1986 420sel any problems

i have a 85 500sel wich i love and i found a 86 420sel with 86,000 for 8,900 is the 420sel as good as build as my 500 what problems should i look for and any other things i should know.

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 140k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 295k
1996 C280(hopefully soon)

[Alain V.]

The 420 SEL is a great car. Well, I think that most v-8 126 chassis benzes were great cars, but the 420 is my favorite. It has nearly all the toys of the 560 but without that stinkin self leveling rear suspension.
One thing you will notice is that the distributor cap for the 420 is more expensive than it was for your 500.
The 420 though is a good performer that also gets good mileage,(for such a large car). I see alot of them at my shop with well over 200k on them.The ones that are well maintained, still drive just like a 50k mile car.



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the 420 was perhaps the best all around gas engine powered car of all time.

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)

what kind of mpg do they get right now in my 500 i amg geting 23 to a gallon and what sould i look out for

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 140k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 295k
1996 C280(hopefully soon)

If you're getting 23 mpg, that is very very phenomenal considering the 1989 420 SEL was rated for 16 mpg.

I get about 17 to 23 mpg depending on whether we drive in the city or highway. Average, I'd say 19.

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'89 420 SEL
'90 300 SEL
'84 300 SD (sold it)

[420SEL]

I am having a great time with my 420SEL. I think it is the greatest W126 ever made. The 560SEL has more thrust, but with the beefed up rear suspension it also has a much harsher ride. I have had no makor problems with my 170,000 mile 420SEL which I have had for 2 years. Like any car, make sure it has been well cared for, and well maintained. A regularly serviced 420SEL will be an excellent car. I am currently replacing the rear muffler assembly on my car. It is not the original MB equiptment. The second owner replaced the entire exhaust system when the car was 10 years old, and had 120,000 miles. Unfortunately for me, he saved 2-300 bucks and used an ANSA exhaust system instead of genuine MB (I'm sure OE would have gotten me 5 more years). The OE exhaust is very expensive (rear muffler is $811 Canadian) I am not going to replace it with OE, not only because the price, but because the one I'm getting has a life time warranty. Other than that, I have not had any major repairs. Things that you might look for are cruise control (goes on all older Benz models sooner or later) Climate control push buttons, etc. I thumbed through the old service records and my car did have a new timing chain and cam shafts installed. If you already have a 500SEL you'll appreciate how great these cars are. The 86 and on models look better than 85 and earlier (updated bumbers and side skirts - much nicer and larger wheels) interior also looks better. Also, don't let the fact that the 4.2L v8 is smaller than your 5l v8 fool you, there were alot of mechanical and technical advances in the w126 introduced in 86 as well. Great performer!!

Hope you find one you like.



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Jason Priest
1986 420SEL

my 85 has much nicer interior than alot of the newer interior. ya i know the skirts were changed and the bumbers but i like my euro bumpers aolt i like that the wheels were only one inch bigger wich is a 15 and i have them on my 85

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Dan Younes
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1985 euro 500sel 220k
1981 300sd 278k sold
1979 240d 298k sold
1983 300sd 272k sold
1989 chrysler 2.2l Turbo
Leabaron 140k
1989 Dodge Carvan Se 295k
1996 C280(hopefully soon)

[This message has been edited by Benzman500 (edited 08-16-2000).]