RE: SOTW: Mercedes S500
Discussion
What a top SOTW.
I'm late logging on this week to check, but these really ARE my cup of tea!
Not my colour of choice - IMHO these look so much better in darker shades.
But, what an engineering masterpiece.
Yes - there are a few common bits and bobs that go wrong (like every car has it's known flaws), but generally, pick up a good one, and look after it, they will go on forever. Mercedes really did design these as a 'car for life'.
No S Class before or after has matched it's pesence, and I doubt any S Class ever will.
MPG? Grow up! You don't buy a 5 litre S Class to gain fuel economy! These things drink like lunatics, especially around town. On a run, however, 25+ mpg is perfectly attainable, as it's only doing 1500 rpm at a steady 70mph.
Double glazed windows give a near-silent ride, and the car, despite it's size, is so easy to manoeuvre and drive (parking can be a tad tricky - oh and avoid multi-storey car parks!).
Mine is a 1997 Azurite Blue S500, Cream Leather, Full Electrics and finished off nicely with a set of W221 18" Alloys.
On a spirited drive a little while back, it's traction control light came on at 80mph on kick down. The way it lifts it's skirt is truly impressive. People don't realise just how quick these are considering their size.
My favourite moment in my car was smoking a brand new Audi S3, who was right on my bumper after a roundabout, but slowly started to become a smaller dot (with LEDs) in my rear view mirror.
EPIC CARS - grab a good one before they all get shipped back to the continent.
I'm late logging on this week to check, but these really ARE my cup of tea!
Not my colour of choice - IMHO these look so much better in darker shades.
But, what an engineering masterpiece.
Yes - there are a few common bits and bobs that go wrong (like every car has it's known flaws), but generally, pick up a good one, and look after it, they will go on forever. Mercedes really did design these as a 'car for life'.
No S Class before or after has matched it's pesence, and I doubt any S Class ever will.
MPG? Grow up! You don't buy a 5 litre S Class to gain fuel economy! These things drink like lunatics, especially around town. On a run, however, 25+ mpg is perfectly attainable, as it's only doing 1500 rpm at a steady 70mph.
Double glazed windows give a near-silent ride, and the car, despite it's size, is so easy to manoeuvre and drive (parking can be a tad tricky - oh and avoid multi-storey car parks!).
Mine is a 1997 Azurite Blue S500, Cream Leather, Full Electrics and finished off nicely with a set of W221 18" Alloys.
On a spirited drive a little while back, it's traction control light came on at 80mph on kick down. The way it lifts it's skirt is truly impressive. People don't realise just how quick these are considering their size.
My favourite moment in my car was smoking a brand new Audi S3, who was right on my bumper after a roundabout, but slowly started to become a smaller dot (with LEDs) in my rear view mirror.
EPIC CARS - grab a good one before they all get shipped back to the continent.
This dealer does tend to get these W140s and W126s now and then, but will have them for ages and doesn't seem to shift them on?
Usually examples which need TLC or have more serious mechanical faults.
For £1k, keep a eye on eBay, and you WILL find a much nicer car. Even if it means spending an extra few hundred £, it's worth it.
You really do not want to buy one that is not running properly, as they will cost you more than you paid for the car to put right!
Usually examples which need TLC or have more serious mechanical faults.
For £1k, keep a eye on eBay, and you WILL find a much nicer car. Even if it means spending an extra few hundred £, it's worth it.
You really do not want to buy one that is not running properly, as they will cost you more than you paid for the car to put right!
mark1970 said:
IIRC these export well and it'll still be worth 1000 Euros when the MOT expires.
Indeed.There is a big market out in Europe and Africa for these, W126s and W124s.
My old W126 500 SEL was picked up by a chap from Germany. He came in an W140 500 SE, with tow bar and trailer to take mine back (and it mine fully MOT'd and taxed at the time). He also had two other drivers with him, one in a S124 E Class Estate and one in a W124 E Class Saloon. He reckons he could more than triple his money on them, as parts are hard to get hold of / expensive in Germany (this was in 2008, so things may have changed by now).
In certain parts of Africa, you would look like a multi-millionaire driving one!
My S500 had a slight misfiring issue, but it just turned out to be a faulty coil pack. Replaced it, now runs spot on.
Another major issue on these W140s, especially the later Series 2 (Facelift) models is that they suffer pretty badly from rust.
The front wings were designed poorly, so water would sit within them and start to eat at them.
Replacing them isn't cheap, unless you get an exact colour match that hasn't already given up to the tin worm!
Another major issue on these W140s, especially the later Series 2 (Facelift) models is that they suffer pretty badly from rust.
The front wings were designed poorly, so water would sit within them and start to eat at them.
Replacing them isn't cheap, unless you get an exact colour match that hasn't already given up to the tin worm!
To put it bluntly, these are NOT cars to run on a shoe string budget.
They are big, heavy machines, which do require love and attention. They like to consume tyres, brakes and suspenion.
They LOVE a drink, so for most people (including me), it would be a 2nd car, to enjoy on weekends, evening drives, etc.
However, there are not that many cars in it's class which would better the driving experience of a W140 (a Jag XJ comes close, but doesn't have the build quality or space inside the cabin).
They are big, heavy machines, which do require love and attention. They like to consume tyres, brakes and suspenion.
They LOVE a drink, so for most people (including me), it would be a 2nd car, to enjoy on weekends, evening drives, etc.
However, there are not that many cars in it's class which would better the driving experience of a W140 (a Jag XJ comes close, but doesn't have the build quality or space inside the cabin).
One last point > good examples of these are slowly creeping up in value now.
The 600 SEL / S600 models are probably ones that retaint their value the best, due to being so rare, yet so powerful and desirable.
