560SEL Question - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 07-14-2010, 03:14 PM

Anybody have any idea about pitfalls of 560SEL ownership? I don't care about gas mileage, that's a non issue to me at this point. Only thing I can of right away that might be model specific problem would be the rear suspension with the gas spheres right? Anyone have an idea on repair costs for that aspect of it?

- Peter.

TylerH860 · #2 07-14-2010, 03:22 PM

My 560SEL has had literally everything done to it that you'd need on a 560SEL in the last few years. Most of it was preventative, and the total is probably somewhere in the neighborhood of $10,000 worth of stuff spent in 2 years. You name it, its been done and documented short of rebuilding the drivetrain (which only has 78k). If you want the nitty gritty I can look into the numbers associated with the repairs when I get home.

The biggie is the timing chain stuff, which should be out of the way around 100k. If you're looking at a car close to or North of those miles, look for that juicy service item. Once you get near the 150k-200k mark depending on maintenance the heads will probably need to be gone through. Transmissions tend to get issues at about that time frame as well. The rear SLS has accumulators (balls) that are the main problem.

Fulcrum525 · #3 07-14-2010, 04:03 PM

560SEL/C buyers guide written by Jim B.

http://www.mbcoupes.com/buyersguide/buyersguide.htm

Enjoy

HuskyMan · #4 07-15-2010, 11:41 AM

the 560SEL is a very nice car but do not expect maintenance to be inexpensive. it seems a classic mercedes benz is always needing something. and yes to the timing chain and suspension issues. other than that, it is perhaps the most amazing car ever built. it is quiet, handles like a dream, stops on a dime, last of the big bodied mercedes benzes.

MTUpower · #5 07-15-2010, 12:19 PM

Depends on what you want to do with the car. Tyler buys and sells cars and seems to have a lot of money, so his figures are gonna be higher than most. It is an "S" class so it won't be cheap but all mechanical things need two of three things: 1)Time 2)Knowledge 3)Money
If you have alot of the first two then it'll be a cheap car. BTW I totally disagree with the "the most expensive mercedes you can buy is a cheap one" logic. I've bought and held onto a few Mercedes and the one that cost the most when I bought it also cost me the most period. My friend just bought a 420SEL for $1500- it has less than 100K miles and was dirty. Now it's clean and he could easily get twice the $.
BTW not all 560SEL's have the SLS, and if they do the most common ailment is the sphere's and they can be had for cheap if bought used.

Pooka · #6 07-15-2010, 12:30 PM

The ignition control module almost never goes out but when it does replacements for the 5.6 are about $2,300.

If you but one of these cars then start shopping for a spare module on Ebay or at wrecking yards as it would be better to buy one for $50 bucks now and hang on to it than to have to fork out the real price when you really need one.

TylerH860 · #7 07-15-2010, 12:47 PM

I try and hunt down the cars that have already had the big bucks spent on it, like my 560SEL. I guess it gives off the illusion of wealth where there really isn't much.

The EZL was replaced on my car as a guess to an ignition problem. Turned out that didn't solve it, but spark plug wires did. The PO kept the other EZL as a spare, which is sitting in the trunk.

Good deals are out there on good examples. Plenty of nice functional runners out there in the 3-5k range, cars running but needing plenty of love for under that, and very nice low mileage examples for reasonable prices as well.

pj67coll · #8 07-15-2010, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTUpower

BTW not all 560SEL's have the SLS, and if they do the most common ailment is the sphere's and they can be had for cheap if bought used.

I did not realize that. How can one tell if a car has that or not?

- Peter.

Hatterasguy · #9 07-15-2010, 06:38 PM

I have never seen a 560 without SLS, but it wouldn't surprise me as MB was big on doing special order cars in the 80's. SLS isn't a bad system though.

The W126's are all pretty long in the tooth at this point, so expect typical 20 year old car stuff. But other than that they are all pretty bullet proof and simple.

alabbasi · #10 07-15-2010, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pj67coll

Anybody have any idea about pitfalls of 560SEL ownership? I don't care about gas mileage, that's a non issue to me at this point. Only thing I can of right away that might be model specific problem would be the rear suspension with the gas spheres right? Anyone have an idea on repair costs for that aspect of it?

- Peter.

If you're planning to do the work yourself, they are pretty inexpensive to maintain and quite simple.
1)Spheres cost a couple of hundred dollars but are simple to put on.
2)Flushing fluids is pretty straight forward
3)Parts are readily available through aftermarket wholesalers and junk yards
4) Make sure you budget for the timing chain, tensioner and upper guide rails if they have not been done.

Watch out for noisy lifters, overheating, slipping transmissions, smokey engines and pretty much everything that you would normally be watching out for and you should be OK.

davestlouis · #11 07-15-2010, 10:31 PM

If you're in the mood for an adventure, there was one on craigslist in STL today asking price $750, they claim it only needs a battery?!

If I could afford to put gas in one of these beasts, I'd love to have one, my 86 420SEL was one hell of a highway car. I drive about 100 miles a day between my commute and work driving, so I'd go broke filling the tank.

pj67coll · #12 07-16-2010, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabbasi

4) Make sure you budget for the timing chain, tensioner and upper guide rails if they have not been done.

What's a realistic budget for that now? Are the prices in JimB's guide still valid? I've read it several times and it's quite informative but it was written some time ago.

- Peter.

alabbasi · #13 07-16-2010, 11:52 AM

I paid $600 for parts and labor by having a friend who's a trained mechanic do it as a side job.

This included the following parts:
Chain
Chain Tensioner
Chain Tensioner Rail
The 3 other upper guide rails
Valve cover gaskets
Oilers

I would guess that it's about twice that amount at a shop as they will of course have a higher labor and parts mark up.

pj67coll · #14 07-16-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alabbasi

I paid $600 for parts and labor by having a friend who's a trained mechanic do it as a side job.

This included the following parts:
Chain
Chain Tensioner
Chain Tensioner Rail
The 3 other upper guide rails
Valve cover gaskets
Oilers

I would guess that it's about twice that amount at a shop as they will of course have a higher labor and parts mark up.

Well, even at a shop that doesn't sound all that bad.

- Peter.

BobK · #15 07-16-2010, 01:58 PM

FYI real MB chains are continuous chain, no master link so ya gotta pull apart the front end to swap. Someaftermarket chains are worthless from what I hear.