For us models 1989
Or 1990 if not equipped with problematic asr

 

Guess who has ASR!!! Hahaha I actually love the damn thing in the snow, keeping the rpm right where it should, but it's not 100% On as the previous owner replaced the rear calipers and didnt get the correct ones where the sensors bolt on. ASR can be a headache if you don't know how it works, or if you wanted an LSD.

 

I am partial to 1991, the last MY as it was the fewest. NON-ASR, and I am aware that some were made in 92, in S Africa.

 

I agree on the 1991 also because of being the last year and being rarer due to the lower production/sales run

"Upgrades" can be made if you can get your hands on the needed parts, Euro headlights and bumpers for starters

 

I'm going to go with 1989. It's got all the updates and options you would want (well, ok, minus the rear seat rolltop), and beyond that I've got a growing feeling that the 80's was a cooler decade than the 90's. Doesn't hurt that my SEC is an '89...

 

I'I've got a growing feeling that the 80's was a cooler decade than the 90's.

Excellent point.

 

Euro '88..

...biased, yes...LSD not ASR, Code 822 option available, year with the most KW...still has a glovebox, stringbacks on the front seats...

 

Owned two euros a '86 500SEC and '90 560SEC euro.

If I were to get a Gen2 euro again, it'd have to be a 86-87 560 ECE version w/ the 4-pin EZL.

I would have peace of mind knowing my car could last for the long term without expensive and hard-to-find 8-pin EZL repairs.

I would do updates to the car for the later 90-91 interior if I needed, but to me, mechanical peace of mind coupled with 300hp ECE trumps all.

 

Bondavi this won't be a problem soon
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w126-s-se-sec-sel-sd/2180361-m117-mods-bluetooth-cis-k-jet.html
Progress on this FrankenCIS & FrankenDPS Kit for KE-Jet has now mastered control of the fuel mapping which now totally tuneable across the whole rev/load range.
The ECU has a lot more functions than just fuel
Mike from Dkubus together with Steve from reanimotion are all over this Bosch system (which by the way is it turns out with a bit of modern technology adapted to it is actually a "very good system")
This assumes a non molested EHA and a good Fuel Head / injector filters are clean / Good POT / no vac leaks / fuel pumps are good / Fuel reg is good / so what is aimed for is the engine is already working fine and tuned correctly as a starting point for the Franken to take over from that point.
It is not designed to mask a poor running engine that needs attention

Next step is working on the ignition mapping and the R&D will be done on that to phase in control of the ignition ( I assume this will eliminate the need for reliance of the EZL for any mapping- and most likely eliminate the need for the outdated EZL altogether)
I have a haltech 2000 which has extensive ignition mapping tuned for a Euro high comp 560 300hp (with the 16/17-24/25 cams as both same profile) and this will most likely be used as a basis reference for them to work from as a starting point.
End result will be a huge leap for the M117 i believe to finally prove how good this engine is in its current form without the need for a full EFI conversion to wake it up

 

It's pretty difficult to find a 86-87 euro in the USA though. Most grey market imports stopped in 1985

 

Yeah. Member DBMB out of AZ has/had a white '86 ECE coupe and posted for sale a year or two ago.

Agreed, it's tough to find gen2 euros that already have a CA history/CARB sticker these days.

 

So 1986+ 560sec's are ok cause they do not have the 8 pin thingy?

 

All usa 560 are ok bc they don't have the 8 pin ezl , you just want to avoid the cars with asr from 90 and 91

We are talking about euro models ,88 and up have the unreliable 8 pin ezl