Mercedes W140 titivation
Discussion
I am beginning to regret calling my 124 mini-resto thread a "titivation".
I have acquired a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S420, what the saddos like me call a 140, for the princely sum of £0 from a friend. I have tried to give him some money but so far he won't take anything. I started at a grand but he says that is too much and I'll have to come down from there. Ostensibly, I am project managing its doing up and after six months he is going to lose interest and give it to me in recognition of the work I have put in. Thanks for that little white lie, Derin.
So it hasn't been used for at least six months. It stands at about 110,000 miles. Three owners, the last since 2009. Full service history down to the original bill of sale. The first owner knew what he was doing when he specified this car. It is a great specification. Green Black Metallic over Black leather with the following options: memory seats, heated seats front and rear, eight hole forged alloy wheels, wood and leather driving controls, rear sun blind, glass sunroof, parking sensors and (best of all) a Bose sound system with the Mercedes-Benz Exquisit head unit and CD-changer. There are some other knick-knacks, too, but I can't remember what they are. All told, the options add up to something daft like £12,000 on top of the £53,000 purchase price. The stereo is fabulous.
Last time I drove it, it was obvious that it needed a bit of work. Creaking front ball joints, warped discs and tired suspension. So it is presently at Baister's lair having all of this attended to. Four new shocks (Sachs), discs and pads at all corners, new front ball joints and anti-roll bar drop links. There are some other bits and bobs, too. A new offside rear tail lamp assembly (water had got into the old one and then gone mouldy), replacement air con controls (the current set up runs the condensor fans constantly). Needless to say, progress at Baister's is slow.
It needs a new cat, too. The previous owner had one side removed. It sounds just a bit wrong, so when funds allow I will fit a new one.
I am also going to conceal a Parrot kit, either a MKi9100 or MKi9200 (depending on whether the larger unit will fit) in the sunglasses compartment to give me Bluetooth telephony and iPod integration.
And then there is the rust. Really it is confined to the wheel arches, nothing major, but it will need two front wings, some metal work in the rear and a full respray. That, too is for the future. It needs a very thorough clean, inside and out. But watch this space. Not bad for free. Oh, that S600 grille is not much longer for this world, either.
This is how good these cars can look:
I have acquired a 1996 Mercedes-Benz S420, what the saddos like me call a 140, for the princely sum of £0 from a friend. I have tried to give him some money but so far he won't take anything. I started at a grand but he says that is too much and I'll have to come down from there. Ostensibly, I am project managing its doing up and after six months he is going to lose interest and give it to me in recognition of the work I have put in. Thanks for that little white lie, Derin.
So it hasn't been used for at least six months. It stands at about 110,000 miles. Three owners, the last since 2009. Full service history down to the original bill of sale. The first owner knew what he was doing when he specified this car. It is a great specification. Green Black Metallic over Black leather with the following options: memory seats, heated seats front and rear, eight hole forged alloy wheels, wood and leather driving controls, rear sun blind, glass sunroof, parking sensors and (best of all) a Bose sound system with the Mercedes-Benz Exquisit head unit and CD-changer. There are some other knick-knacks, too, but I can't remember what they are. All told, the options add up to something daft like £12,000 on top of the £53,000 purchase price. The stereo is fabulous.
Last time I drove it, it was obvious that it needed a bit of work. Creaking front ball joints, warped discs and tired suspension. So it is presently at Baister's lair having all of this attended to. Four new shocks (Sachs), discs and pads at all corners, new front ball joints and anti-roll bar drop links. There are some other bits and bobs, too. A new offside rear tail lamp assembly (water had got into the old one and then gone mouldy), replacement air con controls (the current set up runs the condensor fans constantly). Needless to say, progress at Baister's is slow.
It needs a new cat, too. The previous owner had one side removed. It sounds just a bit wrong, so when funds allow I will fit a new one.
I am also going to conceal a Parrot kit, either a MKi9100 or MKi9200 (depending on whether the larger unit will fit) in the sunglasses compartment to give me Bluetooth telephony and iPod integration.
And then there is the rust. Really it is confined to the wheel arches, nothing major, but it will need two front wings, some metal work in the rear and a full respray. That, too is for the future. It needs a very thorough clean, inside and out. But watch this space. Not bad for free. Oh, that S600 grille is not much longer for this world, either.
This is how good these cars can look:
jke11y said:
Same spec as mine (minus the table, and I don't have BOSE).
I'll swap you my grille for the S600 one?
You might have a deal there. I bought one from Carl at w140.co.uk but, to be honest, it is very disappointing in condition. So if yours is any good, I'll gladly swap. My S600 grille is pretty mint.I'll swap you my grille for the S600 one?
I am sorry for the lack of updates. I am really busy at work and yet simultaneously short of cash, so the parts and accessories buying spree is on a temporary hold; and Baister is not exactly moving like lightening. I am told the rear end has been done but that he is waiting on a drop link for the from anti-roll bar. You have to remove the discs to change the drop link so it is pointless doing the brake work until the drop link is to hand; and changing the shocks no doubt will be easier with the brakes off. If I get a chance, I'll head over there today and hopefully take some pics of it on the ramp.
r129sl said:
You might have a deal there. I bought one from Carl at w140.co.uk but, to be honest, it is very disappointing in condition. So if yours is any good, I'll gladly swap. My S600 grille is pretty mint.
I'll check it out later and email you some pics. I've not really looked at it. Here's a picture of the grille:
Baister has done the rear brakes and shocks. Quite a lot still outstanding, though. I also had a good look at the rust. It will need the Man's attention before much longer. Every wheel arch and a couple of blebs here and there plus quite bad front screen delamination. The vinyl on the internal windscreen pillars is peeling too, the result it seems of that rubbish alarm that MBUK insisted on fitting to all new cars in place of the factory system, presumably because someone there was on a kickback from the alarm manufacturer.
Baister has done the rear brakes and shocks. Quite a lot still outstanding, though. I also had a good look at the rust. It will need the Man's attention before much longer. Every wheel arch and a couple of blebs here and there plus quite bad front screen delamination. The vinyl on the internal windscreen pillars is peeling too, the result it seems of that rubbish alarm that MBUK insisted on fitting to all new cars in place of the factory system, presumably because someone there was on a kickback from the alarm manufacturer.
Some pictures of the bad news. The rust on this car is worse than I recalled. Every wheel arch is bad. New front wings required, although I may go second hand or aftermarket this time.
New metal in the rears, for sure. But look at that lovely new brake disc poking through.
Scuffs on every corner. Nice new rear lamp. And cancelled the new centre strip, thus saving 80-odd quid.
And damage to some of the window seals.
New metal in the rears, for sure. But look at that lovely new brake disc poking through.
Scuffs on every corner. Nice new rear lamp. And cancelled the new centre strip, thus saving 80-odd quid.
And damage to some of the window seals.
The major mechanical work is done and hopefully a new MOT certificate was obtained today.
But the best news is the insurance: £129.08 through Footman James. Just the road tax at £230 to add to that.
Should be back on the road (and in for a thorough detail) by the weekend. Champagne motoring for lemonade money. Or something.
But the best news is the insurance: £129.08 through Footman James. Just the road tax at £230 to add to that.
Should be back on the road (and in for a thorough detail) by the weekend. Champagne motoring for lemonade money. Or something.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff