I'm considering purchasing this car, which is in excellent condition, just repainted in original charcoal color, new Michelins, 265k on the odometer. The current owner for the past ten years or so is an M-B techician. The only issues with the car are the cruise doesn't work, sunroof is a little fidgety, and the transmission sometimes downshifts roughly. Asking price is $5800.

The owner says that the transmission should continue to perform satisfactorily (except for the occassional rough shift). Comments?

Are there any major issues or concerns with this model that I need to be aware of? I know it guzzles gas, and if it does need major repairs, it will be expensive...

Thanks for your time.

I don't know about his comments on the longevity on the transmission, but the big maintenance item to look at on M117 and M116 V8's is timing chain and timing chain guide rail / tensioner rail replacement.

These engines are sensitive to timing chain wear, and most recommend replacing the timing chain, tensioner, and the respective plastic rails every 100,000 - 120,000 miles or so.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Price seems way high for a car with 265K miles. You'd get nothing near that if it was totalled.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

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I agree with Sixto.

That price seems very steep, considering the mileage, as well as the transmission issues. The transmissions are very costly to replace. I was considering a 86' 560SEL a while back with 188K for $1000. Body wise- it was in very good shape, as was the interior, but the transmission had issues. I called around to local transmission shops and all said between $1500-$2500 to repair. Even without the transmission problems, I think $5800 is too much for a 87, with 265K- perhaps if it was absolutely like showroom new- maybe. Remember- high miles- little things can start going wrong. Before you know it, you could have $10K+ invested. I would shop around before I made any final decisions, or talk the owner down to $3500 at the most. Good luck.

__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

i have a 1986 560sel with about that many miles.

i bought it new. and that is the reason that i continue to own it, drive it, maintain it.

it has no rust and the original paint is still in great shape, as is the upholstery.

over the last 16.5 years, it has probably been the least expensive car to operate in the world, but the maintenance must be done.

it probably makes no sense to continue to run it, but i continue to assert that it is the watershed auto design of the post ww2 era. my other benzes are all coupes, so when i need to haul more than a single passenger, i use this horse.

last year, i had to attend meetings in dallas, austin, san antonio. i drove this old, high mileage benz from conroe[metro houston]. i have to confess, it is still a ball to hurtle down farm to market and other back roads in this sedan at high speeds.

this one has orthopedic seats, renovated at 225,000 and it is the only benz with which i can make a 200 mile high speed run and do it wihout lower back pain. with which i can get out almost as fresh as when i began the journey.

the front suspension is being renovated as we speak because i felt it was becoming sloppy.

one of my nicknames for this car is refrigerator. because it runs and runs. it has been an appliance of a vehicle. has never really let me down.

i own a few other benzes, from a 1979 6.9 to a 1995 e320 cab to a 1997 c140. i have a 1987 c126 with less than 90k.

though i like them all, the 126's, particularly the sel, i consider the best of my benzes. i used to describe the 560sel as a sports car disguised as a sedan.

i don't think that i would ever buy someone else's old and well-used 560sel. however, if it is a one-owner car and you know the owner, if you have all the maintenance records and know the maintainer[s], and if you don't need the car for everyday transport[i.e., you are putting it into your collection of great cars], go for it.

if the tranny needs a rebuild or replacement, and that is the only mechanical issue, then you need to negotiate a lower price. i think a benz rebuild is about $2,500. if you have a conscientious mechanic, or you are one, a quality rebuild with benz parts will be about $1,800.

also, before you go further, i recommend that you pull the valve covers. examine the camshafts. view the valve train.

and if i were investigating this car, i would pull the spark plugs and examine them. and i would find a borescope and look around inside each cylinder.

i would also want to learn when the catalytic converters were replaced.

when i think back on my 1986 560sel, i can furnish every ro for the last 8 years. for the prior 8.5 years, i cannot.

i wouldn't buy my car now without seeing all the ro's over its life.

does that help you?

All of the responses I received were helpful, and thanks to all of you, especially Albert. I'm still on the fence on buying this car. I have a 2003 E320 that is a dream to drive, but this old tank is just about as nice. I like to have a car to tinker with, and I just sold my Boxster (one of the things I didn't like about it was the difficult engine access--what fun is a car if you can't pop the hood and check out the engine?) This 560SEL may fill that need. I'll keep you posted.

At that milage you are definitely looking at a trans and head rebuild in your future. You could carry on driving it but those repairs are due at around that milage typically. Dependent on maintenance records of course.

Plus add a chain, tensioner and guides, intake reseal, new injector seals, cam oiler tube replacement and as mentioned possible cam wear and subsequent replacement

Suspension wise it is also probably due for a rebuild front and rear, hydraulic wise in the rear you might get away with just accumulators.

You could also just run it into the ground and do none of these things and it would go for a long time but not be as much fun.

Matt.