Discussion
The 126 is a lovely car!
W126 refers to the saloon.
C126 are the coupes' model code
Here are a couple of examples. The 560 is the more sought after, and specialists will always charge a premium - but if you want the best, like everything, you'll have to pay a bit more
If you're after a coupe, here are a couple.
Chesire Classic Benz Coupe
Charles Ironside Coupe
HTH
Decent saloons appear to be even harder to come by.
Good luck with your search
Darren
W126 refers to the saloon.
C126 are the coupes' model code
Here are a couple of examples. The 560 is the more sought after, and specialists will always charge a premium - but if you want the best, like everything, you'll have to pay a bit more
If you're after a coupe, here are a couple.
Chesire Classic Benz Coupe
Charles Ironside Coupe
HTH
Decent saloons appear to be even harder to come by.
Good luck with your search
Darren
Edited by iluvmercs on Wednesday 15th December 15:14
I have now just driven mine back from Leeds. What a car! Left Bridgewater Place in Leeds city centre at 7.20pm and arrived back at my home in rural Northumberland at 8.55pm. 126miles in 1hour and 35mins, an average of 79mph. The first and last 5 miles are on slow roads; the first 30 miles are on heavily policed roads so a self-imposed maxima of 90mph there, then 100mph cruise on the A19. Balked after Middlesborough by backmarkers...
Mine is a 1986 500 SEC. It is 040 solid black (must be kept immaculate always) over 265 creme beige leather. It has 135k miles and a very full service history, mostly main dealer. It is all in stock condition. The paint is new and beautiful. Everything works including the a/c. It is not perfect but it is in good, used condition. I only wish it had heated seats.
I am told the 560 is a different car: much more powerful. With 300bhp as against 245, I can believe it.
Mine is a 1986 500 SEC. It is 040 solid black (must be kept immaculate always) over 265 creme beige leather. It has 135k miles and a very full service history, mostly main dealer. It is all in stock condition. The paint is new and beautiful. Everything works including the a/c. It is not perfect but it is in good, used condition. I only wish it had heated seats.
I am told the 560 is a different car: much more powerful. With 300bhp as against 245, I can believe it.
ge0rge said:
Saw one of these in Buffalo soldiers last night , went to look for one on pistonheads - was understandably dissapointed..
Does anybody own a mint 560 on here?
560SEL: "The Duchess"Does anybody own a mint 560 on here?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPQTIaqEYo
Not mint, but heading back in that direction now. The daily driver for nigh on 20 years. A simply incredible car.
r129sl said:
I am told the 560 is a different car: much more powerful. With 300bhp as against 245, I can believe it.
Nice coop you have there. My first W126 was a 500SEL, there was only one place to go after that: the one with the Boeing engine. Back in the day the 560SEL was referred to as "the Addams Family dragster" by one of the motoring magazines. But there is another special thing about the 560SEL: the hydropneumatic suspension. Not many were made with it (not to be confused with the more common self-levelling rear on many W126s), and few have survived with it. I contend it's the best limo ride ever, better than any modern air suspension system. It can also switch personality with its 'sport' mode. Across country a hydro-suspended 560SEL is extremely fast - only a determinedly driven rally clone might keep up with it.
300bhp doesn't look that big a deal these days. But check the 560's torque figure, and the shape of the curve. Factor in kerb weight and the fact the 560 deploys its torque across just 4 ratios (mostly in just two of them), with no electronic interference, and tops out at 155mph. In real world, real road situations, a 560 gives late model AMG hotrods a run for their money.
Fuel tank is 20gallons or 90litres. The fuel gauge is pessimistic. Mpg is 15 to 20, depending on conditions. On a pensioner run, you might get 22. I get about 17 to 18 but I am not convinced mine is set up quite right: according to the emissions it is running rich. Put it this way, I filled it up on Tuesday and the odometer now shows 313 miles; the "fuel level low" light is not on yet but the gauge shows empty, so I reckon I have used about 16 gallons. This is the downside. But this is also why they are cheap cars.
