Speaking for the minority or maybe only myself - having been through 2 126 300SDs, an 87 SDL and a 91 300SE then a 93 SD and 94 S420, I can tell you there's no way I'm going back to a 126. The 126 is a fabulous car. If MB still made them MB would still be selling them. As my neighbor said of his dad's 500SEL, it devours the road. But the 126 still requires me to work. I have to adjust to the 'ergonimically' correct seat, I have to adjust to the huge steering wheel, I have to live with cold hands, etc. MB put less Teutonicness (you vill drife it und you vill enjoy it!) in the 140 plus made it bigger, softer and feel lighter. All pluses to me and seemingly few others.

A few things have come into play to make the 140 desirable to me again: 1) you can get one for the price of a same condition 126, 2) they're taking the place of 123s in pick-n-pulls, and 3) the electronics are not so mysterious anymore (thanks, JimF!). For all the reliability and cost concerns of a 140, they're not known to strand drivers anymore than a 126. How can faulty closing assist be an issue? Put as much arm into closing the doors as you would 126 doors and they'll latch without closing assist. The M119 is everything the M116/7 wanted to be when it grew up. Replacing the timing chain is horrendously complex but it doesn't need chains or head gaskets as often as earlier engines.

I'd prefer a 140 with velour, manual AC, power windows and locks and not much else. MBUSA didn't want to sell them that way and I've only seen one or two possibly gray market barebones 140s for sale in the US. Easier for me to learn how to fix them than make enough to afford one.

Everybody thinks MB engineering and quality went downhill in the 90s. Spend some time in a W189 and you'll think it's been downhill since 1963.

Sixto
87 300D