LWB 300GD questions
Hi all,
After a long time thinking that I could live without a G I have to confess it's not possible.
So the search is on and have some candidates but need some advise if it will be a big risk.
One car I'm looking into is a lwb 300GD Automatic, its from 1990 and has 224000 kms.
Always maintained by official dealer.
Price is about 15000 Euro's.
Is this the right price? or is it to expensive?
Is this engine capable to run on veggie oil?
The second one is also a 300td automatic LWB with sunroof and airco.
It's from 1997 and has 175000 km
Asking price is 19900 Euro's
Same questions as above.
Some feedback or info will be well appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Dirk
Both will run on veggie oil. There is a huge performance difference between the two models as one is naturally aspirated and the other a turbo. Also the TD will be a 5 speed auto and I believe the 300GD will either be a 4 or 5 speed manual (5 speed was option) or 4 speed auto.
I would suggest test driving them both.
The 1990 seems very pricey to me.... though I don't know what your tax situation is like.
Hello G500,
From my vague memory, the 1990 model could be W460 chassis or an early W463 chassis. The W460 being the 5 - cylinder diesel engine, I think M117 engine. Or if it is a W463, then it will be a 6 - cylinder diesel, the M601 engine.
The W463 is by far, always a better vehicle. My school of thought is, I always prefer automatics, even for off-roading. The torque converter provides a 4:1 ratio, of torque multiplication, deeming it to be a better hill climber at lower engine speeds.
Your 1997 model must be a W463 chassis with a 6 - cylinder engine.
It can do most things a manual can except give you controlled descend when engine may stall in reverse. And if you are really searching for more reasons, then I suppose I will throw in, no jump starting or cranking the vehicle in gear to slowly move the vehicle under engine cranking.
The 1990 vehicle if it is a W460 chassis; I feel the price is high, for this price I would the vehicle to be mint condition, almost a concours d’Elegance. If, it were a W463, then the price would be fairer. For me, the fact the vehicle, from what you say has always been maintained by a dealer carries weight, but it is not clear if this is to read as FULL and complete service history?
The 1997 vehicle sounds fair given its age and mileage considerations; given it is a latter spec. Vehicle, by my choice a better option. The U.K. market did not enjoy any factory fitted turbo chargers and I think in Europe, T/Charging was introduced in the diesel 300 GTD and in the petrol version; in the 350GTE.
Which is all the more reason to opt for the 1997. It has a/conditioning and sunroof too. Costly to retrofit the 1990 with same and to finish it off as well as factory fitted version.
So, I stay with the 1997 choice.
Regards,
you do get controlled descents in an auto G though i have never tried it in reverse....
you can also push start them - though it is not easy to do....
Rakesh,
Just a couple of things to clarify: a 1990 model must surely be a 463 if LHD; these were introduced in 1990, rather than in 1991 as they were in the UK.
As for the turboed Gs, there was no petrol-powered version. The first diesel was the OM603-powered (straight from the W140 saloon but detuned to 136 BHP) 350GD/G350 Turbodiesel in 1992, replaced in 1996 by the OM606-powered G300 Turbodiesel (from the W140 and W210 saloon ranges and delivering the same 177 BHP).
In my opinion, the G300 TD is a much better choice than the n/a 300GD.
Regards,
The G300DT looks like a good deal. If you check other cars for similar prices, they usually have much higher kms, like 250-300 000.
If you want to save on road taxes try also to check tschiewagon.com website. It is a G-Wagon specialist in Austria and has a few nice 1990 300GDs for sale. I now it is quite far from your home, but I think their prices(10-13000 E) are worth some traveling.
There is no question for me that the G300TD offers extremely good value for money. If I were the one to choose, I'd definitely go for this one, but of course, in Spain we pay road tax based on engine size so taxes on both Gs would virtually be the same.
IMO the 300GD is clearly overpriced, whereas the G300TD is a steal at that price.
I agree - I have been following G300 TD prices for sometime and it does seem like very good value assuming the car is in good order.
I have own(ed) both a 300GD and a G300 TD and there is no question in my eyes which is my preferred G.
The only advantage of the 300GD is the slightly simpler engine in regards to electronics and the better positioning of the air intake if you intend to play in the water....
Well, off the road I'd rather have the 300GD: but SWB. It is much simpler and you are unlikely to be concerned about trashing such a nice G (the G300TD)
Well, off the road I'd rather have the 300GD.... you are unlikely to be concerned about trashing such a nice G (the G300TD)
Doesn't stop Mark....
mortinson wrote:Well, off the road I'd rather have the 300GD.... you are unlikely to be concerned about trashing such a nice G (the G300TD)
Doesn't stop Mark....
OK. Point taken, but, do I wear sandals with socks? :lol:
Hi Dirk,
I just bought a 05/2000 300TD in Germany. I've been looking for many years. I can't add anything about the technical side of this discussion but with regards purchasing you may want to check out the following for sources of vehicles as well. I went to the Hamburg area and looked at around 5 G's there before buying one.
http://www.autohusb2b.de/cms/
I visit this place - it had 2 in stock about a month ago
http://www.mobile.de
is also good.
