My new barge! Bargain Basement W126 500 SE
Discussion
Well, where do I start..
It was made in 1985 (as was I) and is finished in silver with blue cow inside. I bought it off eBay, unseen no less, on a whim... and it was sold as "spares or repairs" So full of trepedation and excitement I ventured down to collect it on sunday. It wasn't too far, about 80 miles, oh and I don't believe if AA or RAC cover... just good fuel money wasted.
I arrived at the address and there she was....gleaming and sat outside the house. I had a mooch round before I rang the bell and I began to smile....she looks a good un. Upon ringing the bell the seller appears, like the shop keeper from Mr Ben, brandishing keys and an honest face. He pointed out all the "bad bits" from the rather scant eBay listing and then fired the old girl up...
Now shes done a few miles (more on that later) but the 5.0 V8 was the smoothest and quietest engine i'd ever heard, I was amazed. I've had a W126 before and seen a few but this was something else; NO rattling tappets or noisy belts....nothing. It even came of it's "choke" as it should and just purrrrred.
After a few minutes giving it the once over and doing the usual bits and bobs it was time for the paperwork. In we went to chappies front room where I saw a table covered in paperwork... Now the listing just said "lots of history". First things were the V5 and MOT, all good (also tax in the window as stated)...I had a cursory look at the rest of the stuff but there was so much I just thought i'd wait till I got home.
The journey back was flawless, a pleasure. Smooth V8 wafting and the thing is so quiet and refined I kept thinking at had stalled when I was stationary. Whilst not silly fast the old girl shifts when required and is just comical round B roads....you sail rather than drive! The mid range shove from 60 to naughty is also amusing.
With no hassle and a surprising (rough maths) 22-23 mpg I arrived home. Now I know 177k is big miles but I couldn't help thinking the car felt far tighter. The listing said there had been a long term owner who was MD of a household name company, so I guess the car had been loved. Well, yes it has been...on properly going through the paperwork it turns out the car has a FULL and to date Mercedes Service History! It's on it's second book of stamps and it's got another 5k to go until the next service due : is) Bonus!
Now it's not flawless, it is 28 years old after all but there are no big issues. The reason it was sold as "spares or repairs" I hear you ask? well, the front fogs don't work and it needs 2 new tyres...that's it!
And you're asking how much I paid?....£710 for a big old bus was more history than the Bodleian Library and MOT+Tax to boot!
Now what to do with the bloody thing!
Oh and if you've read all that, well done!
I'll do some decent pictures at the weekend but here's the quick snap I took as I parked her up on my drive...
It was made in 1985 (as was I) and is finished in silver with blue cow inside. I bought it off eBay, unseen no less, on a whim... and it was sold as "spares or repairs" So full of trepedation and excitement I ventured down to collect it on sunday. It wasn't too far, about 80 miles, oh and I don't believe if AA or RAC cover... just good fuel money wasted.
I arrived at the address and there she was....gleaming and sat outside the house. I had a mooch round before I rang the bell and I began to smile....she looks a good un. Upon ringing the bell the seller appears, like the shop keeper from Mr Ben, brandishing keys and an honest face. He pointed out all the "bad bits" from the rather scant eBay listing and then fired the old girl up...
Now shes done a few miles (more on that later) but the 5.0 V8 was the smoothest and quietest engine i'd ever heard, I was amazed. I've had a W126 before and seen a few but this was something else; NO rattling tappets or noisy belts....nothing. It even came of it's "choke" as it should and just purrrrred.
After a few minutes giving it the once over and doing the usual bits and bobs it was time for the paperwork. In we went to chappies front room where I saw a table covered in paperwork... Now the listing just said "lots of history". First things were the V5 and MOT, all good (also tax in the window as stated)...I had a cursory look at the rest of the stuff but there was so much I just thought i'd wait till I got home.
The journey back was flawless, a pleasure. Smooth V8 wafting and the thing is so quiet and refined I kept thinking at had stalled when I was stationary. Whilst not silly fast the old girl shifts when required and is just comical round B roads....you sail rather than drive! The mid range shove from 60 to naughty is also amusing.
With no hassle and a surprising (rough maths) 22-23 mpg I arrived home. Now I know 177k is big miles but I couldn't help thinking the car felt far tighter. The listing said there had been a long term owner who was MD of a household name company, so I guess the car had been loved. Well, yes it has been...on properly going through the paperwork it turns out the car has a FULL and to date Mercedes Service History! It's on it's second book of stamps and it's got another 5k to go until the next service due : is) Bonus!
Now it's not flawless, it is 28 years old after all but there are no big issues. The reason it was sold as "spares or repairs" I hear you ask? well, the front fogs don't work and it needs 2 new tyres...that's it!
And you're asking how much I paid?....£710 for a big old bus was more history than the Bodleian Library and MOT+Tax to boot!
Now what to do with the bloody thing!
Oh and if you've read all that, well done!