Most later examples have suffered from corrosion all over their body, so people don't want to touch them as they look a right state, being a big bucket of rust!
So, the better examples are holding their money for now, and will prob gain money in the future.
W140 - one of the best cars Mercedes have ever produced.
The 600 SEL / S600 models are probably ones that retaint their value the best, due to being so rare, yet so powerful and desirable.
Most later examples have suffered from corrosion all over their body, so people don't want to touch them as they look a right state, being a big bucket of rust!
So, the better examples are holding their money for now, and will prob gain money in the future.
W140 - one of the best cars Mercedes have ever produced.
Lancia is fabulous looking car from the era, but next owner likely to be Fred Flintstone.
Mark-C said:
I had one of these in an auction sale in 2004, it was 10 years old and seem to recall an S500. Silver with mega FSH and original invoice circa £70000. Had a crack in rear screen, and suppose being double glazed a few quid for that. It was bid up to £2700 on the day and seem to recall sold for about £3000 in provisionals after. Always remember it because I thought about buying and for trackdays swiping the engine out to put in an 80's F1 car which were going cheap at the time. Another grandiose scheme.
Good shed but would rather have the slightly earlier 500 SEL or the SEC. Remember being driven in a friends dad's 500 SE when I was about 15 and thinking "oof, that's some shove....". However, if I were limited to this dealer, I'd want this one.....
http://www.hillingdonmotors.co.uk.razsor.autotrade...
No idea if it's good / bad / cheap / expensive / going to bankrupt me but it looks soooooooo nice to these poor eyes......
http://www.hillingdonmotors.co.uk.razsor.autotrade...
No idea if it's good / bad / cheap / expensive / going to bankrupt me but it looks soooooooo nice to these poor eyes......
Everyextra said:
THIS WAS MY DAILY RUNNER OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS!!
Thank you for all the good comments, I disagree with the negative ones, I thinks you probably drive rusty fiestas or similar *lmfao*
Driving this on a daily commute (100 mile roundtrip) for over a year could only be dscribed as a delight! It had a presence like nothing else on the road! Lexus (big corrolla) and BMW (taxi cabs) do NOT compare to the W140.
You can always tell the men from the boys.
Easy there tiger. Thank you for all the good comments, I disagree with the negative ones, I thinks you probably drive rusty fiestas or similar *lmfao*
Driving this on a daily commute (100 mile roundtrip) for over a year could only be dscribed as a delight! It had a presence like nothing else on the road! Lexus (big corrolla) and BMW (taxi cabs) do NOT compare to the W140.
You can always tell the men from the boys.
Actually, after reading your post I'm very surprised you sold it.
Edited by Johnboy Mac on Saturday 4th August 22:23
Everyextra said:
THIS WAS MY DAILY RUNNER OVER THE LAST 15 MONTHS!!
Thank you for all the good comments, I disagree with the negative ones, I thinks you probably drive rusty fiestas or similar *lmfao*
Driving this on a daily commute (100 mile roundtrip) for over a year could only be dscribed as a delight! It had a presence like nothing else on the road! Lexus (big corrolla) and BMW (taxi cabs) do NOT compare to the W140.
You can always tell the men from the boys.
You sound amazingly grown-up - did your Mum give you permission to post or did you just chance it? Thank you for all the good comments, I disagree with the negative ones, I thinks you probably drive rusty fiestas or similar *lmfao*
Driving this on a daily commute (100 mile roundtrip) for over a year could only be dscribed as a delight! It had a presence like nothing else on the road! Lexus (big corrolla) and BMW (taxi cabs) do NOT compare to the W140.
You can always tell the men from the boys.
I think this may be W140 and there were parking masts fitted to the early versions of that model - the S500 was the V8 W140 with various engine sizes and options.
From memory the W140 shapes started at 2.8 litres and went on to the V12 6 litre.
Mine was a relatively short period of ownership and electronics proved toublesome.
I have a 1984 W126 500sel at 198k and it is quite remarkable, see pics below but a lot of care got it too this stage, absolutely reliable, safe and quite econcomical for the big V8. A much simpler package than the W140 that was seen as a over engineered design and was not well received or sold in great numbers. The chief engineer was fired over the project and it was then cost reduced to stem sales losses.
My (now gone) W140 was a 1994 S500, that did had the reversing masts as standard but was a totally different animal, degrading ignition wiring, rust prone body, nightmare electronics and switches, very glad to see it gone - always worried it would not start, coil placks etc very pricey. It was huge, to park in town a challenge but excellent on motorways, more switches that Concorde flight deck. The 1994 model had orange indicator lenses on front and rear so this K plate has been modified at some time.
It could be worth a punt but not with my money as the repairs costs could equal instant bin.
From memory the W140 shapes started at 2.8 litres and went on to the V12 6 litre.
Mine was a relatively short period of ownership and electronics proved toublesome.
I have a 1984 W126 500sel at 198k and it is quite remarkable, see pics below but a lot of care got it too this stage, absolutely reliable, safe and quite econcomical for the big V8. A much simpler package than the W140 that was seen as a over engineered design and was not well received or sold in great numbers. The chief engineer was fired over the project and it was then cost reduced to stem sales losses.
My (now gone) W140 was a 1994 S500, that did had the reversing masts as standard but was a totally different animal, degrading ignition wiring, rust prone body, nightmare electronics and switches, very glad to see it gone - always worried it would not start, coil placks etc very pricey. It was huge, to park in town a challenge but excellent on motorways, more switches that Concorde flight deck. The 1994 model had orange indicator lenses on front and rear so this K plate has been modified at some time.
It could be worth a punt but not with my money as the repairs costs could equal instant bin.
Edited by urquattro on Sunday 5th August 11:27
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