Pics to follow soon. Picked up a 1991 560 SEL today. Black exterior, "butterscotch" interior. Dash looks new. 138k on the odometer. Now I need to figure out what options it has and what condition its really in. One option it has is the rear window shade. But I realize the options can vary widely, so I think its a pretty standard 560.

Problems:
misc instrument switch lights are out (just a couple really)
Fuel gauge is a little out of whack
Sound system was butchered by a half-ass CD deck install
Moonroof does not always want to go into vent position
Cruise is 100% in-op. Might be a fuse, will look tomorrow
Woodwork is cracked in some places

Otherwise its great! I am sure I will be searching and asking as I dive into this project.

Congratulations!!! That sounds like a nice car! I cannot wait to see pictures. The black and "butterscotch" combo sounds lovely.

The problems don't seem like fun...but I'm sure you'll fix those up in no time and everything will be fine.

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I was looking for a project car, so no worries I have on the issues and they really are minor.

Couple of pics. And the pics do not lie, the car really looks very, very sharp. The interior, other than the wood cracks, strangely looks new. Although the site seems to have strict limitations on uploads. I will get betters one up on Photobucket when I have time.

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Nice ride dude. Will you trade it for my 02 clk 320 with 103,XXX miles?

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For the unSaved, this world is the best it will ever get.

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Very nice. I currently have three 126 body cars and they are great. First thing you want to do is get a 126 repair manual (on CD). All kinds of usefull information in there. Like wiring diagrams so you can unhack the radio install. Or instructions for cleaning/lubing the sliding roof. Or how to remove the instrument cluster and replace the bulbs. Fuel guage testing is also in there. Gauges sometimes just read wrong. As long as long as they are consistant, you can adjust your thinking to the readings. There is a fellow in Florida who does wood restoration, I'll have to look up his info. He is at most of the MBCA events. Good guy.

You can also just resto the wood yourself. I've done it. Do a search, there are plenty of threads about what products to use. The main thing is to just strip off the old cracked finish.

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08 W251 R350
97 W210 E320
91 W124 300E
86 W126 560SEL
85 W126 380SE Silver
85 W126 380SE Cranberry
79 W123 250
78 W123 280E
75 W114 280

Don't be mad! I'm just stupid-silly sometimes, but that second picture, from the inside...reminded me of a cookie. Or cookie dough. Haha...maybe its a butterscotch cookie.

But either way that is a really beautiful, and yes, sharp car! And if you were looking for a project car then I guess that's good. There aren't TOO many with this one. It could be way worse. Again, congratulations! Good find!

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Thanks guys. Ya, I need a repair CD for sure. Keep in mine I have been a Ford guy all my life. (Im 30 yo). From a Mark IV to a Mark VIII I had almost all of them.

Today I looked at the cruise control and I am lost. One thing is for sure, the throttle linkage must have been designed by 30 different guys! I never saw so many joints and such. And I still did not find what I could ID for sure as the cruise control unit. There was something up front, but no wires to it. So yes, a manual would help!

Drezell: Not mad at all. While black and tan is a good color combo, this would not have been my first choice. I really wanted a charcoal exterior with black interior. But this was a 91, which was the ONLY one i found in two months of searching, and it was in great shape. So colors has to take a back seat in my search. Once nice thing is that any minor cracks in the leather are hard to see whereas with black they stand out strong.

Tonight when I am home for work I will be diving into this thing deeper.

I did notice a few things in the engine bay:
* Injectors look new. The brass heads on them are spotless and shine. Realyl doubt they are factory.
* Battery is a Mercedes battery. Good sign that it was dealer maintained as the logs show. Pretty happy with that.
* Box of fluids in back, oil and PS, are Mercedes brand. Good thing.
* Temperature sensors on engine are also new and appear to be Mercedes parts, not some cheap Autozone stuff.

I have not searched much. But any advice on getting interior parts like switch surrounds for the doors and a rear shelf cover (the fabric is sun faded) would be great.

Glad your not mad. I wouldn't mind the cookie color! ^_^ But yes! Its good to not show any cracks in the leather. I am glad you like that. If you REALLY want at least the charcoal instead of coal...you can do that, but the tan is cool.

And 91? Wow! That car is as old as me! ^_^

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Did the PO do the t-chain/rails? If not, you better have that done.

Anyhow, nice car! I had a midnight blue '91 that I purchased in '01, my first Mercedes. A 1-owner car from Texas.

It was a great car. Safe, big and fast one the highway. It was reliable too. However, my wife hit a deer and the body was repaired correctly. However the trans overheated a few months later because one of the cooling lines was clogged due to the accident. I sold it to my mother's mechanic who put in a rebuilt trans and flipped it. A week later, that trans gave out and he had eat that.

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

It looks sweet with that color combination...


Hmmm, I might have to consider painting my 85 sd black now.

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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.

nice ride. i think that's the last year of the w126. makes me long for my departed 85 500sel, also black.

p.s. watch the right foot. that car has much more power than you'll ever need.

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"The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread."

Now, enjoy it in good health!

I'm kind of off the w126 at the moment - hit them with a Ford Thunderbird and a freight train and they fold right up: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAAd7b6atLk NSFW - bad words spoken.

OMG. The stereo is worse than I though. the original antenna wire is cut. One wire is melted in a spot! Most were just twisted together, no tape. Off to find a wiring diagram. So much for a quick install of my other system taken from my Mark VIII. I figured it was bad, but not THIS bad.

And yes, 91 was the last year and the year I really wanted since a few "options" became standard. And its usually the year with the least number of common issues are they are adjusted each year of production.