At a social event, I met an elderly couple driving a 1998 E300 turbodiesel. In the course of talking with them, they mentioned that they were considering putting it up for sale soon. Uh-Oh!

The car is a true original purchaser / one-owner unmolested car with 130,000 miles. Believe it or not, it has been MBZ dealer-only maintained it's entire life, and it still has all factory original paint. It has some stone chips & road rash on the front, and a couple of tiny door dings - otherwise the paint is truly excellent because it was garage-kept it's entire life. . It originates from a desert / dry climate area, so hopefully rust and spring perch failure won't crop up as an issue in the future.

I've been thinking about getting an '05 or '06 CDI, and have been casually looking for the past few months. But now this w210 has cropped up. Ugh! What to do?

I'm curious to know your opinions, especially those of you that have owned both a w210 turbodiesel and a w211 CDI. I know the CDI will get better mileage and has more power, but... jeez, this car is a rare find.

I'm also curious to know what you guys think the current market is for a car like this. We didn't discuss price, but we exchanged phone numbers.

Looking forward to hearing what you guys think!

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Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

I don't know the value but it sounds like an ideal car to buy.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

buy it!

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1991 300D

While I have only owned my 98 E300D a short time, I'm pretty excited about it....my poor W124 sits in the driveway motionless! There's no doubt you've stumbled upon a great car. The combo of low miles and dry climate is tough to beat. In the Northeast, you typically see these cars with 200k plus miles in all-round excellent condition going for $6k or so. I got mine with 73k miles (and some wheel well rust) for $5500, and I think I got a pretty good deal. I know prices vary in different parts of the country, but if the car you describe were up here, $6-7k would be a pretty good deal. I don't think it would be unreasonable to pay $8k for it, but I don't know that I could see going any higher.

For a relatively low miles CDI (say 125k), you're going to pay $15k or close to it. We're starting to see nice condition CDIs below $10k, but they have over 250k miles.

Gut reaction: go for it!

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

I loved my W210, Sporty and efficient it was a grand car, I loved it. with 130K expect a decent price on it. north of 5K if they know what they are sitting on.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Go nuts. As Hatterasguy said, these cars are in the perfect zone right now... cheap enough that they aren't going to lose much value, but still new enough that they won't have old car issues.

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"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

Hmmm never meet anyone from the state of here, is that next to there? I have been there, and it isn't great. Your right here has some nice cars. I would go get it before someone from there, goes over to here to grab it from under you.....then it will be never more...never more, is a really bad place...to many them living in run down where....oh lord where is here again?

__________________

Well, as I like to say, that's neither here nor there.

__________________
"Senior Luna, your sense of humor is still loco... but we love it, anyway." -rickymay ____ "Your sense of humor is still loco... " -MBeige ____ "Señor Luna, your sense of humor is quite järjetön" -Delibes

1982 300SD -- 211k, Texas car, tranny issues ____ 1979 240D 4-speed 234k -- turbo and tuned IP, third world taxi hot rod

2 Samuel 12:13: "David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die."

First, check the car out and see what it really is. if it looks good, consider it. If you buy it then change your mind, or find the perfect W211, you can always sell a car like that pretty easily. Here in Houston I bet you could get $8K easy.

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Charlie

---------------------------
'66 VW 1300 96K miles
'97 E300D 239K miles
'85 300D 203K miles (sold Sep 2012)

t walgamuth:
It is most definitely the "right" type of car to buy. (The ones that never show up when you're looking for the specific model you want.) It seems too good to pass up, even if I pay top dollar.

Spoken like a true addict. (it takes one to know one.) I thought this was a support group? Oh... no? Not that kind? - 12 cars, not 12 step?

Shertex:
You're right on the money. Both literally and figuratively. This car definitely is worth a premium over all the other 210's I've seen listed. (BTW I still love my 124, but it's getting pretty long-in-the-tooth @410,000+.)

Aquaticedge:
They absolutely know what they're sitting on. And they know there are a fair number of diesel-heads out here. (or is it out there? Or where?)

Jooseppi Luna:
I cant go nuts - I'm already there. (Or here. Or wherever.)

