I am at 361,533 miles. Evaporator replaced at 223,561. I also am not driving as many miles as I used to. Doing only about 16-17K a year. Car doing fine except for some oil consumption. I was using about a quart every 625 miles and changed from synthetic oil to dino oil. Consumption went down to a quart every 1200 miles. I guess its just thicker.

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1995 S-350
370K + SOLD
1952 220B Cabriolet
39K kilometers + SOLD
1998 E300D
310K +
2012 E350 BlueTec
120K

I certainly hope so . . . only have 119K miles and don't drive as much as I used to.

Paul is asking if your car has over 300K miles?? I guess he is implying that it could fail again around that mileage. I can say for-sure that I will never drive it enough to get to that mileage . .

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Just get a really nice W126...that's what I would do if I could do it over.

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Dont like your S420, or was it where your 300SEL was easier to maintain?

I just found a fairly local 1989 560SEL for $2000 (black on black) looks super, stated to run great, but with t-chain issues and rear air suspension problems I have heard on these, I am scared to death of the 560 now.

I asked the seller if the t-chain/components have been changed. It has 213K miles.

Well, I really loved my W126...it fit me like a glove in every aspect, something I have never experienced with a car before. I thought with the newer body style, it would be more of the same, and then some, plus better reliability, and even better looks (subjective). While that isn't totally false, I don't quite feel that the W140 really compares to the 126...

Maybe I just didn't get a good example of a W140, but the W126 seemed to ride much smoother, and was just more graceful overall. It would accelerate from a stop like a rolls royce...no sense of urgency, just an amazingly smooth swell of power. The W140 doesn't really have that feeling. The W140 seats are too firm (IMO), I loved the springy W126 seats. The W140 also rattles a bit, and doesn't feel as "solid" to me. Seems like everything is made from super brittle plastic. :\

The only pros for the W140 are: more modern looks, better HWY MPG, awesome stereo (and I mean AWESOME!), AC so cold it hurts (much better backseat cooling), the handling is also much tighter in the W140.

Did that help you at all? lol

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Yes and thanks. I guess I was comparing my old W126 (1985 380SE) with 275K to my uncles W140 (1993 300SE) with around 73K. His was so solid and rattle free and the suspension was very soft (which I like), but his shocks may have been worn out over the years. My 380 had noisy door panels, as have most W126s I have driven.

I am thinking like you was... a W140 would be nicer overall... better ride, etc, but maybe not in all cases since you mentioned it. I know they are both solid cars. Interesting you mentioned the cheap interiors... they appear high quality to me, but I have not personally inspected one up close. It was dark when I drove my uncles and I rarely see the car since they live in South Carolina.

I will look a little while longer for a W140 in my range and probably end up with a junker, but from what I have learned, I may just try to find a nicer W126, but it must be a LWB model. Probably a 300SDL or 300SEL. I have my eye on a nice, NICE 1988 300SEL with 154K for $2500, but I have to pay another $350 shipping.

Kick me, but I am also eyeing a local 1996 Acura 3.5L RL (GULP - dont flame me! ), but I have had tremendous success with my Japanese cars.

Thanks again for the tips! Im going to bed! GOSH, its almost 3am here and I have to get up at 8am! zzzzzzzz

Yea, there's something about the W126 that makes you feel like a million bucks when you drive it. Something the W123 doesn't have...at all. O_O

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

But 126s are so long in the tooth these days, such an old looking car, and old feeling car. The 140 looks and feels so much newer, and with prices so depressed on everything, not much more expensive.

How strange... I had asked by email if he had ever had the CEL checked and if the car has any other problems now....

The reply was: "Understood, thanks for looking".

What in the heck is that supposed to mean?

Oh well.

I have also found a 95' S420 for $3950, with 139K miles. Timing chain and wiring harness change is not known, BUT it has a new evaporator which seller paid $3200 to have replaced and its a nice car! Do it?

Means he's looking for a sucker who won't ask those kind of questions, LOL.

Right on . . . .

__________________
Regards . . . . JimF
-------------------
'94 S500 Cpe

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Oh my, there are people out there like that?

I hope thats not the case... its a shame someone out there would want to snooker someone with a car.

I know this is a total twist, but I found a local 1979 300SD I am checking out this week! Excellent conditions, NOT ONE SPECK of rust for $2900.

Go to a dealer and ask to see the records they have. Most people want attempt a wiring harness job on one of those cars.
I bought a 95 S320 that has a manufacturing date from 94. It was a dealer trade. It had new evap core, new wiring harness, new springs and mounts, timing chain, etc. Then it was sold again, and it needed a new instrument cluster. and a few other repairs. I have had to put on a new water pump, fix the infamous T hose at the back of the engine, new sway bar bushings, and there is a squeak every time I'm driving slowly, and going over bumps that I still am trying to find. It started after I pegged a rabbit.
I also fixed the door closing pump. Just took the old one apart and readjusted it. It was shifting hard in a few gears, but a trans service and filter fixed that problem, an d my most recent excapade was caused by my tightening the trans oil pan too much and bending the pan out of shape. It seems I coudl straighten it. No big deal.
Oh yes, one of the ash trays was broken, as well as one of the vanity mirrors. got an ash tray from ebay. still looking for the vanity mirror.
Bumper would be the only other thing. Previous owner caught it on a stop block, and instead of replacing it for the 3rd time ( I have 3 receipts for front bumpers for this car installed at the dealership) he just cut the bottom off of it with a saber saw.

So, the extent of repairs to this car are: fix the suspension/frame creak, replace the front bumper, and replace the rear vanity mirror, and the trans oil pan (probably will be done tomorrow).

__________________
All it takes for evil to prevail is for good men to stand by and do nothing.

Too many people tip toe through life, never attempting or doing anything great, hoping to make it safely to death... Bob Proctor

'95 S320 LWB
'87 300SDL
'04 E500 wagon 4matic

That email was probably meant for someone else...I would resend it.

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Thanks. I did. I simply stated that I did not think all of the email came through or asked if he did not get my questions. I did not want to seem like a jerk.


I have also found a 95' S420 for $3950, with 139K miles. Timing chain and wiring harness change is not known, BUT it has a new evaporator which seller paid $3200 to have replaced and its a nice
car! Do it?