Wanted: Post-1990 300TE or 300te-24v

[ms500]

Must have:

>3-litre Straight 6 engine with no smoke / rattles / misfires
>Electric Windows All round
>4-speed Auto Gearbox with smooth changes
>Electric Sunroof
>Air conditioning
>Speakers in rear doors
>Headlight wipers
>Original Mercedes Alloys
>Minimal or no rust
>No serious scratches / dents to paintwork
>Clean, Beige interior that hasn't been smoked in
>Some MOT and Tax remaining so it can be driven away
>Ideally Under 200k on the clock
>No '4-matics'

Would pay around £750 for a decent one, I don't want a rustbucket.

 

[ms500]

Why are these things so rare?! I see the occasional one on eBay but most of them are rustbuckets or poverty-spec models

 

[bolide]

There are plenty of 300TEs around but 300TE-24 valves are fairly thin on the ground

If you keep your eyes peeled at local auctions, in shop windows ad & local free sheets you should turn up a good one in a couple of weeks

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[ms500]

There are plenty of 300TEs around but 300TE-24 valves are fairly thin on the ground

If you keep your eyes peeled at local auctions, in shop windows ad & local free sheets you should turn up a good one in a couple of weeks

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

I wish that was the case, I've already been looking since the start of this month, not a single decent 300TE.

There are about 4 300TE's on eBay right now, 2 of which aren't road-worthy, one is a 4-matic in poor condition, and another one that has poverty-spec steel wheels, no air-con, and has rust.

People really should look after their cars better.

 

[BTB 500]

Unfortunately many people would consider a £750 car to be 'disposable' rather than something to cherish. Particularly costing less than 10 tanks of fuel!

 

[ms500]

Unfortunately many people would consider a £750 car to be 'disposable' rather than something to cherish. Particularly costing less than 10 tanks of fuel!

The problem isn't the price; there just doesn't seem to be any 300TEs at all out there at the moment.

 

[A210AMG]

Don't want much from your 18year old car

Seriously though as above at £750 it at that price where if you get 6 month out of it and you break it then your still quids in.

 

[BTB 500]

The problem isn't the price; there just doesn't seem to be any 300TEs at all out there at the moment.

Well no, the problem is condition. There are cars out there, just not ones you want

There are about 4 300TE's on eBay right now, 2 of which aren't road-worthy, one is a 4-matic in poor condition, and another one that has poverty-spec steel wheels, no air-con, and has rust.

 

[ms500]

Well no, the problem is condition. There are cars out there, just not ones you want

Would you buy a rusty car?

 

[Doodle]

If that was all my budget allowed, perhaps.

You're searching the narrow end of a fairly thin market, it is going to take time for the right vehicle to appear. I spent the best part of 5 months looking for the "right" SL.

 

[ms500]

If that was all my budget allowed, perhaps.

You're searching the narrow end of a fairly thin market, it is going to take time for the right vehicle to appear. I spent the best part of 5 months looking for the "right" SL.

As I've said, the problem isn't budget, I would pay good money if I could find a good one. It doesn't have to be mint, it just has to have no rust and a decent spec. The trouble is a lot of sellers on eBay use weasel words like 'for its age' or 'for its mileage' when describing condition.

 

[BTB 500]

Would you buy a rusty car?

If it was all I could afford, maybe. Rust can be sorted - just a question of how much time/money.

But it's clearly not the case that there aren't any 300TEs at all out there (which is what you said).

Good luck with your search - hope you find a good one

 

[Doodle]

As I've said, the problem isn't budget, I would pay good money if I could find a good one. It doesn't have to be mint, it just has to have no rust and a decent spec. The trouble is a lot of sellers on eBay use weasel words like 'for its age' or 'for its mileage' when describing condition.

eBay descriptions are notoriously vague and unreliable, especially at this price. The car that meets your requirements will appear (they are not particularly unfeasible), but those same requirements dictate that it may take some time for it to do so.

However your initial posts suggest that time is an issue; if so you may have to compromise on one of your other requirements to accomodate this.

 

[Mark300SL]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/579507.htm


Seems to fit the bill ??? 7 seat, 24v, inside budget

Only just over 200k but apparently a load of history, and hes willing to re-MOT !

 

[Will]

Without wanting to sound rude, you're going to get a rust bucket/high mileage/poverty spec car with probably quite a few age-related faults for £750. At this price point people have to consider carefully before spending out fortunes on repairs and maintenance, hence quite rightly so many examples are getting 'tired'.

Mint 124 estates are still worth good money. Even late 1995/96 cars suffer from rust (so do 5 year old 210s for that matter!).

I think if you're after a top spec, rust and dent free car, with air conditioning, alloys, no engine problems etc you're going to have to seriously review the budget you've allowed.

Will

 

[ms500]

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/579507.htm


Seems to fit the bill ??? 7 seat, 24v, inside budget

Only just over 200k but apparently a load of history, and hes willing to re-MOT !

