Hey guys, I’m looking to buy a used Mercedes for 1k (or less) to put up to $500 into and drive from Phoenix to Chicago in the fall. This is part of a challenge with my best friend, who will also do the same, and it will be filmed to put on YouTube to see who makes it and document whatever happens along the way. A diesel is preferred but am open to others. Thanks - Mike

They’re out there. The issue is time or I should say timing. One could pop up today or a year from now.

Just read between the tea leaves with FS adds. Most CL adds invariably say something along the lines . . . these cars are worth $20k and going up and it just needs X, Y , or Z . . . which begs the question why the seller isn’t doing the work to make a small fortune.

I’ve seen a ton of really nice w123s..w124s..w201s go cheap like $500-1000. But your $500 fix price his on the low side even if your doing all the work. Let’s say you need tires and brakes there goes your $500

__________________
1993 e300
1995 e320
1994 e320
2006 s500 4matic
2004 Jeep wj overland
2001 Ducati 748
2004 Honda shadow aero

So you're in Phoenix?

Yes, currently in Phoenix. - Mike

It’s been interesting so far. There was a 1987 Chrysler 5th Ave in Tucson that I was interested in but that got snatched up. Then I went to Prescott yesterday to get a 1990 Volvo 240, but there was a problem on the seller’s end transferring the e-title, so I drove 200+ miles for nothing and am not going back. I think I’ll stick to something within a 30 mile radius from now on. - Mike

I'd be tempted to stick to with a W123 diesel for that specific challenge but it's still on a case by case basis. In general, given high mileage, a diesel can be nursed for a long time. If compression is decent the contest-ender due to financial limits would be a surprise with the transmission. Test drive cars when the TRANSM is fully warmed up. The engine will show operating temp just from idling, meanwhile the transm is still cold.

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Hmmmm. I'm in Los Angeles, but here is what I wrote a few weeks ago in response to someone looking for a spare OM606 injection pump.
It's still going to be tough to part with my old reliable pal, knowing how relatively rare and special these '95 E300's are. But maybe this would be a good fit for everyone involved?

__________________
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.

Wow, 412,000 miles! Now that is a challenge for sure. Any pictures? I drove a history-unknown 87 300D with 245,000 miles on the original #14 head 750 miles from Oakland to Phoenix all in one sitting and without any problems whatsoever. I’d be inclined to say the non-turbo inline 6 is even more reliable. - Mike

That car has been the most amazing vehicle I have EVER owned. That’s why it’s so difficult to let her go – but I’ve got far too many cars and need to reduce the fleet. I’m going to regret seeing her drive away even more than my trusty old ‘84 300D, which I also miss.

Despite it’s age and mileage, if the front wheel bearing was fixed, I wouldn’t hesitate to drive it across the country. I’d have more confidence in that car successfully making the voyage than I would with much newer cars with their more complex systems.

Here is a cut & paste of an ad that I wrote up for Craigslist a while back. I just never could bring myself to posting it up for sale:

- - - - - -

1995 Mercedes E300 / E300d

The 1995 E300 is “The Holy Grail” of Mercedes Diesels. Why? This is a “one-year only” model that combines the last year of the w124 chassis along with the bulletproof newer-generation OM606 6-cylinder 24-valve cast iron diesel engine.

Everyone says these cars can go a million miles… blah… blah... blah. Really? Is that true?

Well, this one is only 587,000 miles short of that illustrious goal. Yes, she has almost 413,000 miles on her. And yes, this has been the most astoundingly durable & reliable car I have EVER owned! Putting her up for sale is like selling one of my kids.

I’ve owned this car for 18 years and I have a ton of maintenance logs, using only synthetic fluids plus OEM & dealer parts. No Chinese crap on my car. (Although there is some bird crap on it.) How else could I have put this much mileage on her? As they say, proper maintenance is the key. Too bad I didn’t have any interest in maintaining the paint in the same manner as I kept up the mechanicals…. oh well. At about 328,000 miles, the original cylinder head was fully rebuilt by Metric Motors in Canoga Park CA. They are the #1 best Mercedes engine rebuilder in the U.S. Mercedes Benz’s own “Classic Center” in Irvine uses engines rebuilt by Metric for their restorations!

