[N3wton1an]

So, I'm seriously considering getting into the world of G Wagons, and found this one on Craigslist... I'm in love with the diesel models, and this one is a 300GD that is advertised to have low miles even though the odometer has ceased to work. Seems to be in good condition, but can't tell by the pictures. In general, is 10K for a lower miles, but not pretty example of a early w460 SWG G wagon a decent price? I feel like 10K is a very steep price, but mechanically it's supposed to be in great condition. Tell me what you think- the link is attached.

http://nh.craigslist.org/cto/4215818845.html

 

[motoxo]

1979 Mercedes Benz G-Wagon Diesel

wow, it's come down in price since it was on bring a trailer.

it's not in as a great condition as you think it might be in your head. but saying that, if that g calls to you ... i'm sure the seller is willing to sell it (at a lower price hopefully.) jump in and grab it if you think you want to try a g.

i did and i'm super happy, but super poor (and i still have more things to do with it that i would have never had to do with my old 240d that i sold.) read the comments on the bat link above. and ... these really love to rust for some reason so be prepared for that.

 

[N3wton1an]

Sheesh, I can't believe the guy was asking $13,500 originally! I personally thought that 10K was wayyy overpriced as it sat. What do you think? There's no way I'm paying 10K for a G Wagon with rust, regardless if the rust is repaired. Sure, it seems to have low miles and be in good working condition, but it's not a pretty example and it IS rusting in some parts. What's a good price for a G Wagon in this condition?

 

[motoxo]

start at 5. it's probably worth 6 given what i could see. no more than 7.

but this is only my opinion. i haven't seen it in person. given that he's been actively trying to sell it and no one is taking it i'm sure some crying will be involved as long as the deal is in your favor.

you might want to check yourself and research the differences between the lwb and the swb as they are similar but different in handling, parts, and justifying the purchase as an "economical" choice because of all the things you can do with it.

 

[N3wton1an]

Yeah, I was thinking that as well. I would be hesitant to pay 6K even... this guy is desperate it seems, and he'll take the cash if he needs to get rid of it that badly.
And yup, I get ya. What type of numbers did you see for MPG on your 240 GD?

 

[motoxo]

i have a 300gd and it currently gets about 20. i had a 240d (w123) that got about 25. i had a 300td (w123) that could get close to 30.

the om616 vs om617 engines are very strange when it comes to fuel mileage. turbos can sometimes make it more efficient, sometimes less depending on foot stomping ability. weirdly the om617 engine (300) will sometimes get better mileage than the om616 (240) but it's sorta up to how well the engine was maintained i've found.

my justification process was that my 240d wasn't getting good mileage because i live on top of one of the steepest streets in the sf bay area and i also take my cars on 4x4 roads for a volunteering gig my family does. so, by getting a 4x4, i would save money on all the cv axles i was replacing on the poor old 240d. mileage is a consideration, but maintenance and equipment failures are actually more expensive when it comes down to dollars out of your wallet/purse.

 

[N3wton1an]

Yeah, I understand. Either way, 20+ MPG on a G wagon is a winning deal for me. The one in the ad is a 4x4, so that's a plus. As far as rust goes, the guy posted a youtube video of his G Wagon showing everything about the car basically. He wasn't shy about the rust- it was definitely there. Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv_SLbFwHtY
From what I saw, it seemed everything in good working order... but then again, the interior as well as the body weren't pretty. I don't care about it being in showroom condition, but as NH has very salty roads in the wintertime, it worries me.

 

[motoxo]

this looks like it has less rust than mine! he unfortunately didn't show the shock posts (which are notorious rust places) to see if that needed to be replaced ... which requires a good welder but given it passed inspection they are probably good. interior (to me) can be easily upgraded anytime you have extra money and want to screw out the old and screw back in the new to you.

little weird things like the front (or rear) warning locker light not being on the dash. the center console has had a lot of stuff added/subtracted from it so it's had some farkling done to its electrical. i say if you want a project, this would be a good one but don't feel that you have to pay him for his time fixing it up as he did because he did it for himself and not the next owner.

if you get it, take photos! all the g people love photos of their cars for some reason. in fact while researching mine, i found my car has a higher profile on the internet then i do. ::angry face::

 

[N3wton1an]

Well, that's a good thing, I hope! How bad is yours, and in what spots? And as for the interior, the front two seats looked like crap but the original plaid back seat looked great from the video. I wonder how tacky it would look if I replaced just the front two... it might actually be visually appealing. Who knows!
And oh, I didn't notice that... that IS weird. I wonder if that's a sign of something bad lurking below the surface...
And oh, of course! If I do purchase this vehicle, there will be endless pictures. I promise!

