S-Class (W116) Buying MB w116 450SEL, maybe 6.9?

[SDNR]

The W140 (both 4-door and 2-door) are probably the most pure examples of what we could refer to as 'Sacco style'.

They are probably not his best work but they have every single attribute we have come to understand as representative of Mercedes design from the last quarter of the 20th Century -- in its most pure and resolved form.

 

[Merc1]

I'd take a C140 Coupe, but I'd rather have a R129 SL. Above is one I'd like to buy.

God I love this design:




M

 

[SDNR]

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[SKY]

But Amaury, this is a very very very old car. I can perfectly understand that you like old MErcs but this? 34 year old car is a box of problems... What about a W124?, or something else newer than this?.

 

[bum-man]

Actually, the rust is not nearly that bad. I've seen far far worse on Mercs of this period. The fuel is bad, gas doesn't keep well even if you put stabalizers in it. If wanted to buy it you would probably want to have the tank drained and cleaned (just in case).

 

[coolraoul]

Well Skysony, this is true, but I intend to enter a club for Young/Oldtimer with it. I always loved old Mercs, and now I feel the time has come for me to make the move. I'd like to learn a bit about mechanics, and share my passion with other people...

This is a hard decision. On the one hand the car is sublime. On the other hand, it's not cheap, it's very thirsty, it needs a lot of attention, and of course it's not as reliable as more modern car... I will have to find it a place too, because I live in Paris and I won't let it parked in the street. Hard decision...



I saw and drove the SLC. Very good condition, motor, gearbox and brakes are perfect. 2 or 3 cms play in the steering, but apart from it the steering is good. The rear axle makes a siren-noise when you are throttling, but the noise disappears when you stop using the throttle.

It's not rusty, only a bit in the footcell and boot. Doors are fine, underbody seems okay too. Some places were cured with orange anti-rust paint (under the rear window and on the plastic pieces at the side), but no visible rust on the outside of the car.

The car drives very well, it's a dream of a car... I'm incredibly tempted by this SLC... I'll have to cure the little of rust and protect the car, which would cost me around 1.500€ I think...

I don't really know what to do. I'll need to think about it...

 

[VroomVroom]

Personally I'd go for the SLC and a for the play in the steering, the suspension bushes will need replacing They get worn after time

Btw did you get pics?

 

[Pekka]

I'm sorry to say it but pls forget about the 450 SEL. It's totally messed up. Ok, it's nearly 35 yrs old, but it's condition is weak. You can't use it as a daily ride until you invested thousands of euros. It would be better to invest some more bucks for a W116 in great condition they are still available). A pre-facelifted W124 coupe (230E, 300E or 320E - NO 300E 24V) would be a good, classy and reliable ride - but it's too new. All the good W114 / W115 are gone or they're too expensive - but what about a W123 coupe?

(j/k)

 

[coolraoul]

The C123 is not a bad idea, but not as tempting as the SLC of course. I will consider it, however I don't think I can find one in France, I would have to let it come from Germany. For now I'll stay with the SLC, if i can.

Here are pics of the SLC!!

Here are the parts which are/were rusty.

Here, these parts were cured with orange anti-rust paint.

here is the door-enter, not rusty it seems but cured already.

Here are the rust I found on the footcell: very limited, but still a bit rusty.

Here the rust in the boot

I was really a dream, drove very well, the giant bonnet in front of you when you drive... There is a kind of "mechanical" feeling in those old cars, they are "true" in a way... When you close the large and heavy door, you feel the weight of the quality, when you touch the car it's not soft and thin like sometimes in modern cars when you feel the metal bouncing at the first push...

The motor looks like it's inviting you to see how it works, nothing is hidden behind a huge slash of plastic...

I love this car. But my brain tells me it's not reasonable... Who will win? Heart or brain?

BTW... It's not me on the pic!!

 

[VroomVroom]

Beautiful car, all of that rust is only surface rust and can easily be removed So I'd go for the SLC

 

[Pekka]

Looks nice! And you'll love the R107 interior much more thant the W116s. A friend has a (rare) 450 SLC 5.0 since 1989 (2nd hand) and he's still keeping it. The good thing is that the SLC is much cheaper than the SL-version of the R107. But you have to go to a specialist to check it for rust.

