1987 Mercedes-Benz W126 560 SEC - project

[bmthnick1981]

Spotted this car sat at a specialist near Castle Coombe, made some enquiries and purchased it. Not quite purchased 'unseen' as I did stop and have a look at it but i've not been underneath it or heard it run (although apparently it does...). Pics from Google Earth how it looked when I first saw it;







I was mainly attracted to it by the period and staggered Lorinser wheels which are quite rare. It also has a Lorinser steering wheel and maybe some other Lorinser bits. No badging on the back so a quick mytextcheck revealed it is a 560 with 4 previous owners and no record of write off stolen etc.

I have some more pics from when I stopped to look at and I will dig those out and post.

[bmthnick1981]

I think they're ace too. Whether this one turns out to be an ace example remains to be seen though. Apparently it has been parked up for 7'ish years!

[bmthnick1981]

Chunkychucky said:

Love these big Merc coupes, especially the 560s. Always remember driving past this garage and seeing the guy's array of Mercedes, fair play for stopping and buying one OP. Looking forward to updates!

There is more stuff down there which I am sure is available. There was a W140 S500 I had to refrain myself from enquiring about. My 560 SEC wasnt owned by the garage, it was a customers car who had left it there for storage and seemingly forgot about it!

Some pics from when I had a look round it;









And most importantly THE WHEELS! (Staggered Lorinser LO's);

[bmthnick1981]

Steff said:

love it - I've always wondered why those Merc's were dumped at the side of the road

If you are local pop in and have a nose round, Tony is a nice chap to deal with. In one of the Google Earth pics you can see a W116 saloon, I wish that was still there I would love to know the story behind it.

This is what mine should look like (image found on Google Images), same colour, wheels etc, but mine sits lower (borked suspension?);

[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;

[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.

[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.

[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...

[bmthnick1981]

TurboBlue said:

I may have to eat my words of warning - that doesn't look so bad; looking forward to seeing it on the road.

Cheers! Still a bit to do yet though...

[bmthnick1981]

I don't know as I wasn't there today, I mean to ask my mate to give it a prod but forgot.

[bmthnick1981]

slippery said:

Well I hereby award you 100 PH Man Points for your foolhardy, blind-folded, feet first approach!
I hope your wallet's as big as your balls!

My mechanic mate has a 'can do' attitude so whatever we find we will deal with. Not spent too much so far but do need to order 2 rear calipers and coil today. Onwards and upwards!

[bmthnick1981]

The Jolly Todger said:

What's the interior like?

Complete but in need of a good clean, new mats, and a period Becker Head Unit. Has a nice Lorinser steering wheel. Elec seats, seat belt presnenters and windows not currently working so hoping fuse is guilty, or a mouse could have nibbled some wires!

The Jolly Todger said:

Also I'm not sure I understand how you've bought it if the previous owner is unknown, what's the story here?

Previous owner not unknown, I know his identity but it was easier for the garage owner (where the car was stored) to deal with him.

[bmthnick1981]

More shopping done today;

Ignition Coil
Water Pump
Fuel Pump - apaprently it has 2 (?) and 1 has been replaced but not other and could be causing rough running
Alternator Belt
PAS Belt
Air Con Belt
Offside Rear caliper

[bmthnick1981]

No real update, planned to work on it last weekend but weather was miserable so got drunk and watched the rugby instead. This week some stuff arrived from the previous owner, V5, signed receipt, old MOT's and some [limited!] service history.

Car was last on the road 18th February 2006. 7.5 years ago!

Service history is a few old hand written receipts from a specialist;









Don't the old handwritten and stamped receipts look so much nice than newer printed ones?

Now that I have the V5 I can get it registered in my name and do a SORN.

Using the VIN from the V5 I used this decoder; http://www.neoriginal.ru/cat/mb which gave me these details;

VEHICLE TYPE: Car
MODEL NAME: 560 SEC JAPAN
ENGINE: 117968 22 026913
TRANSMISSION: 722323 02 906771
BODY: 00039
ORDER NUMBER: 0753786821
LIGHTS: BOSCH
WIPER: 000000
INTERIOR COLOR: 275
PAINTS: 929

251 RADIO MB - EXQUISIT - USA
260 TYPE DESTINATION ON TRUNK LID - ELIMINATION
341 ADDITIONAL BLINKER LAMPS
405 MULTI-CONTOUR SEAT, FRONT RIGHT
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
613 LAMP UNIT - ASSYMETRICAL, LH TRAFFIC
682 FIRE EXTINGUISHER
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS

Interestingly the orthopaedic seats aren't mentioned on the above but the car does have them, retrofit perhaps?

Not sure why it is a 560 SEC 'Japan'! Does anyone know how I can get any more details, such as supplying dealer, early service history? Thanks.

My mate is hoping to have welded up the sill this week and then it needs the last batch of parts fitting before it can for an MOT. My mate is slightly sidelined at the moment having just bought an Alfa 75 V6 for himself which has also been off the road for some time....

[bmthnick1981]

Perhaps, would love to be able to find out the supplying dealer or country!

Just had a look on;

http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/vehicle/mercedes_560_...

367 x 560 SEC's registered with DVLA, 215 left on the road.

[bmthnick1981]

Lancia888 said:

Thats in the village of Tiddlywinks! I remember seeing that garage when I went to the Alfahloics track day at Castle Combe.

The village is, I think, called 'The Gibb' or 'Littleton Drew'.

[bmthnick1981]

Markgenesis said:

Missed this till now, cracking project, worth it for those staggered wheels alone, looking forward to the progress

Thanks! Progress is slow, I need to give my mechanic a kick!

[bmthnick1981]

Anyone know the oil capacity of the gearbox on a 560 SEC? Planning gearbox fluid change on the weekend...... and hopefully quite a few more jobs in prep for MOT.....

[bmthnick1981]

devnull said:

bmthnick1981 said:

Anyone know the oil capacity of the gearbox on a 560 SEC? Planning gearbox fluid change on the weekend...... and hopefully quite a few more jobs in prep for MOT.....

Autodata reckons 6.2 litres for a drain and fill of Dexron II

That's really helpful Devnull, thanks.