I have the chance to buy my dream car. 1991 560 SEC white with grey interior. Excellent condition with all books. Recent new rear end and drive shaft. One owner car from Florida. 117k miles for $12k. What can go wrong and why am I so nervous? I guess I need some hand holding. Any thoughts?
1985 380SE 202K

The condition of the car, interior, under hood, paint.... etc... will tell you if this is a good car. A 1991 with low miles (117K is) should be very clean if well taken care of.

Your nervous because if something goes wrong, it can be expensive to repair in most cases.

I wonder why it has a new rear end and drive shaft? That seems odd. Is there a history behind that?

Also, with that many miles, the timing chain and upper guide rails should be changed, usually at 100k miles. A mechanic can check for chain stretch and condition of the plastic guide rails. Make sure they're not brittle and yellow in color.

Although, I have heard and read of 560's with well over 100k with the engine never being opened. It depends on how often the previous owners changed the oil. Luckily the 560 is double row timing-chain and not single like the 420.

Sometimes you will hear the chain rattle when first starting it up cold in the morning. This noise is the chain slapping the rails on the left head because the chain is stretched and the tensioner is already at the end of its travel.

If the chain is streched enough, it could snap the rail in half and the piece follows the chain up and gets in between the chain and the cam gear. Then the chain jumps off the teeth of the gear, the cam gets out of time, THEN.....you just bent four exhaust valves on the left head.

I would have a MB mechanic check the car over and run a CARFAX for good measure. Also, HVAC repair can expensive so make sure overthing is in excellent working order.

Thanks for the replies. I have been a benz owner long enough to know the problems that can occur. I was told that there was a noise in the rear end that worried the owner and the work was done by a MB dealership. Still, I too wonder why if there was not a serious problem why $2700.00 of work was done. I don't want to be eaten alive by costly repairs. Such is the nature of the MB and us that love them. I will CarFax it and hope for the best.

I have the exact same car,color everything. 69000 miles. Buy the car it`s cheap!!!!!!!!!!!

You may have to do a timing chain, and the clips that hold the oil rail on , about a $1000.00 .

Look if you don`t buy it give me the info.

John

__________________
President Minuteman Section MBCA
www.mbca.org/minuteman

Both cars are double row.

__________________
2003 S500 Black/Charcoal
1990 560SEL 61k Arctic White/Grey

SOLD:
1988 420SEL Black/Palomino Sold @ 85k
1987 420SEL Midnight Blue/Grey
1986 420SEL Diamond Blue/Grey
1983 380SEL Champagne/Palomino

I always thought the 420 was single row. Thanks for pointing that out.

Well I missed it. I test drove the car yesterday and after I left someone else bought it. I knew I should have acted immediately. Oh well, maybe another will come along. It sure was sexy and mean.
1985 380SE 202K