I eventually bought mine from:
http://www.db-cars.de/
a guy called Jorn Schwarze - be specialises in selling only G's, old E's and old S's - sorry don't know all the MB model #s. However, he is a mechanic by trade so knows litterally every last nut and bolt, how they work all the problems etc... He sells around 300 cars a year (so he's a trade dealer) and has been in business for around 20+ years.
Great guy, very helpful however there is one small but... He really is a car dealer (trade seller) and while you can buy from him you really have to want to BUY - he doesn't have time to "sell" to you. He liked that I knew what I wanted (i.e I wasn't interested in G400CDi's etc.. I only wanted to look at 300TD's). He's happy to spend a couple of hours doing test drive etc... but then wants you to make a decision.
Hope this helps.
Good luck with your purchase
FrogWagen
FrogWagen - Have you taken delivery of it yet? Must say yours is a stunning looking example.
I think that attitude you encountered must be very much a German G dealer one - I had a similar experience when I bought mine.
I used to be on the mailing list for db-cars and they do seem to get a good flow of G300TDs through their doors but he also knows what they're worth.
Hi Max.,
Yes, taken delivery and driven some 1,300Km from Hamburg to home (just north of Marseille) in one day. I'm now going thru' the French paperwork maze to get it registered, but its much easier than if I'd bought one to France from the UK.
DB Cars seem good, but as I say you have to be determined to buy. He had I'd guess 4 or 5 G's in stock when I was there, but many were cabriolets or 500's, neither of which interested me. His website is kept reasonably up to date.
When I get a moment I'll write up some more details to post on the site of how I went about buying in Germany as it may be useful to others + how one goes about registering in France. There are some paperwork essentials + some important points around VAT.
Best wishes,
FrogWagen
Hello G500,
From my vague memory, the 1990 model could be W460 chassis or an early W463 chassis. The W460 being the 5 - cylinder diesel engine, I think M117 engine. Or if it is a W463, then it will be a 6 - cylinder diesel, the M601 engine. quote]
Thanks for your correction, Jesus. My background and experience are UK based, with patchy knowledge of the European Market. I was aware the contributor was European but, decided not to asssume he would be refering to a LHD model; he after all, I think (I have not checked) he did not specify a LHD version.
I chose to be neutral about it, hence my reply. In this instance, I was wrong, so I bid to all concerned, my appologises.
As to a petrol version of turbocharging, I was not too sure about that but you have put me right there too.
Regards,
No need to apologize Rakesh. I read your posts with genuine interest and learn a great deal from them too. Many thanks,
Hi all,
testdrove the 300gd today. Unfortunately only on normal roads.
It was like coming home again, after a long time away from the G's.
Price of the 300gd dropped with 2000 Euro's and is curently 12455.
The gearboxes shifts fluently only noticed some kind of shock when going to the topgear. Mayby this is normal as at that time I stopped speeding up.
Engine and driveline seems ok.
Bodywork: starts to show some minor rust at the classic places and also have the impression that the wheelarches are not original. Bumpers have not the same with as the extensions.
Now with this loawer pricetag will it be a good deal?
Wath is a good price for a '90 300gd with about 226000 kms?
Thanks in advance.
Ps the other one 300td seems to be of the market.
Best regards,
Dirk
Still seems very high to me....
I think that € 12,000 was a fair price like 6 months ago. Now with the financial crisis I am seeing Gs put for sale at ridicolous prices and yet there doesn't seem to be any takers. I think we're in a buyers' market and ifi were you, I'd make a ridiculously low bid for any G that I am interested in and see what happens....
No wonder that the other G is taken off the market. It was stupidly cheap.
Ok thanks for the input.
I was thinking of making an offer of 10000 and see what happens.
I don't believe they will let it go for that kind of money.
By the way there is 1 year warranty included. Would this make the price of 12500 more acceptable?
Best regards,
Dirk
Hi all,
Have finaly made up my mind.
Dicided in buying the 300gd.
Price is somewhat lower what made it more interesting.
Hope to get the car over here next week.
I'm looking forward to drive again in a decent car and not a matchbox of some sort.
Keep you posted and when available will post some pictures.
Back to 2 G's.
:lol: :wink:
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Hi all,
Already thanks for the input.
The following link is to the first car the 1990
http://nl.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=126613221
This one is from the other vehicle
http://nl.autoscout24.be/Details.aspx?id=143367480
Looking at the pictures both look good.
First one will be cheaper to get on the road. Her we have to pay a lot of taxes to get the car registrated. Once the care is older than 18 year this amount is reduced to about 68 Euro's instead of about 850 Euros.
This is something to keep in mind also.
So stil not decided what it will be.
Best regards
Dirk