[edincer]

I've been looking for a w126 for some months now. My preference was a (for tax purposes, pre 1984) 500SE with HPF, but that's been a difficult combination to find so I was open to any pre 1984 w126 with HPF. Well I couldn't find that as well so I targeted a white Swiss 1983 500SE but without HPF or a sunroof. It's good, but doesn't have the oomph factor. See here for photos and here for vin query. It's imported to NL in 2009; 1 guy owned it for 2 years, another for 9 years, and it's been on sale at one company first and the current selling company bought it from them. The paper trail of maintenance isn't there between 1999 and 2009, and it only includes the regular oil changes etc, seller doesn't know what (chain etc) is changed when if any.

About that time, even though I was only looking for w126s, I came across a daimler double six for the same amount of money. Now that really seems very clean and tempting. See pics here. If one believes the odometer, it's 30000 kilometers versus the 300k kilometer 500SE. But this is a jaguar from 80s, so that temptation can be the sirens calling me underwater. It's imported to NL in 2018 and had 6 owners in this short amount of time, last 5 of them holding it for 3 months each. I don't know if this is alarming or normal.

Maybe it's a biased place to ask this question, but this is somewhere I trust: which one should I go for?

 

[wilson1010]

Jag from the 80's! Cool. Does it come with a tow truck?

 

[MBL87560SEC]

See?

Definitely a biased place to ask!

I might look some more if you're unsure about the 500.. Your reasoning is sound there too.

The Daimler... No pics from under the 'bonnet' and the dealer images clearly show a charging issue at 10-11v and the light on.. etc..

What else lurks below the surface there?

Anyways, good luck with your searching!

MBL

Ian may chime in later too..

 

[edincer]

I bought some online reports, the Daimlers previous owner bought for 7500 and sold for 13500 in 5 months, he maybe did some work on it? Also the country of import was Italy.

 

[edincer]

The seller is taking the 500SE to MOT check this Monday, I also asked him to get the timing chain and guides to be checked, and if possible (I don't think so) valve guides. There isn't any rust at the usual suspect places, and I'll check the AC when I go to haggle.

Thanks for noticing the charging issue with the Daimler. There's actually 1 photo under the bonnet, but that's all. I'm also attaching a report for it.

 

[wilson1010]

What does it mean if someone is "biased?"



If someone is biased, it means they have a preference or inclination for or against something or someone that may influence their judgment or actions in a way that is unfair or not objective.

 

[MBL87560SEC]

What does it mean if someone is "biased?"

If someone is biased, it means they have a preference or inclination for or against something or someone that may influence their judgment or actions in a way that is unfair or not objective.

I took that as a simple concept that folks on here will be biased towards the Mercedes..

All these years on BW, I know I am for sure

 

[tusabes]

I love both jaguars and Mercedes, ( and Cadillacs and Bentleys, etc. ). And I own all of them. But it’s very true, 1980s jaguar will be nothing but problems. If you want a car you could actually drive, choose the Mercedes. If you want a car, that’s good to look at when it decides to run, choose the Jaguar/Daimler.

There is another consideration, at least in the USA as I don’t know about European values, but the old Jaguar and Diamler sedans have extremely poor resale value, whereas the Mercedes market is strong.

 

[wilson1010]

I took that as a simple concept that folks on here will be biased towards the Mercedes..

All these years on BW, I know I am for sure

I like to think of this as discernment as opposed to bias.

I know of Jag's of the 80's. And, they may be better than Jags of the 70's which were a little better than Jags of the 60's, often lovely to look at but still not as good as a well tuned AMC Gremlin.

 

[RobTheMod300sd]

What is HPF?

I have a 500SE, and also a later Jag saloon, a 2003 XJ8 Sport. Have driven and worked on a few of the 70s-80s Versions, The V12 puts me off. I’d pick a 500SE over those. The later type like my 2003 (the very last of the 1988 body style, not an aluminum 2004 new body)… I’d probably take that one over the 500SE if I were forced to sell one and keep the other. Lovely cars to look at and drive, and no real huge repairs needed since our purchase in 2015.

