So I am new to the MB community, and I am looking at purchasing an 81 300TD Wagon. It is dark blue in color with palamino interior. It comes with a parts car because it needs brake work (what the seller says), and the drivers door has a dent. Parts car is the same color. Car runs, but the issue I have is that there is a pretty serious mold problem, and the interior has seen its better days. I can clean up the interior just fine, but was wondering how hard it is to locate interior pieces and trim for these vehicles. The seller is asking 1800 for both, and the running vehicle has 208K on it. Any and all info is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I would considered them, just because I like em and have had years of experience with my sedans butttt if you are new to mb....I would pass...specially if you don't know what to look for...81 may be non turbo as well...
As they say, there is no such thing as a cheap mercedes...
Just to repair the SLS and brakes....count it costing the cost of both cars plus possibly double if you add on other things...
They are both turbo diesels, otherwise I definitely would not be looking at them. They both run, its just one had pretty serious damage from the tree branch falling on it. I'm pretty sure I can get both for 1400 just have to get them to my place. I'm in no hurry to get them on the road right now, need a project to work on, I'm getting bored at home. I've done quite a bit of research so far, and I think this is going to happen. Might be many a post to come with lots of questions, but I think it will be worth it.
If you are very handy and can do the work yourself, I say go for it! I picked up my wagon in Dec. of 2015 for $1300. Finished the restore in about 6 months. Have about $6k total into the car now. Did all the work myself other than the color paint on it. The best thing that I did was find a great parts 81' car for $500. Had only 84k miles on it and had been stored inside a dry garage for 24 years! I was able to use the entire interior for the parts car into my 85' car. I don't plan on selling my car, but if I did, I would not take less than $15k for it.
I love my '81 TD. I've had it for 10 years now and have driven it from 238k miles to 350k miles.
Of course, I spend a lot of time working on it. I would say I average about $400/year in parts, although that is decreasing as jobs get down to basic maintenance items. Most expensive jobs are front suspension and then quality rear axles. SLS items when needed are going to cost around $300 (new spheres, pump and valve rebuild).
You are lucky to get a wagon parts car. When it comes time to replace or rebuild the head it's good to have a spare wagon head which is different from the sedan. If your parts wagon is not an '81, the transmission will require a tail swap to retain the electronic speedometer.
Buying the wagon was a great decision for me. It's been a pleasure learning about the mechanics of this fine machine.
If you have space for both and are willing to spend several thousand more in parts, it might be fun. I spent over $4K on a "refresh" of my '80 240D over about four months. Part of that was labor for a shop to perform a couple jobs I didn't feel competent to perform, like replacing rear axles.
I don't think I've spent any more than $700-$800 over the last 6 years since I bought it for $2000. As long as I stay away from ethanol gas it starts and runs perfect even after sitting for weeks.
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