Thanks for all your very helpful comments above. Not a huge vote of confidence for the 380...What I wish I'd added in was a question asking for comments comparing the V8's with the straight sixes.
A friend of mine up the street has an '89 420SEL and says good things about it. He does all his own work, and says that it's doable if not simple. So here's the question...how does a 420SEL compare to a '92 300SE. Once again, I'm concerned with how easily I can keep it running, fuel economy, cost of operation. I do a lot of driving for work, a lot of it on pretty scratchy two-lane blacktop, and the handling abilityof my 123 has been a real safety feature and time saver.
When I was a stupid kid I drove a SS396, Hiperf Mustang, even a 440 Dodge-the point is that I've seen serious acceleration, and I can live without it. What I want at this point in my life is a car that can twitch across lanes at 80mph, and can glue the passengers to the dash when the brakes are on. This sounds stupid, but the fact is that I've gotten all the high velocity tickets that I can afford driving a friggin' NA diesel; how am I gonna pay for owning a V8?
Anyway, comments and opinion on 300SE vs 420 SEL are avidly solicited. Is there a difference in fuel burn? Is one easier to work on?
Thanks
seo

you know i love your W126.. that was a compliment in terms of fuel milage

i do plan on buying those steelies off you

Well, I will chime in now if I may. I have a 1985 380SE. I do not think I agree with the comment "worst engine in 30 years" that was made. I have 268K on mine and it is still running good, aside from a vacuum leak somewhere causing a stumble when cold and now my PS box seal that blew out/hose the other morning. I have NO oil leaks and NO oil burning. I now have 3300 miles on my oil and it has not leaked down even a quarter of an inch. Pretty amazing for a 268K mile car. Yes, it has lifter ticking and the engine does not sound quiet as a mouse, but still running nevertheless. Powerful? No, they are not. This is a SMALL V8 and this is a heavy sedan. Also, the 84-85 have the double row chain, but it seems like it is either the tensioner, guides or rails that fail. I will admit that my car has 268K and I have NO idea when they were last changed. I will let the future owner decide that. The car will be back up for sale after I get the PS repaired.. probably around $1K or so, give or take a hundred or two?

Luckily, my car has (for now anyway) bypassed some of the very common problems on these. Everything works save for the cruise control, power antenna, auxillary fan and the LR window will not roll down, as it seems to be off of the track and of course now, my PS is out, due to a busted seal/hose that decided to burst Monday morning @ 9:30am EST, gushing PS fluid all over my driveway.

No rust on the undercarriage (but it is a southern car), but it has some starting to bubble up under the paint above the RR fenderwell, but this car was in DC (or maybe it was New York ?) for the first 3 years, which may explain that. Luckily, no rear window leaks either (so far), but my old antenna seal was leaking, allowing some water in the RR floor, but that seal was replaced and problem was solved. Oh, MPG? Someone said 14-17 in town? I get around 20 mpg in town, even with the stumbling/rough cold idle. I guess that is why I hate to sell it, is the good mileage I get with it. If it were properly tuned, I would say it may get 23-25 mpg?

BTW- there were no "late 80s" 380SE (not that I know of anyway). It was 1984-85. 1986, the 420SEL took over, on a longer wheelbase. As mentioned, there was a 380SEL (LWB), from 1981-83 I think. However, I think these have the single row t-chain.

Good luck.

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2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

i hope your not serious... i was only joking that his 420SEL gets better fuel milage than the 560SEL... surf has no prius... i doubt he would own one since thye have no "power"

I get 20+mpg on highway and around 18-20 combo driving. Engine runs flawlessly..so quiet at idle I have to look at tach to see if engine is running.Has been a very reliable car but it has had good service since new. Only thing that does not work is my cruise.(works intermittently) I plan on having guides and tensioner checked soon. Car has 106K. No oil or fluid leaks but it must burn a little oil as when I approach 3K for next oil change I have to put in about 1/2- 3/4 quart to top up.

Only has 155hp but enough power to get around city comfortably and plenty for highway cruising.

Keep service up and car is indestructive.

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95 E420 ( 76K) SOLD
85 380SE(125k)
95 SL500(72k)

My 86 420SEL has had some issues, but the thing is simply amazing on the interstate. It's the best $1500 car I've ever bought. I have put another $2000 into it in the last year, but it's at a point that I would feel perfectly comfortable hopping in and going cross-country in it. My only real issue right now is 2, count 'em, 2 window regulators that have shot craps. My mileage has been 15-16 or so, in a mix of highway anc dity driving, on 93 octane gas.

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

Wanna trade 380's? (kidding ). Sounds like you have a gem there. Isn't it strange though, the part about the oil? Mine has 268K, ticks and clacks after it warms up (but still quiet when cruising down the road), stumbles and misses when cold, yet still not even a drop below the full oil line between the changes. I have about 3300 on the oil now... I checked it two days ago and still on the full mark. Cars can do strange things sometimes. Still, if I could trade my car using a little oil and quietening the engine- I would choose quietening the engine.