Hi all,

Been searching for info on older Mercedes and this site came up a lot. Was looking for a late 80s, early 90s 300 series. But then I found a few 500s and a couple 560s.

I am totally lost on Mercedes. Been a Lincoln driver forever. My roommate has a new C280 and it sorta got me hooked on the brand. Now I want to try one out.

What I am looking to get is an late 80s or possibly early 90s 560 SEL or maybe a 500. I am used to a car that MOVES (spoiled by a light/powerful Mark VIII). While I have done A LOT or reading I am still having trouble getting my bearings on options, engines, etc. One thing is sure, I learned a lot about 1000SEL models. One is for sale, had I not know better I may have jumped on it. Had body kit, but appears to be a re-badge mainly.

Anyway. Sorry if this is a n00b question. But of the W126 560s, which year would be best for reliability and power with fuel efficiency. Right now I have my eye on an 88. If I read right, 1986 and newer has some improvements.

As for options, what was standard and what was optional? I have had a hard time finding that out. Or I am just really bad at searching. Things like ABS are a must. Traction control would be nice. A moonroof is required. Basically if I was looking at a 560 tomorrow and was wanting a fully loaded one, what would I look for?

And if I was looking tomorrow, what should I look for that would turn me away?

Thanks for any help, links, etc.

Welcome to the forum! Let me tell you first hand, if you're looking for fuel efficiency, a 560SEL is NOT the car for you. Your best option is to find the best maintained one you can find, not necessarily the cheapest one. They are reliable cars if you take care of them. Here's some buyer's guides that'll tell you what you need to know about the W126.

http://home.concepts.nl/~vlimmere/tips.htm

http://www.s-klasse-club.de/gb/kaufberatung.html

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Thanks, I will read through that. On the note of efficiency, what numbers can I expect? I read a lot bout one being more or less efficient, yet I dont find anything in terms of raw numbers. I am not expecting anything amazing. But over 22 highway would be nice. My Mark gets about 30 and I know I have been spoiled with that.

I'd opt for a late '80s early '90s 300SEL after reading your post, were I you. They're straight sixes.

Few cars made in any era could improve on that good of mpg.

Perhaps anyone who can get 30 in a Mark can get 25 in a 560sel!

Fuel economy and big v8 mercedes do not go hand in hand.

I had an 84 500 SEC and best ever running 65 mph was 19 highway. Running 75 and 80 It would get from 16 to 17 and around town 12 to 11.

It was very stripped compared to later models though, not even having abs so it was very inexpensive to maintain except for fuel economy.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

The 560SEL was produced from 1986 to 1991 with a few minor changes being made to the whole W126 line in 1988.

They pretty much all came loaded. Finding one without a sunroof is pretty rare, pretty much all W126's had sunroofs. Traction control came in at the end.

For mileage expect low to mid teens on 91 octane.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Yeah.. mercedes didn't believe in overdrive back then so if you're concerned about fuel economy, the 300SEL's are ok.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Welcome to the forum----there is a lot of great information here; some of the people are true experts.
I'm not expert ( that's one thing about which many here will agree with me), but you have conflicting desires--a car that will MOVE and get great fuel mileage.
I can help you if great mileage is more important---look at a W126 class DIESEL.
Many members report upper 20s into the 30s mpg. The W126 may be a pinnacle of Mercedes design--having been one of the last designs before MB began building to a price point.
A later model W126 will have air bags.

The one piece of advice concerning things MB that is most universally true is that, THERE IS NOTHING AS EXPENSE AS A CHEAP MERCEDES.
These ( more than most other cars) can really eat you up on maintenance--especially if the previous owner "deferred" routine maintenance.
Maintenance is not expensive if you can DIY; parts are (mostly) reasonable.
You can get all the tech help and advice you would ever need in the appropriate forum. ( OD is not the best place for intelligent auto advice--emotional opinions on most anything else-YES, but I'd advise using the other fori (?) for technical help.

Other will chime in with buying help; I'll offer only 4 more.
1) RUST is the enemy. Steel wants to become rust; if the process has started, the only real solution is to cut it out and weld in new metal.
2) RECORDS are important. A car with a known service history is vastly better than one that is unknown.
3) Never judge the condition of a Mercedes by its interior--especially if its got MB Tex, ( The MB version of vinyl). You would not be the first person fooled into thinking that MB Tex was leather; in fact MB Tex generally wears better, feels better, and looks better than real leather in a 30 year old car. Many newbies are amazed at how well the interior looks 30 some years after it was made. That is MB quality, but it doesn't mean that beneath that near pristine carpet all is well mechanically or structurally.
4) Buy with your head as much as with your heart. Get an unbiased opinion on the car's condition before you fall in love with it.

Again, welcome to the forum.

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1982 300SD " Wotan" ..On the road as of Jan 8, 2007 with Historic Tags

Welcome to the forum.
You dont need a flame suit on the forum!! Many of us have a far worse bark than bite!!
I agree with several others that a 300 is probably a good compromise between power & economy. It has a high enough top speed to get you arrested.
Unless you need a getaway car, you probably dont need the 500 or 560.
My brother has a late 90's C280, there is not a lot of room under the hood. It has plenty of go!!
Unless you are planning on having tall adults in the back seat, you may not need a "L".

Make sure you look at a good number of cars before you choose one.
If you find one you like, check on this forum, some one may know some history.

