w140 reliability - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ps2cho · #1 01-17-2009, 10:27 PM

Found a nice 97 S500 that I am thinking of buying up.

Owner told me that the RPM's are running too low.....New ECU needed?

What about repairs for it? Is everything DIY or does it need some expensive top end/bottom end or transmission repairs?

I know (or at least I hope) alot about the w124...but nothing on the w140.

Any thoughts?

Price is good on it.

pawoSD · #2 01-17-2009, 11:08 PM

Thats an exceedingly complex vehicle......buy at your own risk!

johnathan1 · #3 01-17-2009, 11:22 PM

I would test drive it, and see how bad the problem is. How many miles, and what's the asking price?

iwrock · #4 01-17-2009, 11:58 PM

Could be a bad coil thats making the car idle low.

johnathan1 · #5 01-18-2009, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

Could be a bad coil thats making the car idle low.

Yea, or a million other things lol.

ps2cho · #6 01-18-2009, 02:17 AM

Eh after doing some more reading...I think I'll stay away. I was looking at the "real" value of the days right now in this economy and they are roughly worth about $3-4k with 150k miles on em. The asking price is $2500 with no previous info. It was off a junkyard donation lot or something.

Jim B. · #7 01-18-2009, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ps2cho

The asking price is $2500 with no previous info. It was off a junkyard donation lot or something.

Good god.

Sounds like a $2500 car with $10,000+ worth of problems to fix.

johnathan1 · #8 01-18-2009, 02:24 AM

I paid $4k for mine...157k miles in decent shape. Perfect interior, working ac. Stereo was inop ($$$), one window was broken, and the paint was spotty. Never left me stranded! I drove it about 6k miles before the ASR and ABS lights started lighting up randomly and I decided to sell it.

iwrock · #9 01-18-2009, 02:56 AM

W140s are good cars if you get one with all of its issues sorted.

Hatterasguy · #10 01-18-2009, 09:54 AM

Yeah, spend some money on a good example and you will enjoy it. You can't do a W140 cheaply.

If you only have $2,500 to spend get a W126.

POS · #11 01-18-2009, 10:01 AM

w140s need a yearly budget of $2000-$3000.

Brian Carlton · #12 01-18-2009, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

w140s need a yearly budget of $2000-$3000.

Exactly......and I'm now realizing a similar budget for the 740iL

deanyel · #13 01-18-2009, 10:32 AM

I find it amusing that people lump all 140s together on issues of reliabilty. 140 reliability is very much a function of the model. A 97 S500 would indeed be a handful - but only because of ASR, ADS, 722.6 transmision, etc. At the other extreme an optionless 1995 SWB S320 is so simple and reliable that taking care of it isn't really even a challenge.

#14 01-19-2009, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deanyel

I find it amusing that people lump all 140s together on issues of reliabilty. 140 reliability is very much a function of the model. A 97 S500 would indeed be a handful - but only because of ASR, ADS, 722.6 transmision, etc. At the other extreme an optionless 1995 SWB S320 is so simple and reliable that taking care of it isn't really even a challenge.

Exactly right. I love the way a well-sorted 140, even the S320 drives.

Buy one that's got a good service history w/ minimal issues to address and it will make the owner very happy. So cheap in the used market right now.

The 140 is the wrong car to fix up, though - best to start with a good one.

Hatterasguy · #15 01-18-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

w140s need a yearly budget of $2000-$3000.

Yep, if you want to keep it up properly.