Student Shedding: My W140 S-Class.
Discussion
Soupie69uk said:
Saw a blue s280 on George St during the week and been on my mind ever since. Been reading a lot of threads on them over the past few nights including yours and I am Very jealous of your big barge. Would love one of these a d2 shape A8 or a LS430 for some casual wafting!
Cheers,
Paul
Cheers Paul!Cheers,
Paul
Interesting to hear you've seen another about... there are tonnes of W124s/R129s etc around my flat, but no W140s that I've seen yet!
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Take the plunge on a big Benz, been a great decision so far!
Quick update: car has been pretty faultless thus far, and a great companion for this summer, 2k miles passed with nothing too much to report!
Work done so far:
Fuel leak repaired: was just a poorly located hose on the filter so cost £0!
Window Regulator repaired passenger rear side cost £22.99.
Fuel costs... we don't mention
Car has come back with me to Edinburgh now, will be interesting to see how it deals with city living!
Pics at the jump.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
Work done so far:
Fuel leak repaired: was just a poorly located hose on the filter so cost £0!
Window Regulator repaired passenger rear side cost £22.99.
Fuel costs... we don't mention
Car has come back with me to Edinburgh now, will be interesting to see how it deals with city living!
Pics at the jump.
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
http://www.benzworld.org/forums/attachment.php?att...
993kimbo said:
How true is that.
I have just purchased a 1998 C Class Barge and the ride is better than any newer BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, or Jeep I've ever owned before.
Way, way better.
I have just purchased a 1998 C Class Barge and the ride is better than any newer BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, or Jeep I've ever owned before.
Way, way better.
indeedyso, low profile tyres ruin everything; was in an F01 7 Series the otherday and the same thing applied, in spite of the air springs etc still crashed around town. Good luck with the W202, like a W140 in a sensible package! harrykul said:
Yep, an 80s/90s Benz on chunky profile tyres is way more suited to our roads than the latest premium offerings. I live in a rural area and my s124 is so much more comfortable than he wife's f11 5er. On a number of times I've felt harsh bumps that weren't noticeable in the Merc. A 140 such as yours would pulverise them!
Equally true here on Edinburgh's cobbled and ill-maintained streets... small wonder one sees so many 124s/140s etc! Have been used to driving on the same streets in cars such as Mum's F31 with 18" alloys; feels like a different surface altogether in the big barge!
(http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1487388&r=31386022&hm=377853&mid=377853#31386022)
Flipside is that it's a bit of a rolly-polly pudding in the bends... reckon the top heavy 140 would be easily flipped over if pushed too hard...
993kimbo said:
All down to tyre profiles and wheels sizes i reckon.
I have a 2005 E-Class estate with 16" wheels and 55 profile tyres which doesn't ride nearly as well as my 1998 202 with 15" wheels and 65 profile tyres. I don't even want to drive it any more. I must be getting old.
Quite, simple fact that a big bag of air between you and the road is more likely to produce a soft ride than a small one and a larger lump of metal.I have a 2005 E-Class estate with 16" wheels and 55 profile tyres which doesn't ride nearly as well as my 1998 202 with 15" wheels and 65 profile tyres. I don't even want to drive it any more. I must be getting old.
Aunt has a 2006 E280 on Yildiz wheels (16") and reckon the same applies a bit there... noticeably harsher.
All this said, W140 body control is poor at best... hopefully a W202 would be a bit more nimble.
Lol dw I get that feeling too; am only 20 and quite like a cushy ride!
ClaphamGT3 said:
Top shedding!
Every time you get into any S Class at all, you are immediately reminded why each model was, in its day, the best car in the world.
Be warned though; once you have had one, you'll never be truly happy without one!
Thank-you very much!Every time you get into any S Class at all, you are immediately reminded why each model was, in its day, the best car in the world.
Be warned though; once you have had one, you'll never be truly happy without one!
I know, will be a struggle if ever have to go back to something sensible! The attention to detail even on a lowly S280 is just amazing...
JAGS said:
Agreed.
We have had an S class in the household since I was a kid. Nothing else will do.
Amongst other smaller Mercs, we have had/have:
W126 300SE
W210 E300 (S Class comfy it was not)
W220 S320 CDI
W221 S320L CDI
Guess what will be bought after the W221? That's right, a W222.
Sadly missed the W140 gen by going for the W210 E. A decision that was much regretted.
Top Shedding OP. Enjoy.
I had a Merc 190E during my time at University. An S Class would have been awesome!
Ouch, W210 was an error! Arguably the time where gap between S and E was the biggest! Still an impressive repertoire... 190E would have been great as a student bus, and probably a bit less financially crippling!We have had an S class in the household since I was a kid. Nothing else will do.
