'79 300SD....Price?

[i-osprey]

I haven't seen it yet nor do I know what kind of mileage it has on it.

Seller claims that the paint is in remarkably good condition considering it's age.

He's asking $3,500....is that reasonable?

I don't really want to spend more than $2300-2500 for anything.

What say you?

[kerry]

All depends on condition and mileage. Could be a steal, could be overpriced.

[boneheaddoctor]

Like Kerry said....any rust? How many miles? whats the interior like? Does the Climate control work or not?

I got my '79 300SD with 112,000 miles and a dead ACC and zero rust for $3,200, nine years ago.

[whunter]

Originally Posted by i-osprey

I haven't seen it yet nor do I know what kind of mileage it has on it.

Seller claims that the paint is in remarkably good condition considering it's age.

He's asking $3,500....is that reasonable?

I don't really want to spend more than $2300-2500 for anything.

What say you?

Pictures are very important to judge rough price, mechanical condition, but under body corrosion is critical to value..

Who has the most rust and still drives
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=86054



.

[imagesinthewind]

And I got my 78 300SD in amazing condition 5 years ago for $2500.
No rust, new paint, 200K on the clock, interior almost perfect.
You have to look at it and determine if you'd pay what they are asking.

[oldsinner111]

Rember there's asking price and theres maint. I paid $3000 for my SD and put $1600 in new parts.Rubber and plastic wear with the years.

[svm]

I bought my '79 300SD with 140K for $3200 a couple months ago. No rust, no A/C. Needed about $700 to tune the transmission and replace fuel lines, filters, etc.

It drives beautifully now.

[1980sd]

Paid $1500 for a mystery mileage 1980 last year and $3000 for a 97,000 mile 1980 recently. No rust on the MM and a poor interior. Some rust on the "newer" one but it has a sweet interior. The AC worked for about a month on the lower mileage one...

It's a crapshoot with old cars unless you can comb it really well or know the PO.

116's are best...

[ForcedInduction]

Originally Posted by i-osprey

Seller claims that the paint is in remarkably good condition considering it's age.

Thats always the "catch all" phrase for any problems you will find.
$3500 should buy a VERY nice 300SD. If its got any visible rust, floorboard rust, inoperable A/C, engine/trans problems or more than 200k (verified) miles then its too high.

[dirtcurt]

After my purchase of the "clanker" 84 300Sd I would base price on the interior alone. You can fix nuts and bolts, fuel lines and paint somewhat easy. But after the PO had the stereo removed by a caveman and a club while he was away, I found out why I got the car for a "great price". Plastic clips that snap when you touch them cracked dashes, brittle door panels, broken vacume pots, cracked woodgrain, dead mice, nests, bad upholstery, ripped headliners. To me that stuff is really hard to get it back together perfect on the older cars without spending tons of money and time.

[JerryBro]

In my part of the world a no rust 116 SD is like Bigfoot, you hear stories but no one has proof they they exist, so $3500 would be a bargain. But in like CA, AZ, NM, or Texas, I would think there would be more prospects available at lower prices.

[RML]

Maintenance records are worth a lot. If it has had a new tranny put in, or A/C redone recently, those are big items that you will not have to spend money on for quite a while.

[boneheaddoctor]

Originally Posted by JerryBro

In my part of the world a no rust 116 SD is like Bigfoot, you hear stories but no one has proof they they exist, so $3500 would be a bargain. But in like CA, AZ, NM, or Texas, I would think there would be more prospects available at lower prices.

Same here too, but I have actually seen a few that looked real nice from a distance (and more than a few rusty ones). My W116 came out of Scottsdale AZ. And the rubber parts showed it when I got it. Hasn't seen the road from before the first salt hits the road, until a few rains after the last salt is thrown down for the last nine years. As well as being garaged.