Hey all,

After my heartbreaking totalling of my beloved 300TD, i am looking for another benz to drive until i can find exactly what i am looking for.

today i looked at a 1990 300E black/black with 188,000 miles in very good cosmetic condition. i need some advice though. tomorrow i am going for a test drive and possibly a Pre purchase inspection.

assuming everything is in check mechanically and cosmetically (rust, etc.) what is a good price for it?

1990 300E black/black 188K, good shape, $4995

Thanks SO much!

__________________
1995 E320 Sportline Wagon "Bernard"
black on black leather

http://i.imgur.com/BdZ7jM3.png

Out of curiosity, what are you really looking for? 124 car is a little dull compared with the 123 car. more modern, but boring. not much character.

That price seems ok to me if the car has been "done", my term, meaning: valve job, AC, front end rebuild and maybe a trans rebuild. If you want the car to be 'right', this stuff needs to be done around 200K. Then there are tires, flex disks, leaky EHA's, plugs, wires, motor mounts, trans mount, ACC...make yourself a bog list because when buying an older car, it seems like everything wrong with the car only shows up after about 1k miles. Or maybe I am just overzealous when its time to purchase an old MB.?

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

That price seems a little high. I paid the same (5k) for my '92 300E with 192K on it, which was in excellent cosmetic condition.

If you're considering it learn from my mistakes- make sure you take it to a good garage to check it over- since I got mine the Head Gasket went at 199k, and the AC died. The 2 real 'biggies' on this car, of course! A few small other things needed to be replaced too (EHA, ignition wires, rear shocks, hoses, euro lights! etc).

I wouldn't say the 124 is dull, though anything with an auto 'box is pretty boring. It's very solid, more refined and comfortable than than the 123, and very nice on the highway. More expensive to maintain than your old diesel, though you can still do most of it yourself with this model. Gas milage is not great, and a bit of a shock after going from a diesel-powered car. They'll only run happily on premium, too.

If I was buying another one I'd be looking for a 300D 2.5- though they tend to go for a fair bit more than the 300E

__________________
1993 320TE M104
---------------------------------------------------
past:

1983 230E W123 M102
1994 E300D S124 OM606 (x2)
1967 250SE W108 M129
1972 280se 3.5 W108 M116
1980 280SE W116 M110
1980 350SE W116 M116
1992 300E W124 M103
1994 E280 W124 M104
----------------------------------------------
"music and women I cannot but give way to, whatever my business" -Pepys

Hey, you call those mistakes? That ain't nuttin'! In addition to yours (thankfully, my compression is good and no head issues)
(prices from memory)
Exhaust system: give it a hard shake. I should've done that. $800.
Motor mounts. Does the engine shake on start? I should've looked. $300.
Here a high-pitched whine in the rear of the car at idle? Fuel pump. $200.
Hear a high-pitched, sharp CHINK, when putting car in or out of gear? Flex disk. $120.
etc.

Lessons learned:
Don't buy an old car without complete records.
Don't buy a car because you like its looks.
Don't go nuts endlessly pouring money in the car like hosing water down a rathole.

OTOH, I really like my '88 300E and I just know, I swear, no kidding, in just a few more $K, I will have that old beater like new. I can't help it, I'm being sucked into the vortex ahhhhhhh!

I just bought a 1995 E320 for $8K. Excellent records. Meticulous care by anal couple who were concerned about who would buy their car. Deals are out there. Be patient.

Ever thought about an older SD? I've had two excellent chances for well-maintained cars.

B