If you had $3000 to spend.....
 

Basic question here.

If you had somewhere around $3000 to spend, what year and model of MB would you look at prospectively for a daily driver for both reliability and reasonable repair costs?

What would be the best bet for the money?

Thanks in advance, guys.

W123 300D turbo

Used Toyota or Honda. A W123 diesel is a good option, but they are getting old and it will be hard to find a nice one in your price range. Same goes for any other model of Mercedes. Other options may be a W201 or W124.

Repair costs depends on how much you incur from the previous owner's lack of care. At your price range, most MBs need a few grand to get up to snuff mechanically initially, then its mostly minor repairs and maintenance. Cars that are maintained properly usually demand more coin, or have higher miles.

W126 or W124....whichever can be found in the best initial shape.

I just got a W124, It's great. I've seen a bunch for under $3k, look on craigslist.

Sure, there's a bunch for under 3k. If you don't mind leaks, various things not working, etc. Every once in a while a forum member finds a good deal, though.

I forgot W126. A 300SD/SEL is one to consider.

Around here you can get my car for 4K (or less), well not MY car, but the same year (and color...) It's a pretty good car for that price.

I doubt you could get, and make nice an SD or SDL for that price. (By make nice I mean have all the features working, suspension working, all fluids up to date, air con blowing cold, seats not sagging all over the place, etc)

I would start with a car with a lower MSRP.

-J

Here's Why I Ask....
 

I'm looking for a ranking of sorts of which models are the most durable and low cost in maintenance if initial condition at the time of purchase is equal. I've had a 300E in the past and was happy with it- probably averaged $200 month in repairs over the three years I owned it and that included the $2500 A/C rebuild- but I'm trying to do my research before buying again. I understand if I'm looking for cheap trans, I can stick with my Celica, but that's not my question. I'm looking for which MB you'd buy for reliability and lower maintenance for a lower purchase price.

So far I'm hearing another 124 or a mid-80's SD? Is that correct?

Any thoughts on an older 240D?

Thanks in advance for the education.

There is really very little out there, as the majority of Mercedes that you can buy for that price will require very soon if not immediately at least another $2000 in repairs. $3000 is in many ways the price for a Mercedes "parts car."

Well if you are happy with 200 per month in repairs then definitely don't get a 98 C230. You won't be able to spend nearly that much.

A big question would be... how many miles do you plan on adding per month, year and what area of the country do you live in?

I just found a 190 E with 90,000 in perfect condition and way under $3,000.00. And here in Arizona the boodies are perfect...no rust!

My first MB was a 190E, and it was fairly simple and troublefree. But, there is a tradeoff in the technology: keeping the engine & tranny running just right required more frequent attention bosch k-jetronic (or whatever it was called), control pressure cables for the tranny etc. On the newer models, with less mechanical/analog and more digital, they're more set & forget until a component breaks. When it does break it can be a lot more expensive to replace.

Here is the car I have for sale, it a good car I wish I could keep it!

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=267023 SOLD!!

A 240D or 300D NA with manual would be my first two choices. Then the same w/ AT. Yes they are older and not super fast but the MT models are not super slow. I drive mine at 70 all day and after it warms up, it keeps up nicely with traffic.

Just maintain it.