I don't know if a record price. I was poking for parts on ebay and this popped up:
Mercedes Benz 300 Series Turbo Diesel | eBay

52 bids to $12,200 and still 2 days left.

I won't bid, but will file in case of an insurance claim in the future. When my 65 Newport has been hit (3 times), the agent had trouble with comparables. I aided them by sending in similar cars I collected from ebay sales and such. That was after their body shop said "can't fix, total it", so became "just a question of price". I kept the car each time. Last pass was a simple "deer crunched door".

$5 says the winner won't pay.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

You might want to check out " Mercedes Motoring " and see what those Bad Boys are selling for .

Except they're not. Those are asking prices, the transaction prices are much much lower.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

Are you sure? I think he used to have the selling prices for all of his previous sales on his website, and my vague recollection is that they were close to his current asking prices.

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1968 220D, w115, /8, OM615, Automatic transmission.
My 1987 300TD wagon was sold and my 2003 W210 E320 wagon was totaled (sheds tear).

You can put that in front of an insurance adjuster all day and if your car isn't an '85 with under 60k with recent pictures documenting that cherry of a ride, they will laugh you out of the room.

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'85 300TD "Puff The Magic Wagon" - Rolling Resto
'19 Mazda CX-9 Signature - Wife's sled
'21 Morgan 3-Wheeler P101 Edition
'95 E300d - SOLD
'84 300TD "Brown Betty" - Miss this one
'81 240D "China Baby" - Farm grocery getter

On that particular eBay car, which is getting lots of notice around the 'Net, I have to agree that it's no better than 50/50 that the sale will close. I looked at the bidding patterns and I'm afraid they aren't exactly reeking of credibility. If the vendor has a shill(s), he isn't doing it very well. If those are all real bidders, well then at least a couple of them have more money than sense.

Fact is, there are precious few w123s left in the sort of condition to command that sort of price. A couple have sold in the $10k range, here on the forum, but they were pretty close to this one mileage-wise, as I recall.

Every insurance company is different. There is no one 'rule' for handling losses on an older car. On my blue 1985, I got it following a relatively minor accident at 88k miles (fender, door, center link, tie rod and steering shock had to be replaced). It was in most respects better, or at worst the equal of that car on eBay, save that its one owner for all but one year of its life had had a few parking lot mishaps due to advancing age and the paint wasn't matched on several panels. Sadly the service book was retained by the estate, for some reason.

Allstate paid the people I got it from, who had been left it in the OO's will, $5,200 for the repair estimate, and they then collected $2,400 from me when I bought it from them as it sat. Best purchase of my life, save for my animals. I never had a Mercedes under 160k when I got it, most over 200k miles. Getting one at 88k is a mind-blower. Cannot imagine what a w123 with only 50-odd-k must be like.

If you truly think yours is worth big money, best thing to do is to pay for a professional appraisal by a reputable appraisal firm. That is no guarantee of what you'll be paid out in the event of a total loss, but most insurers will pay it more heed than a printout of an old eBay result, if only because it shows you are serious.

With respect to a car like those sold by Mercedes Motoring, in fairness to the insurer I think you would have to negotiate an established value policy, like I had on my first SD many years ago (at the time I purchased it, 1997, Mercedes diesels were at the very summit of their popularity and price curve here). If you buy a car that is essentially restored, you can't expect to pay normal rates for a pedestrian example of that model, then hit your insurer for a showroom car if something happens.

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Mac
2002 e320 4matic estate│1985 300d│1980 300td
Previous: 1979 & 1982 & 1983 300sd │ 1982 240d

“Let's take a drive into the middle of nowhere with a packet of Marlboro lights and talk about our lives.” ― Joseph Heller, Catch-22

The car is more of a nicer condition $5K to $6K tops DD to me. Too many areas of wear on it, as well as the blatant rust-in-progress. Although it would garner a lot of praise and looks @ any MB car GTG, I wouldn't want it as I would want one in a lot better condition to dote on and keep mainly as a garage queen - not a DD. Thanks for sharing the find, Bill!

If it were a perfect 50,000 mile car perhaps 12,500 is acceptable , but anything less than perfect, sheesh. A repaint in my eyes devalues the car tremendously, unless I watched the whole process from beginning to end, and even then it lowers the value in my eyes

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson

Shill bidding is an understatement. There are many areas needing attention including a needed paint job by his description. Dealer maintained and leaking oil? I can think of nobody that would bid this much on what is presented.

My standard is simple on these milage claims. The oil change booklet should be present and correspond closely with claims. When missing it is a serious red flag. It may even be a half decent car but not in the ballpark of a great remaining example.

I really think there are some games going on here.

Here is the thread on BW about the car.

1985 300 Turbo Diesel with 53k actual miles. Whats it worth? - Mercedes-Benz Forum

Looking at the bidding history something does seem off. I must admit I am partly responsible for the guy asking what he is since I posted a link to Mercedes Motoring in the thread.

Shame shame on you

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Hey I basically said if you are flipping the car to go big or go home

My wagon is at 41000 miles. Drives great. Fast actually. Seats are still firm. Car feel tight like a low mileage car should be. I love the low-mile ones - less chances of someone screwing it up. If I really wanted a w123, I'd pay the $12,500 for a good one. They're worth it. As for insurance, mine is under Hagerty with an agreed value. Appraisers are just value-guessers - no need to pay that when I know the market better than he does.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

I think I've seen pics of your car. If true I would certainly pay 12,500.
Perhaps a lot more. What other car has the proven potential of an 85 TD?Hell I'd pay 30k for one in a cosmoline box unfired brand new. That's the thing. There may be better deals now as 2014 models, but you don't know that. You know the potential of an 85 TD. Rather have that than a Camry

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85 300TD FED-Daily
84 300SD-Wife's
86 XJS-Sunday
66 GMC-Work- Given to my stepson
83 BMW Airhead- Given to my stepson