1987 Mercedes-Benz W126 560 SEC - project

[Dr G]

Judging by post in abandoned classics thread I'm thinking not

[E30M3SE]

Look forward to this one with interest.

[bmthnick1981]

It's not currently running but it hasn't got a battery or any fuel in it. When the rain stops my mate is going to have a good look at it. The loom has been chopped about, there are rust holes in the front and back and its damp inside. Most of the window seals are knackered. It'll need welding, full service and no doubt countless other bits. The front grill is knackered.

I've started buying bits, a new grill;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181226406524?ssPageName=...

And from German eBay new front panels;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360727407747?ssPageName=...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360727408478?ssPageName=...

To replace these very rusty ones;

[Amirhussain]

Looking forwards to this, best of luck OP.

[TheDoggingFather]

Going off your username, hopefully we'll see another SEC cruising around Bournemouth soon Have you seen the gold (really GOLD) AMG kitted one around?

[Huskyman]

Nice purchase OP
Drove past this place many times on the way to Castle Coombe, always wondered about the stories behind these lovely old Mercs, looks like we will be hearing about one on these pages. Hats off to you for rescuing the old girl. Good luck!
Husky

[lesstatt]

I would recommend not buying anything till your mate has a good look at it first, these things can be a money pit, esp a rusty damp one

[slippery]

lesstatt said:

I would recommend not buying anything till your mate has a good look at it first, these things can be a money pit, esp a rusty damp one

Absolutely right, don't do anything until you've appraised it properly.

[Max M4X WW]

bmthnick1981 said:

There was a W140 S500 I had to refrain myself from enquiring about.

Details?

[bmthnick1981]

Max M4X WW said:

Details?

I dont have any other than it was light metallic blue in colour, looked like an early W140 and the front rings looked crusty. I can provide Tony's phone number if you want to find out more.

[Max M4X WW]

bmthnick1981 said:

Max M4X WW said:

Details?

I dont have any other than it was light metallic blue in colour, looked like an early W140 and the front rings looked crusty. I can provide Tony's phone number if you want to find out more.

To be honest its probably more work than I would be able to manage and I prefer the later ones.

[bmthnick1981]

slippery said:

lesstatt said:

I would recommend not buying anything till your mate has a good look at it first, these things can be a money pit, esp a rusty damp one

Absolutely right, don't do anything until you've appraised it properly.

Chaps, you are of course, completely right. However i've sort of decided this car is being saved come what may. I may buy another as a donor if need be. I have also ordered the following;

Front and rear discs and pads
20l oil, 2 x oil filters
Engine flush
Air filter
Fuel filter
8 Bosch plugs
Leads
Dizzi cap
Rotor arm
Wiper blades
Number plates

I'm keeping a running total of what i've spent so I know how deep in it I am!

Edited by bmthnick1981 on Sunday 27th October 11:47

[bmthnick1981]

TheDoggingFather said:

Going off your username, hopefully we'll see another SEC cruising around Bournemouth soon Have you seen the gold (really GOLD) AMG kitted one around?

Yep, it looks ace! Can't wait to have mine up and running.

[TurboBlue]

Best of luck with it and it looks like a super project but from someone who has done something similar (decided to buy unseen and then restore in direct contradiction of all my own good advice), get it on a ramp and have a look underneath before you go much further spending money and remember to bail if it starts looking iffy.

I still think it will be awesome though

[lesstatt]

bmthnick1981 said:

Chaps, you are of course, completely right. However i've sort of decided this car is being saved come what may. I may buy another as a donor if need be. I have also ordered the following;

Front and rear discs and pads
20l oil, 2 x oil filters
Engine flush
Air filter
Fuel filter
8 Bosch plugs
Leads
Dizzi cap
Rotor arm
Wiper blades
Number plates

I'm keeping a running total of what i've spent so I know how deep in it I am!

Edited by bmthnick1981 on Sunday 27th October 11:47

Fair point and your money but i would be looking at the rust and why its damp inside and what that has done to the body before i bought some new number plates !

[alistair267]

I so want one of these. My Dad had a 1986 500 SEC in the early 90's and I loved it - comfortable, quick and amazing in the summer with the pillarless windowns all down. The most exciting thing however was your seatbelt being handed to you!

[Notanotherturbo]

Check out the 80's classic Roadhouse, loads of footage of the same colour 560 in it and its a great blokes film too :0)

[slippery]

It's a different colour and it's a 500.
Great film though!

[slippery]

olly22n said:

It's a 500?

/dreamshattered

Pretty sure I made a mental note that it was a 500 when I watched it a very long time ago (sad I know!). Good excuse to watch it again!

[bmthnick1981]

Slight update, I couldn't make it up to work on the car this weekend but my mate cracked on regardless. Fresh fuel put in and new battery and she fired up first time. Not smoking and slightly lumpy but to be expected and hopefully service will sort most of that. Where I had mentioned previously the loom had been chopped about that's apparently not the case, its the coil that has been butchered so will get a new one of those.

Link to video of it running;

http://s489.photobucket.com/user/100nickyd/media/c...

See if you can spot the mouse running around over the wing at the end of the vid!

It will need a new rear caliper (i'll probably get a pair) as the pad retaining pin hole has broken;



Near side rear inner end of sill has rot which need sorting for MOT;



Front hubs stripped to change discs, bearings re-greased;



Rear discs and pads on;



(you can just see one of the rear wheels on the floor in this shot)

Main report seems to be she is generally solid, surface rust underneath to be expected but nothing looking terminal other than photo above, not come across anything seized yet, rear inboard handbrake shoes are new, oil looks recent (but has been changed anyway) rear continental tyres have good tread and not perished or cracked so only need to do fronts for MOT.

More to follow as and when it happens, will be applying for V5 and SORN this week but aim to have it MOT'd within the next month...