w126 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

scargo70 · #1 07-17-2003, 12:48 AM

I recently saw a nice w126 in the car for sale section.
This got me thinking about these cars which I think are perhaps the best big car designs by MB and about what other members of the forum think about these cars.

1. with all the different engine sizes, which is the best?

2. SEL or SE?

3. best interior/exterior colour combination?

4. their strong and weak points- mechanically (what goes wrong/what stays right) and aesthetically?

5. how good arethe V8's in these cars? (their common failings etc)

V.Putin · #2 07-17-2003, 11:43 AM

1. There is actually no best engine. It depends on one's driving condition. For USA, there isn't much traffic jam and plenty of long road to have some fun. 500 or 560(M117.965 or M117.968)should be the best king of the road. But if you're living somewhere like where I live, heavy traffic jams, and not many highways to run, a six cylinder engine like 300SE/SEL(M103.98something)offers enough power for daily driving and better MPG than those V8.

2. SE. If you usually drive alone then there is no need for a larger rear legroom. I think SEL worth purchasing only in case that you're gonna be sitting in a back seat, or in case that you often carry a couple of six feet tall guy at the back.

3. Combinations are varied to people's taste. For me, blueblack exterior and beige or cream interior is the best.

4and5 W126 is extremely durable under proper maintainance. V8engines are good and offer strong torque from low to high rpm. I think what owners need to be aware, for DIY people, is the force used to tighten bolts and nuts in this series of all aluminum engine. My mechanic told me that many of cars that have engine trouble were caused by overtightening bolts and nuts.

Sorry for weird English

yal · #3 07-17-2003, 04:32 PM

Also get yourself a copy of the latest MERCEDES ENTHUSIAST magazine at your local magazine specialist. The whole magazine positively gushes about the W126 and rightlyfully so I might add. Even though i don't have one this was the mercedes model that made me fall in love with the brand.

#4 07-17-2003, 05:14 PM

If you want to call them weak points: Top end wear. It's not too uncommon to find worn cams and rockers @ 100k miles, "tick-tick-tick-tick"

. Replace t-chain/rails @ 100k miles, esp on the 420SEL. I have yet to do it on my 560, go figure! Actually I've never heard or read of rail breakage on the 560 (yet).

Also, A/C work (new evap) can be $800-1200, rear hydraulic shox on 560SEL are close to $1000 including labor, the infamous B2 piston failure in the trans. Lotsa info on this board if you do a search.

rickg · #5 07-18-2003, 10:47 AM

My dream car is a late 560SEC. I've heard about the evap problem. Was wondering if they have the same rear hydraulic shock set-up as a SEL.

#6 07-18-2003, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by rickg
My dream car is a late 560SEC. I've heard about the evap problem. Was wondering if they have the same rear hydraulic shock set-up as a SEL.

Yes it does. Nothing to fret, yes the shocks are expensive, but the spheres aren't and replacing them are a DIY job (from everything I've read).

A. Rosich · #7 07-20-2003, 02:22 PM

My very own personal opinion:

W126 perfection: fully optioned longwheel base W126 with a V-8 (420/500/560SEL), with travel computer, rear indiviual electric sport bucket seats and a six wine bottle fridge on the trunk (although the rear buckets was a nasty US$8,000 option and the frigde a not much less nasty US$1,500 option).

Velour interiors are far better looking than leather (although, like leather they age pretty bad).

The best color combination is smoke silver paint with medium red interior.

It has to be the facelifted post 1986 version, with alloy wheels and fitted with that huge sized electric sunroof.

The only thing that would top this car would be a fully optioned S500/600 (V140).

Rich126 · #8 07-23-2003, 04:25 PM

I would have thought of Smoke Silver with Burgandy interior as less than a desirable color scheme for a 126, in the US anyway.

A. Rosich · #9 07-24-2003, 02:20 PM

Funny, because if you do a quick survey of all the used W140s on MBUSA's pre-owned lists, after black and its various shades (black opal, etc.), smoke silver seems to be the second most popular color. Although in the U.S.A. is more conservative mixed with beige/palomino interiors instead of burgundy/medium red.

The official M.B. W126 1986-1989 brochure for Germany and the rest of the world (except U.S.A.) had two main cars as there four-page fold-out posters, a 300SEL in smoke silver with palomino leather and a 500SE also in smoke silver but with burgundy velour. I guess M.B. also thought the W126 looked good in smoke silver.

Larry Delor · #10 07-24-2003, 11:41 PM

They do look good in smoke silver!

rickg · #11 07-26-2003, 02:46 AM

Agreed, they look good. But if I had a dime for every silver Benz I saw on the road...............
I like that light blue, or silver-blue, or what ever it's called. Almost bought an SDL several years ago in that color. Just fell in love with the color!

#12 07-26-2003, 02:10 PM

I think just about any car looks good in silver. Funny thing is, I don't recall seeing any silver W126's lately. I always see the same one's in my area, gold, white, green (rare? has Euro bumpers) and various shades of blue.

Mine's midnight blue/palamino -- and there's another one like it in Madison. Funny thing is that a cute, petite asian women drives it, just like my wife. First time she drove by, I was waving vigourously at her and was surprised that she was just ignoring me! Then I saw all the UW-Madison parking stickers on the rear window -- aha not out car!

dtkw · #13 08-02-2003, 04:46 PM

Here is my 560SEL in silver. It's a 1986. Just went over 100K a few months ago. Changed the timing chain and pretty soon the front shocks would be replaced. There is a slow leak right now. Over all, I really enjoying driving this car. And I had a Smoke Silver 420SEL before this.

Blue Mule · #14 01-10-2006, 11:57 PM

I own a 1983 Mercedes Benz 380SEC with 122,000 original miles. The exterior color is Saphire Blue with an Oxford Blue interior. For my money, the W126 chassis are the very best hand built vehicles ever produced by Mercedes Benz.

Two560Two · #15 01-11-2006, 12:30 AM

I own Two 560's and 1 420. Personally I like the 420SEL much better because of te gas mileage and less maintinence comapared to the 560. The 560 is a beast though! Very quick and an awesome highway car. I would not really use it for city driving because the gas mileage sux!

Look for a very clean 420 or 560 regardless of mileage. Just get the hostory of the car and see which one suits you.

I really like the ivory/brown combo. My 420 is ivory/palomino but not too crazy about the interior color.