After tiring of looking at several Benzes that were not quite as the owners claimed I stopped at the shop where I get my 1984 300TD serviced. The TD was having some new halfshafts installed; sigh.
Anyway, the mechanic that manages the shop was fussing over a 1987 560SEL and the car looked familiar. Turns out it is HIS car and he is the second owner. The first owner bought it from a MB dealer and it was dealer serviced for most of its life until my mechanic bought it. The service history is 100% documented; ie, every oil change, all scheduled maintenance, unscheduled repairs, and so on. There is one very small ding on the passenger side that is hard to see except in the light. It has a in dash cd player (alpine) installed with the stock speakers. Colour is champagne/brown. Everything works; it has a new starter, alternator, brake pads, and a recent major (120k) service. Tires are about 50% and everything works on the car. I drove it for about 30 minutes; very fast, part throttle downshifts (smoooooth), and suspension works fine. Acceleration from 60 to 90 was not quite as good as my friend's 500e but damn good anyway.
The car has 125,000 miles on the clock and is 100% a California car. The owner says 10 grand will do the trick; no less. ONly problem I can find with the car is that there is a lot of noise coming from the rear seat/door panel area when I took it on a bumpy mountain type road. The noise was, I assume, simply from the pieces rubbing together. Mechanic says most of them do it eventually and regular application of silicone treatment helps a bunch.
I think the car is worth 10k; what does anybody else out there think?
If you have the money and believe that the car is indeed 100% perfect (with the timing cha...
If you have the money and believe that the car is indeed 100% perfect (with the timing chain and the guides replaced already) go for it. It may be a little expensive, but you are shopping for a benz not a corolla and be willing to pay extra for a nice example that will bring you years of joyous driving pleasure. You will want to take it to every dinner party, trust me , I am passing through that phase.
[:)][:)]
BTW for comparison I bought my 1989 420SEL (in Texas, that has some of the cheapest cars) for $6500. When similar car were going for $4000.
Sohaib
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Education is what is left when what was learnt has been lost!
I already have a pretty good understanding of how fast a couple of grand can disappear in ...
I already have a pretty good understanding of how fast a couple of grand can disappear in Otto's (or Fritz's) shop on a car that requires attention of such complexity as the w126 v8 models. It is quite obvious to me that a 560sel will cost me quite a bit more to keep on the road "by the book" that my current w123 300TD.
I have to check on the timing chain, though; did not think to discuss that with Jerry (the curent owner). I"ll have to get on that today.
according to kelley blue book, that 560SEC is worth in the ballpark of $5,600 (at least in new york). of course, the asking price will vary based on what other comparable cars are going for, how desparate the seller is to get rid of the car, etc. etc. but if you want some bargaining power, you may want to go to www.kbb.com, enter the required info, and print out the results to take with you when you go back to negotiate.
btw, a good-looking used car's condition is ALWAYS "good" -- never "excellent". for a used car to be excellent, it'd have to be concours-level (i.e. so gorgeous that you'd be afraid to drive it).
Well, the car in question is a 560sel and ten grand for the car is not unreasonable in the...
Well, the car in question is a 560sel and ten grand for the car is not unreasonable in the San Francisco Bay area. I could probably have it at 9500 and that is it. This is a mercedes trained technician's car and, while not ready for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, it is a lovely car in beautiful shape. There is no way one is getting a fully documented 560sel in this kind of condition it he bay area for the kind of prices you are quoting. And, yes; I've run all the various blue book numbers as well as perused all the different ads. This car also just had a recent starter, water pump, and alternator installed as well as a complete tuneup. Were I to buy the car Jerry would install a timing change and perform the balance of the major service as install a new leather seat back cover for the driver seat as it is a little worn in the usual spot on the entrance side.
But, it is a moot point; decided I did not need a 5000 poung pseudo limousine. No matter how much I wanted the car a stationwagon is more practical so I put a deposit on a 1991 300TE. Pity; I really liked what happended at 60mph when I floored it for about fifteen seconds; much more dramatic that a 300TE in similar circumstances. That is a one owner car, dealer serviced, and with every darn detailed work order. New smog pump, axle, blower, recent major service; lotta stuff done to the car. Only one little ding and the white paint looks as new as does the dark blue interior which is perfect...everything work correctly. Now I just gotta pull that crappy sony changer out and put the alpine stuff in.
I really wish I could afford a two car garage here in Oakland so I could buy both cars and keep them.....space is too tight here.
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