E 300 D

[JohnMiller1976]

Hey All,

My Grand Uncle has a 1998 E300 D Estate that he has owned from new, He has recently stopped driving after illness and is looking to sell it. He asked me did I want to buy it off him before his son puts it online. He said to make him a fair offer but I'm not sure what these go for. This car has very low miles around 42000, he only ever used it to drive to the local shop and back, also it has been kept under a car port most of its life so the body work is in amazing shape ( 1 small bit of rust on one of the arches) it has electric seats, leatherette seats and towbar that has never been used and nearly a years MOT and full service history.

I don't want to take advantage and offer him too little only for him to find out it was worth alot more. Also are there any bad parts about this car that I should look out for? What sort of mpg do these cars get?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers!!

 

[edstrom76]

Here's one for comparison bud:

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[zipdip]

Well like every deal ask him how much he wants for it,that is always your first reply if somebody asks do you want to buy my car,you may find he wants much less than market value,the main thing in favour of this car is the low mileage,but I would offer around £3000 if he says I want as much as I can get and I wanted the car.

 

[JohnMiller1976]

Thats a really nice car Edstrom76, do you think that is the higher end of what they are worth?

Thanks Zipdip, I askes him what hw wanted for it but he said have a look around and make me an offer, do yoi think £3000 is on the cheap side?

What are these cars like, have they got any big issues that I should know about

 

[edstrom76]

Thats a really nice car Edstrom76, do you think that is the higher end of what they are worth?

Thanks Zipdip, I askes him what hw wanted for it but he said have a look around and make me an offer, do yoi think £3000 is on the cheap side?

What are these cars like, have they got any big issues that I should know about

Yeah top end I'd have said. Thinking about it, sometimes there is an emotional/sentimental aspect to take into account, it may very well be the case that your grand uncle would prefer the car going to a relative. As such, AutoTrader and the like would only give you a very rough idea.

On a related note I bought a w124 E300D off of the wife's aunt a few months ago. It had done 96k at the time, one owner (her late husband). I knew that she had been asked on more than one occasion whether she'd consider selling it but up to that point she had refused. I casually asked her if she'd sell it to me, she said yes (more than likely because I'm family), I said how much do you want for it, she said a grand, I said deal. Love that car, more than any other car I've owned.

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[JohnMiller1976]

Yeah I agree Edstrom76, I think he does have an emotional attachment to it, I can't blame him if I had a car from new for 20 years I think I would aswell. I will ask him again what he ants and if he says make him an offer I might say £3000

I really like the car and I know the mileage is great but are there any issues with the age of the car, It has also been sitting for a few months without being driven.

What are the gearboxes like on these car?

Thanks

 

[jpwilliams]

Yeah I agree Edstrom76, I think he does have an emotional attachment to it, I can't blame him if I had a car from new for 20 years I think I would aswell. I will ask him again what he ants and if he says make him an offer I might say £3000

I really like the car and I know the mileage is great but are there any issues with the age of the car, It has also been sitting for a few months without being driven.

What are the gearboxes like on these car?

Thanks

My auto box has covered 233,000 without problems.
Cannot comment on manual boxes.
Much better if you buy it as you will avoid all of the sharp practices that prospective buyers bring with them.

 

[JohnMiller1976]

Thanks JP, That is great to hear. Have you had any issues with your w210?

 

[DrNick]

I had a W210 300TD estate '99 vintage. It was very high mileage and suffered from most of the "common" W210 issues. I also had a well looked after low mileage E280 It also suffered from some of the common issues, so mileage and history are not always good indicators.
The main one will be rust. They will rust everywhere, given a chance, and it will progress very quickly.
They rust around the door seals. Open a door and peel back the top seal and check for rust.
Check the wheel arches - it spreads along the edge before you see it on the outside.
Edges of the front wing and around the headlamps from chips.
Cross member under the car rusts through (unless you've leaked lots of oil!)
Front spring perches rust through and fall off.
On estates, the rear handle can be the source of more rust.
Once it starts, you will not believe how quickly it spreads - you can almost see it rusting before you!
If its a 5 speed auto, the pipes from the auto box to the cooler can corrode leading to pinholes and gearbox misbehaving (low fluid)
MAF sensor (certainly on turbo, not sure about the normal one) tends to go off with time.
Fuel pipes (again certainly on turbo one) seals go allowing air in and causing bad starting, particularly if left pointing nose uphill! Check for air bubbles in see-though plastic fuel pipes.
Heater duovalve (if fitted) can be dodgy leading to maximum cabin heat at all times. Bit pricey for what it is, but easy to change.

