I have a friend with a 1994 S500. It's got about 140k on it and has a host of issues. He said it got new plugs last year and the tech said it needed a ton of stuff. Oh and he's not running the right weight oil in it.....he's got a hodgepodge of stuff in there from gas stations etc.... Trying to help him make a decision on if to put a LITTLE money in it to do damage control while he's trying to get rid of it.

He has no interest in keeping or restoring the car. Restoration is what it needs. And deserves. The car is so gangster it should be pinstriped.

It is not my platform, I do not have the expertise, nor desire to develop it, now...on this chassis to entertain buying it. And putting the $1000+ into the full gamut of parts that I can SEE that need to be replaced.


The front end needs to be redone, the passenger LCA bushing is GONE, the steering box leaks a bit...heat does not work, passenger side window does not go all the way up...wiper switch wonky

The biggest issue, or unknown rather is the drive-ability and engine performance. There was an arc coming from a cracked driver side ignition coil...we replaced that one coil.

We took it to a fairly Benz savvy indie who put it in the air, looked at the front end, the leaky steering box..the leaky valve covers...the front end, then scanned it.

We found a bunch of codes...the one that's making me write this however is the rear crank position sensor CPS

Also there was a tranny code, I dont remember what.

Then there's the cosmetics...the leather, front bumper cover and mounts...paint...it needs a new owner who's going to treat it right, or be stripped for parts???? It would be a shame to part it out.

While I'm sure the car could use a full tune up including all new filters, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, engine flush and proper oil, the big question is, is this CPS the 800 lb gorilla in why this car runs so bad an gets such horrible mileage? is it worth throwing 128 dollars at it ? would it make a difference???


This is assuming of course that I would take the cap and rotors out to inspect/clean the contacts and for 22 dollars throw a set of plugs in it.


I would like to look at the cap and rotor to know whats up before moving forward with it...but I'm thinking putting a functional CPS in it will help alot.

Am I right to be optimistic on that? Any constructive thoughts are most appreciated.

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

the engine is worth $2000 what kind of oil,I run 15w40 diesel oil summer,and 5w40 winter

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran, deutschland deutschland uber alles uber alles in der welt

SD, the existing rear CPS must be functional or the engine wouldn't run. Based on your description it would be prudent to replace the other coil, both distributor caps, both distributor rotors, ignition wires and spark plugs with OEM parts. Those parts should make a dramatic difference in engine performance. Also, replace the fuel filter and both air filters.

For safety sake the owner needs to have the front end repaired too. The 140's are expensive cars to maintain properly. If your friend is in over his head then it would be best to sell the 140 and buy a more economical car.

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Fred Hoelzle

Sounds like a 19 year old parts car!

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MERCEDES Benz Master Guild Technician (6 TIMES)
ASE Master Technician
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44 years foreign automotive repair
27 Years M.B. Shop foreman (dealer)
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190E 2.3 16V ITS SCCA race car (sold)
1986 190E 2.3 16V 2.5 (sold)
Retired Moderator

X2

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600SEL '91
300E 4Matic '88
240D '83
280SE '77
350SE '73
The most complex systems can fail in the simplest way.
Contra verbosus noli contendere verbis, sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

i don't believe in the lord! He's never bought me a Mercedes Benz.

you're talking about 800 in parts thereabouts....and yes i've heard the CPS not working the car wouldn't run...but there was a rear cps code none the less. He does not want to put the money into it. I was just thinking if there was ONE particular part that for plus or minus $100 can make the car run ALOT better it would be wise for him to do it before he tried to sell/trade the car.


If I could find a way to sell the engine I would consign the car and start stripping it for him....


hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

other than ebay is there a place I can go to sell such large items like the motor and trans?

still based on what I've seen of the car and what I saw on the scan tool I am VERY Tempted to throw a sixty dollar sensor in it and see how she runs at least check resistance first to make sure it's not the wire?

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)

There are too many expensive items on the W140 that you have listed that have problems.
It will be a money pit.
Part it out.

Check car-part.com for what engines are selling for, $ 2,000 is pretty optimistic. ( asking prices mean little, selling price is what matters, ) In the state of FL $800 to $1500 is the going price.

From looking for SL cars / parts, rough S cars are not worth big money. ( Re $ 500 salvage car. )

Mr Delivery,

I have two W140's, but.....No way in hell if I did not DIY on the car. It is losing battle if you pay for maintenance and service, yet the driving experience is like no other car, so I'm willing to do what it takes to keep them going.

Walk away, These cars go for $1000 to $1500 if you are lucky to get someone to bite... The engines are a couple hundred dollars. If these cars are at pic-n-pull, that means the seller sold it for $300 bucks or less to Pick-n-Pull.

In the hands of the right person, the car is a classy car, and draws attention like no other car.

The car just has more things than most cars which makes it complex to repair. You need to have the ability to tinker with it.

Martin

I really don't want to buy it. It's not my platform, I love the car, maybe someday I'll have one....but now isnt the time for me. I already have a project Benz and for some odd reason would rather put my money into my SD. I just dont want to see it go to waste. The owner cant afford to park it and wait for the parts to get sold, he has no interest in keeping it. I just want to help him get at least SOMETHING out of it and ... my heart bleeds for a good Benz killing itself running blind no sensor data.

Ok so yeah I guess I would buy it to keep it from the junkyard at the scrap rate of course or slightly above.

Bad disease this Benz thing is...baaaaaad

We're going to put the CPS in it and see if that clears up his whacky running issues....it should is my edumucated guess.

Ok so what do you guys think it's really worth as it sits, supposing the CPS replacement gets it to idle and run "smoothly"....what could he realistically expect to get for it?

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-SpecialDelivery
1985 300CD Silver/Blue H&R Suspension (Sold, still cryin over that)
1982 300SD Silver/Blue '85 OM617 (Sold)
1982 300D - Blue/Blue (Sold)