w126 lunacy...

[MJK 24]

Afternoon,

have I taken leave of my senses?

Last week, I put a bid on ebay for a 1991 300se. Blue/blue leather. Aircon. 2 previous owners. 97k. Full tax and test. £2.5k spent at Merc specialist in the last 18 months. At £1,600, I lost it by £100...

This week I find myself contemplating a 1990 500sel. Black with black leather. 2 previous keepers. 184k. No history bar a few old MOTs. Been stood 5 years. Needs front wings and an exhaust. ABS light on. Idleing high. Big dent to NSF door. Will need tyres too as it's been stood so long.

I've reconciled myself to the fact that only genuine wings will do and they're going to cost me £450. A friend has an excellent and I mean really excellent bodyshop and I'm thinking fitting and paint will cost me £300 at mates rates.

I priced up a genuine exhuast and had to lie down in a cool, dark room for approx twenty minutes. However, Eurocarparts have quoted reasonable money for a centre and rear silencer (£250).

I'm hoping that cleaning the ABS sensors will sort the ABS light out. I've budgeted £200 for discs, pads and changing plugs, filters and fluids. (I will get a specialist to do the ATF as I've not done this before).

What else should I be aware of and or prepared for when trying to get this simply magnificent car back on the Queens Highway?

It's got so much prescence!

Am I doing the right thing here or should I be looking for an original mint 6cyl car?

Not sure I could live with myself if I thought this 500sel would be broken if I didn't get it though

Help a lunatic :bannana:

 

[jaymanek]

well done! but neglected W126's are hard work... its well worth going for the 8 cylinders though... 6's are rubbish IMO...

ABS light may even go off once the car is used..

this is what ive had to do on a car that had been used and looked after (but not to my standard):

- Restore Electric Rear blind (Most new parts needed, motor was still working though)

- Renew Rubber Door & window Seals (Cost around £300 for all of them)

- New Rear Screen due to white effect at bottom (Cost me £100 excess but cost insurance company £800, not a cheap item)

- New Wheels

- Balance all wheels

- Repair up/down electric seat adjustment (cost - skinned knuckles)

- Renew ATF & Filter

- Renew Diff Oil (looked like treacle)

- Renew Engine Oil

- Renew Fuel Filter

- Flush & renew Coolant

- MOT (Passed first time)

- All New Speakers

- Replace two pieces of Chrome on rear bumper £200ish

- Repair rust bubbles on wheel arch £250



the main things centre around rust and leaks caused by rust and rubber that needs renewing.

Engines are generally solid....

 

[grober]

ABS valve unit or the ECU----- EXPENSIVE tho breaker replacement might be a possibility?? There are internal relays in the valve unit which might be replaceable but brakes are not an area to take chances with.
Personally I would be very wary of buying a non runner/non MOT'D car. Principle problem of cars that age is bodywork rust. The wings may only be the tip of the iceberg?? If major structural bodywork is required then the repairs will easily exceed the market value of the car. I would look for a 6 cylinder car which is currently "on the road in daily use" sorry.

 

[Will]

ABS light and high idle could be linked - OVP relay or the fuse blown? Worth checking at the very least.

It sounds as though this car will be more of a labour of love than anything, if you enjoy this and take pride in your cars then why not? If you need something reliable and ready to go, keep looking.

Good luck and have fun

Will