You know, I couldn't come back to this forum without some grand ol' story, so I titled this one:
"Life" A twisted trip
Get this, remember that 91' 350 SDL that I won on Ebay? Well, the seller decided that the winning bid was too low, so he refused to sell it to me. I tried to get Ebay involved, but I didn't get very far. They said, "Take him to court, we are not a legal justice system". I wasn't prepared to spend all that time and effort for a vehicle... what was I going to do? Have a Judge in another state rule that this person, by contract, has to sell me his car... I'm sure sawdust in the tranny would go a long way for me!!! (who knows what people could do now a days). So technically I am still not a "Bonafied" Benz World member...yet!!
How about that!
Well, life goes on to bigger and better things... so again, "I NEED YOUR HELP"...
I have had some luck finding 300 SDLs around, but they are not in the condition that I would prefer, so I have passed up a few. I don't think I want to restore one, I was looking for one that... well, didn't need much, but fuel and ME!!!!
First, I'm I expecting too much? Is it going to be like a search for the holy grail? I mean, these 300 SDLs run fine, but have small (that's what the sellers tell me, but I feel they're a big deal) things wrong with them. For example, the upholstery is torn, stained, or just looks funky. Another one, you have to wiggle the key after the vehicle is started to turn on the A/C. ???? I figure, these things are just the basics and I'm supposed to trust you on the biggies like the engine and transmission? I don't know.... any comments?? next item...
By total accident I found a Rolls Royce/Bentley/ MB auto body shop by work, so I stopped in and chatted with the manager. (I was hoping he had a lead to a great W126 or something..he didn't) What did happen, I noticed the W140 body style... wow!! He didn't know much about them other than fixing the body work and just kept saying, "They are nice!". Gee thanks! So... does anybody have any inside information about this body style?
I found out the basics:
six cylinder diesel (is it a turbo diesel?), rear wheel drive, and I could only find info on a 300 SD model, no SDLs.. are they not available in these models?
Well check this out... by total accident I found a 1992 Charcoal with brown/ orange interior (kind of a pumpkin color look) 300 SD with 140,000 miles. The seller is asking $12,500 US, but is open for negotiations. Is this a good purchase? Are there any "gremlins" that I should be aware of? Is this the same six cylinder as in the 91 350 SDL? Should I stay away???? OK..next item.. it gets better..
Talking with my wife's uncle about MBs he says, "I'll sell you mine". I know he has a convertible, but don't know what type. I check it out...
A beautiful, pristine 87 sort of a metallic blue with grey interior 560SL with 138, 000 miles. He has owned it since 1992 and has only put 17,000 miles since purchase... oh yeah he is the second owner!!!!!
He says, "I'll let her go for $14,000 US". I look at my wife and she says "If you want it, I DON"T CARE!!!!" I almost fainted!!!! Well, we take it for a test drive and I noticed a few things wrong, but I don't want to pass up this vehicle if I just "won the local lottery" with this car. I checked the price around on Ebay and Autotrader and it seems high, but I REALLY don't know anything about this model. Other than it is a GAS model and it only takes PREMIUM gasoline!!! ouch! But again, it is a cool roadster and well, I'd look SUPER cool driving it. But, it definitely is not a S-class Benz.
Things that I "heard" and saw "wrong" with the 560SL:
- A/C doesn't work... he said it did work at some point, but didn't fix it because "It's a convertible, why do you need A/C?" Maybe when it gets HOT...I don't know?
- When the wheels were turning or turned (ie. making a turn or going into a parking spot) I heard a faint "clatter" as if the CV joints were going bad... does this vehicle have CV joints? what was I hearing??
- The radio doesn't work... here goes the story:
One day (about 2 years ago) he got a jump start from somebody, he thinks Mr. X, connected the cables wrong and blew out a relay. How did he know the relay was blown? The RPM indicator would move all crazy and didn't work properly. He took it in to the dealer, they said a relay was blown and it's all good now. Well, the radio didn't work, so he got a code?? and it works, but no sound comes out of the speakers. Since he doesn't drive the car (other than on warm sunny Sundays) this latest battery went dead, he bought a new one (last week)... now he doesn't know/remember the code to the radio and doesn't remember the last time he even used the radio!!! Again, he says "Its a convertible, I didn't feel I needed a radio!!" Well, I need my music when I drive!
