There is nothing wrong with a well maintained W140 and Cyberdrakon`s comments are not fact merely his opinion.He has never owned one and does not want to which is his choice. I have owned two and just bought my third and my experience is the total opposite of his.
Amusingly the R129 is the SL of the W140 era and in common with all the S/SL incarnations has a lot in common so, if the W140 would treat you bad chances are an earlier R129 would do the same. In reality, if you do your homework and choose carefully either would be great cars and be all the things your SEC was when it worked only better!
Incidentally, there wasn`t a DB produced R129 380SL but there was a 300SL.
A 300 SL (R129) with the M104 would be cool (SL 320 starting in 94). I remember the debut back in 90, the pop up roll bar gave the car a classic suicide machine demeanor.
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1991 300 SE (w126.024/M103.981) 140,000 miles
Well, I own a 96 S600 and owned a 96 SL 600 for a few months.. The SL never gave problems but looking into that engine room was enough to prompt me to move her to a new home ASAP.
My 96 S600 has been OK... 34,000 miles and only needed a new radiator, temp sensors (4) o2 sensors, HVAC control, rear vanity mirror and a washer fluid resevoir.
Seeing as I work on these cars every day I have developed a gross distaste for R129's and W140's.. There are more headaches to be found in those cars then any 126 I have worked on/owned.
Jonathan
__________________ Blue Ridge Mercedes/AMG East Jonathan Hodgman http://www.blueridgemb.com
Enthusiast Service, Restoration & Tuning.
Providing quality parts to enthusiasts all over the world. Located in the Atlanta area
97 C36
96 S600 Euro
94 E420 (Parts)
93 300SE
93 500E (Parts)
91 E300D 2.5
91 560SEC ECE
91 500SL Jap Spec
91 560SEC 226/271
88 300E AMG
89 190E 2.6 5sp
89 300TE
88 560SEC AMG Euro ECE (Parts)
89 560SEC AMG solid lifter
87 Hammer 6.0L 32V
86 560SEL AMG 6.0L 32V
I hate to admit it, but this car beat me. I tried. New engine, new trans, new exhaust, new OE sensor, new fuel pump, new fuel pump relay, the list could go on and on and I don't want to wife to know exactly how much I spend.
When the car stays started, it's frikin awesome. Incredibly fast, too smooth, no smoke, simply incredible.
But, it does die out on occasion. It's not the fuel pump or the relay, not the sensor, not the fuel filter, all of those (along with lots of other stuff has been replaced, including the control moduele).
$4500 (I've got over 6 invested and have receipts for EVERYTHING) Body is perfect, never in an accident, two dents the size of a quarter are on one door, other then that body is perfect.
I purchased a new exhaust system (muffler, cat, two kidney thingys) and replaced the straight pipe because it would be nearly impossible to sell it with no cat. I did a pretest, will pass smog.
Let me know if you are interested.
One catch, if you buy this car you can NEVER EVER post on this forum what was wrong with it. I don't want to know.
I want to get into a 500SL or a 92 and up S class. I love the W126 but it's a whore. Just takes my money and does not return my love.[V]
Did you sell your 560 SEC yet?
What part of Los Angeles are you located in (at)?
anything posted here is opinion as far as anyone else knows...even DCX qoutes are really just their opinion. BUT i have been around a lot of w140s, and my mechanic ALWAYS has a couple w140s parked in his lot with either the engine bay wiring completely ripped out or the entire interior stripped to fix the A/C. On the other hand, the w126s are always in and out in a day (oil changes, sparks, fuses, etcetera).
Furthermore, my uncle had a w140, and we ALMOST bought a w140, which he convinced us not too get.
He had ALL of the common problems (door closers, a/c, broken plastic pieces, eletrical gremlins).
Fat Tony - I've a friend here in Las Vegas interested in the car. When can "we" see it and when do you want to sell it?
Eddie - Could you do a PPI for us?
PM me!
Thanks,
Mike
__________________
Blasphemous Mike
US '87 560SEC with Euro headlights, clear markers, H&Rs, 18x8.5, ATE slotted rotors with semi-metallics, BergWerks FGS, 3.07 Limited Slip.
In progress - FrankenBenz SEC: GM LS6 5.7L engine with custom 4L60E 4-spd overdrive transmission, GM rack and pinion.
One of my goals with the FrankenBenz is to scare women and children, and to have Lexus drivers spill their latte.
Just a note on the W126 vs. W140 question: I stopped at a Stop and Rob the other day and the MB roadside service car was sitting in the parking lot. I got to talking to the guy and he mentioned that the W126 is the car of choice for most of the mechanics that work at MB of Houston. He just mentioned ease of working on the car, simplicity in design compared to later models, and of course the classic MB look to the sedans. I looked very close at a early 90s 500 SEC (W140 series) but was warned off by everyone on MBcoupes.com.
People will have good and bad stories, but I would have to agree with the majority here. There's a reason or two that my father-in-law will NEVER have a W140 as a daily driver, especially the 600's. (Father-in-law owns German Car Service here.) I would also agree with Jonathan's point about growing to dislike the car when seeing them everyday for MAJOR services. Major PITA to work on compared to a W126, as well as very costly. When everything is working on one they would be very enjoyable, but go tell your story to a Mercedes indy mechanic that you're fed up with your W126 and its operating costs and you're considering going to a W140... It would give most Benz mechanics a good chuckle.
__________________
Mike
Old School AMG Junkee
W126C- 6.0L AMG 32v- SOLD!!!
W163
W124
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