560SEC...
 

Mercedes-Benz : 500-Series 560 SEC,560SEC in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

Mercedes-Benz : 500-Series SEC in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

These things are creeping up in value. I need another W126, I think I'll buy one next year. I still think the W126 and C126 will go up in value over the next 20 years, as will some other 80's cars.

As much as I like the coupes I still have a soft spot for the LWB ones, I'd love to find a super nice, low mileage 560SEL with some period AMG mods.

Mercedes-Benz : 500-Series SEL in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

Something clean. I'm done restoring, I want a clean car to just maintain. Throw some T chain tensioners on that car and replace any spent bushings underneath, a new set of Bilsteins and your GTG.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/...58600307ae.jpg

I really want to find something like this...hello Garage Current?:D

My W126 AMG 560SEL6.0 - YouTube

Done stock W126, done beater W126, done diesel W126...now I want to try super clean, rare, fast W126.:cool:

"Need"? :D

Yes a W126 is a need...:D

You are an ideal candidate for a car like this as you owned the w126 sedan before and understand their value. If taken care of, they will last you a driving lifetime - 500,000 miles and beyond is easily achievable and parts are still available from the Classic Center.

Best bet would be lower mileage, unrusted, uncollided ones with books and records, and original, unrusted examples maintained by no more than 3-4 successive owners, that were meticulous and fussy.

The sedans but coupes especially, look best in the darker metallic colors, like black, pearl black, almandine red, and navy blue. silver and white ones are the default colors. deduct about $2500 for a non working AC though.

Buy the best condition one you can afford, as with these, the old adage "The cheapest used Mercedes usually turns out to be the most expensive, in the end".

I think the 560SEC is truly a classic already.

http://f.a.d-cd.net/7ed013u-960.jpg

I agree :D

Back in the mid 1990s I purchased a 199/261 Pearl black/black leather stock 1991 model WITHOUT the troublesome ASR, and just 50k on the clock, but then again, got it as an "encore" (certified pre-owned) one from a Mercedes Benz dealer in Buena Park - near Dissneyland .. I think it cost me about $40k out the door, but I wanted the last year of it.

I still have it after all this time, but with the help of members of benzworld and perachparts online, I have made a good AMG euro clone type of car out of it, I feel.

It has the following euro/AMG mods on it:

AMG 16" penta wheels and center caps, but Gen I style I think.

AMG headers and downpipes hooked to a NOS Remus exhaust.

Bergwerks original first gear start.

A 2.65 rear end out of a junked 560 SEC AMG car - junked because it was in too poor a condition to be rebuilt, sold off of ebay to a bw member and friend in Atlanta and then to me.

Front euro headlights, headlight wipers, and wiper motors,

Euro tail lights and euro front blinkers

Front and rear euro bumpers (the coupe front ones are rare for Gen II 1986-1991 cars)

And a refurbished euro ECE 300hp high compression engine.

I would like to believe this gives me the best of both worlds, ie, USA spec. safety equipment such as door beams, original US instruments, VIN # though the euro engine, even with new cats, as reqired in this state, passes California easily and every time.

Of course, it took over a dozen years with the help of others here, to find, pay for and install all this stuff. And on ebay both in USA and Germany also.

It also has eibach springs, and a factory w126 skid plate - put on back in 1992, and Bilstein HD shocks; and a euro spec MB fire extinguisher, and a front seat Mercedes Benz "glock box" (oddments roll top box).

And, a euro trunk warning triangle and a 7litre Mercedes Benz brand new) army green fuel jerry can...needed because in those days there were not so many gas stations near the Autobahn as there are now.

But to me it was well worth it. I don't use it very much these days, but it still is a great ride. Don't ask me what all those mods cost, seriatum or in total. You don't want to know, I don't want to find out; but the trick to getting them, was to jump on them right away, and NOT to haggle price.