Looks pretty good, though he mentions a bit of rust without pics to show how bad it is, and there are no rear speakers, and the headlamp wipers look wonky.

Seems to have been barrified a bit too, with the aftermarket 'AMG' badge on the back despite not being an AMG model.

Plus the MOT and tax is due now and that would bump the price up by at least £200.

 

[ms500]

Without wanting to sound rude, you're going to get a rust bucket/high mileage/poverty spec car with probably quite a few age-related faults for £750. At this price point people have to consider carefully before spending out fortunes on repairs and maintenance, hence quite rightly so many examples are getting 'tired'.

Mint 124 estates are still worth good money. Even late 1995/96 cars suffer from rust (so do 5 year old 210s for that matter!).

I think if you're after a top spec, rust and dent free car, with air conditioning, alloys, no engine problems etc you're going to have to seriously review the budget you've allowed.

Will

It's a shame though, I despise modern cars. They are built with no flare or passion, and are sold like white-goods these days.

 

[Will]

It's a shame though, I despise modern cars. They are built with no flare or passion, and are sold like white-goods these days.

I agree!

All I'm trying to say is that there are some lovely 124s out there, but they tend to be two or three times the price of the tatty rusty/faulty ones that are only an MOT failure away from the scrap heap!

Will

 

[Mark300SL]

Looks pretty good, though he mentions a bit of rust without pics to show how bad it is, and there are no rear speakers, and the headlamp wipers look wonky.

One of the best ever pictures of my SL has it with a wonky headlight wiper- but they are fine

Seems to have been barrified a bit too, with the aftermarket 'AMG' badge on the back despite not being an AMG model.

So a badge is going to put you off ?

Plus the MOT and tax is due now and that would bump the price up by at least £200.

His starting price is £100 under your original "cheapskate" budget, he is willing to MOT it, If the car now also has to have a full years RFL included in the purchase price then your budget for the vehicle itself has just hit £550 for a non rusty car that meets all of your requirements!


From where I am sat that is a very cheap car ! - its almost exactly what you originally asked for with Leather and cruise thrown in for free.
If you are prepared to spend a few quid more then get any rust sorted, spend 30 seconds squaring off the headlight wiper and a couple of minutes with a hairdrier to remove the badge!


I don't think you will ever be happy unless you find the absolutely mint £3k car for your £750 - and even then its likely to need a years tax at that price

If you really do want blood from a stone then you need a bigger sledgehammer and an awful lot more time


Options

Interior leather grey / orion gray (268)
Paint
199 metallic blue-black (с 01.01.1983)
Options
240 outside temperature indicator (с 01.03.1982)
280 steering wheel (400 mm dia.) and gearshift lever in leather trim; on W202 390 mm dia. (с 01.05.1984)
341 additional lamp (с 01.09.1982)
362

412 electric sliding roof with tilting device (с 01.07.1983)
420 automatic transmission, floor shift (с 01.01.1963)
440 tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975)
461 instrument with mileage reading and english lettering (с 01.04.1990)
524 paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
547 double roller blind and sun visors with mirrors on the left and right, illuminated (с 01.03.1982 по 31.07.1997)
570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
586 Behr air conditioner, and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.04.1970)
593 heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (single-sheet safety glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, single pane safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
600 headlamp wiper/washer (с 01.08.1971)
615 lamp unit, asymmetrical l.h. traffic, and front and rear door courtesy lamps
like 610, and with type 107 bifocal bulbs
611 + 613 (с 01.11.1978)
620 emission control system
vehicles with catalyst technique (с 01.03.1985)
722 baggage rack, integrated (с 01.07.1981)
724 cargo anchorage (с 01.04.1979)
731 wood trim, burred walnut root (с 01.08.1980)
844 folding seat bench in loading compartment, reverse to direction of travel (с 01.10.1977)
873 seat heater for left and right front seats (с 01.02.1984)

 

[ms500]

One of the best ever pictures of my SL has it with a wonky headlight wiper- but they are fine

So a badge is going to put you off ?

His starting price is £100 under your original "cheapskate" budget, he is willing to MOT it, If the car now also has to have a full years RFL included in the purchase price then your budget for the vehicle itself has just hit £550 for a non rusty car that meets all of your requirements!


From where I am sat that is a very cheap car ! - its almost exactly what you originally asked for with Leather and cruise thrown in for free.
If you are prepared to spend a few quid more then get any rust sorted, spend 30 seconds squaring off the headlight wiper and a couple of minutes with a hairdrier to remove the badge!

I don't think you will ever be happy unless you find the absolutely mint £3k car for your £750 - and even then its likely to need a years tax at that price

If you really do want blood from a stone then you need a bigger sledgehammer and an awful lot more time

You are right, It is an appealing offer and I'm having a look through the description now. It isn't exactly local to me, though he says he may deliver for a cost.