Hi,

I'm interested in buying an '85 300SD (cream with chocolate interior) with only 70,000 miles, single owner now deceased. The owner was a master mechanic. I have verified the history.

Garaged all its life...driven very little...mostly short miles around town. As the couple aged, the car saw less use and VERY few miles. In fact, from 2004-2010, the car saw only 1500 miles!

Buying direct from the family.

There are two damage reports on Carfax report. All indications are that they were minor bump-ups. I see no evidence of these on the car now; fully repaired.

AC currently is not cold. Seller thinks it just needs "recharging". I'll verify this with a mechanic before buying.

Everything else works and is really nice looking. I am a newbie on these cars. Will take it out for a drive soon.

Family is asking top dollar ($10k).

My questions:
1) What's a fair price assuming AC is ok (just needs a charge), and mechanic says the car is ok?

2) Is the fact that the car has not seen much action lately (or anytime really) or long miles a serious detriment? The seller says that the owner was vigilant about starting it up periodically and letting it run.

What are the major gotchas that I need to be aware of with this low-miles car?


Many Thanks!
Zappa

The only major gotcha that I can think of is that someone else may beat you to the car. That, and for $10K, it needs to be perfect, perfect. The A/C will cost in the neighborhood of $1K to have an aftermarket place do an R & R of the compressor and recharge the system. Maybe more for an R-134 conversion.

You have to ask yourself if you'd rathe have a '99 E300TD with similar miles on it for about the same $10K.

I would probably offer them $9K, and be done with my offering. Tell 'em the A/C is a $1K item.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

You have to decide what it is worth to you. It isn't a collectors item, only an old car in relatively good shape. My SD was garaged most of its life and was used as a FL car only during the winter, was maintained by the local dealer and high end indy mechanic & had receipts. The new looking Michelins came apart during the drive from FL to TN. The vacuum pods have gone out, monovalve needs attention, the dash cracked, the seat springs collapsed & broke, the MBTex cracked in the cold, AC developed a leak, cruise works intermittently, alarm went off & I disconnected, master cylinder needs to be replaced, spot rusted through under the rear window seal, 2 of the windows are slow and need lube, glow plugs went out.

I've replaced shocks, rotors, dash, console, glow plugs, vacuum pods, trans fluid and coolant but have more to do. So much for a well maintained vehicle with records. That said, car starts easily but is slow on take off. I have a 30# can of freon in the shop and am working on the car. Your call on price but 10K is high. It only sold for 30 new.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

I suspect not.

yeah dont let them b.s you that its a collecter car. dont see many crossing barrett jackson stage. if its a car your into and always wanted then thats different. but its a slow 26year old car that doesnt really get all that good of mpg. for 10k you have alot of options.

happy choosing

Actually they were closer to $40K new. My '83 300SD's window sticker was included in the glove box when I bought it one-owner, 93K miles in 1991. It was $39K and change, LIST priced. FWIW, I paid the asking of $11,950.00 for it in December 1991. Almost 20 years ago.......

You illuminate the facts of the matter on cars this old. Many things can go south on a car this old - and usually do.

Once you get through big things failing - those components once replaced stay fixed - because they are an MB. That is the redeeming value of these cars.

In a perfect world we could get a car like the OP has found for $5K. The reality is that many sellers want the BIG dollars for them when they have less than 100K miles on them.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

What about service records for recent work done? I mean, just because the car has only 70k on the clock doesn't mean it doesn't need work. It's a 25 year old car. Rubber parts are the usual suspects and the costs to replace them add up real quick even if you DIY. I purchased a one owner 1990 300SE with 59k miles on it 5 months ago. It's a great car, but updating everything has cost well over $5,000 so far and I've done most of the work myself. And I'm not done. I don't think I will ever be.

The feedback here is very helpful.

Junkman...you have successfully scared that @#(@* out of me. Time for a gut check; do I have a stomach for this?

My motivation is:
1) I work with computers all day. I'm a computer guy.
2) I HATE computers. I really hate computers in cars and ovens.
3) I love diesels.
4) Love the character of the 300D
5) I've enjoyed tinkering with my '81 Rabbit pickup diesel. This has been cheap fun.
6) I might even be able to do some of the maintenance to the old 300D myself.

So, the newer models with their complexity/computers/sensors makes me think -- heck, if yer gonna do that then just go out and buy a boring Japanese gas car - which kinda defeats the purpose.

I suspect I'm not the only one of you who face this conundrum. At this point, I guess you guys have me thinking this might be a money-pit decision point for me.

Thanks for the food for thought. This web site / forum has been REALLY helpful the last month or so as I feel in love with these old Mercedes.

well then if your into it and diesels then look into it do some research on your computer you love. before you spend 10k. unless you some kind of rich

if its an 80's light duty diesel your looking for then mercedes is the way to go for sure. (except for a 89 cummins powered dodge ram. first year for that)

Overall one has to look into their personal financial situation to make a decision on something like this. If it is going to stress you financially I would not do it on an older car.

If you can comforatably afford the price in cash is different in my opinion. Just my thoughts though. You are paying all it is worth at the top end of the market for this year and brand at this moment.

I really hate it when a vendor states the cars air conditioning only needs a charge though.

Be mentally prepared to spend at least $2.5K to $5K OUT-OF-POCKET during the first year/two years of operation - if using it as your daily-driver.

So, the question is this; is the car a $15K car in worth to you?

I don't see the sellers being very negotiable from $10K with a car like this. Nor would I be if I were in their position.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Stomach is the key word. You will leave your house and gaze at your car. How will you feel? You paid a little more, could well afford it, really don't care about incidental problems - it (looks) close to new, you don't mind putting whatever into it to return/keep it in the condition you want AND love driving it.

OR

Other extreme - Hate it every time something breaks and are reminded constantly how much it costs AND feel like you over paid. It is all about your perception.

More has gone wrong with mine than I expected. I now attribute this to deferred maintenance. Even wealthy people begin to do cost benefit analysis when deciding how much to repair an old car that isn't their toy.

3 of 4 vehicles are my toys and an engine swap is considered maintenance. I look for good (and cheap) parts cars. 78 Datsun Z waiting for megasquirt & turbo engine, 00 diesel ram - needed to tow my 4000# boat once every 4 or 5 years, 300SD daily driver & road car. 4th is 97 Saturn I got because my new wife owned it. The Saturn always starts & sips gas.

Bottom line: if you want it, are satisfied with price, willing to do or pay for the repairs, get it.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

That's why I told him he is looking at a $15,000.00 car. It WILL need parts/service/labor to keep it on -the-road.

Let me put it this way - if I only had $15K to spend on a car, I would put that money in the $10K car for sale, before I would put it in a near-new, loaded Ford Fusion in the mid to high teens.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

I'd look for a $4000 car because I had a car that I over paid for and reminded myself every time I looked at it & got ready to drive. Money wasn't the issue. The car wasn't in the condition I thought it was & I had STUPIDLY bought - like it was the last of its kind left. It took the fun out. Never again.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

What's the difference; once you own it, it no longer matters what you paid for it? I'm sure we've all wasted the cost of many, many cars on "stupid" stuff over the years; I've probably spent enough at starbucks to buy a new car. I don't even want to think about the stock market over the last couple of years. What's the point of worrying about it after the fact, just drive the silly thing?