She has a BRAND NEW set of Michelin Premier A/S tires on her; they have less than 100 miles on them. They still have those tiny little molded rubber nibs on them! Those are $650 worth of tires. The fact that I put the most expensive and highest quality tires on her tells you how much I respect this car, and I fully intended to take her to the ˝ million mile mark myself. So, at this price you’re effectively buying a set of brand new top-of-the-line Michelin tires for the normal price of $650, and adding another $750 to buy a set of Mercedes wheels... with an entire running & driving car attached to them!

The paint is factory original ‘Pearl Black’ with a gray interior. The paint is completely oxidized on the upper surfaces. As in... severely roasted & toasted by the hellacious Southern California sun. It sort of looks like a poor man’s version of that horrible “flat” paint that people pay big money for. All for no extra charge!

There is of course an advantage to driving a car that looks like a used-up taxicab from Morocco – people get out of your way. At stop signs and intersections, people wave for you to go first; they assume you don’t have insurance, and probably no driver’s license either. Little will they know that you’re actually an eccentric multi-millionaire on your way to your lakeside mansion.

The body is absolutely straight & rust free and as solid as the day it left the factory. People who live in areas of the country where there’s snow, ice, and salt on the road would think they’re in the Twilight Zone – because finding a rust-free example is about as common as a Unicorn fart. (Although not as colorful.) There are two door dings on the passenger side, and one “uh-oh” minor boo-boo ding near the left tail light. The seats are upholstered with the indestructible “Mercedes Tex” - which looks amazingly good; no rips, tears, cracks, stains, or anything. Amazing stuff. Sure looks nicer than leather, which at this age would be looking like shredded beef. That MB Tex material will probably survive even after North Korea fires off a nuke in the vicinity of this car.

Windows, heater, air conditioning, sunroof, mirrors, power door locks all work. Radio antenna does not. Aftermarket Sony radio with HD FM tuner built-in, and satellite ready. Air conditioning blows ice chunks at your face, and the heater can turn the cabin into a Hannibal Lechter approved human crock-pot. (Fat-man Kim’s nuke will simply provide a nicely seared crispy crust.) The engine starts and runs smoothly, and believe it or not, does not burn ANY oil. None. Zero. Nada. Zilch. The transmission works fine, with smooth yet firm shifts into each gear.

The bad? A rubber fuel hose is seeping at the rear, and there is a clunk in the right front suspension. Also, the transmission is leaking at the front seal. This is a typical problem with the Mercedes 4-speed automatic transmissions when they get older. It has been leaking like this for several years. All I do is top it up with some fluid every now & then. You think that’s bad? Just wait and see how many fluids YOU will be leaking after you rack up that much mileage! This car will still be alive by then - so buy some adult diapers and both you and the car can share them.

Clean title with registration paid and on PNO (Planned Non-Operation) with the DMV.

Come steal my baby before I change my mind. $650 for the Michelins, plus $750 for the car. Just in case a calculator isn’t within reach, that’s $1,400. No, I will not separate them. Even if you supply the concrete blocks.

No trades, no sad stories, and no “help” needed to sell it. Cash talks, BS walks.

Email only – NO TEXT MESSAGES

__________________
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.

Pics 1-5

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
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.

Pics 6-10

Attached Thumbnails

         

__________________
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.

Two final pics for comparison of wet vs. dry.
BUT I AM NOT SAYING THE PAINT IS IN ANY WAY SALVAGEABLE!

Attached Thumbnails

   

__________________
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.

RunningTooHot, I sent you a private message - Mike

at that stage, clean it, scuff it, then spray clear all over. You got nothing to lose, unless you want to have a complete paint resto.
Once done, wet sand and buff.