Is the 87 300D rare?
 

Let's see how long before this thread gets booted to OD.

I posited that the 87 300D is not rare. I said this in rebuttal to a claim that it is. A claim as common on eBay as 500K mile 617s. In a relative sense, fewer 87 300Ds were sold in the US than any single year 123 300D. However, my basis is general availability. I don't know of a day in the last 10 years that you couldn't find for sale an 87 300D on eBay or craigslist. There are typically half a dozen available.

I'm not saying 'rare' is an inaccurate term for the 87 300D because certainly a limited number were sold new in the US. I'm saying it's odd to promote it's exclusivity since there are few barriers to purchasing one. I'll stick my head out further and suggest that today there is generally a better selection of 87 300Ds than 87 300Es. Or are 87 300Es rare, too?

Sixto
87 300D hen's tooth

I'd say they had low production numbers compared to the other diesels.

(drift warning) what about 84 240Ds ?

More rare in the USA than 87 300D's as the 240 had ceased being sold in the USA before 1984 IIRC.

87 D's are not rare around my house!

Every year I see one for sale near me (<300 miles).

Good (rust free) samples where I live are rare...

well would you look at that. i bought a semi rare car lol.

... I got one.
and two wagons... hehe.

I've also got the 84 240... with a 5 speed... THAT's RARE!

Look at what I started. :D. I would say were I live above sacerment any w124 diesel is hard to get. When there bought NO ONE wants to sell them and if they do there very expensive.
I would say they are rare but your way more knowledgeable than me so I listen to you!! But my seats are rare!!!!
Thanks for your help sixto!!

looks like i need to go drive over to where you are and try selling mine for a retarded profit lol.

I think my 85 300CD would like to have that 5 speed in it....


Heres another way to see how many 87 300D's are out there right now for sale...

http://www.jaxed.com/cgi-bin/mash.cgi?cat=cp&itm=mercedes+300d&loc=&fil=&ys=1987&ye=1987&ps=&pe=&pgs=100&submit=++++go++++

The 300Es went to "urban environments" and were beat to **** and the oil never got changed. Hence why nice, gas, 80s benzes are impossible to find, despite a ton being sold.

Diesels went to nuts and other forms of enthusiasts (read: people like us) who took care of their cars and loved them. People who got 87 300Ds or even the 90-93 knew they had something different and paid a premium for the cars even used. So more of them are surviving. I maintain most diesel owners inherently are better about taking care of their cars than gas owners. I've seen a 378,000 300E 2.8, but I've also seen a ton of buy here pay here rusted out 300E 2.6s with 110,000 miles for $995. The second, third, and fourth owners are doing their best to make 300Ds less rare and 300Es a scarcity. Look at 123s, they did sell more diesels than gasses, but a 280E/280CE is a pretty hard car to find.

I would say you are right, they are not rare from the aspect that they are commonly found still. This is a testament to MB I think, more than anything else. I merely meant in production number wise, they are relatively rare.