Torque... the V8 develops never less than 90% of its maximum torque across the entire engine speed range. So it is not so much a torque curve as a plateau. Maximum torque for the 500 is 299lb/ft. For the 560 it is 335.
It seems to me that 560s are twice the price of 500s, be it saloon or coupe. I have yet to find a great saloon.
Torque... the V8 develops never less than 90% of its maximum torque across the entire engine speed range. So it is not so much a torque curve as a plateau. Maximum torque for the 500 is 299lb/ft. For the 560 it is 335.
It seems to me that 560s are twice the price of 500s, be it saloon or coupe. I have yet to find a great saloon.
r129sl said:
Fuel tank is 20gallons or 90litres. The fuel gauge is pessimistic. Mpg is 15 to 20, depending on conditions. On a pensioner run, you might get 22. I get about 17 to 18 but I am not convinced mine is set up quite right: according to the emissions it is running rich. Put it this way, I filled it up on Tuesday and the odometer now shows 313 miles; the "fuel level low" light is not on yet but the gauge shows empty, so I reckon I have used about 16 gallons. This is the downside. But this is also why they are cheap cars.
Torque... the V8 develops never less than 90% of its maximum torque across the entire engine speed range. So it is not so much a torque curve as a plateau. Maximum torque for the 500 is 299lb/ft. For the 560 it is 335.
It seems to me that 560s are twice the price of 500s, be it saloon or coupe. I have yet to find a great saloon.
Your comments raise some interesting issues r129. My 500 SEC can be seen on the homepage of my website. At the moment it is off the road and sitting in the workshop, but every time I fire it up it brings a grin to my face. I have been working on Mercs and other quality machinery for some forty years, so it takes a really special car to make me grin!!Torque... the V8 develops never less than 90% of its maximum torque across the entire engine speed range. So it is not so much a torque curve as a plateau. Maximum torque for the 500 is 299lb/ft. For the 560 it is 335.
It seems to me that 560s are twice the price of 500s, be it saloon or coupe. I have yet to find a great saloon.
I am surprised at your fuel consumption figures. There is no doubt that if you bury your foot in the throttle you will consume large amounts of fuel, but you will also be travelling helluva quickly! When driven sensibly, there is not another car of this size, performance and power that can give better economy. It is the only 5 litre car I have ever come across with an economy gauge on the dash!
To qualify this however, it must be remembered that these cars are running KE Jetronic with conventional electronic distributors. This means that it is a subtle business indeed setting the system up to give the best performance in terms of economy. With an engine this size substantial gains can be made with detailed attention to the air filter, vacuum hoses, the fuel meter cleanliness and idle setting, the type and quality of the spark plugs and HT leads, the exhaust system, correct engine temperature, etc.
The trouble is, even when they are miles out, they run beautifully! The longest run I have done on mine was a tour of Ireland a couple of years ago. Before we went, I fitted 2 new front sections on the exhaust and absolutely gutted the fuel and ignition system, including platinum plugs. The result was an average cruising of 27 MPG. Granted little of this was town driving, but quite a bit was some some spirited squirts on Ireland's beautiful country roads. I can achieve 30 MPG on the motorway at around 65 MPH. At that speed in top the engine is only turning at some 1850 rpm and your foot is only resting on the throttle.
The nice thing about the SEC is that it is one of the few cars I don't mind driving at that speed, it is so relaxing and pleasant just to cruise in. When I'm in the Quattro I constantly want to break the sound barrier!
Mercedes spent an absolute fortune both in finance and time in developing the SEC, and it was absolutely state of the art in its day with detail attention to weight saving, engine management and aerodynamics. There really is only one design flaw in the SEC, and that is the quite unbelievable practice of the rear windscreen, one that is raked at an extremely low angle, being installed with a dry rubber seal from the factory. I have never understood why Mercedes actually did this. A 1st year apprentice coachbuilder could have told them it would leak! Having said this it is such a simple fix to seal it and greatly enhances the car.
