SEC experts - help needed

[560sec]

Hello all. I'm hoping to get into Mercedes ownership at the budget end (if there is one!). I hope someone can give me some advice on a 560 sec I'm thinking of buying. The car has a good documented history - mainly main dealer up to 70k and then Merc specialist from then til now which is about 130k. All MOT's are available and the car is generally in good condition (for a 14 year old). There is some very minor rust on the front wings (only small amount of bubbling) but the bit under the rear window has been done already at great expense (so the owner has said). This owner has had the car since about 1996 and he is the 2nd.

My questions are: It would appear that the exhaust hasn't been changed yet - anyone know what the likely cost would be for replacement?

There is no blue smoke coming from the car so I assume that the valve seals/piston rings are ok. Any idea when I could expect to do them - P&S motors said it would cost about £1800ish to do.

Does anyone know if there are any major things that go worng with these cars even if they've been looked after? I just don't want it to become a money pit - but I love the old barge looks and drive.

Sorry to ramble - hope someone has some buying advice they can give.

thanks - and BTW is the price of around 6500 about right?

560 wannabe

 

[Sp!ke]

Seems rather pricey to me... I'd expect an absolute mint example for that kind of money.

Check autotrader as there are a few there at around the £3k mark.

 

[560sec]

Seems rather pricey to me... I'd expect an absolute mint example for that kind of money.

Check autotrader as there are a few there at around the £3k mark.

Well I've looked around a bit and tried to follow up a couple. I know that this one will come down a fair bit but I've seen two others that don't have a complete history. Neither of them has all the MOT's, and the service documentation is incomplete. I'd have to say that this one probably the best of the bunch but I know that I can probably get it down by 1k to 5.5k. I'm just a tad nervous about potential costs. Am planning on getting the car inspected first anyway but was wondering if anyone has any pointers as to the main issues with this car.

 

[mbz 6]

I had a 1987 SEC a couple of years ago no problems apart from the 4 car alarms fitted by the previous owners. Fit new alarm and leave the old one still connected O what fun
Also the boot leaked by the rear window. (common problem)
Lowest was 12mpg highest was around 19 to 20. Very good car
I have seen 560 SECs for sale upto 15k for a 30 000 mile car

 

[kusanku]

I've had a 500 SEC for about 18 months, and absolutely love it. I get about 25mpg on a run, which I think is acceptable for a 1980s V8. Rust under the rear shelf is the most common problem, and costs a lot. Also check underneath the doors, as this area can rot without being detected. Also worth pouring some water over the sunroof as the drainage channels can corrode or get blocked, causing leaks.
Mine has done 200k, and has no blue smoke. It had a new exhaust fitted before I got it. I can look up the price, but it was a main dealer, so woud be top whack. Had a new gearbox at 160k (again under previous owner). This was about £3k from main dealer. I think the engines wear from the top end, so have a listen for camshaft noise, which is again expensive. Mine was a bit noisy, and needed new rocker arms, which were about £10 each. I would also change the timing chain and tensionner as a precaution. Air con and heaters can give trouble, so check both of these work. The monovalve/duovalve tends to go.
£5-£6k seems reasonnable to me if it's a nice example. I looked at about 5 or 6 before I bought one. Low mileage examples seem to be going for silly money at the moment.
I have to say it's not the cheapest car to maintain, although I understand it's a lot cheaper than a 140 series. In the first year of ownership, I spent more on it than I did in nearly 6 years of 123 ownership, and that was without any major work.
Have a look at the buyers guide on the MB coupes website. Does get confusing at times, because he also talks about a 420SEL, and it can be difficult to work out which car he's on about.
Overall, I think they are great cars, and if I got rid of mine, I imagine it would be in order to get another one.

 

[560sec]

I've had a 500 SEC for about 18 months, and absolutely love it. I get about 25mpg on a run, which I think is acceptable for a 1980s V8. Rust under the rear shelf is the most common problem, and costs a lot. Also check underneath the doors, as this area can rot without being detected. Also worth pouring some water over the sunroof as the drainage channels can corrode or get blocked, causing leaks.
Mine has done 200k, and has no blue smoke. It had a new exhaust fitted before I got it. I can look up the price, but it was a main dealer, so woud be top whack. Had a new gearbox at 160k (again under previous owner). This was about £3k from main dealer. I think the engines wear from the top end, so have a listen for camshaft noise, which is again expensive. Mine was a bit noisy, and needed new rocker arms, which were about £10 each. I would also change the timing chain and tensionner as a precaution. Air con and heaters can give trouble, so check both of these work. The monovalve/duovalve tends to go.
£5-£6k seems reasonnable to me if it's a nice example. I looked at about 5 or 6 before I bought one. Low mileage examples seem to be going for silly money at the moment.
I have to say it's not the cheapest car to maintain, although I understand it's a lot cheaper than a 140 series. In the first year of ownership, I spent more on it than I did in nearly 6 years of 123 ownership, and that was without any major work.
Have a look at the buyers guide on the MB coupes website. Does get confusing at times, because he also talks about a 420SEL, and it can be difficult to work out which car he's on about.
Overall, I think they are great cars, and if I got rid of mine, I imagine it would be in order to get another one.

cheers Kusanku - very informative . The rear parcel shelf has been done - I checked that. However, looks like I'll need to get a professional inspection done as my knowledge of this car is rudimentary at best. If anyone knows a Merc specialist who could do a pre-purchase inspection for me I'd be interested to know or if anyone has any other info that they think would be useful. Othwerise I'll be calling the RAC again who did a pretty sterling job for me a month ago on another car.

cheers again

 

[Philirv]

cheers Kusanku - very informative . The rear parcel shelf has been done - I checked that. However, looks like I'll need to get a professional inspection done as my knowledge of this car is rudimentary at best. If anyone knows a Merc specialist who could do a pre-purchase inspection for me I'd be interested to know or if anyone has any other info that they think would be useful. Othwerise I'll be calling the RAC again who did a pretty sterling job for me a month ago on another car.

cheers again

Depends on where you are located ! If you are in the Reading / London / Oxford vicinity you could ask John Griffiths to check it out for you - he's got a website
www.jgriffiths.co.uk

 

[kusanku]

New MB exhaust on a 126 is roughly £1000 + fitting. Non MB exhaust systems are a lot cheaper, but most reports I've read advise against going down that route. A lot of independent speciallists will do inspections if you can take the car to them, especially if they are likely to get your business as a future customer. Not so sure I would have as much faith in AA/RAC, as these are not really the kind of bread and butter cars they are used to.

 

[560sec]

well thanks for the help chaps - the owner has dropped the price considerably (down to 5k now) but has said that he won't be dropping it any further even if anything gets pulled up in any inspection. TBH I can see his point - the car has just been MoT'd and has a complete service history too. Even so I can't be sure until I have had it properly inspected and that will cost me the best part of about £250 - adding on the cost of any remedial work (even if minor) will mean further expenditure so I have decided to hold fire. I know he's planning on holding on to it if it doesn't sell so I might contact him in a few months time. BTW - reason for sale is he has just bought a CL600.