Hey all,

Having exhausted all of my resources, which included checking with Mercedes-Benz Classic in Germany and in California, I need to somehow find an original MSRP for an ‘89 250TD wagon for state tax/registration purposes. Neither of the Mercedes Classic offices were of any help and I scoured my copy of James Taylor’s W124 book in hopes I may find some data, but to no avail. Obviously, any kind of sales invoice is long gone, so I’m stuck. And I’d prefer not to have them tax it as a 300TE as I’m sure that was priced far higher originally. Thanks in advance for any help!

The only diesel W124 wagon sold in the US was the '87 300TD. You'll need to be looking abroad for an MSRP for the 250TD.

Additionally, why the original MSRP for registration? Most tax offices will tax you based on the present average market value or the last price paid (if you have a record).

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Right, I’m aware that the 300TD was the only diesel W124 wagon sold here.

I don’t know why they go off of the original MSRP but that’s how they do it. Stupid for sure.

don't have data for 89 250TD but a new 1990 250D was DM 42,864 (german marks, currency which doesn't exist anymore) When looking at prices of other wagons they were about DM 5,000 more than the equivalent sedans.


That was probably a price for a bare bones car in europe (no power windows, no a/c, no cruise, no power seats, cloth interior and manual transmission)

This makes absolutely positively no sense to me. Why would any regi office care what original MSRP was 30 years ago.

And if your looking for a forum member just to tell, with the no Invoice, why don't u just make a number up and tell it to them.

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Second that. You made a good faith effort. The DMV just wants a number on the form and I doubt their database includes cars from the 80s.
Give them a number that sounds feasible and call it a day.

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Greg Schwall

1983 300SD - 465,000 miles

The DM fluctuated a lot during that 70's and 80's. Both times I was over there, late 70's and then late 80's or early 90's, it was less than 2 DM to $1USD. 2to1 was about equivalent IMO. I think MB sold for more in the US, than in Europe. I think my MB240D was $26K in '81. No, I didn't buy one then, I just remember seeing that price somewhere.

That's why there were so many euro cars imported privately before 85/86 because it was cheaper to buy one in europe and ship it here

1981 240D MSRP: $20,558

https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1981/Mercedes-Benz/240D/4-Door-Sedan/Values

1989 300TE MSRP: $48,210

https://www.nadaguides.com/Cars/1989/Mercedes-Benz/300TE/4-Door-Station-Wagon/Values