All these W126 owners on this site, and there still aren't any owners of 280S/SE 5-speeds?

If I ever find a W126 with this combination, I will use any financial means available (selling a current car, etc) to pick it up, as long as it's in okay condition.

I'm a sucker for five on the floor and a clutch in a full-size Mercedes luxury sedan.

Does anyone know of anyone who owns a car like this? I've seen them in AutoTrader....

-Sam

Here is a second picture after $4536.00 including $2487.00 in transmission $649 Power steering pump. $1400.00 in tires and wheels. Now this thing drives like new.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
1987 560 SEL
"A study in the Washington Post determined that women were better communicators than men, I just want to say to the authors of that study "Duh""

Nice, very nice. Have you had the suspension done?

Matt.

Matt,

The suspension seems ok, I did replace the idler arm with the power steeering. There is a thump when the rear tires hit bumps. I have checked the shocks they are ok. I presume this may be something to do with the self leveling system? which I know next to nothing about, I will begin researching some links on here.

P

__________________
1987 560 SEL
"A study in the Washington Post determined that women were better communicators than men, I just want to say to the authors of that study "Duh""

I was thinking more along the lines of having had it lowered, your car seems quite low for stock suspension. Very nice looking car though.

Matt.

I have an arctic white 1988 300SEL. It just recieved its 250,000KM award grille ornament and I will try to develop the pics ASAP and post them for everyone to see.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=37842

check out the link above... the best looking w126 IMO, however, I like camowen's wheels better than the one in the link above.

Who else appreciates the "stock" look?

No offense, but I hate aftermarket rims, lenses, tint, chrome - it all translates to "ghetto" in my opinion. I would not buy a car that had any such modifications, either.

__________________
2003 S500 Black/Charcoal
1990 560SEL 61k Arctic White/Grey

SOLD:
1988 420SEL Black/Palomino Sold @ 85k
1987 420SEL Midnight Blue/Grey
1986 420SEL Diamond Blue/Grey
1983 380SEL Champagne/Palomino

To each his own and I appreciate the amount of hardwork and $$ people put into modifying their car.

But that said, I appreciate the stock look. I think the W126 already looks good for the most part -- More chrome than I like, so a monochromatic 126 with tasteful 16" wheels would be okay.

I don't see the point of spending a lot of money trying to squeeze out more HP either. It's not easily or cheaply available. If I wanted a really fast MB, I would have stressed my bank account and purchased a '92 500E.

I'm all for the stock look, even more so on older models. New ones can look decent if done right. On the older ones, I think you can tastefully modify one, but you have to be careful. But all these blue lights, and clear stuff, and limo tinting, lowering, 18s....I drive a Mercedes, not a Honda Civic. I think all that ruins the look and a perfect classy design in my opinion. But yeah, each to their own.

__________________
'86 420SE Euro
904 Midnight Blue, Gray Velour
Dad bought it new, now I own it.

"A Mercedes-Benz is like a fine wine, it only gets better with age."

100% stock X's two .

Tastefully and proportionally done, modifications can be pleasing to look at, but not my cup. Especially if we're talking old cars (older than any of mine), gotta be stock. In my book, that's the hardest challenge, bring something back to bone stock.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

I think, if its done tastefully (like ALL have been) then a customized W126 can look excellent. The "overdramaticly" customized 126 from Snibble is garbage, (delightfull garbage). I've seen a Sea Foam green 126 on e-bay, and I love that color. I think you customizers should keep it up!

__________________
"If I teach you half of what I forgot, you'll still have enough to compete with most people"

If one wishes to keep things original as possible, they should do themselves a favor and toss out the horrible Becker head unit in the W126, and get a good Blaupunkt or Alpine CD player, and upgrade the speakers. The stereo is a W126 weak point, and should be the first thing to be "upgraded", imho.

16 inch Mercedes 8-hole rims (off of the R129 or W140) look likke they were designed for the W126.

-Sam

I think we all agree the 126 is a very classy car. I too am something of a pureist, having said that, my 126 has 17" AMG's, tint and bunch of goofy chrome trim, all added by the previous owner (Japan Embassy). The additions are acceptable enough that I won't remove them, but I sure would not have added them.

The stereo was the first and only enhancement I have done. The speakers are original and sound ok, but are lacking for a car of quality.

__________________
1987 560 SEL
"A study in the Washington Post determined that women were better communicators than men, I just want to say to the authors of that study "Duh""

Agreed. The older MBs sound systems suck (for lack of a better term). I can live with it for the time being, but it's one the few or only upgrades that will be made.