Hello all,
I am new here as I am using posting on Pelican, but I need to get a family sedan for my wife and two kids. I really don't know that much about MB sedans but I have had my fair share of autos, and now want what I think is similar to my porsche in build quality and DIY'ness. I have been looking at approx s420, s500 and the 560 sel. I guess I should give some parameters so you gurus out there can give me good advice on a choice or where I can find more info on these models. Price is really not a huge deal to me, but I would like to keep it under 10k, but I coud go as high as necessary. I really want a safe vehicle for my family to travel about, as my wife's land rover disco '04 is not comfortable to me. I want to also have reasonable gas mileage (no worse than the LR). I also would like it to be reliable, if that is possible, but I don't mind doing work on my cars, like I do on my porsche. I guess I am being long winded, but if you were buying a family sedan for your family and wanted a luxury sedan, what would you be looking for and why? Thanks to those of you who read this and were willing to reply. If I have violated any of your rules then please let me know, and I will post this somewhere else.
Thanks,
Jonathan

One good choice might be '97 to '99 S320 long wheel base with records. Personally, I found a '97 S320 with 106,000 miles, dealer serviced with quite a few fairly expensive and predictable repairs. Like head gasket, blower motor regulator, outside mirrors, etc. There are many threads on this topic if you do a search. Safety is top notch, comfort is wonderful. Highway mpg between 20 and 24. I paid about $12,000 for mine. Previously had 300E's. I really don't see this S class being any more or less reliable.

Steve
'97 S320 116K
'92 300E Sportline 242K

If you're a DIY'er a 126 or 124 is much easier to wrench on than a V8 W140. Also, a 140 under $10K is going to need some $work$.

As mentioned, the search function is your friend...

__________________
'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

Is the car for you, or for your wife? If its primarily for the wife and kids, I wouldn't put them in anything more that 3-4 years old. Especially so if they will be putting on lots of miles. If its for you, to take the family around in once in a while, id consider almost anything that strikes my fancy. Just my opinion.

__________________
1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

If you're a DIY'er a 126 or 124 is much easier to wrench on than a V8 W140. Also, a 140 under $10K is going to need some $work$.

Agreed relative to V8 W140, but the S 320 , in my experience so far, is easier than my 124's. The reason is that there is so much more room around the engine. Also mine has the updated belt tensioner, which is so much more simple in design.

As far as $10,000 W140 needing $$$ repairs. Probably true, which is why you need to find one that has had the predictables already replaced. Not an easy thing to find in a given geographical area.

I agree that if the car is for family, it may be a lot more practical to find a newer, less complex car.

Steve

If your limit is $10k look for a nice W126. Like a 1991 560/420SEL. You can get the best of the best, and they are easy to fix.

As for W140's you are going to want to spend more up front for a better example. If I were W140 shopping today I would be looking at 1997-99 S320/420/500's, and maybe a 1999 S500 Grand Edition if I could find it. With W140's the newer the better.

Where are you located? My friend is trying to sell his 1997 S320, shameless plug.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Damn you hattie!


Personally, if you are looking for something decently sized, and thats relatively fast, I would strongly consider a 1992-1993 400E or a 1994-1995 E420. They are built like tanks, and have plenty of passing power for emergency manuvers. They have a great ride, and one in almost perfect shape can be had for 5-6k.

My old 400E averages 25ish on the freeway, and about 18 in the city, not driving spiritedly!

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Where are you located? If the answer is anywhere there is snow and ice I would take a look at an Audi.

First of all thanks for all your time in answering a tough question for me. I would like to say the car is for my wife, but I likely will be driving it more than her, because I can't pry her out of her discovery (i have no freakin idea why though). I live in Augusta Ga (great time to live here with the Masters going on). I don't know but maybe it is just me, that the w126's (the 560 sel in particular) seem just grand to me. What year and how many miles would you be searching for if you guys were doing in all over again? Stupid question, but what is the difference between the 420 and the 560? (sorry in advance for the dumb question) I basically want a car that will withstand a collision with an SUV, because I see to many people being hurt by accidents and I don't want my family compromised.
I appreciate the considerations for a e320 but they don't really seem that big. I have not thought about a e400/420, but I guess what is the major difference with respect to the 560?
Thank again guys.
jonathan
PS if you guys know of any "good cars" for sale then just PM me.

Hey, Jonathan,

The W126 chassis from 1981-1991 (that's the body you'd be looking at with the 420SEL and 560SEL) is truly one of the classiest, strongest, and safest sedans of all time. Fewer electronics to go wrong, solid body, tough engine (as long as you change the oil regularly and change the timing chain every 100K miles or so; do a search here to see why).

I had a battleship-grey 420SEL for more than five years, and it never let me down. At last a teenage driver totalled it while it was parked. At that, the totalling was because every body panel and wheel on that side was scarred or dinged by the impact; the car still drove perfectly.

The differences: The 420 has a 4.2 liter engine (about, what, 250 cubic inches?) and 201 horsepower. I used to get about 17-18 mpg in the city (premium gas, be warned). The 560 is a monster at 238 hp or so, and I shudder to think what kind of gas mileage it would get. There are a few more gadgets on the 560, like a power rear seat and a special rear suspension, but mainly I'd guess the attraction would be the extra power.

You could also hunt for a 300SE or SEL, with a sturdy 6-cylinder engine, or a 300SDL turbodiesel which will return much better fuel mileage. Posters here have warned repeatedly against the later 350SDL because of known engine problems.

The E-Class Benzes, whether the 1986-1995 W124 chassis or the 1996-2003? W210s (the ones with the oval headlights) are smaller cars, but everything I read and hear says they are also very safe. Even my compact C230 recently withstood a low-speed rear impact from a Ford Explorer. Body damage, yes, but I was not hurt and the passenger compartment was completely unaffected. Safety is only part of the reason we love these cars, though.

When you find a good car have a mechanic experienced with the model check it out thoroughly before you buy. Enjoy the hunt!

__________________
* *
-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

There are two main differences between a 420SEL and a 560SEL. Firstly the engine, the 420 has the M116 while the 560 has the M117. The M117 is a larger V8 and puts more power down.

Another big difference is the 560's have SLS suspension in the rear, which is nice. Their are a bunch of minor ones like the 560's get burlwood, and a few options the other cars didn't get.

My favorite years for the W126 are the last, because they got all the updates. 1989-1991.



Now if you don't need four doors, MB made a much more sporty two door version.

Of course the ultimate W126's were AMG'd, but they are supper rare and as a result expensive.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200