 

[motoxo]

1979 is the first production year, so anything could be possible on it as they were still working out the kinks of hand producing the car for the public. i think the driver seat is a recaro which are nice so if you could find another like it it would look okay. again, most of those parts can be swapped out without to much trouble other than to your pocketbook or hours of searching and/or wheeling and dealing.

my rust is pretty extensive. back doors, rear door, front doors, door frame (i can poke my finger through it,) driver's side floor pan, both the fenders, both rear corner panels, and all along the inside pan. i have a huge project in front of me. but i knew when i got it what condition it was in ... and i still wanted it.

be warned though it will be like having another mouth to feed if you get it. it will give you lots of lessons in the life of owning a g. i learned today to have a good support of mechanically astute friends, don't be afraid, and prepare to be surprised.

 

[N3wton1an]

Sheesh. I guess so! How do you even start to treat all of that rust? Buy new panels completely? Or try to patch it yourself? Do those spray cans of rust removal and protection any good? And yeah. I want this thing badly. Not sure if I'm gonna bite though.
And awesome. Thanks for the tips. I'm really drawn to the G wagon because I love old cars, I love the OM617 diesel engines, I love reliable off-road vehicle, and I also want a vehicle I can work on for a project. As far as I'm concerned, an G wagon is my dream car.

 

[motoxo]

i understand completely.

as for the rust, i'm contemplating all the options at the moment and probably in the future until i can afford to do a complete replacement of the parts themselves.

i did buy a welder and some harbor freight tools so that when i get the motivation, maybe i can try my hand at welding fixes until i figure out how to do it right.

 

[N3wton1an]

I figured you would Now just to cough up some extra cash...
And hmm. I see. What state are you located in anyways? A rust bucket can't pass inspection in NH. They're really strict. It's kind of annoying, actually. As for the welding, I'd get some good practice in before doing it on your beloved G... I've done some welding before, and it's trickier than it looks to do it right.
Hah. The G wagon, or basically any Mercedes with the OM617 is like a paradox... they'll run forever, but are high-maintenance and require lots of TLC. That's the way cars SHOULD be.

 

[motoxo]

What state are you located in anyways?

hmm ... state of denial? state of confusion? ... or state of california.

good luck. i was trying to find some comps for you to help your cause in dealing but everyone is out using their g's right now i guess. my advice is i've found you can't persuade a g owner from their g.

don't spend all your cash when offering. you'll need it. the g needs it's cut.

 

[N3wton1an]

Haha. California. I just saw your Member tag. Silly me!
And okay, thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. And yeah, I totally get it. Hopefully this guy is desperate to sell it and will be willing to haggle.
And yeah, ain't that the truth. Diesel is expensive enough as it is... but I'm convinced that it will save money in the long run when compared to the MPG of a similarly equipped 280GE. Also, like I said, I'm obsessed with Mercedes diesel engines. I grew up with those things and used to make the sound of their clickity-clackity putter with my mouth as a kid. If this G that I'm interested in is indeed in good mechanical condition like the seller says, I'll probably just drive it as is for a while before I do any major fixes just so I can familiarize with the vehicle.

 

[N3wton1an]

Hey. Check this out- he put it on Ebay.
Mercedes Benz 300 Series 2 Door | eBay

 

[motoxo]

well, he has a good start value going on it (vs that other rusted green lwb one in the for sale section of this forum.) it's probably a good way for him to get the most amount of money he can for it. he says he wanted to keep it but doesn't really say why he's selling it.

good luck if you're getting it.

i think he did a pretty good job writing the copy on the ad for the truck vs the craigslist one.

 

[N3wton1an]

Yeah, agreed. I want to know why he's wanting to sell the thing if he's put so much work into it that he claimed was for long-term self enjoyment. He did do a good job with the description though.

 

[N3wton1an]

Thanks again for all your help. If this goes through, I'll let you know and post pictures of course.

 

[motoxo]

two more days! looks like it's getting close to 7K and it has not hit it's reserve. if you're going to bypass ebay it might be a good time to act.