Amongst other smaller Mercs, we have had/have:
W126 300SE
W210 E300 (S Class comfy it was not)
W220 S320 CDI
W221 S320L CDI
Guess what will be bought after the W221? That's right, a W222.
Sadly missed the W140 gen by going for the W210 E. A decision that was much regretted.
Top Shedding OP. Enjoy.
I had a Merc 190E during my time at University. An S Class would have been awesome!
S600L_B6 said:
S600L_B6 said:
Hey JMC, been reading your post..good move, I've just acquired a S600 LWB W140!! Gee it's BIG lol.
Will be updating with pics and progress in the weeks to come. It's a 1997, blue with two tone tan and cream leather, fully load top spec, 52,000miles on clock and is in pretty good shape! But not to my standards so it'll be getting gutted and re done! :-)
Oh and it's the V12, de-badged!Will be updating with pics and progress in the weeks to come. It's a 1997, blue with two tone tan and cream leather, fully load top spec, 52,000miles on clock and is in pretty good shape! But not to my standards so it'll be getting gutted and re done! :-)
Cheers A
Lugy said:
I wouldn't bet on it, mine was driven enthusiastically on many occasions, it's much better than the specs would have you believe!
Very true, have found as time has gone on it seems to keep itself upright fairly well despite initial roll! One thing that hasn't helped mine is that I found out the tires are pushing over 16 years old! Bumped into the son of the original owner, said the car had been sitting for numerous years, on inspection tyres so old they don't even have DOT markings! Off to the fitters this week... 
Slow said:
Just like to point out this is being advertised by PH on facebook now 
So it is! Cheers for the heads up! leccyt said:
Awesome. I am a big fan of this approach.
My luxury shed during student days was a Saab 9000! £400 and it was mega.
A 9000 would be decent! One lives on my street... a real Swede turbo brick! My luxury shed during student days was a Saab 9000! £400 and it was mega.
pSyCoSiS said:
A fantastic student shed that will outlive its owners, let alone most other cars!
I am itching to get my 1992 600 SEL (the full-fat 408 bhp version) back on the road.
It's currently sitting on it's ass due to a failed rear shock absorber (will be giving carl at W140 spares a call very soon!).
Ooh a 600! Startlingly quick, lots to go wrong though! Mine has a bit of the the usual suspension sag at the back... could yours be something to do with the self-levelling system perhaps? Mine doesn't have it as relatively 'poverty spec'! If you pop a sports exhaust on a 600SEL it sounds like a Zonda too...I am itching to get my 1992 600 SEL (the full-fat 408 bhp version) back on the road.
It's currently sitting on it's ass due to a failed rear shock absorber (will be giving carl at W140 spares a call very soon!).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oN8pHJ3sQ0Q
RoverP6B said:
Love the W140, last of the truly classy S-classes. Also saw a lovely W126 in Southampton yesterday. An S600 and a 560SEL are both on my bucket list...
Thanks, I like to agree! Not a W220 fan so much... last two have picked up the mantle a bit though... W126s are lovely things, usually not as well specced, but the definitive S-Class to look at! E65Ross said:
Good work!
I managed to get a BMW E38 728i when I was a student.
That feeling you get driving round in a big barge when everyone else has to suffer in lesser vehicles is priceless!
I do love a W140.... They're HUGE!
Nice work! Sounds a similar affair to mine haha! It's great fun until you have to fill it up (!)... it is a bit of a beast to park as rear visibility is poor, no idea where the back of the car is! I managed to get a BMW E38 728i when I was a student.
That feeling you get driving round in a big barge when everyone else has to suffer in lesser vehicles is priceless!
I do love a W140.... They're HUGE!
skyrover said:
Pretty much my mentality when I bought a Vauxhall Omega as my first car when I was 18 and sick of taking the bus to college.
The only downside is that all of a sudden your mates make you the designated driver
Very true! Somehow been pushed into driving a bunch to Shropshire on Friday! The only downside is that all of a sudden your mates make you the designated driver
Slow said:
Tell me about it, in college at the moment and people have things like new corsa's financed etc. We still all end up in the Range Rover due to the size
Exactly! Trouble is fitting four fully grown uni students in a Corsa or equivalent is deeply uncomfortable! That said, not much of a middle seat in the W140... all about comfort for four rather large passengers!Edited by ajmcampbell on Tuesday 1st December 17:02
FIREBIRDC9 said:
One question ,
How on earth did you afford the Insurance?
When i was a student , i was Quoted nearly 3 grand for a 2001 1.0 Polo!
Lovely Mercedes regardless
Insurance was surprisingly OK! Sometimes it depends on how the model of car is driven, S280s are pretty slow old things and usually the preserve of OAPs, if I'm honest, so not much in the way of accidents, it follows!How on earth did you afford the Insurance?