Although I am from here, I'm not there. The owners are here, but they are not from here either. (they are visiting here too.) Here, where I am not currently (because I'm here, not there) is home. The couple with the car are from there (not the there where I'm from, the there from where they drove. (The there where the car lives.) Where we are is in the Southern US, but not quite enough East to be Thar. Thar is still waaay over there.

I'm not concerned about someone grabbing the car, as it is not advertised here, there, thar, or elsewhere. On a final note, as indicated by my predilection towards these cars, perhaps I am not all here either. (I herefore plead insanity.)

VW1300: Yep. I need to thoroughly check it out during daylight hours and check the story about it being only dealer serviced. If it was truly "open checkbook" dealer serviced, then I can't even begin to imagine how much stuff has been done over the years. You know those dealers... And you're right, I could just keep my eyes open and if I find the perfect CDI in the future... well, everyone here on the forum would get first crack at the w210. That's IF I still want a CDI.

And therein lies the original question: To go 210, or to go CDI?

__________________
Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.

Test drive a W210, and a CDI and see which you like better.

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hum.....
1987 300TD 311,000M Stolen. Presumed destroyed

Having only ever driven 123's and 124's, you should take my opinion with a grain or two of salt.

Sounds like a good opportunity to me.

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Codifex
1981 240D ChinaBlue (Got her running with a donor engine.)
1983 300DTurbo w/sunroof.
1984 300TD manual sunroof. (Electrical Gremlins)

well, I'm living here, I've been there before, and miss it. I miss how things seem to last forever there.... just remember no matter WHERE you go, there you are. (thanks Peter)

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Sounds like an excellent opportunity, both 210 and 211 diesels seem to be at a pretty sweet spot for depreciation right now. That's what made me pull the trigger on a 211 CDI (was cheap enough and still 'new'), too snow covered to take pictures still or write a thread. Anyhow, a Tyler purchase!

It all depends on price and condition for the 210 I suppose. Potentially for an extra 5k or so, you get a whole lot more car with a 211, but EVERYthing is more complex on it. Knowing that it's a 1 owner car is great, and lets you know it wasn't beat on, but it still is 15+ years old, and potentially a slew of suspension repairs, etc etc. loom. Plenty of items to worry about that the dealer probably didn't cover regularly: Was the 722.6 serviced? (ever?), are the shocks old enough to drive now?, Was the rear diff ever serviced (w211 folks seem to have the occasional "whole diff needs to be replaced at 100k"). Anyhow, I'm rambling about this, but it's all about condition to me, and do you like/love one style and driving feel over the other?

The 211 I bought from Tyler was dealer maintained from new, but still had a few nits that an MB fanatic owner would pick up on and probably have changed, but the dealer did not. Small stuff, but I'd trust most of you over the dealer . I love the car, insane power, 40 mpg if the wind blows right, and it's way bigger inside than I expected (211s are incrementally larger inside than a 210).

Of course now every time I see a 212, I start lusting after those! ...and still enjoy driving my 124 all the same.

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05 E320 CDI
99 SL500
02 530i

82 240D SOLD
83 240D Euro 4spd SOLD
86 300D Euro Auto SOLD

It seems that about once every couple weeks someone is seeking opinions about the purchasing of a W210. As always, I suggest buying it. You will be a very fortunate individual to be able to own a car with such a pedigree as the one you have described. If I were you, I would be at the sellers house with a checkbook (or CA$H if the seller requires it) and make the deal today! Don't let this one slip through your fingers! I am sure many (if not all) former and present owners of a W210 would agree.....Rich

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All Diesel Fleet
1985 R107 300SLD TURBODIESEL
2005 E320 CDI (daily)

LOTS of parts for sale!


EGR block kit
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/355250-sale-egr-delete-block-off-plate-kit.html

1985 CA emissions 617 owners- You Need This!
Sanden style A/C Compressor Mounting Kit for your 616/ 617 For Sale + Install Inst.

Sanden Instalation Guide (post 11):
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/367883-sanden-retrofit-installation-guide.html