Dear Forum,

I have just aquired a 1987 MB 560SEL with 120,000mi. I was wondering about what weak points this car has and what problems I should look for. Any recomendations of services (other than standard maintenance) that should be done before I make this car my new daily.

Thanks,

Aadm

Has it had a timing chain, tensioner, and guide rails? If you hear chain slap - don't drive it. Has the engine had a valve job? It will need one in the future - or at least valve stem seals.
The 560 has hydraulic suspension - has it been maintained? A fluid change should be done every two years (I think that is what the book calls for).
Front suspension work will probably be needed in the future.
Does it have green coolant? Flush and fill with either MB coolant or Zerex G-05 (yellow in color).
After I bought my 420 I immediately changed all the fluids and filters. That way I knew it had been done - cheap maintenance and peace of mind.
Do a search on 117 motors and 560SEL maintenance. That will give you more info.

I plan on changing all fluids before I drive it with MB stock. I did not hear any chain slap; but what does it sound like? I did notice that the power steering pump was not quiet while making hard turns.

Do the chains typically go at only 120,00mi? Also, in regards to a valve job; do you mean a full regrinding, relapping, or just a relashing? Do you only need to replace vavle stem seals if the car consumes oil?

Thanks a lot...

ATLD

Good question about the timing chains. I would also to be interested to know, because out of all of the S-Class sedans I have been considering- no one knows when it was last changed.

Would be nice to know of the warning signs of a worn chain/tensioners, before shelling out $1000+ for one if it is not really needed, but too scary to think about not have it changed, snapping and causing thousands in damage.

The 85 S-Class I am considering has 152K- timing chain replacement unknown.

The other "common" issue with the 560's are rear suspension woes.

I may be wrong, but I think that the timing chain and guides "issue" only applied to the 4.2 l engines, not the 5.6 l engine

Am I wrong?

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Well timing chains are a complicated issue, do a search.

But the M116 V8 in the 420's you would be crazy not to do the chain at 100k, or every 10 years. Why because they are long with weak plastic guides, the guides get hard and will snap. A rebuilt engine is $6k-$8k.

Now the M117 in your 560 is stronger, but 120k is pushing it. You could probably push it to 150k though.

If it were my car I would just change the guides and chain and be done with it. But I could do it myself in a day for a couple hundred bucks.

If you are buying one and the owner says he doesn't know, that means no. Plan on changing the chain unless you have paper proof of it being done.

The M117's also seem to wear their cams kind of fast.

The valve stem seals do go bad and you will burn oil when they do.

This was an $70k new so it will require more maintaince then cheaper cars. MB are not low maintaince cars that is a myth.

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