[Parsifal]

Allow me to introduce myself...

my name is Paul, I'm a 17 year old High school senior and plan on attending either Florida State or Oberlin Conservatory (I'm a french horn performance major). I have just blown my life savings on a 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEC EURO (with catalytic converter

It is in need of some repairs...I bought it with 92,000 miles, and I can honestly say that it is the best car I have ever driven. I love it.

However, there are some issues (mostly cosmetic) that I would like to nip in the bud. First, the dials are a little bit yellow-ish, I cannot get rid of the yellowish tint with water...what do you guys recommend?
Second, the little plastic strip on the A/C temp controls are starting to peel off, is this normal? BTW this is a florida car.
The co-pilot seat belt extender doesn't...uh...extend. How can one fix this? I am a DIY type (money issues mostly...as well as love for the car)
The headliner is sagging a little bit...I would like to fix that, and the weaterstripping is worn (urgent, in my opinion). LASTLY, the passenger side door is slightly uneven with the body...forcing you to slam it hard in order to shut it...how does one fix that?! I am not very affluent...so I would like to do it myself. If anyone could lend me some assistance...perhaps even emailing me a copy of the service manual or something...I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Long live the 560

 

[cyberdrakon]

Congrats! how'd you get a euro 560 in florida? lucky guy.

Also, lucky for you all those issues you have have been discussed in depth and resolved several times. Hit the search button, type in some keywords, and select the w126 forum.

Also, join us over at mbcoupes.com Search the archive, and then email us if you have any more questions, we have over 400 SECs.

 

[jdc1244]

Welcome, Paul.

I take it you enjoy Wagner? (I’m partial to Lohengrin myself.)

I’d go to Oberlin if at all possible.

If you’re referring to the gauge needles being yellowish, the only fix for that is to paint them bright orange again or buy new. Because the sunroofs are always open in Florida the subtropical sun fades them quickly.

 

[Dr.Grillz]

Hi Paul... a Euro '88 is a rare find in the US! Post pictures! If your car didn't have cats.. it would produce 300hp![:0][8D]

 

[cnd]

Welcome, Paul. []

Here's a link for the headliner repair:

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/chwilka/drooping_headliner_repair.htm

 

[ScrapingScrap]

Snibble - 1/26/2005 6:53 AM

...it would produce 300hp![:0][8D]

...and bloody good fun it is too, as I am just learning!

Some Benz math:

Cat-less 300hp 560SEC + Limited slip diff = big cheesey grins and plenty of sideways action...

This concludes today's lesson.

 

[Classified]

Check these guys out, great prices for someone on a budget.
performanceproducts.com

 

[Parsifal]

I will have pictures of my car up soon. Turns out it is a very rare specimen, as it is not only European but one of the few cars made in the "Havana Brown" color combination. I'll post pictures here, let me know what you guys think would be the most urgent upgrade/repair.

thanks a bunch

 

[alydon]

Welcome to the SEC fold, young man. You are well on your way to becoming an MB fanatic.

I followed the excellent headliner repair procedure previously referenced.

I re-hung my existing headliner fabric. If I had to do over again, I would buy replacement headliner fabric from www.worlduph.com and use it. I also recommend having an assistant help when you are laying the new fabric over the headliner backing board - it is VERY difficult to lay the fabric without bubbles or wrinkles by yourself. Be sure to spray both the backside of the fabric and the board and let dry to a tack (don't lay fabric immediately after spraying - the adhesive will bleed thru).

Have fun!

Al Lydon
87 560SEC
96 SL320
61 220SEb

 

[Starry Night]

Paul,
Congrats on your new purchase and welcome to the forum. I recall the day I purchased my first mercedes back in 1987. I thought I was young back then to own one, 24 years old. Of course you get looks from your friends and or course older people. But hey, I have always wanted to own one. It all starts when you read the history of Mercedes and how form follows fuction, and engineering follows backwards engineering, then you understand how they are built, how they run and how they last. Especially the 126's. Then it's the... I HAVE GOT TO OWN ONE OF THESE CARS syndrom... Then it never ends... You will never want to own another car except Mercedes. I currently own 5 (the 5th is my parts car for my sel). Sold my other 2.

I would suggest purchasing either the Service Manual for the 126 body (usually on ebay) or the Service Manuals on a CD ( books converted to CD on ebay or on the web). Also, find yourself a good mercedes mechanic for the jobs out of your control. Try to avoid the dealers, they price gouge. I found my mechanic first prior to purchasing my Mercedes (you have to know when to say when, if there is a problem you can't fix). Hamet(father) was the top Mechanic and shop forman for Manhatan Mercedes in NYC prior to opening his shop with his son 25 years ago. His son Emir, is only 5 years younger than me. I would have to say, they are like family. They are one of the most honest Mercedes repair shops around.

