W126, Pro and Cons - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

imagesinthewind · #1 01-31-2008, 04:21 PM

Tell me why the W126 is great and why it isn't.
Thanks!

TX76513 · #2 01-31-2008, 04:35 PM

Owning three 126's guess I going to be heavy on the plus side. I like the styling. The 123 was a little plain for me and the 140's were a little more $$ than what I wanted to spend on a hobby/car. Parts are still readily available and if your wise you can usually wait out a bargain. All three cars have there own distinct ride, handling and personalities. Did I mention the styling? There are some quirks to that model, nothing that I would consider a real negative.

toomany MBZ · #3 01-31-2008, 04:58 PM

I drive a 123, and a 126 routinely.
The 126 (SD) has a superior ride, inferior interior. It's bigger, and heavier, which explains part of it.
The 123 (CD) is more responsive, quicker, (different rear end gear, too) but that can be any number of things. Nimbler, too.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

Jim B. · #4 01-31-2008, 05:03 PM

I love them, but then, I am biased.

~~~Sexist looking thing on wheels I ever saw.

~~~Last you a million miles. (There is one in that showed up recently at a car show in Cleveland, an '83 380SEC with over
925,000 miles, owned by a shoe salesman in Nebraska that couldn't take his samples on the airplane.) PROVEN durability, reliability.

~~~Mechanics love to work on them, built to be mechanic friendly, parts very easy to get.

~~~Absolutely comfortable for those long trips. Range only limited by restroom, fuel and food stops.

~~~Absolutely safe in HORRENDOUS crashes.

~~~Gauges intuitive, all controls logically placed and well thought out.

~~~Last of the big S classes built to a "cost no object" standard with the Engineers, not accountants, having the last word. Build quality superb, uncompromised. Late models have abs, dual airbags.

~~~Unarguable style and good taste manifest throughout. Considered the very best effort ever done by Bruno Sacco, (their stylist and designer), who still drives a 560SEC as his personal vehicle today.

~~~Bank vault solidity. The doors thunk. Oh, do they thunk

~~~Top of the line prestige cars when new. Sold to millionaires, plutocrats, kings, heads of state, diplomats, captains of industry, celebrities, car of choice for F1 race car drivers like Mansell, Senna.

~~~Starting to develop a cult following. Very real possibility of classic status one day.

http://www.mbcoupes.com/w126index.htm

~~~Engineered to cruise safely at its top speed, 148 mph, all day long, (upshift into top gear comes about 120 mph, how do I know that?)

fahrgewehr2 · #5 01-31-2008, 05:08 PM

Well, in my opinion, the 126 cars are overrated.

The BAD:

They are big on the outside and small on the inside.

They ride hard at, but lean a lot in turns.

The stereo and headlights are MUST do upgrades.

They eat gas. (All of them really, the "economical" diesels are priced too high now, and still not that great)

VERY sensitive to wind at highway speeds.

Second gear start in Gas models is annoying.

AC is marginal.

They squat in the rear.

Wood trim cracks easily.

Half classic (chrome trim, proportions) half modern (plastic cladding) has always and will always look awkward.

The GOOD:

Safe

GREAT visibility.

nice materials/build quality.

not hard to DIY.

Car "shrinks" when you drive it fast.

Good brakes.

------------

I prefer the E class cars. I also had a 124 car and it light years ahead in most ways.

My next will be a w210 car...When I kill this one.

pawoSD · #6 01-31-2008, 05:13 PM

W126 - Pros: Better sound (engine sound insulation), rides more comfortably than a W123....looks nicer....bigger.....incredibly safe...powerful brakes....super reliable when properly maintained

W123 - Pros: nible ride with a stiff suspension.....feels like a lead box going down the road. A bit faster.....pretty cheap to maintain if you're not too anal about it.....good around town vehicle....they are also extremely safe and equipped with excellent brakes.

W126 cons - Lots and lots of stuff can need expen$ive attention and repair but hey, they're old....and it doesn't bother me. Gearing is too high for modern speed limits....and I wish the 617 put out maybe 15-20% more power.

Oh, and the headlights (sealed beams) are terrible...I upgraded.

W123 cons - Engine sound isn't as pleasant....sounds like a box truck.....suspension uncomfortable compared to the W126....it rattles your bones. The vacuum system seems to have more issues than on a W126....the locking system fails too easily......they're not as stylish. I don't know.....I just like the W126 better. Especially after driving around a W123 exclusively for the past few weeks during the real bad weather. (protecting my car from the elements

)

I like both but I like the W126 more....

I will drive one of these as long as possible then I suppose I will migrate either to a W140 or a cdi or something....depends on my funds and whats available.

fahrgewehr2 · #7 01-31-2008, 05:19 PM

~~~Last of the big S classes built to a "cost no object" standard with the Engineers, not accountants, having the last word. Build quality superb, uncompromised. Late models have abs, dual airbags.

The 140 cars make the 126 feel like a jalopy, IMHO. Better quality throughout, hands down.

pawoSD · #8 01-31-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrgewehr2

~~~Last of the big S classes built to a "cost no object" standard with the Engineers, not accountants, having the last word. Build quality superb, uncompromised. Late models have abs, dual airbags.

