Mercedes SEL/SEC 500 and SEC560

[Oli]

I've recently taken a real liking to these 80's uber Mercs, there's just something solid and cool about them that I can't really describe, does anyone on here have one? and could give me some advice on what their like to live with, not everyday it would probably be a second car but would get a fair bit of use, is there any weak points on them?, and realisticaly what kind of MPG should I expect?, bearing in mind I used to have a Range Rover so I'm no stranger to high fuel bills!!, currently got a CLK 230K.

 

[johnsco]

We ran a 1983 Type 126 380SE (3.8 litre V8) for some 8 years.
I think they're wonderful.
The 500 or the 560 would have been even better.
I found ours reliable, good-looking - It ran well, handled well, braked well, everything kept working.
They are relatively-easy to service if you are a DIYer.
Many aspects of them are over-engineered, from the days when MB tended to build "regardless of cost"
They are not immune from the dreaded corrosion.
Front wings go and you have to keep up to the rear wheel arches.
Rear screens are prone to leakage and associated corosion problems.
But - If you can pick up a good one - They are magnificent.

 

[MPG]

I'm currently running a W126. It's a 500SEL registered on a K plate, so as such is one of the last. In the past 10 months, I've covered about 9k in it without a hitch. So far all I've needed to do is fit a new set of tyres (very cheap as the rims are only 15"), serviced it (buying the service items from Mercedes is incredibly cheap - 2 quid for a spark plug & a fiver for an oil filter) & new stereo fitted. Next job will probably be to fit a new radiator as the current one has a small split where the top hose union joins (remember these radiators are made of plastic so the upside is no corrosion). So far I've found the car a joy to live with & to work on. The car is so "over-engineered" removing or replacing any item is about as straightforward as it can get. It really does look as if longevity, quality & ease of repair where uppermost in Mercedes mind when these cars were designed, rather than the more modern attitude of looking for a cheaper method of construction.
That said, you do have to watch out for corrosion on the front wings which once it's taken hold really means replacement - primed wings from Mercedes cost approx 250 a side. Also as stated already the rear shelf can also suffer from corrosion. If it's a V8 you're after they can get a little smokey after 100k miles which usually means a new set of valve guide oil seals are needed & it's prudent to think about replacing the chain & tensioners around the same time. Other than that fuel economy isn't so great, but coming from a Range Rover that won't be an issue - for the record I average between 17 & 19mpg in mine.
Finally, you may want to consider converting your A/C from R12 to R134a if that hasn't already been done - mine blows icy cold with it's R134a (ozone friendly) system.

 

[Oli]

That's a beautiful 500 SEL and looks in really good condition too, I really feel like there's something timeless about them over say a 7 Series of the same era, they've just aged really well and the interior in yours for example doesn't look old.Their quite a basic car to work on then?, from what I've heard these are really cars made when Mercedes quality was exceptional.
I imagine most cars would have had the A/C R134a conversion by now as I can't see many systems still running if their last re charge was before 2000, if not I belive it's fairly cheap to get the system converted?.

 

[MPG]

Working on them really is pretty straightforward. You can tell that a certain design process went into them which considered not just the functionality of the oily bits under the bonnet, but how easy they'd be to access & work on in the future. Changing oil & filters is the easiest job ever - you don't even need stands or ramps as the clearance under the sump plug is huge. Some of the spark plugs do admittedly need a little thought when changing as the ones towards the rear of the block are a touch awkward, but nothing serious.
Mine was only converted to R134a last year (just before I purchased it). In essence the A/C wasn't working as the gas had leaked out through a hole in the condensor. As such a new condensor, receiver/drier, valves, seals & a regas ensued the day before I collected it. Not an expensive job from an A/C specialist & it really does freeze you - no matter how hot the day I rarely need to set it below 22 degrees (it goes as low as 16 for the record).

Find a good one & enjoy it. To be honest, I've had several nearly new cars in the past which have depreciated by 10 or 20k whilst in my ownership. In comparison, throwing a few quid to keep a W126 on the road really doesn't bother me. They're so cheap to buy these days that depreciation is now pretty much nil.

We need to ensure some of these cars are saved !! I really don't want to snipe at owners of newer Mercedes but I had a W221 S Class coming towards me during the week & it really just looked like a C class on steroids from the front......

 

[Oli]

Don't get me wrong I still like modern Mercs, my CLK is now 8 years old and I wouldn't consider it to be old but definatly not new either, I just really like the old 80's 500s and 560s and in truth could drive one every day, they have a certain amount of presence to me in the same way as a older Jag or Range Rover Classic does, how much would you say would get you a decent one £3k ish?.