One thing that 40 year of working on specialist cars has taught me. You can sell the public anything if you market it in a certain manner. Some of the so-called great cars are seriously flawed in terms of design and driving ability; the sad fact is that the average car buyer simply doesn't know any better, and has their priorities firmly stuck in the wrong place. I believe that is why the SEC is so cheap.
On the plus side, they really cannot get any cheaper, and the value for money right now has to make them the best investment on the classic scene at the moment.
In relation to this, is the point that r129 raised about the 560s. My professional opinion is that the 500 V8 is the best engine Mercedes ever produced. It is an absolute turbine, virtually silent and totally smooth on low to medium throttle openings, transforming to a delicious, mutted snarl pinning you to the seat at full throttle, with a reliability unmatched even by modern machinery. The 560 runs a closed loop injection system with more torque, but just simply doesn't have the smoothness or appeal of the 500. When taking into account the extra servicing expense and problems of cats and electronics with the 560 it is my opinion that it simply isn't worth the money.
We have been considering selling the 500 simply because I can't find the time at the moment to spend on it and I have no storage space during the winter other than the workshop; and it's a big car to have lying around! I need you lot to talk me into keeping it, because I know if I sell it, I will regret it forever!
By the way r129, if you want to get your car up to Glasgow for a few days I would be only to happy to set it up for you; I love doing work like this.
J
Edited by jith on Saturday 18th December 21:36
That is about the most informative post I ever seen on here: so thank you very much. Lots of questions arise but I'll spare you.
Mine definitely is not running right: it is off beat at idle. I have replaced the distributor cap, rotor and leads, the plugs are new, and the inlet manifold gasket has been changed. The injector seals are good. The camshafts are unworn (the engine is beautifuylly clean internally). The idle speed is bang on. My next step is to have the engine vacuum system overhauled. I have a great deal of confidence in the mechanic I use, a chap called Phil Baister who owns and runs Staithes Garage in Dunston, Gateshead. But you may be getting a call in the spring... Glasgow is not so far from Northumberland.
I ought to add, I do use the motor quite a lot, one of the benefits of living in the north is that I can!
Mine definitely is not running right: it is off beat at idle. I have replaced the distributor cap, rotor and leads, the plugs are new, and the inlet manifold gasket has been changed. The injector seals are good. The camshafts are unworn (the engine is beautifuylly clean internally). The idle speed is bang on. My next step is to have the engine vacuum system overhauled. I have a great deal of confidence in the mechanic I use, a chap called Phil Baister who owns and runs Staithes Garage in Dunston, Gateshead. But you may be getting a call in the spring... Glasgow is not so far from Northumberland.
I ought to add, I do use the motor quite a lot, one of the benefits of living in the north is that I can!
Edited by r129sl on Sunday 19th December 12:23
This is my first posting on pistonheads
I have just bough a 560 sec with 90k on the clock. blue/black with grey leather, don't think rear seat have been sat in.
1st owner was a french diplomat working in in london
She is full loaded, climate control, rear blind, asd, etc. just managed to get a orignal mexico radio to fit.
The car had not been used for 5/6 years
Car was recovered to my garage in milton keynes, fitted a new battery and some fresh fuel and she fired up staright away. Then sailed through its mot. she was the give a full service, front disc/pads and calapiers, had a full valet.
The car has now been taxed and being used. just a few small faults to sort out.
Will take some pictures and post them at the weekend.
The 560 is the perfect car to get from a to b double quick. makes me smile every time i fire her up and her all eight cylinder bursting into life.
Not much will keep with her and i have tried which suprises alot of people
I have just bough a 560 sec with 90k on the clock. blue/black with grey leather, don't think rear seat have been sat in.
1st owner was a french diplomat working in in london
She is full loaded, climate control, rear blind, asd, etc. just managed to get a orignal mexico radio to fit.
The car had not been used for 5/6 years
Car was recovered to my garage in milton keynes, fitted a new battery and some fresh fuel and she fired up staright away. Then sailed through its mot. she was the give a full service, front disc/pads and calapiers, had a full valet.
