The owner said that the engine runs very quietly and smoothly. Could it still have bad compression if running this well? I am not sure. I am thinking that cars run poorly when compression is down. ?

Thanks again.

As Brian said don't feed the troll! If he bothers you that much stick him on your ignore list.

Back on topic:
Come on you should know this by now! With any old MB get a PPI done! I made that mistake and I paid $$$ for it. A good PPI should include a compression and leak down test. A quick field test would be to pull the oil cap while the engine is running and see if their is any blow by. Since the car sat for so long I hope the oil has been changed already.

However cars hate sitting so it will probably run better after you tune it up and take it for a nice highway run. Run a few tanks with fuel injector cleaner through it as well.

For $2k you are not going to get a perfect W126 but this one from your posts sounds like a good one. If all the basics are their IE good body, interior and strong drivetrain then you are in good shape.

Something like this would probably need a lot less, but all old cars will need something:
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=181766547&dealer_id=56257362&car_year=1991&make=MB&distance=0&lang=en&max_price=&model=560SEL&end_year=2006&min_price=&certified=&address=06460&search_type=both&advanced=&start_year=1981&isp=y&cardist=1250

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?car_id=181399916&dealer_id=606801&car_year=1991&make=MB&distance=0&lang=en&max_price=&model=560SEL&end_year=2006&min_price=&certified=&address=06460&search_type=both&advanced=&start_year=1981&isp=y&cardist=2483

Autotrader.coms average selling price for 560SEL's throughout the country is $6,500.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Those 2 Autotrader listings are great examples of late-model 126 with relatively low miles.

I prefer the Brown one due to the story, which I hope is true. I would offer 10k cash for that car. You could easily put $8k into your $2k 560, and still it would be a 1986 model with more miles.

A single-owner, garage-kept, well maintained 1991 with 89k miles is a sweet buy.

-gil

Yeah the white one is at a dealer in my book that is a negative. I hate used car dealers but I am sure their are some good ones.

The other one sounds like a one family car I would count that as a plus.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks. That is always my problem, I never seem to be able to find these locally. I would love to do a PPI on the car, but as mentioned, it is 3 hours away and difficult for me to leave town at this time.

If 113K is indeed the actual miles, should the compression be good on a car with this mileage?

I have found a few local MB's, but nothing all that great, or way overpriced. I fould a nice local 83' 300SD I like, but I think that $4500 is a bit too much for a car with 230K- MB or not.

Here are some photos of the car I am (or was) considering. Some of you internet autosite surfers may have already saw it before. As mentioned- it has a couple of dents, missing ornament and broken lens, none of which concerns me though. The mechanicals do however.

Thanks again.

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__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)

The interior and dash are beat. I think you can do better.

The best advice I have received is not to get emotionally involved. There are, and for the foreseeable futre will always be lots of S-Class Mercedes on the used market. W126, W140, gassers, diesels - they made them for a long time, they sold plenty of them over here, parts are readily available for sale or swap.

IYAM, (and you didn't!), I would keep looking.

-gil

Yeah, I was thinking it was a bit worn. Another thing I was thinking if it were indeed 113K actual, I would expect less wear.

Believe it or not, a local 87' 300 SDL just came on the market that I am going to try to look at this week. A little more $$$, but it may be worth it. It too is 100+% rust free, excellent interior. It does have 263K miles however.

Here is a photo of it:

Thanks again!

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That looks like a nice SDL. With diesel, you always have the option of going BioDiesel or WVO, which may be smart in the long run.

I wouldn't worry about the mileage, you can expect to get 500,000 miles or more on that motor if it was properly maintained. Check the service records. Use the mileage as a leverage to get the price down.

-g

That 560 is money pit waiting for someone to buy it. It is beat, it would cost thousands to restore that interior.

Worry more about condition then mileage.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If 113K is indeed the actual miles, should the compression be good on a car with this mileage?
_________________________________________________________________
What is the name of that old Ventures guitar song......"Walk Don't Run"..well with this car you want to run, don't walk away from it now.

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1986 560 SEL (159K miles)

My compression was solid at 163k, but I still needed a valve seal job.

113k on a 560 is about 1/3 of what that engine can do. But the interior is worn, a replacement is well over $2000.

And I would listen to Hattie, he is usually right.

-g

I saw a 560 in beautiful condition on ebay, it had 600k miles. That one you were looking at is one you should definitely pass on. I like that SDL. If you're looking at the odometer too closely on that SDL you are short-changing yourself. This isn't a 617 in the SDL, it will go longer than you, just keep the rust monster away from it. How much do they want for the SDL? Look at those rims, you can tell the owner has taken good care of it. Personally, unless the price on that SDL is outrageous, buy it. Try to have a PPI done on it or pay for my food and lodging and I'll drive my SDL down just to check that one out. I love my SDL and wouldn't trade it. I'm in the process of getting it real nice and the good thing about SDL's is that they're rare and a decent one fetches more money usually than the nicest V8 models. That says something. When I was looking for a car I looked at 2 different SDL's that had over 400k miles. Don't be scared of the mileage but do be aware. For instance, trannies don't last forever. All the more reason to have a PPI. A mechanic will pick the car apart and give you worst-case scenarios so you'll know where you stand with the car. Plus it could give you leverage in bargaining that could pay for the PPI just in that.

Thanks
David

P.S.
If you don't want that SDL I bet my dad would buy it depending on the price.

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Thanks guys. I am hoping that I can get the 300SDL for about $2500. If not, then I will pass.

Here is another photo of the car- the rear seat. As you can see- much better than the 560SEL.

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Someone asked if I was a "do it yourself". Well, only on the older cars that were easier to work on. Here is a photo of a engine in a 1971 Buick Estate Wagon. Does anyone remember when a engine on a NEW car was this simple? SUPER easy to work on when needed, but these old cars are virtually bulletproof.
Following photo of the car this engine is in. I am a collector of 60s and 70s cars and this was one I was considering last year. It only had 40K actual miles. Now I regret not buying it. The old wagons are becoming real collectors items these days.

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My SDL is about at 70's era Ford difficulty to fix and work on. It compares to say a 70's Crown Vic or Mustang.

David is right I didn't look at the pic close enough but he caught it. Look at the wheels, they are in good shape and seem to have never been refinished. That means the po actually bothered to clean them and if he cleaned the wheels he probably kept the car pretty nice as well.

The odo on a MB is for maintaince purposes only!

Besides it is so easy to change the mileage on these cars if you are so inclined. I could knock 100k off my odo in an afternoon if I wanted.

__________________
2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200