[Shakedown St.]

1974 240D 4 Speed Worth The Price?

Hey guys. Found this 1974 240d 4 Speed for $5,000. Has 50,000 miles on it. The problems with the car so I've been told is it needs a new battery, seats are ripped in the back and needs a new sealing on one of the doors. When I go to check it out what kinds of things should I ask the seller about? Never have been in the market for antique cars before. What kind of macitence do I need to do on a car like this? I know its a lot more work than a new car. Do you think a price of $5,000 is fair? I know I'm asking a lot but I honestly do not no where to begin. All I know is this is one beauty of a car!

 

[Scoot]

Well, start with having lots of skepticism about the owner. The seats don't look like the seats of a 50,000 mile car. Look for rust inside and outside, trunk, under carpets, sills. Ask why the paint is so good and the seats are so bad.

$5000 for a non-driving car with possibly new paint covering up who-knows-what is not a good deal. $5,000 for a car that isn't running isn't a good deal -- if it just needs a new battery then the seller would have put in a new battery. I would wonder about the suspension and every bit of rubber on the car.

Check the title and registration status. Are back-fees owed? Is it titled in owner's name?

 

[rollin560]

it looks more like 250k on it. look at the rubber on the brake pedal if it does not look good the milage is not correct. this model is known for odometer not working speed works but does not accumulate miles. looks like it might be a repaint hard to tell from pics. is that red paint on side of driver seat. that price sounds high. at 50k miles that glass in instrument cluster should not be rattling
looks like some one put paper or tape between glass and cluster. the tabs inside the cluster must be broken should not have happened at 50k.
take car to some one who knows them and have it checked out if it checks out with original paint and looks to be 50k buy it
also look at how worn the key is

 

[agillot]

i dont believe the odo reading , this car looks like a 150 or even a 250 k miles .the only way to see how the engine is , is to have it running and look for blowby at the boot at top of valve cover , ill bet it shoot out like a steam locomotive .

 

[Shakedown St.]

Rollin560, you can see the gas pedals? Might be my monitor. Thanks for pointing these flaws out guys. I got more information from the guy. Came from a non title state (Connecticut). He's sending me the VIN # at the end of the day. I suspect this thing hasn't started in a long time. The logical thing to do is bring it to a nearby shop, plug a battery into it to see how well it runs. Shouldn't hand him any money at this point. What size battery does this model take?

 

[Baybear]

It takes a Group 49 battery. It's a big boy but readily available at Sam's Club, Walmart, Autozone, Advance Auto, Sears etc.
Will

 

[Scoot]

Rollin560, you can see the gas pedals? Might be my monitor. Thanks for pointing these flaws out guys. I got more information from the guy. Came from a non title state (Connecticut). He's sending me the VIN # at the end of the day. I suspect this thing hasn't started in a long time. The logical thing to do is bring it to a nearby shop, plug a battery into it to see how well it runs. Shouldn't hand him any money at this point. What size battery does this model take?

Uh, _HE_ should buy a battery. Sending you the VIN is useless. What state is the car in? If it has a Conneticut bill of sale to an owner in a different state and you are in a 3rd state I'm not sure this is going to be easy. What state are you in? How far are you from the car?

I'm betting 95% to 5% against purchasing this car.

 

[Shakedown St.]

Ha! Currently being sold 30 minutes away from me in Boston Massachuetts. Car originally from Conneticut and yes indeed I live in mass.

How would you go about getting a title for a car that never had one before? Looks maybe it is too good to be true. Funny that the guy emailed instantly the last 3 times but as soon as I mention the flaws you guys bring up, no response in 4 hours. Guy told me he wasn't too comfortable with me taking it to a shop myself before I buy it. I offered him half the cash, leave 20 mins away, if it checks out with the mechanic he gets the other half. Scoot, hate to say it but your probably right!

 

[Scoot]

Ha! Currently being sold in Massachuetts, not too far. Looks maybe it is too good to be true. Funny that the guy emailed instantly the last 3 times but as soon as I mention the flaws you guys bring up, no response in 4 hours. Guy told me he wasn't too comfortable with me taking it to a shop myself before I buy it. I offered him half the cash, leave 20 mins away, if it checks out with the mechanic he gets the other half. Scoot, hate to say it but your probably right!

