300TD Station Wagons
 

Hey all,

I am on the lookout for a nice 300TD wagon. I don't really care so much how may miles as long as in good mechanical shape.

How much should i expect to spend? I see some for less than $2000--but do you think they will be ragged out?

Comments/Thoughts welcome!

Bud

A $2000 300TD will be ragged out.

I have this annoying habit of watching 300TD's on ebay (and in our local buy and sell). I think it makes hubby nervous. :p My observation is that most of the nicer ones do not sell below $3500... some go for quite a bit more. At least you are in an area where you are likely to find some rust free ones. Pretty rare here to find something that hasn't turned to dust. IMO it is more important to start with a good chassis and interior, the mechanical stuff can all be dealt with.

Good luck. I love wagons.:D Maybe I can experience the purchase of another vicariously through you, so keep us posted.;)

I paid about $2300 for mine, but I have put more than $1000 into it.

paid $3200 for mine at a Chrysler dealer where it had been traded in. They knew absolutely nothing about Mercedes and were planning to wholesale it out. It had about 130k on it with a few minor problems like malfunctioning odometer and vacuum leaks in the heating system but nothing major. I was expecting to pay considerably more for something in that kind of condition.
I had seen many for sale in the $4-5000 range with double that many miles on them.

Thanks for the tips folks.

Sounds as if you got quite a steal there in Denver man---yeah, very low mileage.

I will keep my eyes open, if you run across a screamer of a deal, and decide to pass on it, let me know!

Also, was in Canada last month Jasz, Calgary, Banff, and Jasper. Absolutely the most beautiful place I have ever seen---and i have seen a lot of places!

Even saw a bear!

I lucked out, I found one close by for $1500. Granted I've but that into again for assorted stuff that it may have gotten by w/o (except the periodic maint) like AC (wife required).

It was an estate sale so I couldn't pass it up after having had looked at dozens on eB*y and around town and then moving on to looking for a sedan and having poor luck there. It took 2.5 months of looking and then one morning my wife asked if I'd looked under the 'Wagon' section in the classifieds and bingo there it was. Had I looked in the 'Thrifties' section (items $500 or less) I would have seen the '79 250TE that the same guy was selling for $500! It was very rough though, but good for parts or a fishin' car.

You didn't say which TD you would like. There is the original W123 chassis TD ('78-'80), TD Turbo Diesel ('81-'85). It has a 3.0l 5 cyl. engine. Then there was the 300TD Turbo (1987), it had the 3.0 6 cyl turbo diesel engine. For starters, it isn't to find someone willing to sell their TDs. Just look in your local paper and see how many you find. The W124 chassis TD is even harder to find, since they only brought about 1100 of them here in 1987. The W124 TD really hauls compared to the W123. the engine is rated at something like 143 hp and 192 ft lbs of torque. (I think). I was very fortunate to literally stumble upon my '87 TD.
Alot of it is depending on what you are looking for. The W123 has the "classic" Mercedes-Benz look, with the curved fenders, bundt cakes rims and chrome.
The W124 has a "modern" look despite the fact the design is now 17 years old.

After using this forum as a guide, I bought my '87 300TD through e-Bay for $5,900. It is rust-free with 131,000 miles and as far as I can tell has no major problems. There are some minor things I'm working on and loving to do so as it gives me a chance to become familiar with the her. In fact, as I read posting-after- posting I have already been wondering if these MBs are considered hobbies or affairs! Good luck and look for rust-free.