I don't know about letting it pass. It's a decent price and looks generally okay. If it were me, I'd just try to find a knowledgeable MB mechanic to look it over carefully and offer advice on buying it. There are definitely some things that might arouse suspicion, but it could be a really good deal.

I'd find a mechanic, pay him $200 to inspect the car in detail. If he says "buy," you'd have a real nice car for not a lot of money.

Just my $0.02.

The car is too far away for me to take a look at it. I guess I could ask the seller to take it to a mechanic and send me the report but I'm not certain that it's worth the trouble at this point. There seem to be too many unknowns for me. The Carfax report shows 8 titles issued (could be 8 changes of address or 8 different owners). The seller says it was a Florida car but Carfax shows Texas and Oklahoma. Ok, so maybe the seller was misinformed. The seller is a mechanic but he didn't ask the PO if the engine was replaced or rebuilt. I've had a car before that was replaced with an engine from a different year and had nothing but problems so I'm skittish about not having the info on the engine. The transmission is not a new replacement or a rebuilt but it's from a salvage.

Hey, if anyone is close enough to take a look at it, email the owner and let him know. It might be an ok car, it's just a gamble that I don't want to take right now.

I'm just looking for a dependable daily driver. I'm not looking for a major project. I'm also willing to wait and pay a little more for something that has been better cared for. In the meantime I'll just keep reading on this site and learning what to look for.

Bill, I have read that some people believe the 240D to be underpowered, maybe even dangerously so. I've always stayed away from them for that reason. What is your opinon on that?

newbie,

Go for a good 240D but only with a manual transmission. If you're very, very lucky, you may find one that has a 5 speed transmission.

The advantages are:

1. You don't need a graduate degree to operate the a/c or heater. You don't need an engining degree to determine if the a/c , heater is working correctly. With the 240D controls, you just turn the switch and it either works or doesn't but most of the time it works.

2. I have five MB and my daughter has a manual 4 speed and the way she rips around, you'd think she had a Corvette.

3. The 240Ds handle better and turn quicker than any of the other models of that year.

4. They have manual windows and always roll up and down. Just look through these threads and see how many questions you see about how to fix or find electric window parts.

5. Check out www.autotrader.com and see what's in your area. Barring that and if you want a real selection and plan on a trip to L.A. check out www.recycler.com . Especially their weekend webpage.

Good luck!!

Ben
www.reproduce100s.com

You might be selling me on that. What kind of gas mileage are you seeing on those?

newbie,

Having seen a number of SDs in this condition and having owned one, my guess is that the seats are shot The driver's seat in particular will provide no vertical support. Unless you're 6-feet tall, you'll have to raise the seat as high as it will go to see over the dash. You might be able to get away with swapping the front seats left for right, or might get lucky at the scrap yard.

I have to wonder about someone who can't figure out the ACC when the manual's right there.

On the other hand it does have a cup holder

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD
81 300SD (sold at 292K)

Tx Bill, I also recommended that she purchase a 300D, I've never been let down by mine.