1988 300TE, 169,000 miles, very clean, no dings or scratches, spotless interior, silver w/ grey MB Tex interior. Originally a Hilton Head, SC car. NO service records! Definitely needs RR bearing, rear brakes, major tune up (idles rough in D-ok in N) Dime-sized dot of rust near rr taillight. Whistling heater fan motor. Marginal tires. Cracked & crazed headlight surrounds. Has 3rd seat.
KBB high retail is $4800-Private Party value is $2835 (good) $3245 for excellent. I really like this car, but the seller won't budge off $3500. It needs at least $800 of repairs (best estimate-just for the bearing, brakes, and tune-up) I thought $2500 was fair, and $3K was as far as I'd go.
I like it, but no service records scare the feces out of me.
Can anyone help me out on this? What do you think? I've been an Audi, VW, and BMW enthusiast, but this old wagon has an intregity, solidity, and elegant simplicity that I find quite intriguing.
Thanks!

 

i would say less than 3K

 

youre on the money with what you're offering.

 

I think the repairs you are already anticipating are not to be done for $ 800. Atleast not at a MB-shop. The car 18 years old!!! The dime sized corrossion is much larger when take out the taillights. Check the lower corner of the front doors, the car jack supports, and under the trunk handle bar for corrossion. The rough idle in D may be a transmission issue, not a tune up issue. I think there are better kept cars in the market for ~$ 3,500-4,500.

 

I just bought a 1992 300TE with 133K miles off ebay a month or so ago. Cosmetically about perfect inside and out. Below is what I've done to essentially make it as near to new as possible and what was done immediately prior to sale. I paid $6600 for mine.

Work done immediately prior to purchase by seller:
A/C blower motor
oil sending unit
driver’s side door window motor
Climate control unit

Work done by me:
Coolant reservoir
coolant reservoir cap
5 coolant hoses
thermostat & gasket
radiator overflow plug
coolant
Acc mono valve
auxiliary water pump
grommets for windshield washer tank pumps
fuel filter
oil filter
oil and oil filter
power steering fluid flushed & filter
hydraulic fluid flushed & filter
transmission fluid, filter, & gasket
rear diff. fluid
wiper blades: front, back & headlights
distributor cap, rotor, suppressor & o-ring
ignition wire holder
6 spark plugs
voltage regulator
battery & battery hold down clamp
refinished battery tray
2 breather hoses
air intake hose
hood silencer pad
rear muffler & muffler clamp
4 exhaust system hangers
flushed brake system
adjusted front bearings
rear shock bump stops & shock boots
2 accumulators
suspension Pull Rod
adjusted ride height
replaced trim piece by front seat
rubber covers that attach to driver's side & passenger mirrors
Acc. belt idler pulley
fan clutch bearing bracket
rear hatch stabilizer shocks-2 & new pins
rear glued MB tex in front side pockets
support joints on rear wheel carriers

Work to be done:
valve stem seals which I’ve ordered
new tires

The rear suspension with the accumulators and shocks can be expensive. Also the rear joint supports also called ball joints require a special tool to change as well as a certain amount of experience working on suspensions. In other words it can be dangerous.