1987 420 SEL - Main areas of concern
 

Greetings. I am considering the purchase of the title car with only 60K miles. What are the main weak points / issues that crop up with this model? I owned two other W126's, but they were both diesels...
Thanks in advance!

If it isn't rusted it will be a nice car. Replace the timing chain guides, plastic pieces on the camshaft oiler tubes and VC gaskets.

Thanks!

I also spoke with my local MB indy. Said that rust inside the gas tank and fuel distribution system/injectors should be evaluated.

yes the gas tank should be checked. I'm on my 2nd new fuel filter because the first one got plugged up after just 12k miles.


Fuel distributor on your car is aluminum so they don't get rusty like the old cast iron ones and how's he going to check it? the only way is to rebuild. I would leave it alone

Christuna, I wasn't thinking about dismantling the fuel distribution, but just taking the car for an agressive test drive to make sure there are no skips, etc, and that there is smooth acceleration

way to check your distributor and injectors without taking it apart:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEof3MltBgM


I actually did that on my 300SE and all cylinders were within 5% and the spray pattern was good