Hello people I just picked up a mint condition 87 420 SEL and I have absolutely fell in love with it! I have a few questions regarding doing a little work to it, I am looking to put the fog lights on the front I have seen them on a few cars but have no idea where to buy them from can any on help? Also I would like to lower the car and would like some suggestions. I am having a vibration problem on acceleration I noticed that one side of the rear axle has been changed and the other has not I assume that it has worn out and it is carrying over thru the drive train and it only does it on accleration or when the rear axle is rotating, does this car come equipped with a drive shaft bearing? Could that be the problem? I bought the car from my next door neighbor she and her husband had the car since new and they really only drove the car to church and back she only wanted $2500 for the car but I felt bad and gave her $3000 for it it has 98k original miles and the back seat has never been sat in. She says that the feul pump is starting to make noise and I can hear it, does this car have to feul filters on it is there more than one fuel pump, and also is it internally regulated for the fuel flow and also is the car fuel injected? I am new to the "modern" day car I normally fix up old muscle cars so this is all new to me. Thank you in advance for your help and feed back.

K&N Engineering
"We sell Horsepower"

The car should have fog lights inboard of the headlights. Some people fit the fog/driving(?) lights from the SEC model that has them in the bumper. I don't know what it takes to do that.

I'll reserve comment on lowering.

I believe there are two fuel pumps running in parallel. The fuel filter is right by the pump/s. Follow the noise to the pump/s which is/are by the right rear wheel.

There are several possible causes of vibration on acceleration. Could be as simple as motor mounts or as complicated as a bad torque converter. My limited experience with such says to check the drive shaft carrier bearing first. The exhaust pipes and drive shaft shield have to come off for access to the carrier bearing. The drive shaft has to come off to replace the carrier bearing. Between the transmission and the differential, an MB is nothing like any American car. The consensus on this forum is that on the road as well, an MB is nothing like an American car.

Internally regulated for fuel flow? I don't know what you mean by that.

The engine is fuel injected. Bosch KE-Jetronic. Version 3 probably on your car. It's basically a continuous injection system with mechanical and modulation of the pressure with some computer tweaking. Drive a stake through the ECU and you'll still be able to get home.

There is a pressure regulator in the engine bay that sets the overall system pressure, as well as an accumulator near the fuel pump/s that maintain fuel pressure for quicker starts... maybe for other things as well.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

Wish I could help on technical aspects.
Just a thought on "lowering" a classic car. Are you pimping, or selling drugs? On drugs?
Just my feelings.
Wishing you the best with your new car-good deal!
-M

I just want to kindly comment on the condescending remark about lowering...maybe a little uncalled for, esp. to a new member. I could hardly consider an 87 classic. Also, if you consider lowering this car somehow sinful, then probably better than half the people in this forum are destined to go to hell. A very substantial amount of people's cars in this forum are lowered, have wheels, tinted windows, stereos, non-OE headlights/taillights, exhausts and other misc. performance mods.

I don't condemn anyone for wanting to lower a 126, with it's high-rise front end. If anything, lowering makes it look "just right", or the way it should have looked from the factory, rather than "slammed".

Also, if the car does one day become some sought after classic...fine...springs, and most things people do to their cars, are a very reversible mod. Not like the guy wants to give it a flame paint job and stuff a small block Chevy in it. However, I somehow am doubtful of its potential to become a true, or at least sought after classic. Are people scrambling for W116s? Hardly. Also, 9 times out of 10, the coupes are always the ones that become sought after classics, not the sedans. Take the S class of the late 60s (W111). A restored coupe or convertible will run you at the very least 20-some-thousand all the way up to 50-something. A sedan...pick one up for a song. So rip the guy that "ruined" his 560SEC, not this guy for wanting to lower a 420SEL.

The main point is, though, that the owner should have the car to where it makes him/her happy....not anyone else.

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

I'm sorry I offended you. It is your new car to do with as you please.
When you wrote lowered it made me think of the kids around the larger cities in Ct. with Acuras, and Hondas lowered,neon, stickers, cantalope ejecting mufflers/tailpipes-bass rattling the car to shreds.
I can tell from your posts that that doesn't happen in Missouri,wish.
I stuck my foot in my mouth once before with a guy who used to work for me when I said something like: "yeah ..and some people hang fuzzy dice from their rear view mirror too!" He just looked at me and then told me he had fuzzy dice!.
So once again I have to pull a size 8 out of my mouth! My apologies. I should be more appreciative to others' creativity and vision.
And once again I wish you the best with your new car!

-M

I'm not the guy that originated this post, I guess you could just say I was defending his desire to lower his car. I wasn't offended by definition. If I sounded like I was barking at you...wasn't meant that way...I was just, in a succinct manner, trying to bring to light some realities....like the extensive mods some people do to their Benzes...some tasteful, some not. A lot of these mods make springs seem minor. Just gotta put it in perspective.

Oh...and we do have the rice boys here in Missouri! I know exactly what you are talking about. Some of these Civics are so low, I don't know how they drive them. And quite frankly, there is nothing that pisses me off more than one of those weedeater mufflers. I find it hilarious how these guys think that adding a NOPI Nationals sticker adds 20HP.

Ya gotta admit though, there is a big difference between these snobby rich boys that can find nothing better to do than dump thousands upon thousands of dollars into a worthless Civic to impress their friends, and guys like us that just want to dress up our Benzes a little.

Have a good day.

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

OOPS! Again my apologies, -M

(Well written posts by the way)