87 560 Mercedes SEL

[Argeo]

Anyone have one of these? Just wondering aq few questions. What type of gas mileage to expect, how difficult to work on, Shocks, brakes, regular wear and tear stuff?

I have a 94 Honda that is starting to show it's age with 170K miles on it. It is slowly burning oil, the ABS light is now on and I just failed emissions. Well my mother never throws anything out so she tells me I can take the 87 Merc. My intial opinion on the car is that is drives like it new, just had a used engine put in it (mileage unknown), it needs some body work but nothing I couldn't do with some minimal work, the driver side window is broken (seems the motor work but the tracking is off), cracked front light, interior is like new. Oh, the front brakes stuck a bit this morning but loosened it self free and worked fine the rest of my commute. The car has been sitting for a couple years so I expected a few things like this.

Anyways, I am debating whether to fix Honda or use Merc. The thing I like about the Merc is that i feel with any Merc, like Porsches; is that they have a special charm.

Thanks,

David

[notfarnow]

My Dad's neighbor has one... beautiful car but he claims he rarely cracks 20 MPG. That may or may not be a consideration for you.

[Argeo]

My accord gets about 22mpg (getting old). If I could get around 20 in the Merc, that would be great.

Anyone else?

Thanks,

David

[TerryBPP]

You gotta think repairs will be rather expensive.

[kaisen]

I've owned two of the W126 cars and a few other Mercs. The 87 560SEL is a pretty reliable car for what it is. However, most repairs are going to be significantly more expensive than your Honda's. But you knew that.

The self-leveling Nivomat rear suspension could be a problem. If it fails you can replace with conventional springs and shocks from a 300SE/SD. Rear Bilsteins run $50 each (new), and springs are about the same, or the combo at the junkyards for under $100.

The transmission is another potential area of trouble. Change the fluid and filter as soon as possible. Take it easy on the trans. Big $$ if it fails.

The engine may be very reliable, but a used one in there is unknown. Things like cold idle circuits and other little sensors will fail, but the engines are pretty good. 300K miles is common. Water pumps are cheap and it's likely to fail since it was sitting static for so long.

Brakes on that car are simple and inexpensive. The front ABS sensors can get dirty/greasy and not work (or get brittle and break teeth). If the ABS light is on, your brakes still work so it's money you don't have to spend.

Electronics are usualy pretty robust on 126s. The climate controls can go haywire and not send air to the right places or change temps on you. The cruise control amplifiers also break, then the cruise won't work or will cut out. It's common enough that there are companies that will rebuild both on exchange basis.

560's were usually good for 18-20mpg freeway and significantly worse around town.

If I were you, I'd nurse the 560 and do no major repairs. Use the time to save and fix the Honda. In the long run, the Honda will be cheaper to own.

E

[chc]

The original sticker of my 90 560sec showing 14/17, the sel should be about the same. They are very nice cars.

[Argeo]

The Merc is free which is the only reason I am considering. I think I will donate the Honda and get the tax deduction. I am not sure I could sleep at night selling to someone. If the Merc dies, I could always donate that as well. It seems pretty robust though. It just runs so nice it is hard to believe it is that old. It car starts like a brand new car also.

I did the numbers and concluded that it would cost me about $400 a year on gas with my current commute. It will probably cost me that much to get the Honda fixed (pass inspection) and that is not even considering the ton of rot on the typical Honda spots. Unfortunately, being my daily car, I can't take my time and trouble shoot. I also can't test myself to find out if emissions are fine either. Tyoe of thing that I won't know if fixed until I go back for inspection.

I'll drive a couple more days and decide then.

Thanks,

David

[singpilot]

David;

I have had a string of W126's. I always went for the 380 (3.8 litre) versions. Mileage and weight were the only differences. The 560 is a bullit-proof engine so long as the oil is changed religiously on schedule. The timing chains were the weak link if the oil is not done. I presently have a 380SL with 333K on it, and a 380SE with 270K on it. A 420SEL with 290K on it. All run like new.

It will spoil you.

[kaisen]

The 560's were double row timing chains so they were less known than the 380's for timing chains breaking. It was a popular upgrade to fit 380's with double row.

E

[speeder]

A well made *real Mercedes*, (from back when they were the best cars in the world), but 10 MPG on Premium unleaded is more in touch w/ reality. Unless every trip is downhill in both directions.

[singpilot]

Originally posted by kaisen
The 560's were double row timing chains so they were less known than the 380's for timing chains breaking. It was a popular upgrade to fit 380's with double row.

E

Only the early (prior to '83) 380's had the single row chain. Double row, single row, those chains went three times as far when bathed in regularly scheduled oil changes.

[Jays72T]

I had a 87' 300SEL that I got about 15mpg but I was hard on gas to get thing moving w/ a 3 liter straight six. Pretty nice car, just not my style but it did look good.

[Argeo]

Thanks everyone. It is a great drivers car but the gas and maintenance scare me a bit. I am still on the fence on whether to keep or not. I love Mercedes and always have, I am just not sure it is the practical thing to do. I am toying with the idea of fixing the body up, probably $100-200 in supplies and my own labor; fixing up and having my wife drive it and get rid of my Honda Odyssey. She just drives short distances so gas would not be an issue. I have a car payment on the Odyssey which I could basically get rid of. Buy another cheap commuting car and use that for my 30 mile a day commutes. After driving the Merc, there is no doubt that car is safer than my Odyssey. I think the car would rather tip than collapse on impact. I would give up extra space but for the most part the space is not used. The inside of the Merc is a huge area anyways. Maybe I get an old VW diesel pickup for cheap dough and use that for communiting and all the jobs I usually use the caravan for such as hauling leaves and trash delivery to the dump.

Ah, decisions, decisions.

Thanks everyone for your help,

David

[ken_xman]

I have an 89 300SE I am almost done on a complete resto.
Re-built engine, steering, suspension, re-finish wood interior & seats & dash, and currently finishing up the paint job.
These cars are very good, but have their mechanical quirks.
Check the head gasket for oil leaks.... notorious. Also check if the timing chain guide rails have ever been changed. They like to fall apart with age and get chewed up by the chain. The chain should outlast the motor. That being said. I had the head off my 6-cyl, new cam & rockers....worn, new valve seals, ground valves, new chain, tensioner, and rails, and head gasket on install. Not a bad job, just time consuming. She runs like new. It currently has 130k on the clock, but my father in-law was terrible changing the oil... so I had some unusual wear.
This will be a commuting car when assembled& get about 27-28 mpg.
I could argue that it is built as well as my 95 S600.

[indigowhale]

I just sold my 89 420 SEL, identical to the 560 Except for the displacement:

Pros:

Excellent ride
High safety factor
Lots of space
Classy
Not too many gimmicks
Nice acceleration to redline
Parts reasonably priced

Cons:

Legacy design
Timing chains every 100K ($1,500)
Premium only
18 MPG tops
All alloy engine later models, need to keep it cool
Transmission life 175K-200K (rebuilt $1,400 on cheap side)
Eats edges of tires due to worn bushings, hard to align even at dealer
AC can be an issue if R12 and not working
Risky on the ice, if ABS equipped better. Saved my neck once.