I have gotten my daughter a '93 190E Sportline Special Edition, which makes her current car, an '88 420SEL redundant. She has complained about the S-Class Panzer being too big to be easily maneuverable (I got it so she would be crashproof) -- so daughter gets the 190E.

I bought the 420SEL a year ago from the Charlotte M-B dealer, Beck Inports. The car was a local grandparent's car which had come in on a trade and had only 75,500 miles. We have put 16,000 miles on the car, which is now at 91,500, and use it for road trips (like a locomotive on the highway). Southern car which has never seen snow, ice or salt; located in Charlotte, NC.

It is blue with saddle leather, and has all the 560 option items, including power rear seat, rear sunshade, orthopedic driver's seat and heated front seats. Excellent interior and exterior cosmetics (a few normal stone nicks); original stock wheels show some minor discoloration. Extensive mechanical refurbishment by top independent with OEM parts (see below).

The dealer (who also services my C43 AMG) told me that they had refurbished the airconditioning at a cost of $2,500 shortly before the trade-in; dealer also put on a new exhaust manifold when I bought the car and split the cost with me (the expense on top of the airconditioner may have motivated the PO to get a new car).

My mechanical refurbishments (all top independent shop work -- no DIY):

--immediately after purchase:

transmission service and fluid renewal
cooling system flush and renewal
brake flush and fluid renewal
power steering fluid flushed and renewed
differential fluid flushed and renewed
all filters renewed
all fuses replaced (entire fuse box)
oil change (Mobil 1-- subsequent changes at 2,500--all Mobil 1)
fuel injectors cleaned
new Bosch sparkplugs
shifter bushing renewed
hood pad replaced
new wiper blade
full lubrication
Bilstein OEM shocks replaced all around

Additional renewals:

front end bushings
front axle joints and control arms
front ball joints
timing chain, tensioner, upper guide rails and valve gaskets
radiator
smog pump
idle control valve
driver's window switch
center console wood
new V-rated tires (Yokohama AVS-Db)
new monovalve for heating system
new antenae mast
new brake pads all four wheels
power steering high pressure line

Also added a 10-disc Sony CD changer (control module out-of-sight in the center console ashtray) and installed an outlet plug in the center console for a cellphone

All parts OEM purchased from dealer (Tom Hanson at Caliber M-B in California), except the smog pump, which was rebuilt from BenzBin, CD changer and cellphone plug.

I believe that I have anticipated all the W126 wear/failure components and the car is good to go for an extended period. The only thing you will eventually want to do is change the front transmission pump seal (if I keep the car, I will do so when I do the next transmission service) -- there is a tiny overnight drip. While I have been meticulous in the maintenance, I'm not motivated to prematurely drain out all the transmission fluid I changed at 75,000 just to stop the tiny drip when I can catch it at the next transmission service interval.

You are welcome to speak to my mechanic, Earle Whitton of Charlotte Star Service, tel 704-332-4111, who was a senior tech at the M-B dealer here (Beck Imports) before opening his very well respected independent shop. VIN is WDBCA35DXJA424450 --I have a carfax report and the warranty service records for the car as well as, of course, all the records for the work which I have done.


If interested, e-mail me at rjones@rbh.com. Price is $14,500 and I believe that you'll have a hard time finding a better 126 for daily driving, with all the major W126 issues (timing chain, radiator, smog pump, idle control valve, etc. taken care of).

If you can scan a photo and attach it to your post, I believe it will help pique interest.