 

[edincer]

What is HPF?

It's the hydropneumatic suspension with auto leveling

 

[FatSal]

Why would you want one with HPF? It's nothing but trouble and parts are NLA. Every family-owned Benz with HPF from the W108 we had ever owned spent more time in the shop than on the road. Forget about it.

 

[edincer]

Why would you want one with HPF? It's nothing but trouble and parts are NLA. Every family-owned Benz with HPF from the W108 we had ever owned spent more time in the shop than on the road. Forget about it.

I like the tech and want to experience the magic carpet ride

 

[MBL87560SEC]

I like to think of this as discernment as opposed to bias.

I know of Jag's of the 80's. And, they may be better than Jags of the 70's which were a little better than Jags of the 60's, often lovely to look at but still not as good as a well tuned AMC Gremlin.

I take your points…

I fell for Jags at an early age, not yet 20 years old. I mean, who could resist?
This is the only surviving pic I have of my then 6 year old 3.8 MK-2.
Surely ticked all the boxes for me at the time...
1966

1969 My 3rd Jag, a lovely 1963 E-Type 3.8 Coupe. My friend wrote this after one spirited open road drive.

160 MPH

One beautiful summer morning a little over forty years ago, I was driving out of Boston on Route 2 to work at my very first job after art sc...

ontheconnecticut.blogspot.com

M

 

[Stewpot]

As much as I love my Mercedes, I take your @MBL87560SEC point about Jags. See my off-topic post on my father's Mark V, he also had a 1959 3.4 MK II, also white, which was an outstanding car. By that time I was legal and drove my mother from Paris to St. Tropez overnight on the old N. 1 (I think that was it). We pulled over to sleep and later that morning went to Cannes to put it on a ship back to the States. He also had the XK-150 which he sold me and I almost forgave him for not selling me his cottage in the Cotswalds. That one indeed fell into @wilson1010 observation, but when it ran well, it really ran. I always lusted after an E-type, but the stars never aligned.

 

[tusabes]

I take your points…

I fell for Jags at an early age, not yet 20 years old. I mean, who could resist?
This is the only surviving pic I have of my then 6 year old 3.8 MK-2.
Surely ticked all the boxes for me at the time...
1966 View attachment 2814707

1969 My 3rd Jag, a lovely 1963 E-Type 3.8 Coupe. My friend wrote this after one spirited open road drive.

160 MPH

One beautiful summer morning a little over forty years ago, I was driving out of Boston on Route 2 to work at my very first job after art sc...

ontheconnecticut.blogspot.com

M

Wow Malcolm, what an amazing story. Clearly you’ve been an enthusiast for longer than I’ve been alive! These are the stories people never forget, and I’m glad your friend immortalized it on the Internet for all of us to enjoy.

 

[wilson1010]

I had a white 3.4 and it had so much trouble we scrapped the motor for a 327 chev and switched as much of the electric from positive ground to negaive as we could at the time. But it wasn't that experience that soured me. It was the parade of Jag vehicles with Smiths and Lucas electric that would not tolerate a misty day combined with my cousin's two identical XJ6's that I pushed, jumped, towed, fiddled, and wasted some very good 90's clubbing time back when I was a free man that convinced me that they are shite, of the dog depositor brand. I do regret leaving that canary yellow 1969 XKE Coupe behind at the dealer because I thought my $3900 would be bettter spent on law school. I was probably mistaken.

 

[MBL87560SEC]

Wow Malcolm, what an amazing story. Clearly you’ve been an enthusiast for longer than I’ve been alive! These are the stories people never forget, and I’m glad your friend immortalized it on the Internet for all of us to enjoy.

Thank you tusabes.

To quote my late friend & mentor Alan Bemis who had a large white banner over his desk with its legend emblazoned in RED: "The Older I Get, The Better I Used to Be".
That was over 30 years ago.. and I still smile....

M

 

[edincer]

I think we're buying the 500SE this weekend.

 

[John350]

"The Older I Get, The Better I Used to Be"

"The Older I Get, The Better Faster I Used to Be"