Some of the threads created end up with many postings and many different points of view.
There are certain comments about some opinions which contain : Some one is trying to talk the price of certain models down etc etc etc.
Here we will try and create a sticky type of thread with logical ideas
Firstly
If a question arises : How much do you think this car is worth - I'm interested in buying or selling.
Here is the answer. : WE DO NOT KNOW.
(a) We haven't seen the car.
(b) The car needs to have had a P.P.I. to give a fair adjustment
(c) Most members here are enthusiasts with some experience - many with some mechanical know how - we are not experts.
(d) Those members who are in the vehicle industry wisely don't give a monetary opinion - most of them - if they comment at all are giving some periphery advice.
If you are looking for an opinion on the selling price of a vehicle.
(a) Check the usual selling locations - Carsales, Drive, Trading Post and Ebay carsales. This may give an indication for the current market.
(b) It's no good looking at Red Book or insurance values - these are often no reflection of the actual market value.
(c) Get a P.P.I. done by a Mercedes specialist - not the RACV, NRMA, RACQ or some such organization. This will help determine your selling price and alleviate a surprise if as potential buyer insists on one.
If your clear coat has gone or started to go then a panel or whole respray is required. No patch up job is successful
W123's, W124's W126's all suffered from expensive problems - Transmissions and overhead valve head gear - the V8's suffer timing chain problem.
It doesn't matter how many dollars you have put into your car if these important areas haven't been addressed. - a P.P.I. will suss these problems out and drive a potential buyer away.
The cost to do the valve gear on the sixes - M110 and M103 is reasonable - the cost to do this job on the eights is mind bending.
The valve gears will need to be done on the sixes between 150 - 300 thousand K's - The eights - over 350 thousand K's.
Older models require specialist advice. You will need to go to a specialist. Same goes for S.L's of any era.
Modifications will turn off the enthusiasts. So make sure if you have done modification have the parts to restore the car to original
As a seller you have a market of two. Enthusiasts and the novice Benz buyer. The enthusiasts will know that a P.P.I. s required. Before they subject your car to this they will look for a few things
(a) The transmission - it will need to have no clunks, slips or abnormalities.
(b) They will drive the car until it's warmed up then get out and rev the car hard and watch the exhaust. If they see smoke they will know there maybe a potential valve job required. If it's a V8 they will walk away.
(c) panels - repairs and or rust.
(d) Outsize wheels and tyres will stuff-up the suspension - there is no exception to this rule.
Novices look at none of these things and it will be up to your marketing skills to get a sale.
When marketing your car you will need
High quality images. - not poxy fone ones. Check out the professional ads on the internet - see how they pros do their images. Get a proper digital P&S camera and a tripod and mimic the pros images.
Make sure you get an engine compartment and dash / cluster image.
Clear description of the vehicle
State Kilometers traveled.
Service records - if they exist or highlight what you have done (Have evidence to hand)
Put your VIN number and or rego number on the as so the potential enthusiast buyer can check out the legals or the datasheet.
Bullet points are easy for the potential buyer to read - list the good and bad points.
Check out the potential market weeks or months ahead to gauge prices.
Enthusiasts constantly check the market and when the spot a potential bargain they will go for it. M.B.'s were expensive and bought by conservative people. There are still a lot of these cars around coming on the market.
Cars which either have dicky transmissions and or are potentially requiring a overhead valve job and have no Rego or RWC are worth : ....................................Sweet F.A.
If you are on the market to buy a M.B.
There is only one piece of advice - get a Pre Purchase Inspection.
M.B.s were expensive new and are still expensive to keep.
If you buy a W140 or W129 you are potentially buying a grief machine. (I will be potentially
for this statement by 
owners of those vehicles).Older M.B.'s are expensive on fuels so bear this in mind if you are looking for a daily driver.
Others will no doubt contribute their ideas to this thread,
, Things in the imaging department have progressed a little.
