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W126 - any decent ones out there?

timwood2000

timwood2000

Active Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
602
Location
Bromley, Kent
Car
R320 CDI SE LWB '07, BENTLEY CONTINENTAL FLYING SPUR MULLINER '06, FIAT 500 LOUNGE '58 & BMW R1200RT
Started to look at W126 500SEL's - seems that almost all of them have silly wheels/chrome wheel arches/white indictors/other daft mods etc.

Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place (eBay/PH/Autotrader) - does anyone know of somewhere that I might find an original, late model, good condition 500SEL (or even a 420SEL for that matter)?

Thanks
 
Small ads in Mercedes Enthusiast and the MB Club Gazette.

Glad to see someone else who doesn't appreciate daft mods. Can't say that I've seen many modded MBs that looked better than the ex-factory original.

For the low-down on the W126:

http://www.s-klasse-club.de/gb/index.html

where you will find model history and a ton(ne) of buying advice.

Key weak point: corrosion at base of rear windscreen. Get inside the boot and look up to see if the panel with circles is OK. The front wheel arches do corrode and that will be what any chrome covers are concealing.
 
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To my eye, the external proportions of the SE are perfect -- a Bruno Sacco triumph -- and those of the SEL are not. I don't often carry passengers, but when I have done there have been no complaints from the back seat. Each to his own, of course.
 
Roger Jones said:
To my eye, the external proportions of the SE are perfect -- a Bruno Sacco triumph -- and those of the SEL are not. I don't often carry passengers, but when I have done there have been no complaints from the back seat. Each to his own, of course.
Click to expand...

I have to say I agree, I think it's beautifully balanced and quite long enough.

On the practical side, 5020mm is already quite a bit to park, so I don't think I'd want the extra length of the SEL.

As you say, each to their own, even it it does mean pinching another parking space :D
 
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When I was looking for a W126 last Summer it was all about finding one in good condition within my budget. I had no preference for SE or SEL (lets face it - they're both pretty long). As it happens the car I found was an SEL, but if it had been an SE I'd still have bought it.
I'm with you with regard to mods - except for a newer stereo mine looks just as it did when it left the factory - the only mods I'd accept would be smoked or clear corners as the amber do date the face a little. I'd also stick to the original 15 hole alloys.
Incidentally another good source of info on the W126 can be found on the US benzworld site (www.benzworld.org). You'll find the US W126 owners a pragmatic bunch who know that cars of this age can have problems, but invariably someone will have seen it, fixed it & documented it for you.
 
It takes a long time to find a decent W126... They are out there and you dont have to go to the silly priced dealers to get one.. It took me over a year to find my first SEC IIRC and in the end i got it cheaper than many tatty ones id seen...
 
Car and classic is good.. bought the widebody donor car from there.. got a very very good price too..
 
Get down to your Local British Car Auctions.

There have been a few through recently.
 
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I can agree with Yiddo. The W126 I've got came to me via BCA.
 
PM'd you Timwood.
 
Re the car Jonnyboy is selling I know the previous two owners of this car and it's been well maintained by them both.
 
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