W140's Talk to me

[buccal]

I

The M120 is just two M104s on a common crank, so the complexity is having 2 mafs, 2 etas, and 2 ecus. Admittedly, thats potentially a nightmare if they need replacing, but (urgently looks for wood to touch) in 20 years of owning cars I've never had to replace any of those items in any car.

Nappa leather is the main difference in the S600, though most also have the electric reclining rear seat including the electric head rest up/down, Multi contour front seats (As opposed to just lumbar) 4 zone climate control with seperate blower motor for the rear, heated rear seats (Thats maybe on all models?). Mine also has a dinky little fridge between the rear seats. I think the S600 also got the half walnut steering wheel which was optional on other models. And most pointless of all, a button which changes the rear seat

[CODE]

[/CODE]adjustment switches to control the front passenger seat instead. The S600 is also only in lwb, where as all others were available in either regular or lwb.

Much like the w126, there was an option for individual rear seats which was quite expensive. Despite losing the practicality of having 5 seats, and the fact I'll probably never ride in the back, I still think it's a cool option.

As with all MBs of the 80s/90s there so many options, finding identical cars (other than taxi spec) is near impossible.

If you don't mind LHD there are some S350D models floating about with the 3.5 turbo diesel om 603, and the S300D 3.0 turbo om606.

Thanks for the detailed reply, and the performance?

 

[Smarties]

AVOID! IMHO. Had a S500 Coupe for a couple of years, worst car I ever owned. (1995 vintage, 72000 miles, 3 owners, full history, rust and electrical gremlins a plenty)

 

[Dieselman]

UUU avoid diesel models, more juicy then petrol.
300sd they call them rod benders

That's the 350, not the 300.
We didn't get any W140 diesels in the UK.

 

[Borys]

True 350's were bad,300 a bit better still juicy,lack of power too

 

[Dieselman]

The 300sd didn't bend rods though, that was the preserve of the bored out 350.

The cylinder pressure was more than the rods could stand so bendy, bendy they went, causing the pistons to go off centre and wear the bores out in double quick time.

 

[Borys]

Very very true
There are still lots of them in eastern europe,still breathing

 

[tali]

My father had a W126 and then a W140, which we still have and I have spent considerable time with the W220 and W221.

Was not as keen on the W220, the W221 does feel like a more fitting replacement to the W140.

Overall I love our W140, it is a 280, which is a little sluggish at times, but for gently cruising it is just fine. If I were buying one today, I would want an S500, with parktronic, a sunroof and Xenons.

Our W140 has been in the family for 10 years now and has been very reliable overall and driving it does have an air of ceremony about it.

I intend to keep ours for many more years as its a classic in the making.

My brother was selling on a 280 he was surprised at how brisk it was -i think that is general consensus-much better than expected
He had a M reg with air suspension -sold it for £250!
One of his customers runs a textile firm and has a low mileage S500 from new.

 

[millo777]

I've never driven a diesel w140, but there a few LHD ones around, but I can't comment on the performance of these. Might make an intersting veg oil express though?

The performance of the m120 on the other hand is what rolls royce used to refer to as "More than adequate". I generally drive like a granny, but occaisonally it's nice to give the old girl a bit of a stretch. From 70-90 for a motorway overtake is blink and you miss it quick, it'll kick down and push you back in the seat easily at that speed. From memory the 500 is 315bhp and the 600 389bhp, and I think the early models were slightly more. There is an AMG chip for the 600 which take it to 425bhp, but 389 is more than enough for me.

I believe the v8 and v12 models had a longer diff ratio, so cruising at 70 on the motorway is about 1800 rpm and decidedly unflustered. It can get a bit frustrating as it feels like you're hardly moving and becomes difficult to not brake the speed limit.

As per smarties post, I believe pretty much every car made by MB in 1994/1995 had issues with soy bean wiring. 1997 model year onwards are slightly lower so the wheel woble issue at 60 mph is cured, the plastic side cladding matches the main car colour, and they also got front side airbags. Being slightly lowered makes them look marginally less slab sided...but obviously not a lot!

Keep to a 1997/1998 and you'll be fine. The only thing that doesn't work on mine is the auto dimming wing mirrors, and thats just because I replced them with versions without the feature after some scroat nicked both of mine. It seems leaving the car parked with the mirrors folded makes them very easy to pinch.

 

[C240Sport97]

W140s rock ..

In the late 90s, I spent some time in New York on extended business trips. Stayed at the 4 Seasons Hotel in mid town .. LWB W140 S500 was the house limo, I took it whenver I could, it was sheer pleasure, quiet, incredibly comfortable and just wonderful to be driven it.

 

[d w124]

If you don't mind LHD there are some S350D models floating about with the 3.5 turbo diesel om 603, and the S300D 3.0 turbo om606.

Lovely cars those,used to drive my mates one when in Belgium.Even though it had 976k kilometres it was still on original gearbox and recon engine at 800k
The chap still has the car and still loves it,I might ask him what is the mileage

 

[C43AMG]

W140s rock ..

In the late 90s, I spent some time in New York on extended business trips. Stayed at the 4 Seasons Hotel in mid town .. LWB W140 S500 was the house limo, I took it whenever I could, it was sheer pleasure, quiet, incredibly comfortable and just wonderful to be driven it.

Show off . I have met your sort before It was only "pleasurable" and "incredibly" because you where Lording it in the back and didn't have to look at it

 

[C43AMG]

That was aimed at you Peter, will you let me in the car park if I turn up to brooklands in one?

Absolutely. Could i please ask you to turn right in the car park

Thank you.

 

[C240Sport97]

Show off . I have met your sort before It was only "pleasurable" and "incredibly" because you where Lording it in the back and didn't have to look at it

I was always polite to the man in front

 

[neilz]

Paid £1600 for mine last year with 66k miles. Soft closing and central locking pumps need replacing but otherwise perfect (not a bit of rust anywhere, I've searched and searched...). 1997 S320 LWB, very rare birds eye maple interior, emerald black interior, never gone wrong! So there are bargains to be had, the prices are coming down due to rising fuel prices. If you saw the rubbish that comes out of my exhaust some days (can run a bit rich), you'd guess how much fuel it uses. About 12mpg and this is only the V6!

 

[bing]

For me, a rust free, 96 - 98, S500L or S600L is the way to go.

 

[C43AMG]

I was always polite to the man in front

I should think so to !!

 

[tali]

Paid £1600 for mine last year with 66k miles. Soft closing and central locking pumps need replacing but otherwise perfect (not a bit of rust anywhere, I've searched and searched...). 1997 S320 LWB, very rare birds eye maple interior, emerald black interior, never gone wrong! So there are bargains to be had, the prices are coming down due to rising fuel prices. If you saw the rubbish that comes out of my exhaust some days (can run a bit rich), you'd guess how much fuel it uses. About 12mpg and this is only the V6!

12MPG i can believe
V6 ? straight six you mean?

 

[neilz]

What am I saying? Of course straight six!

 

[Borys]

12MPG i can believe
V6 ? straight six you mean?

That is why I coverted to lpg
But my v8 would do 20mpg in a town

 

[tali]

That is why I coverted to lpg
But my v8 would do 20mpg in a town

Lpg is said to reduce MPG by 20% - (although that does not take into account far lower cost of lpg)
Online calculator says for me 21 months to clear (i have factored in 20% mpg deduction)