W126 560 SEC...what to look for
Discussion
Rust/body damage. The well-known rust weakness is under the trailing edge of the rear window. But check also around the wheel arches, indicator repeaters, along the tops of the "Sacco panels", around the grille surround. Underneath they are relatively solid, but check the usual places like sills.
Suspension. Creaks and groans indicate worn bushes front and rear.
Steering. Vague steering indicates a worn steering box. Ideally at this age and mileage, it will have had a new one at some time.
Engine/transmission. The engines are pretty bullet proof. Listen for rattling timing chains, especially at start up. If it goes away quickly, it is just the tensioner. The transmissions also are strong. Any slippage or delay going into gear is bad news. A jolt into gear may just indicate worn rear subframe mounting bushes.
Interior. This is where it gets troublesome. Stuff costs a lot to fix and there is a lot of it. Check it works, all of it. Cruise control almost never does. Likewise air con: it will not just need regassing, it will need a new condensor and/or compressor. Electric seats and memories and heaters all can fail and in most cases will require a new control unit. Likewise the seat belt extenders. It is almost always the ECU: the solder on the circuit boards dries out and cracks. Trim is also hard to find, so if it is worn out, replacing it is not realistic.
Also, mulberry is not a Mercedes colour. I suspect the car you are looking at is "medium red" leather. This is a fantastic interior, in my view, especially if the exterior is smoke silver (a kind of champagne silver, undoubtedly the king of silvers). This was the spec of the brochure car. Some interiors are Amaretta, a very expensive suede-type option. Many are velours. People these days turn their noses up at velours but for no good reason: for a long time it was more desireable than leather and, in my view, greatly suits the character of these cars.
A good SEC will also have a raft of invoices and history. Some of these cars have been seriously well kept. The best quick indicators are:
(1) Tyres. A proper car will have Michelin or Continental.
(2) Indicators. A proper car will have orange indicators.
(3) Radio set. A proper car will have the original Becker.
Originality is the best sign.
Suspension. Creaks and groans indicate worn bushes front and rear.
Steering. Vague steering indicates a worn steering box. Ideally at this age and mileage, it will have had a new one at some time.
Engine/transmission. The engines are pretty bullet proof. Listen for rattling timing chains, especially at start up. If it goes away quickly, it is just the tensioner. The transmissions also are strong. Any slippage or delay going into gear is bad news. A jolt into gear may just indicate worn rear subframe mounting bushes.
Interior. This is where it gets troublesome. Stuff costs a lot to fix and there is a lot of it. Check it works, all of it. Cruise control almost never does. Likewise air con: it will not just need regassing, it will need a new condensor and/or compressor. Electric seats and memories and heaters all can fail and in most cases will require a new control unit. Likewise the seat belt extenders. It is almost always the ECU: the solder on the circuit boards dries out and cracks. Trim is also hard to find, so if it is worn out, replacing it is not realistic.
Also, mulberry is not a Mercedes colour. I suspect the car you are looking at is "medium red" leather. This is a fantastic interior, in my view, especially if the exterior is smoke silver (a kind of champagne silver, undoubtedly the king of silvers). This was the spec of the brochure car. Some interiors are Amaretta, a very expensive suede-type option. Many are velours. People these days turn their noses up at velours but for no good reason: for a long time it was more desireable than leather and, in my view, greatly suits the character of these cars.
A good SEC will also have a raft of invoices and history. Some of these cars have been seriously well kept. The best quick indicators are:
(1) Tyres. A proper car will have Michelin or Continental.
(2) Indicators. A proper car will have orange indicators.
(3) Radio set. A proper car will have the original Becker.
Originality is the best sign.
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