I'm considering buying an '86 420 SEL for my wife. I found a really nice one with only 125,000 miles on it. The owner has all the records, and has done anything and everything it needed. Such as, timing chain & rails, water pump, transmission, air-conditioning and a new paint job. It has new Michelins and the interior is pretty nice with a few wear marks on the seat.

They will sell it for $6500.00, not cheap but fair considering all the big stuff has been done. My question is, what's your opinion regarding the 420? I love my 300SE, and would buy another one, but this 420 came up and seems like a good option.

What do you all think? Thanks.

Mr BILL, Before I bought the 1993 400SEL I owned a 1987 420SEL and enjoyed every minute I drove it. Passengers love the leg room in the rear. I had no particular problems with it. Sold it with 175,000 Mi. on it when I got the 400 SEL. Sounds like it has been well maintained. Good luck if you should decide to buy it.
Richard Seaman

If it really is well maintained it sounds like a steal at the price. I have seen excellent examples go for twice as much. These are great cars, if it is in as good a shape as you say you won't be dissapointed. If you want to be sure book a couple of hours at the dealer and ask them to go over it head to toe to find anything they would want to fix now, or things they think look like they might only last a short while longer. Its no guarantee that's for sure, but it should give you a good idea. Have you taken it on a good long test drive? I would suggest a full half a day in the car at least, a couple of hours on the freeway and a few around town to really get the feel of it.

Agree, if it is really in that good shape, for the price, buy it immediately. I have 234,000k on my 87 420 SEL. Recently drove a low mileage 300 SEL, and now I really appreciate the extra power of my V-8. Great car, buy it.

Thanks for the input! What kind of gas mileage do you all get? My 300 SE gets around 18-19 mpg.

The loweest mileage I've gotten is 11 mpg in the dead of winter (0-10 degrees F every morning) in 100% city driving. The best I've gotten was 23 mpg on a 2 day highway trip last summer. My last tank, which was 60% city driving and 40% highway (roughly) got me 16 mpg and it is still pretty cold. Obviously not the best mileage, but not the worst by any means.