To Buy or NOT buy.. Advice needed...
 

All,
I found a 1991 300se in near mint condition. Excellent paint, interior and everything works. The owner does have records but they are not as complete as I would like. He is asking 2900 for it. Its got a little over 110k miles on it but looks to be very well cared for.

Any thoughts?

I am used to working on my 300sd, is there anything that I need to look out for? Is he asking too much?

I buy old cars for paint and interior now (learned my lesson), if it is as clean as you say... the price is fair. I've verify the odometer is good, the VDOs don't always work. Just remember the car is 18-19 years old, most stuff under the hood will need to be replaced or rebuilt or resealed.

M103s have their quirks but are nice rides. Do a search on them.

The value of the W126 has bottomed out, it's a buyers market for them. Well automobiles in general.

His price is right - the most expensive thing to fail on the w126s is the climate control/AC system. There's lots of good buys out there, so I wouldn't buy it just because it's a good one; I'd buy it because you wanted a 300SE.

I paid more for mine, and the paint was shot. Sounds like a good deal.

The odometer is likely to be broken or inaccurate. There is a plastic gear in there ($28) that disintegrates. Before it quits working completely, it starts registering mileage less and less.

Test drive it and make sure it works, otherwise who knows how many miles it has.....



-tp

See if the center vents work with the A/C on. If they don't, you might be able to beat him up on the price a little.

Very true

yet it's a super simple fix. ;);)



And I agree with POS, a last year 300SE is a good ride if it is what you're after. In fact, 1991 was the only SWB W126 built for the US market. Bit more nimble than the LWB cars, less weight, etc.