Looks good.:cool:

Nice car good choice!


When were the chains and rails last done?

At 128,000 km.

Replacing Rims & Tires
 

My car has Yokohama all season tires up front and Michelin snows in the back.

I am thinking of replacing the tires for summer, and considering going up a size or two -- to 16" or 17" wheels -- fitting the new tires on new rims of course.

Any recommendations?

Jas

I'm looking at the Conti Contac Pro's. I have no personal experience with the tires but from this pro review it looks like it's made for a Benz. Price is good too. Beware of owner reviews. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/co_nextgen_grandtour.jsp

Jorg

That's a beauty!
 

Though it looks a good deal darker grey than my old one, which was "Anthracite" -- a sort of pencil-lead grey. Yours looks like the dark blue ("dunkelblau", I think it is in German).

My great grey beast was known (to me) as "The Tirpitz," the Bismarck's sister ship.

Dayum. Now I miss mine again. . . .

Wow,

It looks like a beauty, unmolested and gorgeous!! They look especially good in the dark metallic colors.Good ones are getting easy to find. Gas mileage is nothing to write home about, but they do like the premium gas - all I have EVER used, and gotten no problems so far (117,000 miles on it)

Not too quick with the 2nd gear start, but an advantage over the 560 SEL is the complicated rear self leveling suspension, you won't have to worry about any of that. Just replace the Bilstein shocks (Comfort is the best model)

As the years go on, you will appreciate and enjoy it more and more. The hidden virtues, reliability, endurance, safety and relative ease of maintenance, you will enjoy!

If you ever decide to go up to the 560SEL/SEC, you might want to check the buyers guide I wrote (with help from others) at www.mbcoupes.com

Good luck - check out the radiator (orig. has possibility of upper hose neck failing, if the original one; and if your car has sunroof, make sure sunroof rails get lubed with MB grease, .5 hr job at dealer) and if you have $$$ left over for the car, think about a euro light conversion, if it hasnt yet been done)

Good luck, and welcome! The folks here REALLY know their stuff, and will help you keep your pride andd joy just that, with helpful advice when you need it!

W126 cars
 

My 25-year certified M-B tech thinks the 123 and 126 series are the last "old school" M-B's. I have a 300SDL that was an interim car following my 16V engine failure. Though not a "diesel" guy, the car has really grown on me. It is a little slow off the line until it hits 2500 RPM where the turbo kicks in. While not 560SEL-quick, I never have any passing situation problems. I had to exorcise some neglect demons but the car is dead reliable and very economical to operate (23-24 MPG; don't let anyone kid you that they get more than this. I have NEVER had less than 20 MPG, however).

The W126 is a truly amazing cruiser, very safe, swift, extremely comfortable, and good-handling for such a big car. I wouldn't be scared of a diesel in Canada. The diesels all have plug-in block heaters. A diesel has longer maintenance intervals than the gas cars.

I am selling mine because the 16V is soon to be back on the road and I am stupid: right brain over-riding the sensible left brain.

Charles,

Where's your MB tech? I'm in Wimberley, not that far away from you.

I'm driving to the far side of Austin to get mine serviced now and am
looking for an alternative. My tech is good and trustworthy but difficult
to communicate with and it's hard to get an appointment.

All the best,

Bill