I have a 1986 420 SEL I am evaluating. All windows work, stereo, seats, head rests, starts and drives well. Here is what I'm looking at as issues that will need to be dealt with:

1. valve cover gaskets leaking oil onto headers producing quite a bit of smoke

2. transmission leaking but working

3. rear end bounces up and down, and continues to do so once I step away

I searched the forum for "420 sel" just to be sure I caught up on everything and I'm also aware of the upper timing guide issue. That is also on the top of my list.

But one thing I found in my search that I could not quite pin down is the SLS or Self Leveling System (I think that is what it was called). I do not see a reservoir behind the driver side headlight so i'm guessing I just have blown shocks. however while checking the undercarriage I found something that looks like an air compressor. Any ideas what it is?

Thanks.

Here is a picture:

That's yer fuel pump and accumulator....

__________________
-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

Slightly more accurately maybe your fuel pump and fuel filter. - From the look of that fuel filters condition (larger canister) it's time it was changed.
The SLS will have spheres on each side of the rear suspension. If your rear end is bouncing up and down while driving than this is generally a sign that the spheres require replacement.
The valve cover gaskets are cheap.
Sometimes the oil filler cap gasket gets hard and leaks. This also causes oil to be spewed out over the exhaust manifold.

Small one fuel pump, large one fuel filter.
You wouldn't have an SLS on a 420 but if you did they are called accumulators affectionately referred to as the coconuts Yours are simple shocks that are very easy to replace. If you have SLS you will need to remove the rear passenger seat to access the hydraulic feed to each one if they need replacing because they are leaking otherwise just replace the accumulators and bleed the system.

Make sure you are not leaking oil from the head itslef.

I'm beta-testing IE 8 and for some reason it isn't letting me 'multi-quote'.

Thanks for the replies. I thought that if it was my accumulator, that was what processed the hydraulic fluid from the cannister behind the driver side headlight....but as I originally said, no indication of any such cannister ever...and I ran my vin through that russian web site and it didn't indicate it either, but I did get an unknown code, which appears to be common based on some postings I've seen.

the car has been sitting up for some time, and even before that was *rarely* used. i'm trading a computer I refurbished for it.

The valve cover gaskets look easy and appear to be the source of the oil loss. I'll change them and then have someone clean the engine. Anything I should tell them to watch for/bag to protect from water? Once the engine is clean I should be able to more accurately determine if there are any other leaks. I think I can do the shocks myself.

Oh, there is one other thing, I can hear 'air' at the back of the car, near the fuel pump...which also led me to think that was the SLS..however, now it either seems to be 1.) inadequate fuel flow causing the noise, or what I believe is even more likelier...2.) the air pump has a problem and the engine fan is pushing the noise to the back of the car.

Either way, there is no smoke on startup, I've driven the car...and the first thing noticeable is the smoke from the oil on the headers, the ride, oh, the gas pedal is not on the gas pedal rod correctly...slight ticking from driver side front of valve cover...power steering fluid is low. Seems like a good project car because the body is straight. Minor surface rust on the back passenger door. Oops, need to go check under the trunk lid too.

The interior can use a good cleaning and both front seats could use recovering.

Once we've finalized the trade I'll try and start a thread, if there is interest, in the resto-modding of the car. I'm not going to wild on it, maybe some AMG rims, a touch-screen Windows PC with Verizon wireless internet, a fridge, gee, what else do I do with all that room???

The last car I rolled up my sleeves on was a 1966 Mustang Fastback with opera windows, Centerline hellcat rims and slightly lowered. It was sweet but had to sell when I lost my job.

Here's to progress! Cheers!

Did I really say accumulator? I must have had that word in my head from a discussion I had earlier!

Anyway, yes that is your fuel filter. The accumulator is up above there.... Sorry.

__________________
-tp


1990 300SE "Corinne"- 145k daily driver - street modified differential - PARTING OUT OR SELLING SOON - PORTLAND OR. AREA - PM ME FOR DETAILS
1988 560SEL "Gunther"- 190K passes anything except a gas station
1997 S420 - 265k just bought it with a rebuilt trans. Lovely condition

Well you had me scared there for a second!

Thanks for the input.