Other than that, mechanically they are very robust and very comfortable. The 300D has a reputation for being slow. The TD certainly wasn't! My TD gave mid 30s to early 40s mpg if I recall correctly. Don;t think the 300D will be any better than that. Others may have more direct experience.

 

[BTB 500]

This car has very low miles around 42000, he only ever used it to drive to the local shop and back

Generally that's a minus rather than a plus ... it would never get properly warmed up.

 

[a111r]

Here's one for comparison bud:

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See and read picture number 10.
It's the same text in the car advert as used in the thread...

It doesn't look like a very good, low mileage example to me. Plenty of dings, wear and dirt evident. The SLS oil level is low, so the spheres have gone.

 

[edstrom76]

See and read picture number 10.
It's the same text in the car advert as used in the thread...

It doesn't look like a very good, low mileage example to me. Plenty of dings, wear and dirt evident. The SLS oil level is low, so the spheres have gone.

Not sure I follow, are you suggesting that's the OP's grand uncle's car advertised?

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[markjay]

Not sure I follow, are you suggesting that's the OP's grand uncle's car advertised?

I think a111r is suggesting that the OP might be trying to sell the car on the forum while bypassing the 30-post rule.

(I didn't actually read the AutoTrader advert so can't comment).

 

[edstrom76]

Ok but he hasn't actually advertised the car. Unless there's a paranoid finger of implication pointed my way here? I have no affiliation with the OP or the AT ad, I posted it because I thought it was on topic.

I think a111r is suggesting that the OP might be trying to sell the car on the forum while bypassing the 30-post rule.

(I didn't actually read the AutoTrader advert so can't comment).

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[markjay]

Ok but he hasn't actually advertised the car. Unless there's a paranoid finger of implication pointed my way here? I have no affiliation with the OP or the AT ad, I posted it because I thought it was on topic.

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Nothing pointed your way....

I was just trying to explain that IF the car was advertised (and I don't know that it was), then this would suggest that the OP (JohnMiller1976) might actually be trying to sell it on here as opposed to be seeking advice.

But as said I don't actually know that either is true.

 

[edstrom76]

This is the most bizarre thread I've ever seen [emoji23]

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[Dippo]

This is the most bizarre thread I've ever seen [emoji23]

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You should get out more!

 

[jpwilliams]

Thanks JP, That is great to hear. Have you had any issues with your w210?

New radiator
New water pump
small number of minor electrical problems
new air con motor
still on original exhaust
no problems with engine or gearbox or steering.
no rust
Has been a fine car overall for last 16 years.
Just treat yours with respect and have it serviced by a good Indie annually.

 

[DrNick]

Both mine rusted within 4 years. One was treated with utmost respect by my FiL from new, serviced by MB and low mileage, even had the stone chips filled in. Still rusted in the unseen places and one day the front spring mount collapsed due to rust. The other one was less well treated, was mechanically fantastic but had all 4 doors and tailgate REPLACED under the rust warranty. They may have claimed it was goodwill, but whatever, the rust caused it.

If yours is not rusty after 16 years, I'm impressed. There must be some good ones out there. Maybe those that are left are those that were built properly, and so are now very good buys!

 

[a111r]

I think a111r is suggesting that the OP might be trying to sell the car on the forum while bypassing the 30-post rule. (I didn't actually read the AutoTrader advert so can't comment).

More that the OP was trying to gauge a price, before placing that Autotrader advert for £4275.

Whilst the OM606 is a superb engine, it is out of time. Scrappage looms for those 210s that haven't rotted away.