Looking for advice.

I love the car, but am out of garage space, too many drivers around here and nobody has permission to drive the diesel except me. It also sits much of the winter waiting for dry days, a FL car originally and I don't drive it in salt, so it's not really practical at this time.

Is he worth $4k? $4500? Opinions solicited. If the car isn't worth much then it might as well stay around.

Simple stuff: Diamond Blue Metallic (the light silver-blue) with dark-blue leather (not 'tex), no tears or holes, good condition. Door panels have been upgraded to later ones with the Zebrano panels, but the original ones are available and in good condition also. Steering wheel and shifter have been upgraded to leather, originals included. ~210,000miles, Carfax showed a discrepancy in the first year, more likely a typo than anything IMO, but I'm planning to include a copy of the Carfax (FWIW). Body panels are all in good condition, paint is 8.5, the roof/hood/trunk were painted to repair sunburn but the trunk isn't as glossy as I'd like. Just trying to be honest so I get an honest opinion.

Other upgrades, new-style Mercedes vacuum pump, new Goodyear asymmetrical tires (high-end but I don't remember the name) H-rated, block heater cord just installed (never had the cord), 90A bosch alternator added this summer (original included if you want it, worked fine), clear Bosch Euro side-markers, nice aftermarket CD in-dash stereo, fresh G-05 anti-freeze this summer, runs on Mobil turbo-diesel & truck (previously Delvac 1) synthetic and uses about a quart per 6000miles, bushings and bearings good, ... lots of stuff I can't think of and extras included such as the later body-cladding in silver if you want it.

6 new Berus included in case you want them, ... spare filters, etc., A/C blows cold and doesn't "just need a charge" LOL, heater blows hot, fan is quiet and powerful, wiper updated, sunroof works, windows work. Windows tinted FWIW.

If I sell it, I'll also be selling my spare 603 engine and trans, diff, all kinds of 603-specific goodies and clearing out lots of space so this is part of why it all makes sense. I'm married and would like to stay that way you see, ...

So as I said, opinions solicited. If it makes sense from a $$ standpoint, I'll sell it. If not, I'll sell something else. Got to know what you guys think it'll realistically sell for.

TIA

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Seems like a reasonable asking price.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Knowing that you owned it, I'd say it's fair.
Plus for the non-forum crowd, I'm sure someone would pay that.
But if you sell it, will you still be around for advice!?!? I think you should sell something else and keep it. It would take a lot to have to buy another one and get it up to par with this one...
Got a new E320, I see?

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

Fair price – wish you were closer.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

A fair price indeed. But it's odd that, considering you won't drive in salt or let family drive the MB, you're willing to sell it to some schmo whose wife and kids will drive it daily -- fair weather or foul.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

That's Mister Schmo to you, bub!

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

Then I won't have to watch its demise.

Back a few years, I let my new-driver daughter drive my babied quattro in the fall/winter. I had mistakenly given her a cabriolet, so she "needed" a winter ride.

In the first 2days, she backed out of the driveway into a Suburban. Creased the quarter-panel and did in the front-end of the 'burb. Got it fixed, but you never have perfect sheet-metal again unless it's bolt-on.

A month later, she slid on some ice, totalled two (hand carried from Germany) perfect UR-quattro Hella lights when she clipped a light pole. It went into the shop for about three years, where it was "safe". That eventually got rediculous, I sold her with her original window sticker, brochures, valet-key, headlamp adjusters, ... BBS wheels (including spare), ...

Now I'm doing it again, because I don't want to see the car I really like to be wrapped around a stopsign. I looked for over a year to find a car without bodywork, ... so it's better for me to see it go away and I don't have to worry (much) about it. My wife's afraid to drive it because she doesn't want to hurt it.

Yeah, I'm a little off. The gassers just don't touch me the same way, they will be fine in the salt. Replaceable, they made plenty.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

There's the rub.

