I think I saw a scrap 560

[pentoman]

Not too sure but I think I have the option to get some parts off a 560SEL. At least that's what it was badged as. It was E reg and a V8.
However, I'm not convinced it was a 560 - how do I be certain? And what bits might I take off it that could be useful to people if so - because I know some 560 parts are expensive from MB. Anyone want anything, we can come to a deal?

The mileage said 38,000 BUT before you get excited there was no way it had done 38k. No way. The body was straight but obviously sat for years as it was covered in moss all over. The interior was worn but not too bad. Interior was brown and the rear seats had heaters or switches for something... Exterior was silver. But generally it was far too worn and dirty inside and under the bonnet for 38k, maybe 138k I could believe.

It did seem to have SLS rear suspension that was sitting low but I'm not sure if all W126s have this. Also had 215-width tyres on factory alloys.

Or am I wasting my time and should I just let this 560 rest (rust) in peace?

 

[219]

The 560 did have hydropneumatic suspension as standard , it was an option on lesser models , including my 500 . Also the tyre size does point to it being a 560 - my 500 runs on 205 width tyres - so you have probably found the genuine article .

The rear seats may well be heated , or electrically adjustable - or both !

Was the rear seat a bench or two individual ones ? If the latter I may be interested even though the wrong colour for my car .

Which part of the country are you / this car in ?

 

[MPG]

As Pontoneer says it does have a number of features which point to it being a 560.
By way of history, the W126 was launched in Europe in 1979 as the Gen1, with a facelift and revision to the engines occuring with the introduction of the Gen2 in 1986 - it was at this time that the 560 was introduced to the range. 215 tyres were standard only on 560's, although any other model could have them if you liked as the 15 hole alloy rims fitted on all gen 2 cars were the same size. SLS was actually an option even on the 560 although the uptake was quite high.
With respect to the rear seat, if it's the individual 2 seat option with central controls, then it was a very expensive option - if I remember correctly, by ticking the box to add electrically adjustable heated rear seats to your S class you added about 7k to the invoice total - roughly the same cost as buying a new Sierra at the time !

 

[pentoman]

Thanks for the info, very interesting to read.
I'm pretty sure the rear seat was a bench. IF it was 2 individual ones, then there were no controls in the middle for them. I'll double check.

There was a guy recently on another site who had been quoted an enormous sum for an ignition control module for his 560 and was looking for a used one. This is what got me thinking - maybe I ought to salvage this one and at least ebay it, to keep another 560 on the road and also get some much-needed cash (I wouldn't normally look to profit from the community).

I'm in south west england...

 

[jaymanek]

the iginition control modules fetch around £250 used. I would not pay much more than that for the car as there will be a lot of labour involved to remove the other valuable bits..

 

[219]

If two individual rear seats , there would have been a walnut panel between them .

Other nice options , if this car has them , would be rear window blind , side curtains in the rear doors - again probably the wrong colours for my car if the interior is brown .

If , as you mentioned , the car is covered in mould - the mileage could just be genuine as it may have been lying rotting somewhere for many years and now in a state of neglect .

 

[pentoman]

Can I tell from the speedo?
Bandwidth borrowed from PH - sorry

560sec speedo goes to 160 + another bar for 170mph

http://carandclassic.com/car/C87162/
F-reg 560SEL speedo goes to 160 then to 170

500sel speedo goes to 160 only, no further

 

[219]

My 500 speedo stops at 160

 

[pentoman]

Looks like I will go back and check it has a 170 speedo then to be sure its a 560.
Where do the injection ECUs live on these? Worth getting or just the ignition one?

 

[219]

There are a lot of ECU's between the firewall and the windscreen - might be as well to grab the lot if the scrappy doesn't want too much for them .

I'd possibly be interested in some of the burr walnut wood - but only if in excellent condition . Any chance of taking a camera when you go back and posting some pictures of the interior ?

 

[jaymanek]

Looks like I will go back and check it has a 170 speedo then to be sure its a 560.
Where do the injection ECUs live on these? Worth getting or just the ignition one?

The one you want is under the bonnet on the nearside at the front near the headlight... tricky to get out...

 

[219]

Here's a picture of a car with individual rear seats , you can see the wood panel in the middle with the switches .

 

[st4]

Here's a picture of a car with individual rear seats , you can see the wood panel in the middle with the switches .

No leather?

 

[pentoman]

No leather?

Surely from back in the days when cloth was better than leather (leather was what the driver got in horse-drawn carriage type vehicles, whereas passengers got 'sumptous' cloths and velours and things.)

 

[st4]

Surely from back in the days when cloth was better than leather (leather was what the driver got in horse-drawn carriage type vehicles, whereas passengers got 'sumptous' cloths and velours and things.)

Well I haven't got leather anyway :bannana:

 

[pentoman]

OK here we go..
Case for the defence - it's a genuine 560 speedo and it says 36k.

Interior..... hmmm not too bad, could be the real mileage.

These are those door switches

Rear bench isn't too bad?

Let's have a look at the outside.... hmmm

Well it's got (had - taken already) a 560SEL badge all right. But not sure that bodywork is of a 38k car.

Let's look at the underneath. Somebody has already robbed the wheels since I first posted. Not convinced under here.

Under the bonnet will let us know. Could be a fresh low mileage 560 motor in there!!

Or not

I guess you probably figured by now it's pretty worn out.

Couple more images

The interior looks better nick in the pictures than it is. Smelt bad and felt used. It's still a huge shame though - felt like a piece of history, shouldn't just be crushed!! Kind of preferred it to a pristine garage queen, it felt genuine. Liked the brown too it felt cool.

 

[500E]

Wow! Amazing car...once!

Imagine trying to put that back on the road!

Wonder who owned it and when it was abandoned?

Did the paperwork on the passenger seat give away any history?

 

[pentoman]

 

[jaymanek]

wow the 560SEC was almost another 50% at 70K back in 1988....

 

[219]

The switches on the rear door are for electric adjustment of the rear bench and electric windows . The second photo shows what looks like electric memory seat switches on the front passenger door . There's an OTG in the cluster , probably standard on the 560 but a lot of W126 cars don't have one so it would be a good thing to get and easily sold on eBay - I retrofitted mine : all you need is the module and the sensor from behind the bumper . The wood looks fair , but probably no better than what I have . The car also has cruise , again might be a popular 'upgrade' for someone who hasn't got it on their 126 . If the chrome inserts in the bumper are not bubbling with rust , they can be worth a bit secondhand - new ones are circa £400 .

Always sad to see a car end up like this . Exterior probably looks a lot worse than it is - probably a few hours with a pressure washer , then a T Cut would bring it up not too badly .