will likely do it again if the right car turns up.
All negs. aside that is is good looking car in the pics but you need to see it close up and make an offer.

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I agree, milage not as represented. Nor anywhere close. Far from unusual. Optional automatic not the best ideal either on these four cylinders.