The car has now been taxed and being used. just a few small faults to sort out.
Will take some pictures and post them at the weekend.
The 560 is the perfect car to get from a to b double quick. makes me smile every time i fire her up and her all eight cylinder bursting into life.
Not much will keep with her and i have tried which suprises alot of people
bosscerbera said:
560SEL: "The Duchess"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPQTIaqEYo
Not mint, but heading back in that direction now. The daily driver for nigh on 20 years. A simply incredible car.
Fabulous. Very envious indeed! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbPQTIaqEYo
Not mint, but heading back in that direction now. The daily driver for nigh on 20 years. A simply incredible car.
Please, if only for the sake of my niggle-radar, find 20 minutes to whip off the seatbacks and tighten up the elastic on the magazine pockets. You know you want to!
What a stunning car. In 40 years our grandchildren simply won't believe these were ever available for £1000. (not as nice as that one, clearly, but you know what I mean.)
BarnatosGhost said:
Fabulous. Very envious indeed!
Please, if only for the sake of my niggle-radar, find 20 minutes to whip off the seatbacks and tighten up the elastic on the magazine pockets. You know you want to!
What a stunning car. In 40 years our grandchildren simply won't believe these were ever available for £1000. (not as nice as that one, clearly, but you know what I mean.)
Cheers. Please, if only for the sake of my niggle-radar, find 20 minutes to whip off the seatbacks and tighten up the elastic on the magazine pockets. You know you want to!
What a stunning car. In 40 years our grandchildren simply won't believe these were ever available for £1000. (not as nice as that one, clearly, but you know what I mean.)
Just taken delivery of a set of these.... period 16" Lorinser LOs, with deep-dish offset for the rear.
Second home to my W126 too. Highly recommended!bosscerbera said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Fabulous. Very envious indeed!
Please, if only for the sake of my niggle-radar, find 20 minutes to whip off the seatbacks and tighten up the elastic on the magazine pockets. You know you want to!
What a stunning car. In 40 years our grandchildren simply won't believe these were ever available for £1000. (not as nice as that one, clearly, but you know what I mean.)
Cheers. Please, if only for the sake of my niggle-radar, find 20 minutes to whip off the seatbacks and tighten up the elastic on the magazine pockets. You know you want to!
What a stunning car. In 40 years our grandchildren simply won't believe these were ever available for £1000. (not as nice as that one, clearly, but you know what I mean.)
Just taken delivery of a set of these.... period 16" Lorinser LOs, with deep-dish offset for the rear.
bosscerbera said:
BarnatosGhost said:
Smart. Very similar to the classic 15-hole, but different enough to add a bit more oomph. Now, about those magazine pockets...
On the Lorinsers, exactly right. 
On the pockets, fear not.... Mercedesman is probably watching...
I'm considering chipping away some brickwork and putting a lintel in above a bespoke bumper-niche. Surely the next owner of our house would see this as a good thing?
Bespoke is good, right?
BarnatosGhost said:
I've just been to measure the garage. A W126 doesn't fit, not even nearly. A C126 is 2" too long.
I'm considering chipping away some brickwork and putting a lintel in above a bespoke bumper-niche. Surely the next owner of our house would see this as a good thing?
Bespoke is good, right?
Funny you should mention the garage size thing.... I had my garage built longer and wider to accommodate the pair of W126 SELs I was running back then; a 500 and the 560. I'm considering chipping away some brickwork and putting a lintel in above a bespoke bumper-niche. Surely the next owner of our house would see this as a good thing?
Bespoke is good, right?
mercedesman said:
I'll sort out your saggy bits in the morning.
Those wheels are going to look fantastic, i wonder how many 126's have them on afetr all this time.
Those wheels are going to look fantastic, i wonder how many 126's have them on afetr all this time.
Thanks! PH'er Irish recently acquired a 500SEC that's on the Lorinsers.
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