No No No No. You do not hand him cash at all. HE takes it to a shop YOU pay for the inspection. If you buy a battery you keep the battery. DO NOT provide cash to someone before you have a MUCH better idea what you are doing. Do you know what you would need to do to title it in your state? Why is it not titled in HIS state??? How many years since it has been driven????? Except for pretty pictures, this is very much a car to run away from.

 

[Scoot]

Mercedes 250 ft/fs for trade or sale
1971 Mercedes Benz 250SE Classic
1974 Mercedes Benz 280

For $5000 you should be looking at nice running cars that have title and registration up to date. If you must have diesel, that's certainly possible but it seemed like you were more into "the look" than the engine...

 

[rumb]

Red flags all over the place. at least 150K miles based on seats and other items brought up. front turn signal lens are faded. means it was outside for a long time. No tiltle means 1/2 price.

 

[Shakedown St.]

Shouldn't of said cash, meant I would write him a check.

Yeah, wanted diesel to modify the engine to take 100% ethanol. He posted it as getting 30-40mpg. He said it came from a non title state, in this case Connecticut. Did some states used to not hand out titles? How hard would it be in getting a new title? Currently it's not registered, nothing. The guy found the car in Connecticut a few years ago and brought it back to Boston.

 

[Shakedown St.]

Okay guys, just got a response from the guy, here's what he said. I noticed he used "as far as I know a lot"

"As far as I know it has original paint. The previous reg and reg before that was consistent with the odo not rolling but I have no way to tell for sure. Id rather not have the car towed away before a sale is made. Id be glad to put the car in the air, on jack stands for your mechanic. The odometer worked properly when i drove it this summer. The car returned 36mpg on the trip back from Connecticut where I purchased it (50%back roads 50% highway) i used a gps to make sure the odo was accurate and to calculate fuel mileage. "

Fishy guys? Should I run away?

 

[carpenterman]

Dear Sir:

Why do think you can run 100% ethanol in a diesel engine?

 

[Scoot]

Yes. You should run away. You don't know enough about the cars yet to buy this one and if the guy drove it last summer yet isn't offering to drive it now there is something wrong. This is not the best way to acquire a new car that you are not familiar with. Go look at and drive various cars before you buy one. As for a check instead of cash, still that is a "No". He should have titled it in his name and in his state. There is no good excuse for him not having done that. He's not doing the job of being a good seller and his price is certainly no bargain. And you don't have the domain knowledge to do this anyway. So it all adds up to you not getting this car or trying to make it work when it is not destined to be.

 

[Shakedown St.]

Still going to check it out and bring a battery. Will check everything you guys have mentioned. It's a 50/50 shot. It's worth a shot. Just asked him what repairs he's made since he's owned it. Should probably ask him why he hasn't tried starting it since then.

Now as far as the 100% ethanol goes I'm considering doing a biofuel conversion. Plenty of do it youself kits I can find online.

 

[rumb]

The acquisition of a certificate of title for over 20 model years old is not required.
DMV: When a Title is Not Needed

search for buyers guides and educate yourself first. Find out what parts costs like door seals, seat covers. all rubber items just wear out over time.

expect any old car your get to need all fluids changed, may need front suspension work over time.

here is a 240D near me. I would say it is in better condition than what you are looking at and is only $4K.

Classic car for sale

test drive a 300D also so you can compare.

Or just step it up and get this SL500 :grin
1999 MERCEDES BENZ SL500 CONVERTIBLE 79K MINT LOADED WELL MAINTAINED -

 

[Scoot]

I gotta unsubscribe from this thread. I wish you the best, and I fear for the worst. Good Luck.

 

[Shakedown St.]

I gotta unsubscribe from this thread. I wish you the best, and I fear for the worst. Good Luck.

Going so soon, haha Thanks for the help!

 

[Shakedown St.]

Isn't it also true that before the 1990's cars once they hit the 100,000 mark rolled over back to 0? Somebody told me this.