Just looking for opinions

[MountainBenz]

A local dealer has an 85 W126 (380 SE) for sale; remarkably straight body, with no discernable rust. Interior's in pretty decent shape as well. He's asking $3,200. But the V8 ode is showing 250,000 miles. I know in dieseldom this wouldn't be such a worrry, but I'm not sure how well the gasser types hold up under such usage.

[halman2228]

...(My Humble Opinion) -

Too high, even if he could produce maintenance records. I've read somewhere here that top end work (head rebuilds?) is nearly a certainty @ +/- 200K on pretty much any of our V8 engines.

I'd want to know about suspension work too - that's a lot of miles on all the rubber stuff underneath.

Use your head, not your heart on this one (trust me - I have that T-shirt )

Kevin

[Jakob F Prasz]

Hello,

I'v seen MB V8 engines with a lot more then 250K on the meter. I reasently spoke with a MB machanic that told me that a MB petrol engine should with the right care offcourse be able to go for at least 500K KM witch is well over 300K miles But there is some of the engines that has problems, for ex. the 24 valve inline 6 3,0 liter that have problems with the cylinder headgasket. But if you shouls be unlucky and get a bad engine, you can pick a new one up for small money. Here in denmark the 380 126 costs around 14.600 $ (taxes ) and you can pick up a engine with less then 70.000 miles on it for around 1600$ so I imagine that you can get one i the us cheap.

[Brian Carlton]

Why would you purchase an '85 W126 with a 380 V8............notably lacking on power..........and notably sucking on gas..............with 250K on the clock...........when you can find a far better example with half the mileage, and several years newer, for about $5K-$6K?

Yes, it's a cheap price..........and.........if it's at your price limit, you'll have to consider it. But, you can easily dump $3K into such a vehicle in about two months chasing odds and ends.

Why not purchase the better vehicle for the same money?

Check out this 420SEL and compare it to the '85 that you are looking at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/420-SEL-1991-CALIFORNIA-CAR_W0QQitemZ4603614149QQcategoryZ6331QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Some of these vehicles sell for unbelievably low money.............they are tempting.........even for me..........and I'm somewhat wedded to the diesels. A similar diesel would sell for more than twice this price..........ridiculous if you ask me.

[MountainBenz]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking. I'm more of a diesel head myself, but this one has such a nice body. Still wouldn't make a very good parlor, however, if it's sitting in the driveway with no go under the hood. Thanks all for your thoughts.