I repeat: DON'T haggle on the price, just BUY it. Lots of this stuff is practically impossible to find, especially in the USA.

~~~

That said, your choice is personal. But you could buy a 1989- 1991, USA spec model,with the latest factory upgrades, now and set about euro-izing it as time, luck, and your budget, personal preferences and patience allows.

It *CAN* be done:

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/photo_2a.jpg

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/photo_3c.jpg

Good luck in your search..

I'd go for the two door. Lots more likely to be low miles, lighter and drives like a sports sedan. Shares some important parts with the
SL...like brakes and anti dive rear suspension. I'd try to find a pristine low miles euro 500 myself. Like Jim's.

I got me a 560sec. Its pissing me off too.

The white SEC in my links in NJ looks legit. I'm just not in the position to move right now.

I agree Jim, I have done the W126 thing and know them very well. I know its worth hunting down a low owner, low mileage garaged car when the time comes. 1-3 owners is ideal, people who paid a few bucks for the car and kept them nice.

If you have a lot of friends out all the time, go for an SEL.

Otherwise stick with the SEC.

I wish I had bought a w126 back when I bought my first w124. There was a lovely one for sale the week after I bought my 124. A 420 SEL. The paint was care worn but the interior was perfect and the A/C ran and the suspension was solid. It was a grand ride.

Not to say I don't like the 300E, E320, and E300D I have owned. I especially liked the E300D, which was a fine car until my kid totaled it. I made biodiesel and felt really green, running on old fish-fry oil.

Speaking of SEC...I think I'm in love!

For sale: Mercedes Benz W126 500 sec Lorinser Edition 1984 - Mashpedia VideoPlayer

BTW, can someone tell me what that tire size is?

A nice 1984 Lorinser euro-spec SEC (a few comments)
 

Goodness, that's a lovely looking Dutch registered Lorinser coupe with a full-on cosmetic treatment, (Lorinser is more into cosmetic mod's - Seats, body kit, shifter knobs, wheels and such, as this one showcases, but not into performance and tuning too much. as say, AMG, MKB, Brabus and other German tuning companies, though Lorinser is a highly respected and established copany with lots of w126 autos under their belt.

I note that it even has the Mercedes Benz original fire extinguisher and trunk triangle in place, both illegal in America at the time, the FE's illegal supposedly because the chemicals inside are not DOT certified as legal, and the trunk triangles not legal for who knows what reason?

Being 25+ years old, in most states the car could be easily licensed here in most USA states with no bumper, headlight, side door beam and speedometer mods, ie, but state laws might vary, any buyer should check, but most likely today, it should be plug 'n' play in most US states.

A great example. I'd pay the premium price if it checked out, everything worked, and there was no rust or prior collisions.

I believe with the Euro Vin# it won't show in the CARFAX database, though Autocheck would possibly reveal little more, if nothing at all as well..

Appears to have the original euro selling dealers sticker below the left tail light, where most of them were affixed back when new. That today is a VERY rare thing to see, though on a w126..

Looks like the real deal, and pretty much stock, right down to the euro headlight wipers, euro headlights, tail lights and euro front and rear blinkers, and the coveted, simple dials on the Euro climate control (far more simple and reliable than the US auto climate control units.)

A nice Lorinser treatment, wheels, shifter knob, body kit and trunk spoiler and Lorinser trunk script, and custom seats and armrest.

In Europe at that time, a new '84 500SEC could cost just $40k USD equivalent, and about another $20k to $30k in Lorinser mods.

That was a HECK of a lot of money at the time, but princes, plutocrats, tycoons of industry and dictators, rock stars, sports heroes and Middle Eastern Sheikhs could easily afford them.

The Lorinser and Mercedes paperwork is wonderful, and pretty rare to have survived to the present day.

Though the movie ad is silent as to mileage, price, history and condition, it is a very nice, fully sorted LOOKING vehicle in a ho-hum color. (Dark metallic, like red, blue and black are the most favored for these cars).

By the way a 500SEC euro performs just as heroically as a stock U.S. spec 560 with the US smog regulations, and it's a very nice Gen, I example.

Photos can play tricks, and the gauge face needles depict yellow needles, a slight caution as the garaged ones even at this age should have bright orange needles, and yellowed ones are in fact sun faded, depicting long time outdoor unprotected parking....