That's too much money to spend for an 82. I'd suggest you keep looking.

Since you know diesel, don't be afraid of high mileage cars. Look for as new
as you can.

These old five cylinder diesels are all cast iron and about the most
durable engines available. They're simple and easily maintained by DIY.
Their oil and filter ought to be changed every 5K miles and their valves
adjusted (cold engine adjustment)every 15K miles. Parts are widely
available - to rebuild everything, even cylinder liners if that's what's
needed. I've owned an '80 300SD since new and its been a fine car and is
great for local driving. You should know, however that the 120 HP engine
is somewhat limited on long hills and passing situations. It's not a
"hot rod".

As to the price - seems a bit rich but if you reeeeally like THIS CAR
vs. any 300SD it's worth an offer. Leather seats? Sunroof? Clean CARFAX?
At this age the prices are highly variable, mostly condition dependent.
You description suggests a buy and drive car rather than a buy and fix
car and that's worth some $$ in my opinion.
--
© 2007 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.

It is definitely buy and drive.
My understanding is that the owner bought it in Florida, in '02 with
68000 miles. That means that in 20 years, someone only put 68000 miles
on this baby. A couple thousand miles were put on the vehicle while
driving it out west from Fla., the rest have been local miles over the
last five yrs. I do not foresee any work needing to be done on this
vehicle for at least the next couple of years. I would certainly do a
valve adjust and oil/filter change upon taking ownership. I am just
curious if I'm in the right ballpark. Everything I have seen about
these cars shows that they are wdll loved by the people that have
them!

pictures:<br>
<a href='http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=161560529&albumID=0& imageID=2501910'
target='_blank'>interior</a><br>
<a href='http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=161560529&albumID=0& imageID=2501924'
target='_blank'>Exterior 1</a><br>
<a href='http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?
fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=161560529&albumID=0& imageID=2501945'
target='_blank'>Exterior 2</a>

If the links don't work just cut and past to see them.

pics again.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=2501910
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=2501924
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=161560529& albumID=0&imageID=2501945'

pictures again:

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=2501910
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=2501924
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=2501945

Drive it. See if you're satisfied with the power, that's what can't be
changed or fixed.
--
© 2007 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.

On Mar 1, 9:16 pm, "-->> T.G. Lambach <<--" <"T.G. Lambach at
NoHamorSpamcomcast.net"> wrote:
I definetely will, I am meeting with the guy on Sat. any suggestions
to check for other than the typical stuff? oil leak, bad power,
electrial issues.

Well, since the general opinion seems to be that it is too high
priced, any suggestions as to what may be a good offering price then?
I have looked around here in UT, and there are a couple of other
vehicles of this general make, and yes, this is the highest priced of
them, but it also seems to be in the best condition. I don't
necessarily mind spending a little more if the vehicle has no major
issues, and the body is solid. The other cars seem to already be
pretty heavily showing their age. As I said, I will be driving it
Saturday. I am not a pushover on looks though, if the engine lags,
hesitates or if multiple things seem to be braking or near braking I
will easily pass on it. I don't want to be stuck in a glorified VW;
changing hoses, chasing electrical ghosts, and nickle and dimeing
myself to death. I have been down the beetle road and don't intend to
visit it again. I am of the DIY variety, and want a car for my wife
that I can do the work on and be able to get some good miles out of.
She wants something solid to protect her and our three little ones.
She can't stand the "plastic cars", as she calls them, today.
P~

You are on the right track about protecting your family... solid car and
something you can fix. Replacement parts are very affordable online and very
easy to maintain.

Yes, do as you said... test drive it. and as you need to remind yourself
that this car is 25 years old. You could buy much newer diesel MB for not
much more. Sometime you can buy 1996 E300D for 7500 to 8000... If you got
friend in dealer and dealer auction, you can get them much lower.

A 300SD is a fine choice for your family and you seem to have a good
handle on what needs to be checked but don't overlook the CARFAX, if
only to know about its history. (I'm always suspicious of FLA cars.)
--
© 2007 T.G.Lambach. Publication in any form requires prior written
permission.