I hope you enjoy your new SEC. Just remember to make alot of money, because you will alway want another BENZ in the future.

 

[ScrapingScrap]

So how does insurance work over there with regard to a 17 year old driving such a powerful car?

I have wanted an SEC since I was 18. I am now 29 and even now can only just afford the insurance.

A 17 year is uninsurable on such a car here. Simply nobody will cover you. At 17, it is now quite normal to pay well over 1000 pounds ($1800usd) to insure a little 1-liter car such as a mini.

All cars are rated here from insurance group 1-20, so a Mini for example might be group 1 or 2. A 560SEC - yup, it's a group 20, so it will cost the same to insure as a ferrari or Aston Martin. It's all just crazy.

Good luck on yours though - when are we gonna see some pictures?

 

[cyberdrakon]

For my area at least, it's mostly driven by age group, then safety, then stealability (is that a word?). HP and size don't make a large difference (only turbos and superchargers will significantly increase rates).

This car is ranked as VERY safe, so it's not too expensive.

 

[jdc1244]

I don’t know if it’s a word but as eddie noted if the car is on the top of the most stolen/vandalized list it’s going to cost. I don’t know about a coupe, safe, yes, but a teenager driving a V8 two door car may pay a premium – you may not get hurt but you may hurt someone else. There are deductions for air bags, ABS, drivers’ education classes and the like but age is a big factor.

 

[Parsifal]

Well...here they are!

I am currently replacing the sagging headliner
please excuse the wires
I think it is a lovely color combination (I am told that havana brown is a rather rare combo) with a butternut interior.

Enjoy!

Any suggestions as to what I can do to improve the car would be greatly appreciated...I want to get some AMG monoblock 18 inches and some clear euro headlights. Any ideas where I can purchase these items?

Thanks.

 

[Dr.Grillz]

Awesome car! You have the pre-1986 SEC US lights. Ugly in my oppinion. Good move to plan on purchasing the Euro lights. They come up on ebay from time to time... keep your eyes pealed. I recommend getting used, but in good shape, original Bosch lights than the cheap after market lights. They are better built and when it comes to changing out the bulb and aiming the lights, MUCH easier on the Bosch. Also, it looks like you have Euro headlight wipers at one point. Check to see if there is a motor for them underneath the headlights. If so, get some wiper arms at the dealership and when you have the Euro headlights.. it will look slick!

Since this car has been brought to the US.. see what was done to the exhaust system. These cars should be able to produce up to 300HP. However.. I am waging something was done to the exhaust and it will have less.

Great find.. since you don't see many post-1986 Euro imports in the US. All the greymarket cars seem to be the 1985 and older. Enjoy it and keep it clean!

 

[MRTIKKET]

Very nice! Are the door panel inserts cloth?

 

[ScrapingScrap]

Wow, beautiful car there. I just love the colour.

I guess it's a German import looking at the words on the cruise control stick (my German import was the same), but it has a mph speedo, which only the British cars in Europe would have had, as everywhere else in Europe use kilometers. So I guess this car has had a lot of work done to get it legal in the US. Good to see it still has it's Euro bumpers.

Good luck with it. It look s like you have a fantastic motor there.

 

[ScrapingScrap]

Oh, if it is a German '88 model, it would have had that catalyst exhaust from new.

Still it's only a few bolts to remove it, eh?! []

 

[white500se]

Parsifal - 2/6/2005 7:51 AM

I want to get some AMG monoblock 18 inches and some clear euro headlights. Any ideas where I can purchase these items?

Thanks.

Good lord, I know I'm getting old but whats whith this need for 18" rims? You have a beautlful car that is extremely classy, why ruin it by slapping on big garish wheels? Enjoy it for what it is, or slap on some 16" AMG wheels like the Penta (see the "this is nice" thread page 3). There is a 560SEC loocally that has these wheels and it looks very sharp. As far as I'm concerned save the big wheels for cars that need to be pimped to look good, Mercedes looked that way right from the factory, just my two cents worth. Regardless, enjoy the car and I hope you saved a little for repairs[]

John
'80 500se
'80 300sd

 

[white500se]

You know I should add that I'm not against modified MBs, seeing as how I own one [:I]. I'm just a traditionalist I guess, stock or AMG (real or nicely done fake) or Brabus for me. Personally I think your car is perfect the way it is except for the headlights.

John
'80 500se
'80 300sd