The 140 cars make the 126 feel like a jalopy, IMHO. Better quality throughout, hands down.

I long to own a W140 some day....when I have a lot lot lot more $$ available.

And thats because......I want a 600SEL.

toomany MBZ · #9 01-31-2008, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrgewehr2

Well, in my opinion, the 126 cars are overrated.
The BAD:

They are big on the outside and small on the inside. Bigger (than a 123) inside and outside, as far as I can tell.

They ride hard at, but lean a lot in turns. Compared to? Worn suspension components?

The stereo and headlights are MUST do upgrades. Agreed, yet same stereo as a 123, head lights, different story.

They eat gas. (All of them really, the "economical" diesels are priced too high now, and still not that great) My SD (28) gets better mileage than my CD (27).

VERY sensitive to wind at highway speeds. Compared to? My SD is solid in wind, not so the CD, tires?

Second gear start in Gas models is annoying. Was unaware.

AC is marginal. Same units, but the CD works, the SD does not.

They squat in the rear. Looks better, I know an opinion.

Wood trim cracks easily. Only if you gorilla it out.

Half classic (chrome trim, proportions) half modern (plastic cladding) has always and will always look awkward. Opinion.

The GOOD:

Safe Agreed.

GREAT visibility. Little different from a 123, an opinion.

nice materials/build quality. DISAGREE! Comparatively.

not hard to DIY. Both the same.

Car "shrinks" when you drive it fast. Agreed.

Good brakes. Agreed, again.

------------

I prefer the E class cars. I also had a 124 car and it light years ahead in most ways.

My next will be a w210 car...When I kill this one.

I drive a 123, and a 126 routinely.
I have not had the pleasure of driving any other MB.
My loss!

fahrgewehr2 · #10 01-31-2008, 05:54 PM

Toomany-

I was just listing the pros/cons of this model, not in comparison with the 123.

Center console wood trim cracks in all the 80s models. It is usually a disaster. Watch ebay auctions for this piece and you will see that nice pieces go for much $$$.

My 123 has some nice black plastic in the center console- no cracks!

Don't drive a 140 car. It will ruin the 126 experience for a long time. 123 makes the 124 car feel like a sports car.

Still love the 123 car though. Good workhorses.

123Guy · #11 01-31-2008, 05:56 PM

We have both a 126 and 123 and bought both of them new after having owned other MB's purchased new every time the model changed. We are still driving them because MB has not built a better car since. Over the past 20++ years, when the next new S-class comes out, we go to the dealer, look at them, drive them, talk to the service manager about them and drive away in the 126. It is a spectular hiway car, a pleasure to drive on long trips, reliable, safe, economical to run and maintain, it will be on the road longer after the newer models are in the junk yard and the biggest plus: It's the last of the S-class cars that from a block away, you can tell it's a Mercedes.

LUVMBDiesels · #12 01-31-2008, 06:15 PM

The good:

As everybody says BUILD QUALITY is excellent. If they needed two screws to hold something in, they used six

Styling I like the wedge shape and the classic MB grill

Handling is great for a car that weighs 4000 lbs

Ride is smooth yet connected. I can drive six hours in the car and still feel OK. Can't do more than 1.5 hours in the BMW before I get aches and pains.

Safety I know somebody whose wife rolled a 420SEL at 70mph into a tree. The front end was destroyed and the car was on its roof, but all four doors still open and she came away without being hurt. She did get cut from flying glass, but in a lessor car she would be dead.

The Bad:

Automatic Climate Controls are troublesome. For a fairly simple system compared to newer ACC equiped cars a lot of things like dashpots, vacuum controls, monovalves, and the CCU itself seem to fail. A good point is that since they are simple pre-computertized systems, they are easy to solder back together.

Fuel Economy is not that great even in the diesels expecthigh 20's in a diesel and high teens in a gasser.

Transmissions are finicky and need regular maintenence.

Windows and sunroofs are prone to failure but canbe fixed easily.

Seats sag

The Ugly:

Wood trim drys out and cracks.

Dashboards split

RUST happens in the rear doglegs and wheel arches, below the rear glass, on the doors above the plastic cladding and in the battery trays.

20+ year old paint fades

All in all I will take a W126 over just about anything out there. It is no sports car but is a very good cruiser, safe as houses and pretty reasonable to buy.

imagesinthewind · #13 01-31-2008, 08:31 PM

Thanks for this.
There is one in CO that I may get.

Matt L · #14 01-31-2008, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I long to own a W140 some day....when I have a lot lot lot more $$ available.

And thats because......I want a 600SEL.

The older that 600SEL gets, the less you should want it.

toomany MBZ · #15 01-31-2008, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fahrgewehr2

Toomany-

I was just listing the pros/cons of this model, not in comparison with the 123.

Center console wood trim cracks in all the 80s models. It is usually a disaster. Watch ebay auctions for this piece and you will see that nice pieces go for much $$$.

My 123 has some nice black plastic in the center console- no cracks!

Don't drive a 140 car. It will ruin the 126 experience for a long time. 123 makes the 124 car feel like a sports car.

Still love the 123 car though. Good workhorses.

Cool.

I have a small crack or two on the CD, near the front speaker grilles, the SD is a crack addict.

The pic is in the computer, I was showing someone my radio.

images... keep us posted.