W126

[bmthnick1981]

This one looks tempting;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370597229711?ssPageName=...

[W124Bob]

bmthnick1981 said:

This one looks tempting;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370597229711?ssPageName=...

Same dealer has a 500SEC and a 190 2.6 both for under £1500

[bosscerbera]

r129sl said:

Pontoneer, you're right. In the UK, the 500 came with 232bhp (until 1986), 245bhp (from 1986 to 1988) and 265bhp (from 1988 onwards). The gearing is extraordinarily long on these cars, as you point out. I found there was a bit of a gap between second and third at about 50 to 60mph. Whereas to kickdown to second was more than I wanted, third lacked oomph. The top speed of the 500 varies with power but the fastest are good for 149mph. The 560 is good for 156mph and it is not limited: hence why the 560 is the fastest series production Mercedes-Benz ever.

The earliest 500s (I had an early '81) were particularly feisty off the line because they used 1st gear. An M-B manager told me the first cars were strong to demonstrate a significant step up from the outgoing W116 450s. The penalty was thirst; he swore blind (and I'd agree from comparing contemporaneously my '81 500 against '87 and '88 examples) that the very early ones were more powerful. US CAFE legislation (import quotas based on average fuel consumption of range) were alleged to have led to a detuning of the 500, and to the transmissions using 2nd gear to start (except for full throttle kick down or manual override on the stick).

Nevertheless, despite my '81 being an excellent getaway car it was still not even close to a 5.6 in the midrange. The omnipresent torque of the 560 is unperturbed by load, hills or headwinds. It enables unruffled progress in a way that out-Bentleys a Bentley. Riding the tsunami is usually more than sufficient to see off any inconveniences. But there is always the option of dropping a cog to unleash the creamy snarl of maximum power.

A few months ago a berk in a Civic Type R - who I was overtaking - attempted to hold me in the outside lane and prevent my exit from a dual carriageway. I suppose I could have braked and ducked in behind him but that would be less amusing. In my peripheral vision I could see the Honda lurching on gear change, and I could hear the hateful VTEC thrash. The 560 held station just by squeezing the gas in 4th. Until at the last moment I flexed my toes, triggered kickdown - kapow and hasta la vista... I exited left as intended.

[mercedesman]

Here is a picture of my 560 sec, the Daddy. First owner was a French diplomat working in London so has nearly every option. Has just gone over 103.000 miles quite low for a 560 these days. Not many modern car's will stay with one of these, i don't think many people know what they are, like Boss Cerbera said, it is fun playing with inferior machine's

This year will see the start of a rolling resto. roof lining is starting to sag in the rear, and the normal corrosion on the front wings and bumper chromes.

The car is 24 year's old and is as smooth as silk

[r129sl]

Nice early 500 SEC here which I cannot help but like. Needs to be perfect at that money, however:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-500-SEC-Co...

To my eye, early cars always look better. Facelifts are so rarely an improvement in the long view.

[MarsellusWallace]

r129sl said:

Nice early 500 SEC here which I cannot help but like. Needs to be perfect at that money, however:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-Benz-500-SEC-Co...

To my eye, early cars always look better. Facelifts are so rarely an improvement in the long view.

I was on a bike ride last night and rode past the showroom where that car is being offered for sale and saw it in the window.I might call in for a look but like you say it would have to be perfect to be worth the asking price.

[bosscerbera]

Checked in for bodywork restoration at 300,000 miles, 25 years old.

Completed after 5 months.

[braddo]

Beautiful! I would have left the alloys in silver though.

How much bodywork needing doing?

[bosscerbera]

braddo said:

Beautiful! I would have left the alloys in silver though.

How much bodywork needing doing?

The actual core shell had very little to repair. The only original bodywork is the core shell and NSR fender.

This was the car at its most deconstructed:



Rear panels, OSR fender, NSR trunk well, front fenders, rear screen lip - brand new from Mercedes-Benz.
Three doors from donor car #1 (560SEL)
One door from donor car #3 (500SEL)
Hood and trunk lid from donor car #1
Miscellaneous spares from donor cars #2 (500SEC) and #4 (420SEL)
All used panels stripped and dipped.
Shell and NSR fender taken back to bare metal.
There is no rot in the car at all, it's all good steel.

"Mr T the 300SE" was to be a donor car but is too good - so Mr T is on the firm now and will be spruced up to perfection like the Duchess. Mr T is getting some new toys installed that were gleaned from the donors.

[braddo]

Wow....

10/10

May it bring many more years of enjoyment for you!

[slippery]

Crikey boss! I follow the progress of The Duchess whenever I spot a thread that relates to her, but I had no idea you had all this going on in the backround! Is there a thread that relates to the restoration or have you been keeping it under the radar?
Either way, bravo and here's to the next 300k!

[irish boy]

That looks incredible

[harry kular]

They have a really nice stance. What suspension are they running?
amazing examples- more pics please!

[bmthnick1981]

The Duchess looks fantastic, are both cars on Lorinser wheels? They look wider at the back than any MB W126 wheels i've ever seen.

[bosscerbera]

harry kular said:

They have a really nice stance. What suspension are they running?
amazing examples- more pics please!

Thanks for the compliments chaps.

The suspension on the 560SEL is the hydro-pneumatic system (dual-mode, self-levelling, auto-lowering etc.). An expensive option, evolved from the W100 Grosser's system through 300SEL 6.3 and 450SEL 6.9 to the W126 system. An equivalent system was never offered on the W140 and subsequent generations of big Benz. Mine is set to have a little rake - lower front end.

The stance on the 300SE is more crudely achieved with shorter front springs. The 300 turns in like the 560 so it's pretty wieldy in the lanes - unusual for a coil-sprung W126.

The wheels are period Lorinser LOs, 8x16 with different offset front/rear.

[theironduke]

First off I have bought a 1985 500 SE (collecting at the weekend) which will be my second W126 after a brief dabble (impulse buy...as was the 500!) with a 380 SEC.

Oh and boss cerbera and that video on Youtube of his 560 are entirely to blame for my 126 obsession!

[bosscerbera]

500SE is a rare beast.

More snow fun with the 560SEL this weekend...

[theironduke]

bosscerbera said:

500SE is a rare beast.

More snow fun with the 560SEL this weekend...

EPIC!

Well I spotted it and chucked a bid at it and a few days later found out i'd won it! It's got MOT till March and Tax till the end of May. Car is a silver met with blue leather, fairly high miles (177 ish) but apparently a fair wadge of history and only needs some new rubber and a fog light problem doing for the MOT. I paid....

... £710

[mercedesman]

The guys at Autowerx have finally made a start on my 560 from this
only needs a small amount of welding, pair of genuine front wings and full re-spray.

Then she will be ready for another 24 years service

Edited by mercedesman on Saturday 26th January 18:13

[theironduke]

I collected my 500 SE today, which has a FULL and up to date (next one due in a few k) Mercedes S/H which the seller never mentioned!

Anyway the front height is too high, found an invoice for new shocks and springs about 5 years ago so guess the wrong springs were fitted?

Are my options either chop the existing ones or replace. With the latter I dont want to buy the same again, so any suggestions? a bit lower than stock wouldnt be a bad thing