(To the original poster), any record of when the brake fluid flush was last done? In the pics you just posted it looks a wee bit too black to have been done recently, IMHO.
Gilly

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Do you have a locking antenna? Check the tip. If it has a black cap see if you can remove it. That's about the only thing I can think of.

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2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
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1972 280SE 4.5
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I have followed your posts for years, and think you have superb taste in vehicles, if your Cadillac Brougham, and the '73 Grand Ville you had, and now this, is any measure...

The W140 is a VERY complex, and gadget laden machine, BUT it is superbly built, to a high "cost no object" standard - perhaps the last S class one that can lay claim to it. and the m119 engine yours has is considered one the4 best V8 engines Mercedes Benz ever built;

Yours appears to have been owned by a fanatical, obsessive and caring owner whose reasons for selling ring true.

Having carefully done your due diligence, all the BIG issues it has now already addressed,, this w140 should be ready to serve you for many many years; and you will love it.

Not everyone likes the blocky styling, but NOBODY can argue with the warmth, and cosseting of the plush front and rear seats. They are far more comfortable than the w126 ones that preceded it. I know because I drove my w126 to Santa Rosa CA back in 1997 and had a drive in a brand new w140, the difference was obvious and immediate.

These cars are a dog on the used car market partly because many were purchased cheap by 5th and 6th tier owners that bought them cheap but could not afford the cost of repairs, and so, deferred them. (like the previous owners did).

The worst and most frequent cases involved the first year 600SEL V12 w140s.

Basically I think for the price you paid, and what you got, your car was free to you.

I think with the 400 engine, and all those potentially deal-killing repairs recently made, the car could be (relatively) affordable to maintain and run so long as you take care of it ..


And, astral silber is a wonderful color for the car.

Normallly I would never say this about a w140, but you are very perspicatious and for sure, you SCORED big time here.

Congrats.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Thanks Tom. I am not sure. The tip is actually gone from the antenna and it will not go up/down automatically. The hole under though looks smaller.

Thanks Jim for the nice comments and building up my confidence. Other than saying its nice, not many people have convinced me that I made a good move here. lol. Yeah, I was noticing that the A/C repair (evaporator/dryer/receiver and heater core) alone was $3200 in 2008, which is only $100 less than I paid for the car. lol. Also most recently the complete new brakes in January and valve cover gaskets in April were nearly $1000 just this year. My uncle who owns a '92 W140 (that is asking $5K for his) told me tonight that I "stole" the car. lol. I am glad I was able to find one had all of the big $ things done on this car, with all of the records and one that was garaged and was a 1-owner car serviced only by Mercedes mechanics. The owner told me that the car was as nice driving as it was when he bought in in November of 1992 when it had 4 miles on it (and a payment of about $1450 per month, lol).

Yeah, I have been on here for awhile and learned how complex these cars are and buying one with a lot of service records was what I was looking for and even more so looking for one that had the A/C evaporator replaced, as well as the engine wiring harness already addressed. The new valve cover gaskets 5 months ago and new gauge cluster upgrade installed by the dealer in '95 was icing on the cake. Good to hear that the 4.2L is a good engine in these Mercedes.

I agree about the seats! I had a 88 W126 (300SEL) that is now my moms car and the seats are like daylight and dark. The ones in the this W140 are so much more comfortable and supportive. The ones in moms W126 are just there. lol. They dont have the broken springs issue, but there is a big difference in the seats between a W126 vs a W140.

Yeah, I love the big boats, I still have my 73 Grand Ville, its still setting though and starting to weather, I really need to get it out from under the tarps and drive it. I have the 93 Fleetwood Brougham which is sweet, then there is my high mile and well broken in 95 Town Car that I am probably going to be selling for about $1700 here real soon.

Thanks again!