I'll do some decent pictures at the weekend but here's the quick snap I took as I parked her up on my drive...
That's simply superb - very pleased it seems to have worked out well so far. What are your plans for her?
She certainly looks presentable now she's cleaned up, and you've just added gravel so you have immediately doubled the value (at the very least!). That history is ridiculous for the price.
Congratulations!
She certainly looks presentable now she's cleaned up, and you've just added gravel so you have immediately doubled the value (at the very least!). That history is ridiculous for the price.
Congratulations!
0a said:
That's simply superb - very pleased it seems to have worked out well so far. What are your plans for her?
She certainly looks presentable now she's cleaned up, and you've just added gravel so you have immediately doubled the value (at the very least!). That history is ridiculous for the price.
Congratulations!
You say cleaned up....that was literally taken after the 80 mile drive home, I haven't put a sponge near her yet!She certainly looks presentable now she's cleaned up, and you've just added gravel so you have immediately doubled the value (at the very least!). That history is ridiculous for the price.
Congratulations!
Not sure on plans...I want to get the front a bit lower and maybe get some later 15" wheels, can't believe those (correct and original) "Mexican hats" are only 14"!
There are a few little things to do; a valet inside and then just a few niggles to sort; stereo doesn't work (lights up etc but no noise!) and I think it want's a new 'stat. I'm really tempted to get the next service done at Merc too to keep the history up!
SuperHangOn said:
Awesome buy. Whats the ride like with those ickle wheels?
I would be brave and take those chrome arches off for a giggle (hairdrier), if you're lucky the rear arches might be ok. Ish. You can always stick them back on again if its too ugly!
The wheels may go, I know they are original but they are comically small!I would be brave and take those chrome arches off for a giggle (hairdrier), if you're lucky the rear arches might be ok. Ish. You can always stick them back on again if its too ugly!
The arches....In the flesh they don't look too bad and there is still metal behind them! For now they can stay. I'm just going to enjoy it as it stands for now before I decide what to do long term.
theironduke said:
The wheels may go, I know they are original but they are comically small!
I like the wheels - I think there will soon be a fashion backlash to smaller, more modest wheels and you (we?) could lead this backlash!What's the interior condition like? I had my merc fully valeted (including shampoo of the headliner, carpets, leather treatment etc) and it made a massive difference.
0a said:
theironduke said:
The wheels may go, I know they are original but they are comically small!
I like the wheels - I think there will soon be a fashion backlash to smaller, more modest wheels and you (we?) could lead this backlash!What's the interior condition like? I had my merc fully valeted (including shampoo of the headliner, carpets, leather treatment etc) and it made a massive difference.
Geekman said:
With that history I'd be tempted to chuck some money at it, doesn't look like it'd take too much to get it perfect and these must be extremely rare with full MB history
They are funny things. Very nice, low mileage one's command top money but then the prices drop like a rock to "the rest". Good as mine is it has got a lot of miles on it and isn't perfect. I reckon I could throw a couple of k at the bodywork, nothing nasty and better than many, but I doubt i'd get it back. Also it seems to be the later cars and 560's at that, which pull the top money. I'm happy to just to keep it as it is tbh, give it a good valet and a service and do the little bits which I'm sure will crop up. It might just get under my sking though....who knows... I know my old SEC is one of the few cars I regret ever selling though 
0a said:
I'd do what I did with my w124 - give it a few weeks running around grace before committing to expenditure so you know it's reliable, then get a proper service/review done to see whether there is anything major that needs sorting before committing any major expenditure.
Nail. Head.Worst case i'm pretty sure if I stuck it on eBay tomorrow with a good listing (with a full SH breakdown) and decent photos i'd get my money back!
Oh and I forgot, it hasn't just got the stamps in the book, it's got the actual "work sheets" from the servicing, breaking down what was done and how much.
Nice buy.
Crying out for some bigger/wider wheels.
There is a Merc breakers near me in Rushden called H.A Lock, he is about as old school as it gets - a Merc with the letter in front of the number (SL500 as against 500SL) is new fangled to him. I'm absolutely certain he can help with parts/advise etc. His place is a trove of old Merc stuff, but Albert can be a little interesting to deal with. You'll find the number by checking the usual search engines !
Crying out for some bigger/wider wheels.
There is a Merc breakers near me in Rushden called H.A Lock, he is about as old school as it gets - a Merc with the letter in front of the number (SL500 as against 500SL) is new fangled to him. I'm absolutely certain he can help with parts/advise etc. His place is a trove of old Merc stuff, but Albert can be a little interesting to deal with. You'll find the number by checking the usual search engines !
chris182 said:
That looks rather nice indeed. I take it you changed your plans to get a 560 SEC in the end then and went for the (slightly) more sensible option?
It was totally unplanned, I had no intention of getting another car after I sold my XJR. I just saw it on eBay, stuck 750 quid on and forgot about it. The rest as they say....
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