He thinks it's all related some how (the relay and the radio)
- Last item I found wrong:
When you press the antenna up/down button a fuse blows... now he doesn't know what the fuse controls, because the antenna still went up when the radio worked. He replaced the fuse, but has not pushed the button ever again (I guess it's like the button that controls a nuke is some silo somewhere??) The "mystery button" will strike again....
Also there is a "defrost button" next to the "evil-fuse-popper" button.. he has no clue what that controls as the soft top doesn't have defrost lines???
Are these minor things, or big ticket items... what about the price... too much, buy it and don't look back....
You just won the MB lottery???
Well, ANY and ALL comments will surely be appreciated. Again, Thanks for your support.
If you think w126s are money pits try keeping up an r107 (the 560 SL)! $$$$$$$$
Like the man said, you can get a nearly pristine w126 for $8k easy. For maybe another two thousand you can get a coupe (560 SEC) which will look great and be a much more reliable car than the r107. I don’t know anything about the w140, perhaps you could post in that forum if you’re serious about going that route. But remember I’m also bias. [:D][;)]
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1991 300 SE (w126.024/M103.981) 140,000 miles
Also, the eBay thing was a bummer – it’s like the Wild West. Maybe it’s just as well, the car may not have been worth it (nothing wrong with sour grapes[;)]). To find a w126 diesel in the condition you want is going to be difficult – and take a long time. Most of us find something mechanically sound and free of rust and spend a few years doing a cosmetic restore.
I think what you need to do is find what you want. I think it is kind of foolish to look for one that needs nothing, "just you and fuel" How are you going to get to know your car? How are you going to fix it the way you want it? No matter what car you buy you will have to fix SOMETHING. Whether it is the power antannae or a piece of trim somewhere. That is the beauty of the cars and this website.
1) do a little research on specific mercedes models on sites like edmunds, carpoint, through google, etc etc etc. this forum also has lots of great info, both in the member forums as well as in other sections, so you rally shouldn't be asking us whether the w140 only comes in a 6-cylinder turbo diesel version (it doesn't).
2) research used-car pricing and reliability information on sites like kbb.com and edmunds and carpoint. you can also try used-car sites like cars.com and autotrader.com to get a sense for the current asking prices for a particular model in your geographic area. to me, $14k is ridiculously high for an r107, but it's one of those classics that some people are willing to plunk down a lot of money for. ultimately, it's how happy you feel about your purchase that will determine whether you just won the mercedes lottery or got ripped off...
anyway, i agree with the posters above that getting a solid w126 or w123 would be safest, and also that no matter what used car you buy, you need to expect some problems to crop up. hopefully once you're armed with more information, you can make a better decision about what problems you're willing to put up with, and how much money you're willing to spend.
you rally shouldn't be asking us whether the w140 only comes in a 6-cylinder turbo diesel version (it doesn't). [quote]
I know that the w140 comes in gas versions also, what I was asking is whether the diesel engine was a turbo diesel. I'm assuming they are all turbos, but I really don't know. That is the kind of information that I'm trying to find out. I know there is a w 140 350 Turbo Diesel model, but does that mean the 300 SD model is a non-turbo Diesel?
I have spent a lot of time and energy researching the w126 models because I like the body style, but I also like the w140 models, but just happen to be a bit under-informed. Right now, in life, I really cannot dedicate too much time, researching the w140, thus my reliance on your knowledge. Like I said, by total accident I ran into this w140 seller, but not knowing enough to really feel comfortable with the sale, I decided to post here. Now a month from now, I'm sure I'll be on the up and up about w140s, but this seller will not have this w140 a month from now.
Oh yeah, about the "perfect" w126... I don't expect the vehicle to have been kept in a vacumm for 15 years or anything, but rust and heavily "USED" candidates, give me an indication of a lot more work (ie. MONEY PITS) than l would want to start dealing with.. right off the bat.
I have seen these around, they are sharp vehicles. The guy that is selling the w 140 just happens to have one of these for sale also. Any extra info about these?
They do look very sharp, I even thought (when I was checking it out) that it was a convertable model or something. Maybe, I'll look again and see... Thanks for the thoughts..
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