File this one under another great Mercedes-Benz that you usually see with hundreds of thousands of miles on but for whatever reason has almost none. This 1984 300SD shows a crazy 11,300 miles and looks every bit the part. You can totally see why people plunked down almost $40,000 (over $93,000 in 2017 dollars) for these when they are new. It’s frugal, handsome, secure, has enough to power to get out of its own way and all this won’t cost you a fortune to keep going. Except this car, as you might have guessed, will need a small fortune to take home with you.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1984 Mercedes-Benz 300SD on Mercedes Heritage
Year: 1984
Model: 300SD
Engine: 3.0 liter 5 cylinder
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 11,300 miles
Price: $35,000
Single owner SD through 2015.
Rare 904 Midnight Blue with Creme leather.
Spectacular preservation from new.
Spotless engine bay.
Full handbooks.
Runs and drives beautifully.
What is there to say about this car? I overwhelmingly prefer the gen 1 (1981-1985) W126s over the later ones even though they do look a little more dated, but I think that’s the beauty of them. Give me a clean set of 14 inch Bundts with a OM617 and I’m as satisfied as I can possibly be in owning a car. This is a great color combination with the Midnight Blue and tan interior even with those terrible North America spec headlights.
Like I said, all this is going to cost you. $35,000 is a ton of money for any W126 but it’s tough to fault the seller for asking it. The market for clean golden-era Mercedes diesels isn’t slowing down but I wouldn’t bet on this car gaining anymore value once you start driving it. As I’ve said before, miles don’t scare me one bit so I’m really not the guy that this car appeals to. Cars like these are always fun to see in their original glory, but I’ll gladly take home one of these for less than a third of the price and still enjoy it just as much.
– Andrew
Dealer should put down the crack pipe.
I’d use this one as a comp:
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1982-mercedes-benz-380sel/
Similar condition. Neither are the big-daddy of the W126 lineup. The one in the link sold for <$15K which felt like a fair number to me.
The interior color is Palomino, not creme` beige. 😉
@Eric Don’t shoot the messenger. 😉
I’d never sleep if I had to correct all the errors people make when they sell their own cars.
@ACE10 – I know that dealer well (perhaps too well) and the crack pipe is a commonly used tool when pricing and describing their inventory. Not saying that buyers should shy away, but an inspection in highly, HIGHLY recommended.
While this is a beautiful example of a pristine 300SD (despite the shabby aftermarket relay and wiring in the engine compartment) many fail to consider the flip side of such a low mileage example that is 33 years old. Parts, especially rubber parts, age regardless of use or climate. While the car looks nice, I’m betting that every bit of the suspension rubber needs to be replaced, and many of the other rubber bits are aging out to the point where they’re at or near a point of failure.
While low mileage can be a plus, I would rather have a car with high mileage that was well maintained.
I would also tend to agree with other commenters that the price must have been arrived at after a long night of hookers and blow.
@eric It’s not palomino. I’ve owned 4 w123’s with palomino and one with cream beige. It’s def cream beige leather.
@ACE10 SELs always sell for list. The demand for the diesel is much higher. I’ve seen plenty of gorgeous SEL’s sit on eBay while the SD sells quickly and at higher prices.
@JAY NIX while I agree that 90th percentile SD’s would sell quicker than a comparable SEL and SE, I suspect that at “collector” price points that likely isn’t the case.
What would make an uber-low miles W126 diesel more desirable than an uber-low miles non 5 liter gasser?