Some experiences:
KLICK
KLICK

 

[Merc1]

As I look at those pics of the SLC I'm amazed at how big Mercedes' steering wheels where. My god they look like they could have come off of any one of the buses they make.



A 1988 W126 300SE I found. Look at how big that wheel is!!!

Anyway I'm thinking we should have a vintage/classic Benz thread where members can discuss older Mercedes and post pics of the ones they might or want to purchase. Sounds like it would be fun thread to me.

M

 

[Merc1]

What is the big slide control in the center for?

M

 

[cawimmer430]

That SLC looks very well kept on the outside and inside, but as usual your biggest problems are going to be the rust spots. Have them treated as soon as possible.

I'll see if I can dig up some Mercedes Enthusiast reviews about the SLC. I know I have one in English lying around somewhere.

 

[cawimmer430]

As I look at those pics of the SLC I'm amazed at how big Mercedes' steering wheels where. My god they look like they could have come off of any one of the buses they make.



A 1988 W126 300SE I found. Look at how big that wheel is!!!

Anyway I'm thinking we should have a vintage/classic Benz thread where members can discuss older Mercedes and post pics of the ones they might or want to purchase. Sounds like it would be fun thread to me.

M

Yep, our 300SE W126 and my dads 500SL R129 have very large steering wheels. It's not so much an issue in the 300SE but in the cramped 500SL it is a pain in the behind. Plus it totally makes driving fast in curves difficult.

 

[Giannis]

So coolraul, what are you thinking after all this discussion?

Will you get rid of your Golf in favour of an old MB, or not?

BTW, I don't think that such a move is sensible. I wouldn't sell my car to get a 4-wheel box full of problems no matter how much pages of history it carries.

 

[coolraoul]

I think I'll make the move. I don't feel like being sensible these days...

I didn't used my Gof at all in the past 6 months. In fact, I was thinking to sell it without buying another one, as I don't need it in Paris. And french trains are very efficient.

BTW, if someone is interested in a Golf IV, TDI 100; 86.000kms, late 2003, with ESP, remote central locking, 4 airbags, CD and A/C... Perfect condition... Coolraoul's Golf!

 

[BMW///MPower]

Well I must say that the SLC is a very classy looking car. I don'treally like the colour, but the overall looks of the car are nice. That type of MB's where the best looking ever IMO, so I would want one, just need to make sure that there are no hidden surprises. It does look a lot better then the 450 SEL and it is preserved much better. So whatever you decide, GOOD LUCK

 

[Giannis]

Raul, did you test drive the SLC?

 

[coolraoul]

^^ I did. I drove it roughly ten minutes, but it was in the town so I could'nt drive more than 70km/h.

Like I said, noticeable play in the steering, but it was very linear and well-weighted. The motor has a very regular idle, is quite silent and doesn't vibrate, it takes revs without problems. The gearbox works fine, very smooth, not too slow, doesn't hesitate. It very well could compare with a modern torque converter gearbox! The brakes were surprisingly good, easy to dosate, efficient, really impressive.

Only thing was a siren-like noise from the rear axle or differential. This noise only appeared from 20km/h I think, and only when I used the throttle. But I don't throttle, the noise disappears completely.

The drivetrains seem okay, of course it's very unprecise, but not too soft or bouncy, in fact the suspensions were quite firm. No particular noise from that area on bumps.

I was quite impressed by the motor, the car has power, despite the only 3 gears it's not slow at all. Very torquey and easy, the motor don't seem to suffer at all, it's very easy. You really feel the 4.5l!

From the inside, everything seems fine, the electrics worked fine, thje accessories too. However the car had no brake-lights, the seller has sent it to Mercedes to let it repair.

It impressed me. Besides the superb driving impression, the car drives very well, almost like a modern car. But you get this feeling, you drive something very very special...

I decided to buy it. The seller has agreed to 7.000€...