Wrong forum, but anyone know the 87 560SEL?

[ngarover]

Doesn't seem to be a section for the 87 560SEL, but local guy wants to get rid of his. It's a one owner car, rust and damage free, 130k miles. Black with palomino interior, not a bad looking car... GAS... sigh. Noticed it smoking a little at first start, so due for rings? He drives it all around our little down almost everyday. Wants 1500 bucks for it. Good deal? just don't know anything about them...

[BrianCostello]

$1500 for a nice SEL sounds like a great deal to me.

As long as she is running well. (No obvious motor issues like rod knock)

I love those cars. I would buy it.

[daw_two]

I'm thinking the correct forum might be Tech Help
It says it's for:
Technical + Open discussion of Gasoline Mercedes-Benz

You might want to ask a moderator to move your thread.

[rs899]

Could be a sweet deal, but be sure to check into whether the timing chain & guides have been replaced recently or you will have another $1500 in it.

[vstech]

if it's smoking on startup, it needs valve seals. fairly simple to repair. as mentioned, chain and such may need replacing soon.

[vstech]

Originally Posted by daw_two

I'm thinking the correct forum might be Tech Help
It says it's for:
Technical + Open discussion of Gasoline Mercedes-Benz

You might want to ask a moderator to move your thread.

I moved it for ya!

[Graham]

One of Benzes best models, especially the diesels! It's a W126 and although no specific forum here, there are on BW and elsewhere. Only downside would be gas consumption. So probably not an ideal daily driver.

I was recently interested in a very low mileage diesel on eBay recently. It went for under $15. If that car had been closer by I might have bid. Just can't see buying a car sight unseen on ebay even if there was an out as there was with this one.

Mercedes-Benz : 300-Series SDL-TURBO in Mercedes-Benz | eBay Motors

[alabbasi]

If it has 134k original miles, then it's a deal.

[meltedpanda]

I would agree with Graham, great year , great car, the ususal disclaimers however ...
but at that price unless it is a rust bucket or has a potential large tranny or engine issue seems fair

[ngarover]

Cool. I told him I would buy it. Seems to have the same engine in it that my 560SL had. I see the car almost everyday. He putters around with it going to the local old guy hang outs (gas station and hardware store) and I've known him for years. His Brother bought the car new and then he got it at his passing. BIG car... Says he gets about 20mpg with it, which seems about right compared to the 560 I had. Wish it had a 603 in it, but oh well. The interior is decent no rust that I can see anywhere, original paint with a little clear failing on the hood. Never been wrecked or even in a fender bender. Standard wear for a car that old.He knows I have a bunch of other projects going on and will just hold it for me and consider it sold. Know I love the MB and wants me to have it to play with. Got to love small towns /

I'll have to get some pictures of it.


Tomorrow I'm going to be getting the 94 E320 up in the air and start dropping the trans. Don't have a trans jack so I can only go so far, but I'll at least get it fully prepped. First, I'm going to drop a battery in it and take it for a good hard drive and see how everything else on the car is.

[meltedpanda]

great , if you change your mind on the SEL ,let me know

[Brian Carlton]

Originally Posted by ngarover

Says he gets about 20mpg with it,

He gets 20 mpg only if a mile is 3500 feet.

[Hit Man X]

I have about 155k on mine, it does not smoke on start up... so that '130,000 miles' is probably far more as you know the VDO odometers fail.

V8s are far more convoluted and sensitive to vacuum leaks (remember you have two camshafts that become out of time as opposed to one and the guide rails must be watched like a hawk, too). Being nearly 30 years old, it will need an intake plenum rebuild along with every CIS rubber seal imaginable. They have an SLS system too, which is more to fail.

Good news is they burn 87 octane just fine, which is significantly cheaper than No 2 in my area. About 40¢ per gallon here.

The 420SEL is the best value in W126s to me due to lesser fuel cost as opposed to Diesel, no R4 compressor like the SDs, adequate fuel economy (nearly the same as the 300SE/L but has far more power, far sooner), and broad power delivery.



It is $1500 for a reason.

[Whiskeydan]

Probably due for front end work also. W126s usually are needing guide rod bushings and lower ball joints at this mileage.
And, 20 mpg sounds unrealistic in a 560... 14-15 perhaps.

[JamesDean]

You can get 20-22 on the freeway with the cruise control engaged. I drove my buddys 89 560SEL back from NYC when he bought it and it got about 21-22 the entire trip. In city however..14-15