 

[MPG]

Oli - 3k should easily get you a nice usable example. All the usual checks apply & the more paperwork that comes with it the better. As previously mentioned check for rust in the wings & parcel shelf, check for any smoke indicating the valve guide seals are on the way out (they tend to harden with age) & if it's done over 120k and there's no sign of a belt & tensioner change it's certainly something to factor in. The screens can also delaminate after time by going milky at the edges - there's nothing you can do about this other than live with it or replace the glass. Your insurance glass policy & excess can be your friend here.
Obviously test every button & switch - especially the seat switches and sunroof as both can be prone to failure after all these years. That aside, just check it the same as you would any other car. As long as its been well maintained there's no reason why it shouldn't continue for another 20 years. The build quality on a good one is something to behold - I love the way the boot gently clicks shut under its own weight - no fancy electrics or hydraulics required - just good old fashioned engineering.

I see pistonheads has an example at around your budget. Link here. It is a 420 though - if you're after a 500 or 560 (if you can find one !) then the search continues....

 

[jaymanek]

I know of a fantastic 560 SEC for sale.. up at £3500.. sold last year by Avantgarde for a lot more!

 

[219]

There are lots of these cars for sale at varying prices . They start at what can only be described as utter rubbish for a few hundred pounds . A grand or so can get you something reasonable - if you are lucky - and beyond two grand should buy you a nice example with the best commanding even higher prices .

I bought my 500SEL last autumn , after looking around for a while at cars that were either overpriced or just total rubbish .

Mine is not perfect , but is sound bodily and mechanically , came with some history up to about 10K before I got it , and newly MOT'd as part of the deal - all for £1250 from a fellow MBOC member . It had covered 148K when I bought it and is now just about to hit 160K - the car has never missed a beat in the 8 months or so I've had it .

The car needs uprated rear springs fitted as I always lug a lot of equipment around in the boot and it sits pretty low ( besides I have recently fitted a towbar and need to do this for towing ) that really is the biggest thing wrong with it . I've serviced the car myself , fitted new brakes , had 2 new tyres put on . The air-con is not working but is certain to be the old R12 system and who knows when it was last regassed - if ever ? A well worn drivers seat with a collapsed spring completes the catalogue of faults .

The car has good bumper chrome all round - expensive to put right otherwise , has had two new front wings and was fully resparayed by the funeral company which was the second owner ( I am the 4th ) . The paintwork is almost unmarked : there is a small mark about the size of your fingernail and a bumper scrape on the osr corner , which was there when I got the car . The other corner of the back bumper also has some scrapes which I will rectify eventually .

As they say , a picture tells a thoudsand words - so here are a few , taken this afternoon .

 

[219]

 

[Oli]

Another lovely example, you could practically move house with the amount of boot space they have!!, I think I'm going to start looking for a 560 SEC, I like the look of them slightly more although I do love the SEL too.
The only thing I think can ruin these great cars looks wise is aftermarket alloys that look too current for the car.

 

[Roger Jones]

There are excellent history and buying-tips pages in the English section here:

Mercedes-Benz S-Klasse Club e.V.

Click on the W126 tab.

MPG, that split component is replaceable, if it's the same as what went on my M103 engine. I've had two radiators replaced on M103s and went for Nissens (made in Denmark) from GSF at about a third of the MB dealer price. They've been in for four and three years respectively and have exhibited no problems.

 

[MPG]

MPG, that split component is replaceable, if it's the same as what went on my M103 engine. I've had two radiators replaced on M103s and went for Nissens (made in Denmark) from GSF at about a third of the MB dealer price. They've been in for four and three years respectively and have exhibited no problems.

Thanks for that Roger - I've been looking at a number of sites for a new radiator as Mercedes are taking the proverbial by charging 380 for a new one ! With mine it's the top hose connection that's split. Similar case with my XJS. It needs a new A/C compressor & oil cooler. Jaguar want 354 for the oil cooler (superior quality third party coolers are approx 90) & they want an eye-watering 698 for the Sanden A/C compressor (the EXACT same item is available via a number of other outlets for under 300). It irks me that the manufacturer feel they can get away with these unwarranted mark ups.

 

[Roger Jones]

"primed wings from Mercedes cost approx 250 a side"

Close: I was quoted £188.33 and £195.08 +VAT last August.

I guess manufacturers and tethered dealers are continuing to look to parts and servicing to compensate for their squeezed margins on car sales these days. I keep checking OEM prices and sometimes they're not bad from MB, but you can of course get genuine OEM quality from Euro Car Parts (coded accordingly) and GSF, albeit at the top end of their own price ranges.

 

[WDB124066]

Here is a nice 560SEL in Australia.

Login


W.

 

[Rose Chap]

I've recently taken a real liking to these 80's uber Mercs, there's just something solid and cool about them that I can't really describe, does anyone on here have one? and could give me some advice on what their like to live with, not everyday it would probably be a second car but would get a fair bit of use, is there any weak points on them?, and realisticaly what kind of MPG should I expect?, bearing in mind I used to have a Range Rover so I'm no stranger to high fuel bills!!, currently got a CLK 230K.

