Pointers on buying a W116

[VolvoPenta170]

Hi all

Sold my W126 some time ago and have the urge to have another older Merc again and fancy a W116.

It would be for very occasional use, max of around 2k miles per annum, and be garaged when not in the road.

Any pointers on what to look out for ? I’m not looking for a project, want something that’s reasonably useable straight off.

I’ve had V8 W126 and R107 and now looking to go back a generation.

Thanks in advance

 

[Scott_F]

In a word......rust.

Even the newest W116 is approaching 40 years-old and despite their fine build quality they will all have seen lots of rain and salt in their time.

They can hide rust well so forget any sales chat about them being "hewn from granite" and "lasting forever" and treat them as you would any other old car that you that you may be interested in purchasing.

Check under the bonnet, the inner wings, the bulkhead, inside the wheel arches and in the boot. Get on the floor and have a close look at the sills / underside and the front and rear valences. Check around the screens for evidence of bubbling or repairs and once inside the car lift all the carpets and check the condition of the footwells.

And when you've done all that you can hope that you haven't missed anything as it's easy to do.....

 

[alabbasi]

Rust would be the obvious, i restored my first 6.9 about 13 years ago, if you go to this link, you'll see some pictures of the rust that we had to deal with.

1979 Mercedes Benz 450SEL 6.9

If you can find a 6.9, this is the one i would go with, the mileage difference between it and a regular 4.5 is negligible and you'll have more of a car. Don't buy anything with carbs and avoid d-jet cars for that matter as fuel injection bits are getting expensive.

Horse hair usually disintegrates which makes it look like the air was let out of the back seats. Check all power windows are functioning correctly because regulators tend to bend themselves out of shape.

 

[Scott_F]

If you can find a 6.9, this is the one i would go with, the mileage difference between it and a regular 4.5 is negligible and you'll have more of a car. Don't buy anything with carbs and avoid d-jet cars for that matter as fuel injection bits are getting expensive.

I would say that the 6.9 is the one to avoid.

They are probably more scarce in the UK than in the US and so prices here are far higher than any other model in the range. And of course fuel is much more expensive here too.

No W116 will be economical or cheap to run but the 6.9 litre engine is more complex than the others and will deliver single figure mpg around town along with the prospect of ruinously expensive repairs should things go wrong.

Cars of this type and age are best driven in leisurely manner and the smaller-engined variants will offer more than adequate power to waft you along comfortably.

 

[Eddy77]

The indy which I use to service my Merc looks after a locally owned 6.9. I think it's "the" old James Hunt car from the 70s, but I could be wrong. The reg number and colour scheme tie to images I have seen of hunt's old car.　

Anyway, I got chatting to him about it one time as it was sat there looking sorry for itself. It needed some kind of part - I forget what - but MB wanted over £10k for this particular part so the chap who runs the garage I use was trying to find a way to fit something cheaper from another model.　

God knows what it was, but it made me think - "you need deep pockets for something like that".　

Just a little anecodate. I like old Benzes and would whole-heartedly encourage you to go for it, as long as the costs are factored in!!

 

[alabbasi]

the 6.9 litre engine is more complex than the others and will deliver single figure mpg around town along with the prospect of ruinously expensive repairs should things go wrong

I've owned six 6.9's and still own two. I've heard similar arguments in the past but usually from people that have never owned a 6.9.

 

[Scott_F]

I've owned six 6.9's and still own two. I've heard similar arguments in the past but usually from people that have never owned a 6.9.

I'm sure you have but the biggest possible engine and the most power are not the main criteria when buying a 40 year-old luxo barge.

Fuel and running costs aside, a 6.9 is likely to cost twice what a 3.5 would cost to buy in the UK. Yet unless you give it the big right foot (not the way these old cars should be driven) the driving experience will be very similar and apart from the badges on the boot lid the two cars would look identical.

Which makes those boot lid badges very expensive indeed.

 

[merc85]

Saw this one advertised, although evedent its had bodywork could be a running project?
1979 Mercedes W116 350SE S Class V8 Automatic - Classic SE - 93k - MOT exempt | eBay

 

[MangoMan]

I don't think I can add to what others have already stated other than if you manage to find a good one grab it with both hands!

I used to have an old w116/350se. 1979 model it was as far as I can remember.

Of course I didn't have to worry too much about rust as we were in Southern Africa at the time. The only problem I had was that the front windows didn't work and it didn't have A/C either so it could get a bit warm sometimes, until I fixed them, but both rear windows open sufficed...lol.

I paid the equivalent of around £1200.00 or R12000.00 (Rand). Didn't have to worry about MOT's and Road Tax was incorporated in the Fuel Price and Insurance was so cheap I can't even remember what it cost! (By the way this was 1997/99 so things might be different now).

But I put on plenty miles on it with tours from South Africa to all around Zimbabwe 4-up with luggage in 30*C+ heat most days! Not to mention dodgy roads sometimes.....

Sadly I only have a couple of photos of the old girl - one with my son at the wheel in Nyanga: Google Maps

And the other is of me and the missus stopped at the Lion & Elephant Hotel (that's because they roam the area) looking a little tired after driving for about 14 hours - a few of those stuck at the SA/Zim Border! Google Maps

But it never missed a beat - and there is no AA or RAC in those parts to rescue you!!! So yes, I trusted it with our lives. Not much more to say really. Except "Good Luck"!

Photos:





I just thought I would add just in case you saw "Worlds View" on the first Mao of Inyanga, Here it is with my wife and her S-in-L and yours truly sitting on the edge of it.... You have to be there to get the full experience I suppose - but it's quite scary!

 

[VolvoPenta170]

Thanks for all your advice guys, will keep you posted if there’s any progress . Cheers