Yea, you're never going to find a perfect one...just try to find the one that has the east amount of problems.

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

I am. I am going to find a W126. I have found about 3 1988 300SEL models I am seriously considering. One is black ($2500) , one is white ($2000) and the other is gray ($2100), but the last one will have to be shipped, which is $445.

I have also found a local 86' 420SEL, but I am "scared". The lady that owns it said its too big for her. She said the title said "hurricane" on it. I asked her if it had been flooded and she said no and inside smelled fine. She said it was in a hurricane in 1988. She said she has a receipt where the engine and transmission was rebuilt not too long ago. Asking $2000, but she said to make an offer.

Well, I have found a nice 1988 300SEL I think I am going to buy for $2000. Just waiting for the VIN to run a carfax. 149K miles - so I hope the engine is OK. Its not local, so I am buying it sight-unseen!

Looks very nice in the photos. If it does not pan out, over where my uncle lives there is another 300SEL thats black and very nice looking for $2500. I may get him to check it out and bring it over.

The M103 is very robust. It'll be overdue for a valve seals if not already done. The new head gasket will get rid of oil leaks at the back end of the engine.

It's pretty hard to strand an M103 but once you pick up a miss at idle, it's the beginning of a frustrating though not necessarily expensive diagnostic journey. Keep the number of an M103 specialist handy in case it gets to that. Or maybe you don't mind a gasser that idles like an older Diesel

Around that mileage a spring sprung W126 can become a tail dragger. The rear suspension is quite easy to work on as long as you don't have to get into trailing arm bushings.

Sixto
87 300D

Ew, that sounds nasty... maybe I will try to find a lower mileage one. Or a different car altogether.

I was thinking these were 200K+ mile engines before any type of major work required.

This car may be fine, but since I cannot personally see it, anything is possible.

Buying an older car like that sight unseen is not a good idea. It would be more prudent just to spend the money on lottery tickets. I agree on the loping 103 engines - very hard to diagnose - almost like it's built into the engine as it ages.

Toyota engines these are not.

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1999 C280

Or V8 Mercedes. My 85' 380SE had 270K on the original engine. Never leaked a drop of oil or lost any between changes, but she did have knock at certain RPMs.

LOL...you obviously haven't heard of the 7M-GTE Supra engine...

But seriously...any engine can develop a misfire, including V8's...if you want power, get the V8, if you want economy, get the diesel, if you want economical smoothness, get the inline 6. They are not bad engines at all.

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

Yeah, I like what the 6 had to offer, which is why I wanted a 300SEL, but I did not know of these potential problems even around the 150K mile mark. I was thinking this was something that came around closer to 200K. My uncle had a 89' 300 wagon with 171K and it never had any issues.

Maybe I will take a chance and go ahead and get this one. If it does soon need this work, it should not be too costly should it since these are fairly simple engines?

This car supposedly does not have these problems and stated to run great, but knowing my luck it may have, but for $2000, what can I expect?