W140 Near Me

[1990C4S]

I do not need a new car, my Volvo wagon daily driver does everything I need: hitch, reliable, good for buying lumber, etc. but I've always wanted a nice W140, supposedly one of the best cars they ever made.

This S320 is for sale near me, pretty cheap, 100,000 miles, runs and drives fine, apparently zero rust, and the interior looks good.

It does have electrical issues, supposedly it needs a new harness. That's a repair I can do easily.

Any reason not to take the plunge? It's about $4k (US$).

[wildthing]

"I've always wanted a nice W140". There you go. Check it out. Inspect it. If all is good, buy it.

I wish I could find a nice 190E at that price. Always wanted one of those. Seems everything is going up these days. I'd love a E500/500E Porsche-built Merc too.

[1990C4S]

My main concern is that this will be car number five. Who needs four summer cars?

Something would have to go. Maybe.

[wildthing]

What else do you have? I can suggest what to get rid of.

[Zeke]

Lots of sensors and switches. Maybe new harness is not quite accurate. Wait for Speeder.

[jyl]

Is this one of the models and years that had the biodegradable wiring harness that self destructed after a while? Mercedes was replacing them under warranty but that’s over, and new harnesses are not that easy to find. It is possible - my 1994 W124 has a replacement harness - but I’d want to make sure first.

[greglepore]

I have/had 2 w140's, an s600 currently and a s420 before. Also a 600 r129 and a w124 320 wagon.
The harness issues are a pain. Don't know if they're still available or if you need to fab them now. Other wiring goes too-like the stuff to the folding mirrors etc.
The 320 engine is prone to external head gasket failure, leaks like a valve cover gasket but lower, until it finally fails. 2k-3k at an indy to repair if head needs surfaced and/or you need other cooling system stuff, so tend to it if its leaking.
The seat bladder dissolve into dust and run the vac pump full time if you don't turn off the dial, which cooks the pump. There is a diy fix. Soft close and locks depend on the pump.
And a/c evaporators pre 95 are an issue, dissimilar metal corrosion, dash needs to come out for repair. I've not seen a failure on my cars, but it happens. I used cryoseal prophylactically on mine with good results.
Big heavy cars with lots of rubber in the suspension and drivetrain, all of which needs tended to.
They are worth the trouble though. Very serene driving bank vaults. Analog cars. You can feel the quality.
Prior owner is key. If its been neglected, the catch up will kill you. If its been cared for, they can be dead nuts reliable with normal care.
One thing more-like everything else, parts availability is getting sketchy. MB no longer supports "everything" - some stuff is nla, others only thru the classic center, and parts that are available are often from 3rd party suppliers with what seems to be the norm now with high failure rates.

[1990C4S]

Originally Posted by jyl

Is this one of the models and years that had the biodegradable wiring harness that self destructed after a while? Mercedes was replacing them under warranty but that’s over, and new harnesses are not that easy to find. It is possible - my 1994 W124 has a replacement harness - but I’d want to make sure first.

I expect that a proper repair entails removing the wiring harness and rewiring it. That will not be a problem for me.

I think this problem is what is scaring people away and driving the price down, but a repaired harness on eBay is $500.

It probably won't be easy, but it's work I enjoy.

Originally Posted by Zeke

Lots of sensors and switches. Maybe new harness is not quite accurate. Wait for Speeder.

Yea, this post was basically for him...

Originally Posted by wildthing

What else do you have? I can suggest what to get rid of.

Two air cooled cars, I can't part with them. A 996, maybe, I'm less connected to it, and a V70R 6 speed that can be sold, but it's so practical, and it's good tow vehicle for my garden trailer.

[wildthing]

Sell the 996. (Or, what are the years of the air cooled cars?)

[1990C4S]

89 Cab, 90 964 C4.

[gecc]

They have a problem with the insulation coming off wires on the engine wiring harnesses. Example... replace spark plugs now engine will not run!! I believe that the harnesses are NLA
from Mercedes.

[speeder]

I glanced at this earlier but did not have time to read the thread and respond. What year is it? They are spectacular cars but getting old and were very complex with zero thought put into reliability 30 years down the road. Engineering and build quality were top notch but there is just so much engineering that they had to lunch some of it, like the early climate control system. There were many changes in the 1996 model year, (including climate control), those are more desirable cars although the first ones were the coolest with the little parking antenna things that popped up on rear fenders when you shifted into reverse and other features.

I'm not a complete authority on this model but I did own one at one time, (1996 S500), I did some work on it and everything under the hood was pretty straight forward Mercedes of the era. Never had an issue with the engine harness, which is what goes bad on mid-'90s era MB cars. The 6-cylinder would be a little weak in this heavy model but it's a good 6-cylinder. You would want a thorough PPI from a shop that really knows and works on these cars and a big pile of service records from the dealer or a marque specialist. Good luck.

[jyl]

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I expect that a proper repair entails removing the wiring harness and rewiring it. That will not be a problem for me.

I think this problem is what is scaring people away and driving the price down, but a repaired harness on eBay is $500.

It probably won't be easy, but it's work I enjoy.

If replacement harnesses are available, then I'd get a PPI and consider it.

I really like my W124. Mercedes of that generation remain DIYable, in my view.

My W211 is not very DIYable. Has Canbus, fibre optics, too many repairs need computer intervention using the expensive Star tool. Took me a month of swearing to install an Android head unit, I felt like a moron.

[1990C4S]

I was going to buy it this week, but it sold yesterday when I was out of town.

Thank you to everyone who commented.

[speeder]

Dodged a bullet.

[speeder]

For anyone watching this thread looking for a W140. Ends in one hour w no reserve on BaT, low mileage and pristine in Portland, OR., where the cleanest used cars on earth come from. Find some factory wheels and get rid of the *ugly as sin* rims and you have one seriously nice w140:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1998-mercedes-benz-s420-11/

[jyl]

Cars in Portland do seem pretty clean, as long as they are parked under cover - if not they can be kind of mossy :-). Don’t get the sun damage of SoCal, South; don’t get the road salt of East coast; tend to not get huge mileage.

[speeder]

Yep, I was thinking the PNW in general where people tend to have houses with garages and well cared for cars are extremely nice. It's my hunting grounds.

EDIT: the car sold for $10k and looked to be extremely nice w the exception of the ugly wheels, which is an easy fix.