Happy Hunting !!!

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

This guide is geared towards the coupes but the same rules apply for the sedan. It was written by a forum member here and is pretty much the best guide that you'll find.

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

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1982 300GD Carmine Red (DB3535) Cabriolet Parting Out
1990 300SEL Smoke Silver (Parting out)
1991 350SDL Blackberry Metallic (481)

"The thing is Bob, its not that I'm lazy...its that I just don't care."

I am a great lover of the W126 cars. They are among the last of the big ones built and engineered to a cost no object basis, and with proper care will last you to interstellar mileage.

This one is my 1991 AMG version, that I bought when it was near new, seen this year. The man who owned the Beverly Hills Hotel had owned it but his wife said it was "too flashy for Beverly Hills" and made him sell it and buy her a new BMW, he told me, when he gave me the records he had on it.

This same one now has 171,400 miles on it and still looks and runs great.





When new, they were the flagship of the entire Mercedes Benz line, the 560SEL sedan and the 560SEC coupe. MSRP on mine, the black one,the last model year of them, (1991) was $84,500.

But they last, they look good, are safe as a house, are actually engineered to cruise at their top speed ALL DAY LONG, are comfortable, luxurious in an austere way, are designed to be VERY easy to work on, parts are ALWAYS available, and are fun to drive, and even the seats were designed by orthopedic back surgeons.

When new, they were the cars of plutocrats, captains of industry, multimillionaires, rock stars, footballers, diplomats, dictators and people that wanted, and could afford, the very best. For that reason, the cost of fuel was of no concern to them, and if you are worried about that, these cars may not be for you.

If you can do it yourself, or have the assistance of a good independent mechanic or shop to help the overall cost per mile to run is not that bad.

As said above, the most expensive Mercedes Benz is very often the cheapest, so look for the best condition one you can find, preferably with ALL books and records and few owners.

That beat down one you saw for $900 on Craigslist, could easily surprise you with $7000 worth of work needed...


A word about the big Ford products, I also am partial to them, the Panthers.
I have owned four, a 1982 and 1988 Crown Victoria, and two of the last ones, a couple of 2009 ones, a Nautica blue one that I racked up some miles on,




then traded in on a gorgeous toreador red one quite recently, and loved both.



They are in some ways, quite alike, ie, long lived, good build quality, comfortable, high mileage long distance cruisers, and very reliable, a LOT like the big old W126 Mercedes. I love owning one of each of them.



I think, if
you have had a good experience with a big Lincoln, they could work out well for you.


I have written a buyers guide back in 1998 (not updated) that is a good introduction to them.


See it here:

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


Also, www.benzworld.com, has a very active and busy subsection in the w126 section, and that forum is by far, the best worldwide forum for these cars, it is a fairly tight knit community and has the best advice.


I am selling my 3rd one, (the 1990 Smoke Silver coupe)






and the following 52 page story, with pictures, is quite entertaining about how I came to do so, judging by the over 20,000 hits it has received so far. But it takes over 2 hours to read, though, people have said.....

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/1518603-stealth-reposession-1990-smoke-1990-sec.html

I am selling "the Smoke", the celebrity repo car, to a fellow enthusiast. It ships out to Florida tomorrow, to a new owner I have ensured will take good care of it.


Good luck with your search, some good ones are still out there. Sometimes the best ones are actually sold or traded on enthusiast forums like benzworld.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Welcome to the realm of Mercedes Benzes. I, too, have been a Lincoln owner in the past. I've since had a great little 1984 300TD wagon, "Max" and a 1987 560SEC, "The Dee8gonator." Now, I have a 2006 CLS500.

The best part of owning these cars is the friends I've made. Vintage Benz owners seems to be a great bunch of folks from my experience.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Wow, wake up to lots of good advice. Thanks much!

Some points I want to touch on and questions.

* What is that grille with the MB badge large and centered versus the hood ornament? I love that grille design but have not seen it on many. Is it an AMG addition or specific to certain later years, models? Or only to the SEC?
* Maintenance is obviously a concern when a MB is not well maintained. But really its not a huge concern of mine. As a Mark VIII owner I spent plenty of money replacing ABS systems, air-ride compressors, controllers and struts. And any number of other thing including the engine!
* And when it comes to working on the vehicle I plan to do everything myself. But if I come to a major issue I can not deal with there happens to be an incredibly recommended euro garage in my town. They guy is probably a 100 years only, but he works exclusively on Porsche and MB cars.
* Gas milage is not a huge concern. My other vehicles are 73 and 79 Mark Series Lincolns. The 73 might have gotten 12mpg on highway. What I am used to and really want is power and luxury. I was hoping for better milage than reported, but I accept it if thats the case.
* The 300s I looked over and over. Diesels were really hard to come by and if I did, they were a total wreck. I will still keep my eye out. I wish there was some powerplant variant of the 5.0 that was diesel, but I assume there is not?
* I am certainly not in a hurry to buy. But a Mercedes for sure it will be. I plan to spend a good month looking. So I may disappear for a while as I hunt. I will certainly post info and pics when I have her in my garage.

You can also look at a W124 400E or E420. These were the newer M119 V8's with 4 cams and 32 valves. They made similar HP to your lincoln at 275hp and can really scoot.

Being smaller, they also handle.

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With best regards

Al