The Mighty SEC. Pictures, Ownership Stories and Tips.
Discussion
I recently bought a 1998 560 SEC. This one:
The ad was languishing in the back pages of the MB Club Gazette (do you remember when cars were only ever advertised that way?) and the price was so low that I was certain I'd been beaten to the car by hordes of other prospective buyers. I was reading the magazine on a flight, and as soon as I landed I texted the number. The car was still for sale, seemed to have virtually no other online sale presence, and the deal was eventually done. The nice vendor even delivered the car about 200 miles free of charge, and had had quite a few jobs done between agreeing the sale and actual handover, including a new battery, a scratch on the door repaired and painted, and the cracked dashboard top replaced.
The car is in pretty good condition for its 28 years and nearly 160,000 miles. The interior has been re-trimmed which is a bit of a shame - I like velour! - although the quality of the work done is excellent. One of my early jobs will be to restore the slightly cracked and worn leather on the front seats. I haven't had much time to spend on it so far, and have driven less than 100 miles, but have already identified some jobs that will need doing.
There are some small rust spots and a badly painted £2 coin-sized bleb on the rear quarter, and the beginnings of some corrosion under one of the bumper chrome fittings. There is also a continuously noisy fuel pump, and the seat back luggage nets need tightening. The bonnet also needs to be aligned better as it doesn't really sit closed evenly. That aside, the car is in really good shape. There's lots of history with it, the tool kit, first aid kit, warning triangle and a MB-branded road atlas are all present. The radio is new, but is unobtrusive and is a high quality Sony unit with bluetooth and remote control, and everything seems to work as it should, including the aircon, aerial, electric memory seats, seatbelt butlers and sunroof.
I'm pleased with it so far and the performance seems excellent, especially for such a big old thing.
There must be lots of other owners out there. Anyone with similar cars, stories to tell or advice to offer?
The ad was languishing in the back pages of the MB Club Gazette (do you remember when cars were only ever advertised that way?) and the price was so low that I was certain I'd been beaten to the car by hordes of other prospective buyers. I was reading the magazine on a flight, and as soon as I landed I texted the number. The car was still for sale, seemed to have virtually no other online sale presence, and the deal was eventually done. The nice vendor even delivered the car about 200 miles free of charge, and had had quite a few jobs done between agreeing the sale and actual handover, including a new battery, a scratch on the door repaired and painted, and the cracked dashboard top replaced.
The car is in pretty good condition for its 28 years and nearly 160,000 miles. The interior has been re-trimmed which is a bit of a shame - I like velour! - although the quality of the work done is excellent. One of my early jobs will be to restore the slightly cracked and worn leather on the front seats. I haven't had much time to spend on it so far, and have driven less than 100 miles, but have already identified some jobs that will need doing.
There are some small rust spots and a badly painted £2 coin-sized bleb on the rear quarter, and the beginnings of some corrosion under one of the bumper chrome fittings. There is also a continuously noisy fuel pump, and the seat back luggage nets need tightening. The bonnet also needs to be aligned better as it doesn't really sit closed evenly. That aside, the car is in really good shape. There's lots of history with it, the tool kit, first aid kit, warning triangle and a MB-branded road atlas are all present. The radio is new, but is unobtrusive and is a high quality Sony unit with bluetooth and remote control, and everything seems to work as it should, including the aircon, aerial, electric memory seats, seatbelt butlers and sunroof.
I'm pleased with it so far and the performance seems excellent, especially for such a big old thing.
There must be lots of other owners out there. Anyone with similar cars, stories to tell or advice to offer?
Here's one for Lowtimer.
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C695824
Seems expensive to me, but I like big numbers being associated with the car!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C695824
Seems expensive to me, but I like big numbers being associated with the car!
I've had good use of the SEC over the past couple of weeks, and added a couple of hundred miles. It continues to delight with its inbuilt quality, and the performance is excellent.
I've noticed a noisy blower fan but suspect that fixing that might be a dash-out job so I might just learn to live with it.
I took it to my rented garage this afternoon to try it for size, but the car's too long for it! Guess the SEC will stay at home and the 124 will now probably end up in the rental.
A photo taken at the same spot that I took the title pic of my XJR-S for this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
I've noticed a noisy blower fan but suspect that fixing that might be a dash-out job so I might just learn to live with it.
I took it to my rented garage this afternoon to try it for size, but the car's too long for it! Guess the SEC will stay at home and the 124 will now probably end up in the rental.
A photo taken at the same spot that I took the title pic of my XJR-S for this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
That's a nice-looking car; they do look good in the dark colours. That showroom looks dangerously appealing too!
Are the rubber seals readily available? My two door seals could do with replacing. I want to get my gearbox oil changed too, and I suspect I should get the timing chain looked at as well.
Are the rubber seals readily available? My two door seals could do with replacing. I want to get my gearbox oil changed too, and I suspect I should get the timing chain looked at as well.
cornershop said:
ec shop do one : http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121968440051?_mwBanner=1
The good news; exactly the sort of help I was hoping for with this thread. Thank you. The bad news; £69 plus £12 delivery. Crikey. The Febi version for the W126 (different bonnet) is half that.
Utterpiffle. Delightfully insane! Rather of their time perhaps, but I find myself admiring them more than I should.
I doubt I'll be following your lead though, not least due to a combination of parsimony and technical ineptitude.
Just to add, you've done some fantastic work on those cars. Good skills.
I doubt I'll be following your lead though, not least due to a combination of parsimony and technical ineptitude.
Just to add, you've done some fantastic work on those cars. Good skills.
Edited by CharlesdeGaulle on Wednesday 16th November 15:41
J4CKO said:
How about this beauty !
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SEC-RARE-CARAT-...
Jesus, what a heap for eight grand, 460 bhp apparently.....
There are no words. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MERCEDES-SEC-RARE-CARAT-...
Jesus, what a heap for eight grand, 460 bhp apparently.....
CharlesdeGaulle said:
cornershop said:
ec shop do one : http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121968440051?_mwBanner=1
The good news; exactly the sort of help I was hoping for with this thread. Thank you. The bad news; £69 plus £12 delivery. Crikey. The Febi version for the W126 (different bonnet) is half that.
I'm not into mods of any sort really, although there are always discerning exceptions. I really hate those after-market wooden steering wheels but, now jith comes to mention it, the standard SEC steering wheel is properly massive so I can see that there might be temptation to change.
cornershop said:
Single best steering improvement has come from replacing the steering damper - removed all vagueness and is now much more positive.
r129sl said:
Another quick win on steering is to replace the idler arm bushes. About £30 and 15 mins.
Chaps - I'm tempted to get these done. Any idea how much the whole of the work is likely to cost at my local £50 p/h indy? Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff