1987 Mercedes-Benz W126 560 SEC - project

[bmthnick1981]

harry kular said:

I'm in the process of investigating condensation on my S124- looks like the estate windows and rear door seals in my case.

The v12 hasn't got a thread as such- thought I'd wait until I'd got it running....

I'm expecting I might need to do window/door/sunroof/boot seals but it seems to be dry at the moment. From what i've read on mbclub the seals are only available from MB and are quite expensive...

[bmthnick1981]

harry kular said:

I've just priced the door seals for my s124: the fronts are ok at £85+vat, but the rear ones for the estate are £235+vat!!!

Ouch!

[bmthnick1981]

sim16v said:

I love the thread and how the car is coming along nicely.

I will be joining you in the quest to save these, i'm collecting this at the weekend!

Excellent! 500? 560? What's its story?

[bmthnick1981]

sim16v said:

It's a 500, but hey, it's not every day you find a SEC unloved on a drive!

From what I can gather, it is a two owner car, service history is missing at the moment, but it is only showing 123,000 miles.

It has what i've been told is very rare black leather, and it comes with a full AMG bodykit and Penta wheels, obviously not fitted.

I'm looking forward to going through it all, and this thread has certainly given some pointers!

Sounds great, do start a thread. If I can help I will, ask any questions - can't promise to be able to answer them though!

[bmthnick1981]

MOT didn't get done this weekend, still quite a few little jobs to tick off..... Hoping to get it done mid month

Some progress though, new (2nd hand) wiper motor and linkage delivered for £37;

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

One of the relays looks like this though;



So I am looking for a replacement, part number below;

[bmthnick1981]

N Dentressangle said:

See if this one's still up for grabs?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-W126-500SEC-5-0...

Yep, messaged him earlier!

[bmthnick1981]

Ok, new relay sourced from a helpful chap on MBClub Forum :-)

Oh and got a nice 27 page reply from the DVLA to my history request, now have details of all previous owners, reg transfers etc. Car was on the plate '1 YMY' for some time.

[bmthnick1981]

I filled out form V888 sent it off with a cheque for £5 and told them I was try to establish the provenance of the car as it is one of only a few left... Seems to have worked. 1st owner was a Greek shipping magnate at a very nice London address.

[bmthnick1981]

Today's progress;

1. New relay in;
2. Fuelling adjusted, idling at nearer 800-850 rather than 500 as previously;
3. Grotty sill welded up and under sealed;





4. Rest of the car under sealed;





5. New number plates on;
6. Washer jets fixed....

Should be MOT'd Sat 15th......

[bmthnick1981]

It was due to be MOT'd Sat 15th just got but my chap went up there to move it and it wouldn't start.... Needs investigation, thought not simply to be fuel or battery. Oh well, muhc progress has been made and it is ready to be MOT'd now if it can be got to start and run reliably.

Sat 15th was a busy day for me as our first child was born, 8lb baby boy, he enjoyed the ride home in the E38 V12. Hope he likes the 560, can't wait to go cruising round with him in it :-)

[bmthnick1981]

Thanks guys!

[bmthnick1981]

Whitean3 said:

bmthnick1981 said:

That needs straight through pipes! weight loss + V8 noise = win win

It has crossed my mind, the exhaust is a bit grotty, so its something I might consider more fully once it's MOT'd and on the road.

[bmthnick1981]

Right only a very small update as no real progress of late since it wouldn't start for its MOT! Mechanic chum who is working on the car for me suspects the Bosch KE jetronic fuel distributor may not be working correctly so a rebuild kit has been ordered and he is going to fit that and see what, if any, difference it makes......

Watch this space.....

[bmthnick1981]

r129sl said:

We're watching, we're watching... Any news?

Limited news. The fuel distributor has now been rebuilt.

The old diaphragm;



Old diaphragm removed, you can see the new one in the background, i.e. how it should look;



All of the little rubber seals have also been replaced. With all the internal springs to deal with this is quite a fiddly job by all accounts!

It starts first turn now without thorttle, idle is good, doesn't cut out when engaging gear but still doesn't rev over 4,000rpm in Park and Neutral - can anyone confirm if there is a 4,000rpm rev limiter in Park and Neutral? Not got it on the open road yet to see if it will rev past 4,000rpm in Drive, due to no tax or MOT.....

Really hoping for MOT soon.......

[bmthnick1981]

I've got my 2014 diesel W212 as my daily so the 560 SEC (which is pretty much the opposite of the W212!) will only ever be a weekend car or for occasional use. At 27 years old I don't see it being ideal for daily use really.

[bmthnick1981]

Small update, now (finally) have the car home in Dorset. It was filthy and green having been outside for another year! Now initially cleaned up and in my warm and dry garage. Still a list of things to do but can ran smoother than expected when I put a battery on it. Suspect a run would do it good. going to be concentrating on interior and bodywork for a month or so. Quite a few bits of trim to sort and then some paint to organise. Slowly but surely.....

Pics and video of it running to follow this evening.

[bmthnick1981]

No MOT yet and not going in for one until a few more bits are done. Probably silly but I want the car to be 'presentable' before getting it MOT'd - otherwise it will just get MOT'd then the MOT will tick away whilst its in having paint, headlining done etc.

Front of the car currently dismantled as had to remove two rusty panels below lights. Going to rub those and the bumper down ready for paint.

Need to get wheels off to clean them properly this weekend and order some new tyres.

Challenge is time, I dont have much spare at the moment!

[bmthnick1981]

A few pics, not much to show really.

Car being delivered;



Next to my courtesy W222;



After a squirt with the pressure washer;



Inside for the first time in a while;



Stripping front down to remove rusty front panels;



Hope to get new panels and bumper rubbed down and primed over weekend and being cleaning interior up. And clean the wheels and arches properly and order some tyres. Ordering a few bits and pieces as I go.

[bmthnick1981]

Very much high days and holidays Stuart.

In terms of how far I am going I want to get the car cosmetically presentable and mechanically reliable. It must also be safe as I will be taking my Son out in it. It won't be perfect or a concourse example by a long stretch. Remember I rescued this car from abandonment where it hadn't been used for 7+ years. Getting it back on the road will be an achievement from my point of view. Once I have done that and am using it I can decide how much further I want to go.

[bmthnick1981]

Martin_Hx said:

My dad has the same car (But SEL) in the same colour.... he will not get rid of it at all.

Although he only does about 500 miles in it a bloody year!!

Very nice, let me know if he wants to sell it, would be cool to have a matching pair!