SEC Coupe - some questions
Discussion
Seriously thinking about one of these, budgeting for £4k to buy the car and £2k for insurance (I'm a young guy, go figure)
Roughly how much should a full service cost? Is it best taking to a Mercedes specialist?
What's the MPG like on the 500 SEC?
How expensive are parts, stuff like alternator, starter motor, etc?
Really just trying to work out if I can realise this dream yet, or not. Have to be realistic in financial terms after all.
Edit: OK...grossly underestimated the cost of insurance. 2k is what it would cost for insurance on an early 90s E Class coupe, but on a 500 SEC...cheapest was £4200. Oh dear.
Roughly how much should a full service cost? Is it best taking to a Mercedes specialist?
What's the MPG like on the 500 SEC?
How expensive are parts, stuff like alternator, starter motor, etc?
Really just trying to work out if I can realise this dream yet, or not. Have to be realistic in financial terms after all.
Edit: OK...grossly underestimated the cost of insurance. 2k is what it would cost for insurance on an early 90s E Class coupe, but on a 500 SEC...cheapest was £4200. Oh dear.
Edited by joshc on Tuesday 23 March 00:16
These are wonderful cars. £4k is enough to get a very good 500 and an excellent 420. The 560 commands a premium which in my view is unwarranted.
Specialist servicing is essential. These cars require expertise that either your local general mechanic nor most Merc dealers possess these days. Specialist servcing generally is cheap. When nothing is wrong with them, just change the fluids often. Change the oil and filter every 6,000miles and change the transmission oil and filter every 24,000miles.
The cars are robust if used. They go bad if not. Use them daily and drive them for: they respond better. Unused, the electronic control units seem to go bad, meaning things like the cruise control, seat belt presenters, fuel pump relay, stuff with little circuits in, may not work after a long lay up.
What goes wrong? Nothing fundamental. But they are so robust that they can take years of neglect and cut price servicing, so buy one that has been kept up. That is the key. The cruise control goes wrong. A used control unit is about £50. The heater goes wrong. New duo valve inserts are about £95 and you need two. They often run rough, needing new plugs, leads, distributor cap and rotor. Make sure all the seat memories, heaters, adjustments, windows work. Make sure the rear heated screen works. You are entitled to expect the air con to work at the price you're looking to pay.
The bodywork can rust. Wheel arches and bottoms of panels especially. A common place is under the rear screen. The seal fails. Have a good look in the boot for dampness and walk away if you find it.
Simple servicing is cheap enough with plenty of OEM quality parts available. The better car you buy in the first place, the more you expenditure will be on servicing and maintenance (relatively cheap) rather than repairs (relatively expensive). Tyres are about £85 each for Continentals, £100 for Michelin. Don't fit anything else, they're not good enough. Brakes can be changed all round for less than £500.
Specialist servicing is essential. These cars require expertise that either your local general mechanic nor most Merc dealers possess these days. Specialist servcing generally is cheap. When nothing is wrong with them, just change the fluids often. Change the oil and filter every 6,000miles and change the transmission oil and filter every 24,000miles.
The cars are robust if used. They go bad if not. Use them daily and drive them for: they respond better. Unused, the electronic control units seem to go bad, meaning things like the cruise control, seat belt presenters, fuel pump relay, stuff with little circuits in, may not work after a long lay up.
What goes wrong? Nothing fundamental. But they are so robust that they can take years of neglect and cut price servicing, so buy one that has been kept up. That is the key. The cruise control goes wrong. A used control unit is about £50. The heater goes wrong. New duo valve inserts are about £95 and you need two. They often run rough, needing new plugs, leads, distributor cap and rotor. Make sure all the seat memories, heaters, adjustments, windows work. Make sure the rear heated screen works. You are entitled to expect the air con to work at the price you're looking to pay.
The bodywork can rust. Wheel arches and bottoms of panels especially. A common place is under the rear screen. The seal fails. Have a good look in the boot for dampness and walk away if you find it.
Simple servicing is cheap enough with plenty of OEM quality parts available. The better car you buy in the first place, the more you expenditure will be on servicing and maintenance (relatively cheap) rather than repairs (relatively expensive). Tyres are about £85 each for Continentals, £100 for Michelin. Don't fit anything else, they're not good enough. Brakes can be changed all round for less than £500.
Before you buy an SEC have a serious think about the saloon £4K goes along way here.Try a 300se with good spec you,re unlikely to loose much come resale time if you pick wisely.The V8's are all very desirable but could you live with sub 20mpg on average round town.Good clean saloons are becoming harder to find.As an alternative £4k will get a good 300CE and its far more usable on a daily basis.
I have a 500 SEC. It is a beautiful car (still Mercedes best design in my view) and have had it for 20 years. There are a number of issues to look out for: timing chains need replacing after 100,000 miles and the valve seals go. It is important to get one with a good interior as this is very expensive to replace and I understand that not all of it is available. In addition, the exhaust system is very expensive and will probably need replacing due to age of the cars.
As others will tell you, rust is a big issue in a number of areas. The main ones being under rear screen and front bulkhead but also on all four wings and on sills so you really have to look carefully as some of it is well hidden.
I only paid about £3000 in 2001 for it but have probably spent around £15000 on it since but that does include new front wings and a re-spray.; it is still not a perfect car though.
Not cheap to maintain but remember these were ultra expensive cars when new; I am old enough to remember!
As others will tell you, rust is a big issue in a number of areas. The main ones being under rear screen and front bulkhead but also on all four wings and on sills so you really have to look carefully as some of it is well hidden.
I only paid about £3000 in 2001 for it but have probably spent around £15000 on it since but that does include new front wings and a re-spray.; it is still not a perfect car though.
Not cheap to maintain but remember these were ultra expensive cars when new; I am old enough to remember!
Gassing Station | Mercedes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff