Experience with 1989 560 SEL? - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

gilwave · #31 05-08-2005, 08:10 PM

Bought a used (89k miles) fuel distributor on eBay today. Will have it installed next week.

Washed and waxed the Benz yesterdaty, took my daughter and 3 of her friends into New York City for her 17th birthday. They thought the 560 was a Limo!! I should have worn a drivers cap and suit

Taking the Benz around Manhattan was a blast. The engine runs so much better now, it was a real joy to drive. Fuel economy improved some too, but it was $48.50 to fill the tank!! Ouch!

-g

Ara T. · #32 05-11-2005, 01:35 AM

Did you happen to mention what color it is? My mom has a mightnight blue 300SDL, and with the chrome accents it is downright breathtaking, especially when it gets towards sunset. I remember when we picked up our dates for homecoming a while ago it was around that time, and they were impressed.

It drives really nicely with the I6 Diesel though I would LOVE to try a V8 powered W126.

gilwave · #33 05-11-2005, 06:03 AM

Black, with Palomino interior. Although Midnight Blue sounds stunning.

the 5.6l V-8 is monstrous. Not quick off the line, buy when she gets going, get out of the way!

braverichard · #34 05-11-2005, 08:47 AM

That V8 is quick off the line provided you "floor" it to kick down the transmission. If yours isn't quick off the line then either your kickdown switch isn't working or something else is wrong. There's a reason why the 560SEL has a standard limited slip differential.

gilwave · #35 05-11-2005, 09:22 AM

Hmmm... I'll have to have a look-see.

Sorry you're not closer Richard, it would be nice to have you come to the NE GTG this weekend.

-g

braverichard · #36 05-11-2005, 09:49 AM

I too wish I can attend a gathering but they are always located far from me. I think what I'll just have to do is plan a road trip one of these days in order to attend a gathering.

Ara T. · #37 05-11-2005, 08:25 PM

Alternatively, instead of flooring the accelerator, you can leave the stoplight at the lowest gear on the bottom on the shifter so it starts in first gear.

gilwave · #38 05-13-2005, 02:38 PM

Today I received the 1989 S-Class brochure I ordered from eBay (by the way, this guy is a class act, I got a lot of cool stuff from him, highly recommended -

http://stores.ebay.com/Modern-Auto-Literature).

After reading the description of the 560SEL engine and transmission, I can say that my car is not living up to the presentation, even after having a major tune up and valve seal replacement.

I just drove to Boston and back over 2 days, and the car does not shift as smoothly as the brochure claims it should, and the entire chassis vibrates at speeds over 100 MPH. The brochure claims that the 560SEL should handle 160MPH on the Autobahn with complete comfort and ultra-stable ride.

I realize that my car is 16 years old, but I am not happy about this. I am wondering if she's been in an accident sufficient to affect the frame, or if the front-end, shocks, springs and rear-end all need work.

Also, is 2500RPM normal for the M117 at cruising speed on the highway, 70-75MPH on cruise control?

-gil

braverichard · #39 05-13-2005, 02:51 PM

The RPM for 70-75mph is normal.

The link to the eBay store doesn't work. Can you post the correct one? Thanks!

Indeed, you have to take the age of the car into consideration. Furthermore, you have to take something else you really can't account for into consideration: how the car was used/abused before you purchased it. My 300SD is very stable with no vibrations at 90mph (the fastest I've taken it so far). You never know, your car could have been in an accident for which the repairs weren't paid for by an insurance company resulting in the absence of an accident entry in the car's VIN report; it could have been driven off road a lot resulting in faster wear of the chassis, etc.

Regarding your transmission, have you changed the transmission fluid? Do you know if it was religiously changed during the car's life prior to your purchase? Too many factors to consider. A lot of things can happen in 16 years!

Also remember that sales brochures can lie and exaggerate, even though I'm sure that when the car was brand new it met every detail described in that brochure.

So far, how is everything else? I was just about to send you an e-mail to ask you how everything is going? Oil consumption? Fuel consumption better?

gilwave · #40 05-13-2005, 03:37 PM

Here is one of the guys MB auctions, hit "see other items" to get to his listings:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3871&item=7140181523

Haven't changed out the tranny fluid, will do that next week. Fuel consumption improved after the valve seal job, oil consumption I am still watching.

Don't get me wrong, the car is still very pleasant to drive, my new stereo w/ XM Radio sounds amazing through the 10-speaker array, it helped to pass the time, especially CNN and The Comedy channel. Car rides great up to 75 MPH. At 80 and above, it starts to shimmy - from 80 to 95MPH, its mostly the front end, I can feel it in the steering wheel. From 95 and up, it's the front half of the car that starts shaking, at 110 and over the whole thing. I was racing some piss-ass kid in a Grand Prix. I creamed him past 125 and finally came off the pedal at 135MPH. The car is fast, no doubt - but the shaking was very disconcerting.

The only other car I've driven that fast was a Ferrari F355 Spider - obviously a different animal altogether - but I expect stability from a 2-ton sedan with the engineering that MB so liked to crow about.

I will have the front end checked out soon. I would just like to go through a month or two without dropping $$$ into her.

-gil

Ara T. · #41 05-14-2005, 02:44 AM

As for the transmission shifts, take a look at your vacuum hoses and connections under the hood, im not sure if the 560SEL transmissions use vacuum as extensively as the diesels though.

braverichard · #42 05-14-2005, 06:29 AM

No the 560SEL's transmission is less dependent on vacuum controls than the diesel transmissions, however it is just less dependent and thus still has some vacuum issues that he should have his mechanic check out. My 300SD currently has a very bad, jerky, abrupt shift from 1 to 2 and from 2 to 3 and that's one of the things I need to attend to as I know it is vacuum related.

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