When i was a student , i was Quoted nearly 3 grand for a 2001 1.0 Polo!
Lovely Mercedes regardless
Slow said:
Depends on your postcode generally. Ive had this Range Rover since I was 20 with 6 points and not paid over 1k a year for it.
This undoubtably also helps, was surprised at how cheap it was for Edinburgh city centre however... guess too many people around for it to be nicked! V12 AMG said:
Aged 18, my 190E 2.6 was cheaper to insure than the Peugeot 306 it replaced.
^ Exactly... mine should be even better if I keep it another year as will dip below the 20 year classic insurance threshold! RoverP6B said:
Typical student hatches are more expensive for students to insure than old-man barges students almost never go for. Looked into this many a time with my sons. My old P6 3500S was going to cost a quarter to insure of what a 1.2 Punto was going to cost even with nearly triple the engine displacement.
A V8 P6! Now there's an idea for what's next! Might have had an SD1 3500 if there were any left! pSynrg said:
Hmmm, yeah, typical student story.
Only having a 2 port garage in which to store ones fleet is such hardship indeed.
My heart can bleed no more...
Ouch! Bitter indeed... garage is ordinarily reserved for Mum and Dad's cars... photo was a one off. The Merc lives out on the street at uni... besides this point when did I ever ask for sympathy?! Equally, that W140 is a result of a summer's worth of full-time slog to buy and run, so don't point the rich kid cannon at me please! Only having a 2 port garage in which to store ones fleet is such hardship indeed.
My heart can bleed no more...
RoverP6B said:
Oh, give over. I'd love to have the space he does and he's young enough to be my son. I'm not bitter about it. Kids from affluent backgrounds have to drive too and face the same problems about finding something insurable that the rest of 'em do.
Thankyou! Very lucky to have enough space... my poor ma and pa not always enjoying the parking Jenga à la "Butterflies", however!!Slow said:
Wonder how you feel about my student fleet of 02 Range Rover, 83 cherry turbo, 84 323i.....
Oh and a double garage, and car port. Joys of living at home as a student.
Some people have Lamborghinis and s
t.... Give him a break.
Exactly... astonished that a cheap Merc can invoke such ire! Keep up the good work!Oh and a double garage, and car port. Joys of living at home as a student.
Some people have Lamborghinis and s
t.... Give him a break.andybu said:
Leave him alone - he's an excellent example of someone brave enough to pursue "out of the box" thinking..
And his tactic is quite sound. I am currently contemplating selling my 2011 C-Class diesel estate and buying something bigger, older and petrol powered. A W126 would be lovely - if I can fit one one into my standard-sized garage.
If I do go this route it'll be on the grounds that retirement implies less annual mileage and shorter trips. Diesels like to be used on long runs or their DPF filters get coked up....
It sounds as if the OP has bought well, which is key. On that note, my copy of Autocar has just arrived and I see that this weeks' edition has a "25 years of Bangernomics" feature by James Ruppert. Essential research reading, I feel..
Bangernomics was a real help! Always enjoyed his articles... would highly recommend the petrol barge as a concept, especially on W126s/W140s, as the engineering is fundamentally simple enough to mend at home, despite the S-Class's complicated reputation!And his tactic is quite sound. I am currently contemplating selling my 2011 C-Class diesel estate and buying something bigger, older and petrol powered. A W126 would be lovely - if I can fit one one into my standard-sized garage.
If I do go this route it'll be on the grounds that retirement implies less annual mileage and shorter trips. Diesels like to be used on long runs or their DPF filters get coked up....
It sounds as if the OP has bought well, which is key. On that note, my copy of Autocar has just arrived and I see that this weeks' edition has a "25 years of Bangernomics" feature by James Ruppert. Essential research reading, I feel..
Mr Tidy said:
Nicely put OP. 
Looking forward to updates on your exploits!
Thanks, will keep you all posted!Looking forward to updates on your exploits!
RoverP6B said:
Sadly, my P6 was, by then, far too rotten ever to see the road again. Despite their being one of the finest small luxury sports saloons ever produced, in my opinion, they're worth sod all and good ones are all too rare now. SD1 values are rather higher and there are still decent examples to be found - and, thanks to Standard in India and latterly Rimmer Bros in Lincoln, parts supply isn't a problem. You should see this: http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/ar-cars/our-cars/p...
P5Bs are more common than either, if you can live with the staid image. Classic Jag XJ6s are widely available and pretty good. The wonderful Mk10/420G remains sadly unloved...
Ah that's a pity! Interesting that SD1s more expensive, would have expected it to be the other way around! P5Bs are lovely old things, a bit £££ atm though, no? Always liked a MK10... one of few cars to rival the W140 for bulk!!P5Bs are more common than either, if you can live with the staid image. Classic Jag XJ6s are widely available and pretty good. The wonderful Mk10/420G remains sadly unloved...
