Well, he said his wife wants a smaller, more fuel efficient car. He said the CEL never bothered the driving. He bought it at 71K miles and I think it has 158K now. He said they had never changed the timing chain, so I am sure its never been changed and due. The A/C does not bother me that much, because I rarely use A/C even in my Lexus, which blows ice cubes. I only use A/C if its over 90° and even then I hesitate, because it messed my head up.... I cannot handle A/C too much in a car. I have another car I could drive if I needed A/C.

My main concern now is the CEL light. I never dreamed it could be something that would require the engine dismantled like Jim said. I always thought CEL lights were simple emission control items... not clogged airways. I guess with these cars, its different.

I wonder how these cars rate in the squeak/rattle department? I have drove many W126 models, with crunchy door panels. I have driven my uncles 1993 300SE and it was super solid inside, but not sure if it was an exception or a rule.

Both V8s (5.0L and 4.2L) engines have been shown to be very reliable. The plugged EGR lines is due to lots and lots of city driving.

Hey, I could be wrong ., . it could be a O2 sensor . . . Have him read the codes . . then you'll know!

As Hatterasguy said, he KNOWS what's wrong but since it runs ok (it will), doesn't want to spend the $$$ to fix it.
Ask him to get the codes read . . . BEFORE you will consider buying it.

'96 cars don't have biodegradable wiring harness.

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

Visit my Mercedes Web Page

Thanks Jim... I emailed him back and asked if he knows what the problem was showing. If he will not tell, its probably a $$$$ problem and I can safely pass.

I have found some nicer 1995 S500 models, but then its back to the wiring harness issues, because NOT ONE I have been interested in, does the seller know if the wiring harness have been replaced. Thats a problem.

Thanks again!

Your never going to find a perfect W140, more so in the price range and mileage you are looking at.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

No, not unless I buy the $22K 99 W140 you posted.

I guess I will settle for a $2500, or a nicer W126 (I have been looking at 86-87 300SDLs and 88-91 300SELs), but ever since I drove my uncles W140 I have wanted one and his is only a 93' 300SE, but wow its nice. It was his dads, bought it new and I think it has like 73K miles. Like new new new. A/C evaporator did go out- imagine that - lol. That was a $2200 repair.

I found a local 86' 300SDL for $4900, but its in excellent original condition and has 139K original miles. Tempting for sure.

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

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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

I was always a BMW guy, until I got into a slk500 a few yeas ago !!! REally nice car...but I digress, the 560 SEL that we just bought is the nicest, most comfortable ride I have been in. It just makes you feel so good to drive it. Our's has under 130K on the clock, and rides really nice. It has a leak on the supsension pump, but I am waiting for the MB Indie to receive the re-seal kit and I am going to replace them myself, so that will all run me under $10. . I have noticed a 'thunk' when I go over some really bad potholes, and its also in the driver's side rear. I am going to order new bushings for the hydro-shock and if I can find new spring bushings them it will be an easy matter of getting a spring compressor and replacing the old worn out rubber pieces.

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

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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?

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

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