Of course, it depends. I use a 45VXL with a Dichro 45S light source. I assume that the enlarger has a light source, or is it just the chassis?
The chassis itself is a beast. It weighs too much for me to safely move by myself, especially when attached to the baseboard. definitely a two man job. The column is very long (? 60 inches) and if attached to a baseboard and set on a standard countertop the enlarger will not fit into a room with 8 foot ceilings. Also, when fully elevated, the light source goes higher than the top of the column. On the chassis, crank the carriage all the way up and all the way down. Resistance will be tighter at either end but the mechanism should be smooth without glitches. Also, check out the bellows to see if there are any obvious defects or light leaks. Small light leaks could be repaired with proper tape. Make sure that the bellows are not caked with dust. you can spend a lifetime cleaning it. I would certainly pay less if it is really dusty in the inside. Also, look under the chassis where the lens boards attach. You should see 4 set screws that use an allen wrench (I think). Make sure none are missing. you could always find replacements but it is probably a nuisance. Those screws are used to align the lensboard.
Lensboards are not a major issue. They are easily purchased new and are available for peanuts on Ebay. The only common exception is the lensboard for the Schneider Apo Componon S 150 mm lens (which I use) that requires a special lensboard with a spacer and is expensive to buy (about $150). Beseler also makes a 3-lens turret lensboard that is nice, but not all lenses will fit (mostly large format lenses).
Look for adapter rods that are extension rods for the focusing and/or lift mechanism for the chassis. They are very handy, especially the focus extension, for doing large prints. They cost a ridiculous amount new for what you get but are often necessary.
For light sources, the condenser head is the cheapest. I have never used one so can't comment. For the Dichro head there is a computerized model with LED readouts for filtration that is reputed to breakdown frequently and then impossible to repair. The regular Dichro 45S head is very nice for B&W. It has mixing chambers for different formats but I find it so bright that I use the standard 4x5 mixing box for all formats. I did buy one used Dichro 45S that was DOA and I have not been able to figure out how to fix it even though it looks mint. If it has a light source, plug it in and make sure it works.
For cost, that is relative. New, the enlarger with baseboard costs about $1600 and the Dichro 45S light source costs another $1600. Plus, you have about $150-200 in shipping. On Ebay, they don't come up too often compared to the 45MXT enlargers but I have seen the chassis go for about $500 and the Dichro 45S for $250. If you can get it in decent shape and pay no shipping for less than that, I think you have done well. I would pay more if it was in excellent shape.
