W126 300se advice needed urgently!!

[av12ram]

So there's a local business man who has had a burgundy 1991 300se with cream leather parked up in his car park for a couple of years and on the weekend I went over to have a look at it. I found it had a for sale sign tacked up on the rear window asking £1500 Ono. I found out the car belonged to his father who passed away 2 years ago and he hasn't driven it since. I arranged a viewing for this morning and the car has 5 owners and has done 76k with full service mostly MB and some specialists last one was done at 74k a few years back. I connected up the jump leads and I ticked over after about holding the key for about 10 seconds, (keep in mind it hasn't been started in 8 months, that's quite impressive) I drove it around the small car park the oil pressure is between 1-2 when it warmed up and jumps up when you step on the gas and the oil is really clean. Brakes are sharp and the steering is tight. The car has no rust underneath or beneath the parcel shelf but has a couple of rust bubbles around the rear arches and the front wing needs to be replaced. Plus a full respray because it's been parked outside and has been sunburnt.

I've made him an offer of £1000 and he said he'll think about it and call me in the morning. I wanted to ask you guys if you think it's a good deal or if I'm just getting a car that in the end will end up costing the same as a tidy example?
Thanks in advance

 

[jamesfuller]

The trouble is you could spend more money on a 'better' example only to find it has hidden problems. You just never can be 100% with a car this age.

At least this car seems to be honest and not bulls**ted up. You know what you want to do to get it to the condition you would be happy with. If it starts up after 8 months the engine obviously has good compression etc.
76k and no rust under the window is a very good start to a light resto/tidy up i would say.

 

[Scott_F]

If it's been off the road for two years and needs a wing / paintwork then it's not worth £1000.

You've already found a few problems after a short inspection and there are bound to be others that will come to light. The likely cost of re-commissioning and getting the car through an MOT means that at best it's worth little more than half of what you've offered.

 

[grober]

How much of the time scale you are quoting can you verify
Laid up for 2 years?
Not started for 8 months?
No MOT presumably? needs a cat to pass ? £200
Rear wheel arch rust - has to be repaired in situ so difficult to eradicate completely.
front wing genuine - £200+
good respray--- £500+ possibly more
76 k seems on the low side for a car of that age?+ don't like multi owner cars
Lowish oil pressure should be up at 3 with new oil and reasonable revs
what age are the tyres? they age even when not turning.

I would pass on this one personally-- compare with the 500 w126 mentioned elsewhere which says "money spent" and this one which says "no money spent" http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/general-discussion/158830-need-real-mb-expert-1988-era.html

ps missed out new battery £75

 

[jamesfuller]

Why would it need a cat for the mot, its a '91?
Once warmed up at tickover the oil pressure would appear ok, and it goes up when revved.

 

[jamesfuller]

The rust issues could crop up after 6 months on any badly repaired but seemingly good car.
Batteries can stop holding charge at any time on any car, its a serviceable item.

At the end of the day, these are not the type of car you buy with your head.
If its the type of car you want then great, but they will cost you money whatever way you go about it, but a cheaper car is usually more honest even if in need of more work and if anything major is unearthed is a lot easier to walk away from.

 

[ianrandom]

They often go for more than that, the mileage is very low.

They do tend to need using to be at their best, driving it would improve it hopefully. At idle with a warm engine the oil pressure can be below 1 bar, its fine as long as it rises up to 3 when you rev it.

It might be salvageable with its current paint? Or is the lacquer peeling. The finish on these old cars is awesome and they often clean up fantastically inside and out. But if the lacquer has lifted it'll need paint.

 

[av12ram]

I can actually verify all of the time scales because I drive past the car everyday only just got the courage to take a look at it. It definitely needs a full respray but the interior is mint looks like nobody has sat in it. It holds 3 bar when cold but drops to 1.5 on idle when warm. Jumps to 3 when it's revved up. Honestly I think it's quite an honest car I've grown up driving past it and always liked it.

 

[av12ram]

Oh forgot to say thanks for the replies

 

[grober]

If you think its an " honest car" sold by an honest person then fine. Just be sure to factor in what you will have to spend to bring it up to spec.

 

[johnsco]

Are you going to do much of the refurbishment work yourself ?
If so - This will reduce costs.
A car this age can absorb serious money if you are going to be paying for the labour.

If the car has been sitting around for a couple of years, you are likely to have deterioration in brake systems ... and a few other things as well.
These are not difficult to work on, and are well within the capability of a good DIY person.
The mileage is low (if genuine).
These are lovely old cars ......... But that's the word ... They are old.

£800 to £1000 is about right ... assuming there are no hidden disasters.

 

[John Jones Jr]

Plus a full respray because it's been parked outside and has been sunburnt.

That's the only (big) off putting aspect of that car judging by the info you supplied. Other than that I'd say buy it. Are sure the paint or the majority of the paint can't be rescued? Anyway, whatever figures you have in mind for general expenditure add 50%.

 

[av12ram]

The mileage seems genuine was speaking to the seller again today over the phone (he had to go to Leeds for a meeting) and he said his dad was living abroad for 10 months in the year when he bought this and when he came back he'd only drive it to the warehouse on the odd occasion, then back home. There's services done every two years from 2001 to 2010 which is when he passed away. The car is only parked down the road from me and I have seen it being driven very little. From what I can ascertain he's likely to do the deal at £1000 and a friend off my dad's will probably be able to do a very good deal on the body work. I took some pictures today and I'll try and get them up tomorrow. Thanks for the comments they've been very helpful.

 

[John Jones Jr]

It will be interesting to hear how you get on, a great motor btw. It's been said many times before but it is more than apt for a W126, they really don't make than like those anymore. Enjoy.

 

[Scott_F]

From what I can ascertain he's likely to do the deal at £1000......

He would be foolish not to.

 

[arfan786]

some interesting comments there i suppose everyone is entitled to their opinions. I think for a low mileage w126 and what seems like a genuine car with no rot under parcel shelf or major rust issues then £1000 is a a very good deal.

being a w126 owner myself i know what costs are involved in maintain these cars and also know how rare it is find a rust free low mileage example for that kind of price.

I think the biggest cost will be the full respray as from what i gather the engine appears to be good and being a 91 car it wont be needing cat i am sure of that.

definately keep us posted on this you could have unearthed a gem perhaps. A low mileage w126 with good engine and rust free body are definately rare.

good luck

 

[grober]

Catalytic converter[KAT] versions of the M103 engines in the W126 existed from their introduction in 1986 alongside the [RUF] non cat engines. This was due to the German government offering tax exemptions for cars with clean exhausts. This was only possible with the introduction of unleaded fuel of course and I have a feeling KAT became standard in 1989 in German market cars. It was only later that catalytic converter equipped cars became standard in the UK market but I seemed to remember it was around 91/92 hence my doubts

 

[stwat]

Cats were always an optional extra up until they became mandatory. The simplest way to check is to look at the EZL dial. If it has KAT on it then the car has a cat or cats.

 

[av12ram]

Some pictures of the old thing. Opinions? I'm picking it up on Friday.

 

[John Jones Jr]

Looks good, nice colour combo.