Bought a new car yesterday - 1988 300SEL

dannym · #1 12-21-2009, 08:49 AM

Bought a 1988 300SEL yesterday for $1500.

Car is in great shape! There is a little rust along the bottom of the trunk lid other than that it's rust free.
Sunroof doesn't work. He said he doesn't know why cause it was never that important to him to fix it. I'm thinking it will be an easy fix.
He said it overheated and the head and gasket was replaced as well as new Behr factory radiator.
The left rear door check needs to be replaced.
It will need new tires soon also.

I almost didn't get it. Someone was test driving it when I got there. I thought for sure he would buy it. But when they got back he walked away!
I asked the guy what happened and he said the guy was a little crazy. he was going off that the car didn't have the original factory radio!

Check out the pictures!

Danny

dannym · #2 12-21-2009, 12:56 PM

Wow, 16 people have read this and no comments??

suginami · #3 12-21-2009, 01:16 PM

Nice car, looks great but would've love to see higher res pictures.

Is the color black?

What color is the interior?

How many miles are on it?

Looks like it has 8 hole wheels. Are they 16" wheels from a W140?

How does she drive?

Does it feel sluggish at all with the 3.0 liter motor?

Does the a/c work?

dannym · #4 12-21-2009, 02:51 PM

I haven't taken pictures yet, those were from the add.
The color is black with gray interior.
166,000 miles.
I don't know where the wheels came from. I think I'm going to put the wheels from the SD on it.
I didn't feel any sluggishness but keep in mind I'm used to the diesel engine! It ran really nice. This car is mostly for my daughter so some sluggishness is OK.

The speedometer goes up to 160. I pointed that out to my daughter and she said Oh Yeah!
We went to look at a '94 S500 before we bought this but it had been sold. I think that car had a little too much engine for my daughter though.
The AC works, that was kind of a must. I forgot to check if it was switched to 134A though.

Danny

DanielG · #5 12-21-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannym

Wow, 16 people have read this and no comments??

Hi Danny -- nice looking car, I think you aren't getting a lot of comments because this is the SL forum -- I think we are all wondering what those extra doors are for??

TylerH860 · #6 12-21-2009, 07:31 PM

Hopefully they replaced the valve seals while the head was off. Otherwise it may have oil consumption issues. Watch that dipstick for the first 3000 miles.

Nice car, wrong sub-forum.

meltedpanda · #7 12-22-2009, 09:54 PM

great year , great car, love the W126, safe , good looking, fun to drive , solid, good buy . If it has been taken care of 166 K is nothing.

the guy that walked away - no original radio - sounds like one of us - lol

dannym · #8 12-23-2009, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

Hopefully they replaced the valve seals while the head was off. Otherwise it may have oil consumption issues. Watch that dipstick for the first 3000 miles.

Nice car, wrong sub-forum.

SEL - SL what's the diference?
Seriously, it's not a diesel, Vintage or truck. What sub forum am I supposed to be in?

Danny

LUVMBDiesels · #9 12-23-2009, 09:00 AM

I don't think the SD wheels will fit the later 126. I think the brake discs are too large for a 14 inch wheel.
Also the car looks cool with 8 hole wheels. If you don't want them I will swap my original 15 wheels on the SDL for them

It looks like a very nice car and a great find at $1500.

Just remember it takes GAS not Diesel

alabbasi · #10 12-23-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannym

SEL - SL what's the difference?

SEL = huge four door sedan
SL = Small 2 door convertible

In most cases, only the wheels and engines are interchangeable

. It's a Nice car however.

There is no dedicated W126 forum on this site. I suppose the Tech help (Technical + Open discussion of Gasoline Mercedes-Benz) section would be the most suitable, but feel free to post on the vintage forum. I do with all of my cars and that included a 59 Ford Pickup, 1973 MGB and a 1970 Rover P6 3500S.

Sometimes I may even get a response

have mercy · #11 01-03-2010, 03:50 PM

Great Car's My X said the same thing just don't tell her or show her how to get low. Than it will end up like this, she was only going 50mph.

TheDon · #12 01-03-2010, 04:20 PM

the early years of the tilt function sunroof likes to break and break often. If its closed and sealed perfectly I wouldn't bother with it since if you fix it, it will break again.

I found that out.

also, what did the guy look like (the one test driving it?)

dannym · #13 01-11-2010, 08:22 AM

I don't think I'm going to mess with the sunroof. Unless I get really bored.

The guy was maybe 5 1/2 feet tall, Heavy set, hispanic. Why you think you may know him?

Dee8go · #14 01-11-2010, 09:09 AM

Congratulations, Dannym. It sure looks purdy. I hope you have good luck with it.

JimFreeh · #15 01-15-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I don't think the SD wheels will fit the later 126. I think the brake discs are too large for a 14 inch wheel.
Also the car looks cool with 8 hole wheels. If you don't want them I will swap my original 15 wheels on the SDL for them

It looks like a very nice car and a great find at $1500.

Just remember it takes GAS not Diesel

Correct. 14 inch wheels will NOT fit the 86 and later brakes on front wheels. Works fine on the rear, though.

Jim