The forum group would appreciate it, but folks here like a bargain. God forbid I put it on fleabay and claim it gets 40mpg, ... I'd have to lampoon my own ad! It would probably sell for more on fleabay than here, but this is a good point for me to gauge what it's worth, and whether I should try to sell it as opposed to trying to sell a gasser.

I think I'm leaning toward selling it and the spares, makes the most sense and frees up the most space.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Man...that's exactly what I'd like to give to the wife so that her 123 could go to the new driver in the family....

Alas...it'll be months before I can pay the price....

I wish you the best...and I hope you find a great buyer.

__________________
1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

I think your price is right on. There's a guy locally (east side of MI) here who is asking $5500 for his 124 - I haven't seen it in person, but looks pretty darn nice. He's the original owner, and claims to have all service records.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/cto/938638144.html

Your 124 is also pretty sweet, and is most certainly VERY well taken care of. If it were me, I'd get as much as humanly possible for it, even if that means putting it up on Fleabay and taking some fool's money. Times are tough, man - the ribbing you'll take from The Forum won't feel so bad when you've got a cool 5-Grrr in your back pocket...

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1984 300D: 275,000 miles (soon to be for sale)

In search of my 1987 300D in anything but white.

Does this one have the #22 head? Or is that on your spare engine? Or am I wrong on both?
If this one does have a post 14 head, I'd say you SHOULD get 4500 no problem. That's big money and security right there...
If I only had somewhere to put it / the money to buy, I'd probably be pressuring you to sell. Unfortunately I probably won't be in that position for another year, at the least. Young and poor!

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Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

I hope you get your price. 124 Diesels aren't moving where I am. I'd probably let mine for for $4000. Ad would read about like yours - Dallas since new plus 18 months in San Jose area = no rust, diamond blue with gray leather out of a 92, I'll throw in the original leather seats which are still nice, repaint on hood and trunk starting to go; telescoping wheel and left rear window are on the short list of doesn't work. There are 140s I'd like to jump on but I'll be lucky to get $3000 for this car.

Oops, didn't mean to make this my ad

If you get $4000 for yours, I'll have you post mine up there

Sixto
87 300D

Wow. That's harsh. Seeing as how strongly you feel about this car, I think you should hang on to it, and protect it. In 10 or 20 years, you'll be glad you did.

For winter protection, check this thread: Rust Protection

__________________
'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Thanks for the suggestion Dana, but from over 30years of experience in the rust-belt, "rustproofing" rarely works. The typical Ziebart stuff is good at plugging body drains and keeping moisure in IMO, most of us stopped using such processes decades ago when we found how much damage drilling through otherwise good body panels to spray tar in already protected cavities. It voided body warranties in every European car I knew of, was merely a good way to spend money. All of the Ziebart and Tuff-Coat shops around here closed long ago.

Further, once you start driving a vehicle in salt, especially in the highly atomized environment of highway driving, it gets everywhere. It degrades threads so things come apart harder, gets in wiring connections, air intakes, body cavities, mechanisms and cables, you name it. Unless you have the facilities to completely wash the car every time it gets in the salt (spent many years doing so) under in and out, you will see the effect regardless of how much tar and oil is in the rocker panels.

No, if I keep it, it doesn't see salted roads. It's come too far for that.

I'm going to plug Rudolph in today, like to start and move him back in the garage since he had to move out this past weekend to make room for a sister. Hard to say how I'll feel when I slide back into his leather seats and hear that 603 purring. Something's got to go though, it's a tough decision.

Awsrock: The 22 head is sitting in the garage, I bought it thinking I'll put it on when I get a chance, you never seem to need insurance as long as you have it. Same with the 55-trim turbo, and the 3.5L IP, some day I figured. For the right price I could be talked out of a small truckload of spares, it's such a PITA to ebay and Craigslist this stuff one at a time I'd rather see it all go away at once, but likely that will not happen.

Sixto: Perhaps we should advertise in the NW? You're closer, have a better chance. Seems that every time a diesel 'Benz goes for sale there it gets twice what it would here. I'll need to decide on something soon.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff