In praise of the w140 S class - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

tjts1 · #31 11-13-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

Don't need to have enough experiance with my friends cars, I know whats, what with W140's.

So cute.

Yet so true.

Hatterasguy · #32 11-13-2011, 08:15 PM

Tell it to someone who gives a ****.

MBeige · #33 11-13-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

If I were going for a W140 I would search out and purchase a well cared for 1999 "Grand Edition", the last year W140 S500 one of 700 of them.

The W140 "Grand" was a limited edition, which was, as with the W124 1995 "Special Edition" - a last year of production farewell and exclusive tribute to the outgoing body style of the marque, offered in the the 1990's by Mercedes Benz.

All of them were 040 gloss black, had special light maplewood trim, floor mats, AMG wheels and other things that made them unique and exclusive and as they were they last year, of this series, most problems were eliminated, and it has been my preference to buy the latest and last year of a series, noted in my purchase of a 1991 W126 coupe and and a 1995 W124 sedan, (both of which I still own and campaign today.)

Also, the 500 engine is the best one for a W140. It is the best balanced and best compromomise, as the 12 cylinder is too heavy and complex and expensive to maintain, and the 6 cylinder and diesel variants are simply too underpowered and slow for this redoubtable behemoth.

W140's are great cars. I've driven my friend's 300SE (1993) only for a short drive on the highway but it felt so nice.

The Grand Edition is also nice, I've had the chance to meet one in the flesh during one of the meets.

Those V12's are another thing! Eye candy for other drivers:

Eye candy for the S600 driver too!

Edward Wyatt · #34 11-13-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hatterasguy

They are great cars, ignore all the negative nonsense you read on here from people who have never owned one.

If you like the S320 you will love the S600, its so much more!

I personally really like the SWB 1997-99 S320's, you get the 722.6 which is a really nice transmission. Fairly straight forward and bullet proof cars, no worse than a W126 to keep up.

Yes, they were great cars when they were under warranty, today they are simply beaters for the most part. Yes, some aficionados take very good care of their cars, I'm talking about the average Joe driving a average S500.

I've never owned one, why bother at this point? They are white elephants with horrible resale value.

In terms of repair costs, for example, the last time I checked W126 models didn't have dual distributer ignition, bio-degradable wiring, hydraulic LCA bushings, or eat front tires for breakfast if the suspension and alignment isn't perfect.

Bullet proof? lol on that comment. As long as you have AAA and a Platinum Amex card.

tjts1 · #35 11-13-2011, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

I've never owned one, why bother at this point? They are white elephants with horrible resale value.

I think you just answed your own question. The horrible resale value makes for a great used beater.

Lemons anyone?

Fulcrum525 · #36 11-14-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

Nice

I'm adding this one to my collection

Personally I always liked the W140s, particurally the coupes. An S500 could be kept up reasonably easily but personally I wouldn't go near the V12s. Now for all the faults of the W140 it sure is a heck of a lot easier/cheaper to keep going then it's replacement....not to mention better built.

TylerH860 · #37 11-14-2011, 01:21 AM

Interesting that a low mileage pristine W126 brings more than a comparable W140. Its not like the W126 is that old or scarce to come by. The W220 is laughably cheap now too. Its a weekly occurrence around here to see an unfortunate soul trying to pilot their W220 S500 with one airmatic shock completely collapsed. Then there's all the W140s I see during the summer driving around with the windows down. Maybe they like fresh air.

iwrock · #38 11-14-2011, 02:31 AM

The V12s are not all that bad.

duxthe1 · #39 11-14-2011, 04:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

The V12s are not all that bad.

I wouldn't let you GIVE me one. Lots of oil leaks buried under the intake manifold, 2 throttle actuators to fail, wiring that's a joke, and dismal performance relative to what a 6.0L V12 should do. The OM120 is one of the few MB engines I've seen with a catastrophic bottom end failure that wasn't caused by ingesting a foreign object or lack of oil. Push it hard and it can fail.

I wouldn't pay the taxes on a V12 to own it. To be fair though, after 15 years of working on MBs, there are plenty of others I'd lump in with that group.

C280 Sport · #40 11-14-2011, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edward Wyatt

Yes, they were great cars when they were under warranty, today they are simply beaters for the most part. Yes, some aficionados take very good care of their cars, I'm talking about the average Joe driving a average S500.

I've never owned one, why bother at this point? They are white elephants with horrible resale value.

In terms of repair costs, for example, the last time I checked W126 models didn't have dual distributer ignition, bio-degradable wiring, hydraulic LCA bushings, or eat front tires for breakfast if the suspension and alignment isn't perfect.

Bullet proof? lol on that comment. As long as you have AAA and a Platinum Amex card.

Who on earth buys a car and worries about resale value? Not me. If you are worried about that a Honda or Ford is the answer. 140's are already cheap enough to buy. How much lower did you want the price?

C280 Sport · #41 11-14-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

The V12s are not all that bad.

+1 on the M120. Needs to be well taken care of and it will be fine.

Thats comming from someone who has owned many V12 engines.(Iwrock)

compu_85 · #42 11-14-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TylerH860

The W220 is laughably cheap now too.

I probably could have gotten a W220 for all the $ I have into my SDL at this point

But then I guess the 220 would still need repairs.

I really love the styling of the W220. I'd love to drive one someday.

-J

pj67coll · #43 11-14-2011, 09:53 AM

Who the hell wants to buy an S-class as a beater? Any S-Class for that matter let alone a W140. Seems anachronistic to put it mildly.

I was in a used car dealership looking for a Suburban a little while back. There was a superb looking W140 400SE silver with black interior. They had had a similar colored W126 420SE advertised but that had unfortunately already been sold. When I asked about the 420 there was some confusion while they thought I meant the 400. Sales man said "now theres a man who knows his cars" Yes said I , "I can afford to buy it, I could never afford to maintain it". He wasn't too pleased with that response.

- Peter.

Jim B. · #44 11-14-2011, 11:05 AM

Back in 1995-1996 I was finally in the market for the car of my dreams and I finally decided to get a last-year 560SEC, (a 1991 if I could).

In those days you could get one from about $34,000 - $42,000, the higher end prices being those at Mercedes Benz dealers, as certified pre-owned. (Called "Encore" vehicles at MB dealers selling them.)

My wife insisted that I could ONLY select one if the color was dark blue, dark red or black, - she was from Peru, and VERY sensitive about color choices.

After about a year of looking I could not find a nice 560SEC in a color that suited, in NOR CAL, so I bought the Sunday LA Times (this was in pre internet times!) and we hopped in my '88 Crown Vic at 5am one Saturday in San Francisco where we lived, and drove to Los Angeles where there were plenty of candidates on MB dealer lots from which to choose.

Finally we found ourselves at the House Of Imports, the big Mercedes Benz dealer down by Disneyland.

They had this 560SEC, Pearl Black with black leather, 50k on the clock, certified pre owned, for $39,000. But it had fake Lorinsers on it, and was lowered, and I was unsure about that. But my wife loved it and ran into the sales manager's office to start negotiations. This was what it looked like then.

I was tempted though, by a 1992 320SE, that was white, they had there for the same price.

Keep in mind that this was 1996, and it looked like a gleaming BRAND NEW S-class car.

But it was the first year of them, (1992) and I don't like to buy those.

So I bought the SEC. And made an AMG out of it.

I am SO glad I made the right choice here.

(Unlike the wife, who is long gone, and even got divorced from the next guy less than 2 years after I divorced her.)