1976 W115 300D Questions

[fat862]

I am soon to get my first car (have been using my Dad's old one for 2 years) , the W114/W115 bodies always have drawn my eye.
The car I am looking at is priced at $9000. I find this a little steep but was wondering what some other, more knowledgeable peoples opinions were.

Specs:
This car is in absolutely perfect shape, no doubt about it, close to flawless from top to bottom (in my opinion).
It has 111,000 miles with documentation.
All sytems work; A/C, Power sunroof, door locks(with keyless entry), and power windows.

I was wondering,
1.How reliable these are cars. I am not going to be going very far, and use the freeway maybe once a week.
2. How expensive to insure ,as compared to a Japanese sedan of the same value.
3. Parts and labor, though more specifically parts because i know a diesel mechanic.
4. Longevity of the car

Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Pics:

[Scoot]

Originally Posted by fat862

I am soon to get my first car (have been using my Dad's old one for 2 years) , the W114/W115 bodies always have drawn my eye.
The car I am looking at is priced at $9000. I find this a little steep but was wondering what some other, more knowledgeable peoples opinions were.

Specs:
This car is in absolutely perfect shape, no doubt about it, close to flawless from top to bottom (in my opinion).
It has 111,000 miles with documentation.
All sytems work; A/C, Power sunroof, door locks(with keyless entry), and power windows.

I was wondering,
1.How reliable these are cars. I am not going to be going very far, and use the freeway maybe once a week.
2. How expensive to insure ,as compared to a Japanese sedan of the same value.
3. Parts and labor, though more specifically parts because i know a diesel mechanic.
4. Longevity of the car

1. The cars are reliable but have things that wear out like any other car.
2. Cheap to insure.
3. Parts are not expensive
4. Car lasts forever

BUT The color is really questionable and the price is at least twice what it should be. If you aren't going to be putting that many miles on it (i.e., MPG isn't all that important), consider getting a 250 C or 280 C instead. At least you have a coupe then. Seriously, $9000 is more than one of these cars sells for. Way more.

[fat862]

Originally Posted by Scoot

1. The cars are reliable but have things that wear out like any other car.
2. Cheap to insure.
3. Parts are not expensive
4. Car lasts forever

BUT The color is really questionable and the price is at least twice what it should be. If you aren't going to be putting that many miles on it (i.e., MPG isn't all that important), consider getting a 250 C or 280 C instead. At least you have a coupe then. Seriously, $9000 is more than one of these cars sells for. Way more.

Yea, I have yet to contact the owner yet about the price. I am pretty set on the W114/115 body style, but are the gas models just as reliable as the diesel ones, because once i spend the money on the car, I don't have that much extra to pay if it does break down. So all in all, I'm looking for a tank

EDIT: Is there an equivalent of a kelley blue book for cars older then '89?

[Scoot]

OK, I know the seller of the car. Andrew. I bought my 71 250 C from him. In my opinion he is an honest guy and the car is a good car. Having said that, I think it's a $5000 car max. I felt I was treated fairly when I bought my car from him 6 months ago, but I still feel that it is a $5000 car max.

Things to look at:

1. the heater and AC have separate fans. You need to make sure that the heater fan works. The heater should blow nice hot air when set to the heat settings. If the blower for the heater doesn't work, it's very expensive to replace.

2. The car has keyless entry, which means most likely that the vacuum door locks don't work. That means that the trunk lock and gas lock may not function. Not a big deal, but other things with the vacuum system ARE a big deal, or at least a pain.

3. See if the cruise control works.

4. I have a problem with the 111,000 documented miles give that in the craigslist photograph there is a receipt shown from 2007 that lists 124,000 miles. What's up with that?

Andrew buys and sells cars and is a Mercedes mechanic. I'm pretty sure he bought this car in May of 2009 for a lot less than you are thinking about paying. If you keep your eyes open, you can find a bargain too. I knew of a 1968 240 D with less than 100,000 miles, original owner, GREEN and I passed on it because it was a) $4000 and b) decided I wanted a coupe.

Good luck whatever you decide.

[patrick800]

I used to have a 280C, I sold it because i couldn't get the carb set right. I loved the 114-115 styling so I looked for a 75-76 300D.

I since found a mint 76 300D, one owner, with 61000 documented miles. I bought it in July 2008 and put 5000 miles on it since then. I paid more than $9000 but car is in showroom condition. Very reliable and solid. And fuel injection is a blessing compared to the old carbed 114s!

YouTube - bluebenz76's Channel

[79Mercy]

That appears to be a very nice car and in my opinion it would be a great car for you.

9000 is way to much, I got my 76 300D for 1100 with 181K on it, there wasn't anything wrong with it mechanically but the interior was a bit rough, and it needed new streering linkage. It wasn't bad at all but just worn. The best thing about it is that there is virtually no rust, just one small bubble that will be taken care of very soon.

I just drove my W115 down to south FL for a MBCA show, I logged 700 miles round trip. It performed perfectly, and it got about 24MPG and used no oil.

[Beverly Sharp]

WAY TOO MUCH MONEY! Let me repeat that: WAY, WAY, WAY TOO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS CAR, regardless of how nice it is (it is nice, but .....).
Don't be rushed into this vehicle; you'll be sorry.
Hemersam

[patrick800]

Originally Posted by 79Mercy

That appears to be a very nice car and in my opinion it would be a great car for you.

9000 is way to much, I got my 76 300D for 1100 with 181K on it, there wasn't anything wrong with it mechanically but the interior was a bit rough, and it needed new streering linkage. It wasn't bad at all but just worn. The best thing about it is that there is virtually no rust, just one small bubble that will be taken care of very soon.

I just drove my W115 down to south FL for a MBCA show, I logged 700 miles round trip. It performed perfectly, and it got about 24MPG and used no oil.

I think you were very lucky to find such a nice 115 for $1100. It depends where you live. Here in Canada, I searched for 5 months before I could find a nice 115. But nice ones are expensive here, much more than in the US.

The one in the original post looks very nice though...

[diametricalbenz]

Don't buy a car from Andrew (chiwanga) they buy cars from old people and dangle cash in front of their faces and then flip it at a RIDICULOUS price. They're dealers and are fueling the exorbitant prices that are the scourge of ebay.

Another now gone forum member got shafted out of a huge amount of money when the car blew up on them NA 300D in Santa Barbara a few years back.

There are plenty more 75-76 300D's out there as most don't like the /8 W115's there will be fewer but the price will be competitive.

Be assured it's an old car not a Camry or a Civic with manual everything. It will leak and have vaccum issues, and have A/C issues but they are fun to drive. Regardless of what people tell you it will max out at 23-25mpg and that's taking it easy going 65mph on the freeway.

You will get compliments for it though and people will ask you if you run WVO on it etc but people do cut you off when you drive it since it will have a tough time negotiating traffic with a car with 88hp with a slushbox. Depending on where you live in CA, SF, central coast, or LA/SD you can survive! (I did) but you have to drive like a trucker with it so you don't get run down or cut off all the time which detracts from the driving experience.

[Whatsmypassword]

Its for sure a clean Car even in Perfect shape its not a 9K Car Like the outher post
5K Tops ,your right they are not fast,we have had 2 300D'S 1975 Models
the first one we had Over 450 K was still running good ,when a drunk driver Hit us
make sure to buy Extra insurance because they will not give you much for the car if its wrecked ,good luck with your purchase ...