1988 300SEL - reliability/price

[86560SEL]

Hello all. I am still looking for a Mercedes. I found a local 1988 300SEL. The price is $3900 OBO. Mileage is 173K and it is supposed to be in VGC. Are the 300SELs reliable cars? I think they have a inline 6-cyl? Is this a good price? Any info appreciated. I am also considering a 1990 Lexus LS400 in VGC for $4995 as well. I know the Lexus LS400s are excellent, well-built cars, but also like the Mercedes. Any information on the 300SEL Mercedes of the late 1980s appreciated.

[sixto]

It depends on your priorities. The 300SEL offers a lot more room than an LS400 but I'd say it'll be hard pressed to outpace anything in your fleet except the Safari depending on what engine the Safari has. It's just not quick by any measure. It's also a busy cruiser. It's turning almost 4000rpm at 80mph. The LS on the other hand will have the rest of your fleet for lunch and the engine feels relaxed at any speed.

The inline 6 is by far the easiest W126 gasser to work on. At 170K miles, it's due for a valve job if it hasn't been done already. Original transmissions have a typcial life of 200K miles so that's another potential expense to consider if it hasn't been done. Suspension work might be due as well. There's only so much pounding those rubber bits will take. But the suspension can be spruced up. Once a Lexus suspension is worn, it's worn. And a Lexus engine bay is no place to spend hobby time.

I've heard that Lexus engines become costly to maintain after 150K miles or so. I know some folks with 150-200K miles on their early LS400s and I look at early LS400s for sale once in a while. Outside of a timing belt and water pump ($1000-1200) every 90K miles, they're going strong. The ride is noticeably mushier than when new even with new shocks.

MB leather stands up to time better than Lexus leather (if that's what it is) but I give the edge to Lexus on how cabin plastic looks and feels after 10 years. I haven't seen a Lexus with b-pillar trim peeling off. You don't have to take apart Lexus switches every few years to keep them looking and feeling new.

I'm begining to ramble. I'll let someone else have a turn.

Sixto
95 S420
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

[86560SEL]

Thanks for the reply. You are right about the power comment. My 1989 Pontiac Grand Safari wagon is very slow. It has a small Oldsmobile built 307 V8, which is way too weak (150hp I think) for a 4,400 lb. stationwagon. It is also a 9-passenger model and I could not imagine how slow it would be loaded with passengers and luggage on the roof. The Chrysler is quite powerful, the Buick has decent power for a 3700 lb car with a 3.8L V6 and my 93 Camry V6 is also peppy. I am suprised that the 300SEL would be @ nearly 4000 rpms at 80MPH. I could probably not get used to that. Even my moms 97 Oldsmobile Achieva with a 2.4L 4-cyl runs at only about 2000 rpms at 65mph when not accelerating. My Buick and Pontiac are similar. The Camry runs about 2700 rpms at 65 mph. I agree about the Lexus being smoother. My aunt has a 90 Lexus LS400 and it is very smooth running and the rpms always seem to be low. Plenty of power even at low rpms. The 90 LS400 I was considering was not in very good condition, with scratches and dents. I also agree about the Lexus being a very high quality car. You can see a the Lexus quality in my 93 Toyota Camry LE V6. My car has 211K and is still 100% squeak and rattle free, with a lot of padded interior panels, fully padded dash, solid trim and door panels. Electrical is in the top notch category on the Camrys. The main problem with the early Lexus LS400s is power steering leaks are common from the ps pump and the instrument cluster lights can go out. They have a advanced for their time guage lighting. The hands on the guages are always lit and the instrument cluster is also always lighted. This tends to make the bulbs go out after a while. I have heard this problem on Lexus' as new as the 1994s. Also a problem on all of the other Lexus', as they also have the same instrument panel. Also the "LCD" lights on the heat/AC mode lights can go out after a while. I learned that the warning lights on these cars are very interesting. The actual light is on the upper part of the inside of the cluster and they reflect down somehow on the panel, as if the actual warning light was there. I am guessing there is a mirror in there somewhere. I noticed this on my aunts 90 LS400 a few years ago. Interesting. The guages are very nice on a Lexus when they are working properly. On the Lexus forums similar to this site, I have read that a new guage cluster can cost over $1000. to replace. It is bad when either the panel lights, or the lights on the needles go out, as you cannot see the guages, especially at night. I think the 96-97 Acura RLs also have a similar problem, as they have the same type cluster, where the lights are always illuminated in the cluster and burning out the bulbs earlier than a typical car with a usual cluster lighting. I think Mercedes (correct me if I am wrong) now has a similar instrument cluster in the newest S-class cars. Now I have "rambled" to long. LOL. Thanks again.

[1991300SEL]

Ease of maint. is a plus for the W126 300SEL. As Sixto mentioned, speed isn't what these cars are about, but they are very reliable.

I've had mine 6 yrs. and have had no major problems.

[terminator]

Go for the 300SEL, I have had a LS400 and it was a great car. But the leather became hard as a rock on the top of the back seat and the replacement parts are still expensive. The 300SEL is much easier to work on and cheaper in most areas. I know people who have driven thier 300s well over 200k and have not done a valve job. I have had a great experience with both of my 300SELs and would buy another one in a heart beat.

[SCOTTFISH]

I, too, would recommend the mb over the high dollar toyota(no offense to anyone). I have an 89 300se and a 90 420sel. The 420 has more power and gets mpg almost as good as the 300(not quite). I love both of mine, but if I ever trade the 300 series, it will be for a 420 series. The cars are extremely safe, strong running, and are a bit sluggish around town, but do very well on the open highway. My 300 has 185k on it and climbing. ONe thing to consider, when looking at the 300 series. There seems to be a problem that 3 out of 4 300 series owner's have and that is an oil consumption problem. Around town, they don't consume that much that quick, but on the open highway, they will consume some oil. My sources state that the inline 6's are within specs if they consume a quart of oil every 1500 miles. My choice would be the mb. Even with the oil consumption, I would take it over the other 10 times to one and I graduated from the Japanese market to the MB.

[86560SEL]

Thanks for the replies. I think both are great cars. My aunt has a 1990 Lexus LS400 with about 130K (had 65K when bought) and I think it has been basically trouble free. I am going to have to decide between Mercedes or Lexus. My "pick" would be a 1984 300SD w/low miles and the optional airbag and ABS option. 1985s had optional airbag, but I think the 300SDs added some type of canister on the engine that is supposed to shorten engine life. I like the 81-85 S-series body style, as well as the 86-91s. I also really like the 92-93 S500s. Basically all of the big Mercedes, as well as the early 80s 240Ds and 300Ds. SCOTTFISH- I notice you are in Kingsport - small world- I am in Bristol. Have you ever taken your car to "Benz-Haus" in Kingsport for repair? Back when I was considering a 86 560SEL, I was thinking to taking it to them for inspection, but not sure if they are reputable or not. You may have seen this 88 300SEL I was considering, as it was listed in the local trading post for our area. Do you know of any Mercedes for sale in the Kingsport area that are reasonably priced? Thanks again for the replies.

[rneinc]

I have a 300sel 89 it has 400,000 plus with the same engine never done more than starters,water pump,smog pump yesterday and tune ups thow the lexus is a good car i dont think it will last as long plus its cheeper for parts and fixing it has alot of room to do it your self if need be ,i have heard lots of old benzes that have gone longer than mine with out a major job so think it over.

Ron