To POS:
Thanks for the comment. My pursuit of the low mileage AMG Twim Cam engined 126 500SE precludes me from keeping it; I'm disposing of my 2 Euro 126's (420SE and 500SEL) to get that holy grail 126! It's hard to let go of my 2 euros; the 420SE recently found out has the rare 500SEC side bolstered front seats and drives smooth as a dream; the non-fed 500SEL is as bad a rocket as my old non-fed 6.9 Euro was.

To the rest of you I really appreciate your helpful hints about the timing chain; if I get the car first thing will be to pull the valve covers off to see. Car was regularly started and chauffeur driven around town and has all oil changes and maintenance even if it was not needed so maybe things are not as bad. Right now we're just negotiating. Seating in that low miles 500SEL smelling that nice new German leather sure feels good though.