Hello,

This is my first post. I'm considering getting a Mercedes, and have a bias to S's.

I drove an 88 560 SEL today. It has records and 160k miles, and the price is 2500. I'm inclined to go for it.

There was an odd vibration at 35 mph, but it may have been the road.

I have a gut feeling I could drive it for a year without any further maintenance. The car belongs, of course, to an older couple who want to cut their losses.

Anyway, I could take it to a mechanic etc. But I'm kind of inclined to just get it. This is not normally like me, but I need a car on the east coast and NJ has some bumpy roads.

Anyway, your experience and advice on a good match on reliability and handling/comfort appreciated.

Michael 46 years
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

First, welcome.

There is no older Mercedes in existence you could drive for the rest of the year without any further maintenance. These are great old cars, but when they break down you'd better have a couple grand in the bank ready to let go of.

If I were you, I wouldn't consider for one millisecond buying a car that hasn't been looked over by a mechanic that knows older Benz's.

The price seems very fair, btw...

Good Luck and have fun,

-GH

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For Now:
1992 Mercedes Benz 500SL
1998 BMW 528i
2003 Honda Element
2002 CBR600F4i
1977 Coachmen Motor Home

Michael, pay a MB-trained tech who is intimately familiar with that vintage MB automobile to perform a PPI (pre-purchase inspection). That way you will know if any expensive repairs are pending. The fact that the older owners "want to cut their losses" is cause for concern. There's no way I would consider that 560SEL without a PPI.

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Fred Hoelzle

I agree. A PPI is imperative. The cost is nothing compared to possible necessary repairs. MBZs are expensive to repair - parts & labor. This is why we're all here exchanging info to do our maintenance. MBZs will last forever assuming they are taken care of (regular maintenance), so get the blessing of an MBZ mechanic and enjoy a great car. By the way, many of us don't consider an '88 an old car. Check out the vintage section. Welcome and happy motoring!

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Don't Chrome them; polish them

there is a reason why they are cutting their losses.

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

I would have it checked if you are unfamiliar with the car. They are nice and they certainly will run for a year on normal maintenance, oil change etc... but that would assume they have had reasonable care to that point in time.

I just bought a 300SEL and have spent a whopping $200 on scheduled maintenance and its looks and runs very well.

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1981 300TD
2005 C55
2004 E500
1999 ML430
1992 400E
1998 C43
2001 SL500
1988 300SEL
1986 190E 16V
1991 190E 2.6

Good posts above. I'd recommend buying the car only if you are willing and able to do the work yourself. Otherwise you'll quickly get disenchanted with a car that needs repair and maintenance that costs more than the purchase price of the car in a short amount of time.

or stay with 240 or 300diesels, they're much simpler to work & run, more forgiving.

These gasser can be exp if u need any work on it.

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There is nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes.
The 560SEL is a FANTASTIC car but if you're not mechanically inclined step away from the light, do not go to the light!
When I first got mine I never realized the abuse it had gone through by pure neglect. It took me at first twice what I paid for to get it stabilized but I insisted on learning about the car throughout that ordeal. Now for the last five years I have been the exclusive mechanic to all of my Benz cars and I managed to get the 560SEL to pass the 300K miles and it's driving like a dream. All this at a cost but I never regretted the learning, the passion and the love for taking care of such a lady.

Nothing false posted above. I had an 84 500 SEC which had 80k on it when I bought it and 140 when I sold. It was probably as cheap or cheaper to maintain than a similar car with the venerable 617 diesel. It used a lot more fuel but was simple to maintain. The engines are very robust as well as all mechanical parts. If they have had basic maintenance according to the book they can be very very reliable.

Get it checked though.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If you can turn a wrench, are willing to take on a project and have the resources to spend on a lot of parts, go for it. If not, don't buy it.

I bought my first MB, an 83 380 sel, almost 2 years ago. It was cheap, $1500, but have spent about twice that amount in bringing it up to snuff. I love the car, and have enjoyed working on it, but if I wasn't a fairly competent shade tree mechanic, and had the help and advise of this forum, it would have been a nightmare.

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2000 Mercedes S500
1990 Mercedes 560SEL
1970 Triumph Spitfire

By all means, have a MB tech do the PPI. Buyers remorse is not fun to live with. If the timing chain, guide and tensioners need to be replaced, it alone, done by a private MB shop will cost you 1500-1700. You need the PPI. Dennis

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....just drive'em!
'89 300TE White w/Blue, 152K SOLD!
'93 300E Blue w/Tan, 154K SOLD!
'01 E-320 4-Matic wagon, 130K
'67 Vette Conv. White w/Blue, 217,421K

Very crucial for me as well.

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1981 300TD
2005 C55
2004 E500
1999 ML430
1992 400E
1998 C43
2001 SL500
1988 300SEL
1986 190E 16V
1991 190E 2.6

If you're not a mechanic, make friends with somebody who is. Definitely have it inspected first so you go into this with your eyes open. Aside from being great cars, Mercedes seem to attract some really nice people as owners. Since I've been on this forum, I've met some of the nicest people I've ever known. The friends 2re easily worth the price of admission.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

I want to second that.
Might also consider replacing the lifters while it's all apart.
And, you will need to think about gas money - gas isn't going to stay at $2/gal forever. I doubt you would see 20mpg often, if ever.

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D