Talk me out of it - '88 560SEL - $500 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tinypanzer · #1 08-25-2009, 05:43 PM

Some guy saw me driving my 300SE today, and did a U turn behind me to catch up and tell me that he has an '88 560SEL for sale for $500. He says that the City is going to tow it if he doesn't sell or register it. My stupid city has such a law......

Anyway, he says that the interior and the paint are perfect, and that the only known issue to him is that it has a bit of a lope at idle. He says it's powerful and fast on the road however.

Granted there are probably a multitude of hidden issues, but for $500 (I don't know the mileage yet) it seems hard to go too wrong, heck I could fix the engine lope and sell it for a profit if I wanted. If the motor was shot, I could part it out and get my $500 back no problem if the interior is as nice as he says it is.

I guess I'll have to see if it is in nice a shape as he says, but......

Talk me out of this needless purchase!!

Also, aside from normal W126 issues, anything specific to the 560SEL that needs to be checked before a purchase?

Thanks!!

jhodg5ck · #2 08-25-2009, 05:46 PM

500$, why not

Jonathan

bolomiester · #3 08-25-2009, 06:36 PM

DANG! If someone offered me a '88 560 sel with perfect paint and interior, and I could actually drive it away . . . I don't think I could get there fast enough!

86560SEL · #4 08-25-2009, 07:42 PM

Look at it. If the body interior are as nice as he lets on, those are worth that... you could part it out if you had to.

On the other hand, do you really need another W126? You said to talk you out of it.

I know how you feel. Been there, done that.

tinypanzer · #5 08-25-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolomiester

DANG! If someone offered me a '88 560 sel with perfect paint and interior, and I could actually drive it away . . . I don't think I could get there fast enough!

Ah, but you could get there fast enough if you had a 560SEL!!

Okay, I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. If it looks good enough, I'll probably bite.

Is there anything specific to the 560SEL that I need to look at, apart from standard W126 issues?

Thanks!

Jim B. · #6 08-26-2009, 07:02 AM

Here is the buyer's guide I wrote back in 1998, for the 560SEC.

It has been well received over the years, and should help you.

http://www.mbcoupes.com/buyersguide/buyersguide.htm

MBdieselFreak · #7 08-26-2009, 08:33 AM

First of all any W126 for 500$ jeeeez ill buy it! i f.. love all W126's
a W126 to my eyes is priceless....
GO GO GO GO get there ASAP and buy it! 560 SEL don't have to many problems you just need to check electric parts if they are usable like seats and sutch BUT 560's their big problem is the ignition coil tend to fade and put out a lot less power then stock. At idle it might run rough if the ignition coil is old and the spark plugs aren't the right temperature. so it might run rich anyways check it out buy it anyways!

Hey i got plenty of new parts and mods done to all my cars, in a month or so my business will slow down a bit because of the weather, So! i will have the time to post more stuff for you guys!

Jim B. i laughed for 15 mins straight when i saw "The Ass Family" front plate wow that was hilarious man! your a funny guys wow hahahahahahahahhaha
did you make that? damn that was funny.

My '86 420SEL is coming along great by the way its ready to drive i want the interior of the '89 tho, because its beige/cream and my 300SD is palomino, SO if anybody need's a Gray W126 SEL SDL interior i could sell it for a good price its in very good shape i got plenty of pictures.

hey_allen · #8 08-26-2009, 12:47 PM

If you don't buy it, let me know where, as someone just offered to buy my SEC and I'm considering a sedan as an alternative before I'll seriously consider the offer. (headroom!)

lkchris · #9 08-26-2009, 12:52 PM

Last week you could have turned it around for $4500!

tinypanzer · #10 08-26-2009, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lkchris

Last week you could have turned it around for $4500!

Nope, it would have had to have been registered for the last year, and then I would have to try to sleep knowing that they're pouring clunker bomb into that motor, and then crushing the body on a sweet 126. Nah.

Anyway, I bought it and started a new thread about it.

Thanks for all your advice! I am gonna really have fun with this car.

jhodg5ck · #11 08-26-2009, 06:07 PM

C4C what sounds to be a Nice 560??! And for what? Some new POS tin can that's meant to be tossed once the odo hits 100K....Bah..

Jonathan

msethk · #12 08-26-2009, 06:15 PM

i've seen a TON of $500 mercedes. if it looks like any of them let it go! LOL