Hi Oli,

I share your thinking and recently bought myself a 300SE for only £1300 as a car for general use as it was feeling criminal using the M5 for short commutes and to pick up shopping.

Whilst my 300 is clearly not the monster V8 you're looking for, I was happy to buy any W126 providing it met my cost and condition criteria, namely the bodywork had to be sound (free from rust in the usual places) and there had to evidence that no mechanical woes were imminent. I was lucky enough to find this at a TVR/Noble dealership 6 miles from where I live so that was a real bonus.

Due to the high numbers of these cars being scrapped there are heaps of second hand parts flying around. Type W126 into an eBay search and you'll see all manner of replacement parts available, from interior bits to indicator lamps to fuel pumps, you name it. If you're mechanically minded and have the facilities I've heard they are quite straightforward to work on as well.

Despite my W126 being far from mint, everything important still works. The heated electic seats work, the sunroof retracts, the aerial slides up and down, the steering column slides back and forth on its electric motor and even the (I'm guessing) R12 air conditioning still blows cold. These cars are built well.

I'm running mine as essentially a runabout (no doubt to the annoyance of some) and have no plans to restore it a factory fresh state, though I am doing small cheap repairs where I can. My leather repair kit for the hole in the driver's seat bolster arrived yesterday so I'll tackle that this weekend, and I'm scanning the classifieds for a replacement steering wheel.

A full on restoration including respray and replacement of dodgy parts (my driver's door has rust on it) might cost a few £K, but considering the car's innate prestige could arguably be worth it, though you'd probably be unlikely to see that value back come resale - it would just be for your benefit.

In short, due to the ease of doing things and the cheap prices of parts, I don't see why running a W126 long term should cost any more than your CLK, especially since functional W126s have pretty much finished depreciating.

The member here IanAlexander2 may still have a 420SE for sale, and his is in very good condition.

A few pictures of my badboy.

With regard to the bits you mentioned, I've seen air conditioning specialists quote figures of around £150 for changing from R12 to R134a. This seems pretty cheap so is something I may do if the car is running well.

Economy is clearly not great. I'm seeing around late teens MPG, and I'd expect a 500/560 to be in the early to mid teens. Still, if you're used to a Range Rover you'll find this good. Oh, and the fuel tank is massive, from empty mine swallowed £80 worth of V Power, more than my BMW!

Good luck with your decision.

By the way MPG, your 500SE looks fantastic.

 

[219]

Nice car !

Actually , there is not such a big difference in fuel consumption between the 300 and the larger engined models .

I routinely get between 18 and 20 mpg with my 500 on a mix of town and country driving . On a run , I can easily achieve 23 mpg and I have seen a best of 25 mpg on a long motorway run , cruising at the legal speed limit .

In fact , I have never seen worse than 18 mpg , even across tanksful which have included some heavy-footedness on the way to fires !

Re the cost of conversion to R134 : I really thought it would have cost a LOT more - the one indy I enquired at wouldn't even quote me a 'ballpark' figure , which I found quite alarming - so I didn't pursue it any further . Maybe I'll try one of those independent aircon engineers who come to your house , I know there are a couple locally .

 

[Rose Chap]

Thanks for the kind comments!

Regarding air conditioning: I've done a lot of internet reading about this R12 to R134a conversion lark and apparently the costs mount when the AC system itself is faulty or leaking as then a lengthy investigation process is needed. Assuming your a/c plumbing is fundamentally sound then the <£200 figure should be acheivable.

However, most W126s are 20+ years old so that may not be a safe assumption!

I've got high hopes for mine as it still does blow cold, if not a tundra torndado like my BMW or CLK.

 

[MPG]

Good to find some fellow W126'ers around that are willing to keep Bruno Scacco's finest on the road! My fuel economy isn't quite as good as Pontoneers with my worst being 16 & my best just shy of 20mpg. Have to say I'm also tempted at the prospect of a 560 SEC to go with the SEL & the XJS, but I've also got a huge itch telling me to buy a Porsche 928. Decisions !

While I remember - I forgot to say that another weakness of the W126 is the chrome - when it starts to bubble it's beyond salvation as it'll have rusted from the underside upwards. Replacements are readily available from all the usual suspects.

 

[Roger Jones]

My long-term average consumption over four years since acquiring my 300 SE is 24.45 mpg. The highest rolling six tankfuls was 31.74, which was exceptional and must have been a series of gentle long trips, mid-to-high 20s being more typical for long trips. A gentle 250-mile trip, plus two short trips, driving a friend's 500 SEL was about 22.5. My driving style is relatively gentle, but I'm up with the rest you cruising at 80+ on the motorway.

In 2006 I had the A/C converted in my 300E TT to Retro Pro 134a, for about £60 on top of the normal regass charge. It's fine, if not as ice cold as many seem to find desirable, but which I neither need nor want. It was done by Aircool AC Ltd, a mobile service not that far from you: Pulloxhill, Beds, 0845 009 2345, [email protected], [email protected].