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Here, I'll copy and paste your first post and comment in red:
Car 1:
1985 US 500SEL with 244K miles. The car's interior is in good shape. Everything works, from all heated seats to the power reclining rear seat. The seats have the usual wear from age, but nothing big really. The sunroof works but tends to start sliding off its rails as it opens. I wouldn't define the sunroof as "working", you say "everything" works. You'll break it if you continue to use it, does that constitute "working"?Also, the headliner under the sunroof is turning brown, a sign that water may have leaked into it.So the headliner would need to be replaced too, nice. The paint on the outside is horrible and worn out. It will need a new coat of paint to look presentable.undefinedDitto previos comment in regards to the headliner, the 560 you said looks nice. A/C doesn't blow cold. Rear windows are all tinted (look really nice).Personal choice I guess. If I lived further south maybe I could get into tinted windows, although I did this on a few of my cars in my yout (yes i said "yout" on purpose, watch "My Cousin Vinnie) at any rate I wouldn't want it on just the rear windows, looks alot better on all side windows and the rear if you're going to have it. the 126 is BIG, but not a limo! (Unless it's a 126 limo I guess) Brake pads seem worn, "Antilock" light stays on after car is started.So a nice repair bill if you want to get the ABS to work, and plus you're looking at maybe some maintenance work too. Missing a piece of woodgrain from the dash. Dash has a very tiny crack on it.Eh, as long as you know about stuff like this ahead of time, it's up to you as far as putting up with it or repairing, personal choice. Motor mounts must be worn out or something because entire car shakes when idling, even worse than my diesel.The engine has just been repaired, even with lousy motor mounts it should run smooth at idle, not "worse than a Diesel". You may "feel" the engine a little bit in a case like this. Compare it to the 560.
This car is from a mechanic. He repaired it for a customer in April this year and the customer hasn't come back for it. He also called the customer many times but never had his calls returned. So he obtained the title and is now selling it. The only service record the car has is from what the mechanic did which was extensive: he fixed a blown headgasket, performed a full valve job, replaced both timing chains, changed the coolant (he put the green stuff in there, blah), changed the spark plugs, engine oil, etc. I am a little leery about this whole deal. I know the mechanic can go about getting what's called a "mechanics lein" on the vehicle, but still, in a case like this the owner is probably a local person, who probably still has a key or two for the car, so think about how comforting THAT is, unless you know the prior owner is deceased or moved to Canada or something. Plus I don't see where knowing about the work that was just done constitutes "knowing the service history" of the car. Plus the engine isn't idling smoothly, what if the work he just did goes south? Will he give you a warranty on the work he just did? Say 1 year? The car was in his garage for two months. I know this because I saw the car there. Being a very honest man (he is a pastor), his asking price is simply the cost of the work he did on the car: $2,500. Even that sorta rubs me the wrong way, but I don't know why. Maybe a BUSINESSMAN should expect to make a little more profit when he's selling the whole car instead of the work, or at least expect that storing the car at his place for so long is worth "something". Even an honest, pastorial mechanic.
Car 2:
1986 US 560SEL with 240K miles:OK, mileage is a draw Saw this at a used car dealer's lot. He purchased it from an auction, so naturally, no service records exist.In the case of both cars you could at least get some info on them from MB on VMI from a dealer Car's exterior is sharp and excellent. Deep blue in color.Well, that's a good start, at least it looks good! Previous owner mounted huge 235/60R15 tires on the car, and they are all good.I assume on stock rims, I like having the factory-size rubber, but if you like them and they're in good shape, what the heck.... Everything in the interior works, from sunroof to all seat heaters and window motors. A/C seemed to blow cold, though the temperature outside was just 55F so that wasn't a good test of the A/C.It might at least prove the mono-watervalve is shutting off as it should. In honesty, if the 500 didn't seem to cool, it may not be the AC, it may be a water valve problem (letting warm water through). You;d have to pay attention to what the engine coolant temp was when you were testing them, this would make a big difference in trying to determine if the AC and heater systems are working Interior seats just have the usual wear, with the driver's seat having a section that's completely torn out.You could try finding a "normal" wear seat or seat cover on a used one or something like that, new are available but big buck$. especially if it's leather Otherwise the rest of the interior is great. All the wood was in place, no cracks in dash. Engine bay looked like no one has ever cleaned it!!That's unusual for a used car lot. Persoanlly I'd rather see it "as it is" rather than all spiffed up. You can ruin things by cleaning them, especially with a pressure washer or something. I'd look at this "still dirty" engine compartment as a "positive negative" It also had the dreaded green coolant in the system.So does the other one, you can count on spending a bit getting everything back to where it should be on either of these, budget a grand or so for maintenance, just in case you find any surprises. While the car's rear end wasn't sagging, I don't know if the hydroneumatic suspension is working. There is a hissing sound coming from the rear end, like something is leaking when the car is running.I'd bet that's the fuel pump running, hard to tell if it's anything to worry about right away. I tried to test the suspension by standing in the trunk (I weigh 285 lbs) while the dealer revved the engine to 3000rpm... but the rear end didn't rise up, so I guess it doesn't work. Is this a proper test for it?Usually that'll do it, but I'd wait a minute or two before condemning the system, it may take a few minutes in other words. If it's sitting level (not normally sagging in the back) then I don't know if I'd worry too much, 'course it's not MY money's gonna be fixing it either.
I didn't get to drive it, as one of the tires is flat. The dealer said I can have my test drive tomorrow.Pretty lousy they couldn't grab an air tank and get it up on all 4 for ya to drive right away. His asking price is $3,000. However, I explained to him that purchasing an MB V8 without service records is a huge risk and he was impressed by my "seemingly detailed" knowledge of the car, so I know I can easily beat the price down to $2,500. Yeah, I'd try to beat 'em down a grand maybe (to $2000, $2500 would be OK, but aim lower and be willing to come up to 2500). The 500 I'd maybe offer a $1000, too much at risk=engine work w/shaking engine, mechanic lein title are especially what worry me.
So there, I have two $2,500 MB 126 V8s, both with palomino interiors. The 560SEL is more attractive, however the 500SEL definitely has already undergone a top end overhaul. I am very confused on this. I am seeking your assistance so as to minimize the possibilities of making an illogical move. Thanks.
In either case, if can settle on one or the other, get your own PPI done, hopefully at a dealer. Tell them you want a 1 hour inspection done, should be worth it, especially if you can narrow your choice to one of them. On the 560, be sure to ask them about the rear self-levelling feature operation. May be a better deal even if it needs some work done, although the shocks themselves you'd want to find used somewhere, very pricey.
GILLY
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