In other news, new boots going on today...
RoverP6B said:
Aye, P5s are getting a bit pricey now. About time too. Ditto Triumph Stags - good ones are now 20k plus. The P6 - I just don't get it! Utterly brilliant car, pioneering, decades ahead of its time... and utterly unloved except by a tiny cult following.
One of those things sadly, reckon the BL influence has taken it's toll, at least in terms of perception!rossi1001 said:
Top shedding and I like your attitude - making sure you fix everything, I'm exactly the same, I have a bit of OCD with it to be honest, I hate anything and I mean anything not working as it should!
Yep, have probably spent the purchase price again on bits and pieces already! Worth it though, never has anything truer been said than "it's not a £1000 car, it's a £50,000+ car for £1000"... accordingly maintenance takes time and money!Mr Tidy said:
As a slight aside I had a 1973 P6B back in 1979 and at only 6 years old mine was pretty rotten too, but as a 20 year old anything with a V8 was special!
Wouldn't recommend one now though, apart from the rot it handled like a ship in a storm (even though ultimate grip was good) but the rot...
BTW did I mention the rust?
Have had German only for the last 10 years - maybe in a few years time when I retire properly a W140 is starting to look like a good option!
Yeah, would almost forgive anything for a Rover V8, they sound the business! Wouldn't recommend one now though, apart from the rot it handled like a ship in a storm (even though ultimate grip was good) but the rot...
BTW did I mention the rust?
Have had German only for the last 10 years - maybe in a few years time when I retire properly a W140 is starting to look like a good option!
W140 highly recommended, although not the most fun to hustle, so worth bearing that in mind!
For a retirement keeper, reckon a post 96 S500L is the best bet...
RoverP6B said:
My P6 handled very well and yes, amazing grip for 185-section old-tech tyres. Didn't start rusting noticeably until it was nearly 20 years old. It was the subsequent 16 years in a damp lockup while I procrastinated over restoring it and got distracted by kids, work, redundancy etc which killed it structurally.
Ah that's a shame, it's amazing how the tinworm can creep up on you (speak from bitter experience after daily driving the Mini for a few years)!RoverP6B said:
ajmcampbell said:
RoverP6B said:
Aye, P5s are getting a bit pricey now. About time too. Ditto Triumph Stags - good ones are now 20k plus. The P6 - I just don't get it! Utterly brilliant car, pioneering, decades ahead of its time... and utterly unloved except by a tiny cult following.
One of those things sadly, reckon the BL influence has taken it's toll, at least in terms of perception!RoverP6B said:
My P6 handled very well and yes, amazing grip for 185-section old-tech tyres. Didn't start rusting noticeably until it was nearly 20 years old. It was the subsequent 16 years in a damp lockup while I procrastinated over restoring it and got distracted by kids, work, redundancy etc which killed it structurally.
Ah that's a shame, it's amazing how the tinworm can creep up on you (speak from bitter experience after daily driving the Mini for a few years)!Yeah keep an eye on that, protection is always easier than the cure!
Slow said:
Big old American cars? Like a Cadillac
Sure, but still something of a left field choice, and not many of them in the UK!andybu said:
The problem is storage on the big stuff. I'm still thinking about that W126 but they are big cars and no, it won't fit in my standard-sized suburban garage. Not to mention that I usually keep the more valuable other car in there anyway.
I'm just doubtful about the practicalities of running a 25+ year old modern classic if it has to stand out in all weathers. It'll just make any tin-worm problems yet more difficult/expensive to deal with.
This is true... that said a decent car cover can go a long way, and it takes a lot to make an old Merc actually succumb to rust, rather than just be mildly blighted by it!I'm just doubtful about the practicalities of running a 25+ year old modern classic if it has to stand out in all weathers. It'll just make any tin-worm problems yet more difficult/expensive to deal with.
Haha have now been accidentally featured on 'Edinburgh Evening News' this morning!
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/randolp...
http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/randolp...
Sitrep:
Service and MOT done by the lovely folks at Roseburn garage (on PH recommendation), had to swap out the NSF spring due to Edinburgh cobbles but that was the worst of it... still running smoothly although may have to do front wheel bearings and calipers as some funny noises coming from that end. Has been a fine steed for the winter. New tyres have made a big difference too. Fuel economy around town getting painful, though!
Service and MOT done by the lovely folks at Roseburn garage (on PH recommendation), had to swap out the NSF spring due to Edinburgh cobbles but that was the worst of it... still running smoothly although may have to do front wheel bearings and calipers as some funny noises coming from that end. Has been a fine steed for the winter. New tyres have made a big difference too. Fuel economy around town getting painful, though!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff