I agree to an extent on the Mark VIII cost. Hence going MB will not be a shock if something goes bad. While the Mark may be a superior car in terms of efficiency and power compared to the W126 platform, I really just want to move onto something new.

I will have about $5k to spend with another $1k set aside for immediate replacement parts if needed, such as tires, lights, wipers, etc. But the longer I hold off buying, the more moola I will have to spend on one.

As much as I love classics and classic looks (after all I am 30 years old and my FIRST car ever was a 73 Lincoln Mark IV) I prefer to stay with the 126 platform to have both and older car that can be had at a great price while still riding in the lap of luxury without looking like I need collector plates. Which is why I feel the 126 is best for what I am looking for. They are in my price range and they dont look too aged so they still command a presence. No offense to the older MB owners! :)

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=278507

This looks like a good example.

You really need to look around this kind of money can buy you a lot of Mercedes, just take your time. The one in my signature is fully loaded 1999/ E420/ One owner/ Full service history/ 74 000 miles (it was) and I got it for $5400.00
In town I can see 19/21 MPG on the open road everything up to 32MPG
As every single post suggested buy the best you can afford and you will smile every time you drive.

Hatte, the guy just wrote $5 K and you are offering the one for $13 :D
Excellent sell pitch :D

By the way, today I drove around town and found a 300 SE. To be honest this is the first time ever I got close up to a W126 MB! I really love the lines.

This one had a gold truck emblem that was slightly bent (like someone tried to remove it and it was then pushed back into place). It also had the 300 ES badge in gold. Not sure if that is aftermarket, factory or has some special meaning. The interior of course was flawless. Still had the MB audio deck. Color was almond inside and a very dark charcoal exterior. I checked quickly for rust along the back windshield and saw no signs or any signs of re-paint. Had windshield wipers for headlamps. Only defect was the air dam (or whatever you want to call the chin) had some cracks in it.

I do not know the year and could not guess. I should have taken a pic. No price was listed but plates were renewed to 2011. I will grab a pic next time I head out that way. Its at a Euro car repair shop, so its in good hands. The same shop I mentioned before that has a high reputation for these cars.

I will have to ask them for a price, but for now I will keep looking. Still eyeing up a 500 or 560 (I really like electronic toys).

Look the VIN number on the windshield. the tenth digit is the year of the car :D

Take a look HERE

Which is why I am in no hurry! Everyone wants to find that diamond in the rough. I am near an area called Door County (in Wisconsin). While this may be the salt flats (winter) there are A LOT of wealthy people here that live in Chicago and have summer homes up here. I think one weekend I will drive all around the area and maybe just come across one parked in some estate's driveway with a for sale sign.

I certainly want to take my time but I also want to spend as little as a I can of course. Low milage would be nice too, but I know non-use can be worse than abuse in some cases.

Once again, thanks for all the info guys. I am still searching and reading too.

Ya... I knew that (stupid me). LOL :D I will write it down or take pic and post the details. If anything else someone else may be interested. It certainly LOOKED nice. For all I know the engine block is cracked though.

Dicey number for a good example of a 300SE/L - turnkey. That is, without needing another $2K to $3K worth of work.

That said, $5K should buy a decent W123 - W126.

The sooner you start driving a vintage MB, the sooner you'll save $s over corresponding American brands per mile usage.

As far as cost per mile, the Asian brands have that.
But Mercedes has a certain "feel" that other cars lack.

It's the hood ornament. That star is just so enticing.

When I was in St. Lucia, there were a ton of Lexuses driving around with hood ornaments on them. It was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my life.

If that is the case, MB could have saved a lot of $$ and just put on the hood ornament. Then they'd be selling....... oh yes, the 1980 Ford Granada. The "classy" grille and hood ornament on what was essentially a 1960 Falcon underbody. The ONLY good things about those cars was the interior room they gained when they copied the upright boxy MB style.