Thinking of buying a 420 SEL
Thread Starter
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Thinking of buying a 420 SEL
I have always like these cars for some reason. Never even taken one for a drive. I'm on the fence about buying one. A nice example has come for sale a few hours away from me. a 1991, all black, 148,000km on it. Retired couple owns it currently. Asking 11,500CAD. Unsure if this is a reasonable price or not. Car looks to be in immaculate condition. If I go have a look at it, what are some trouble spots to look out for? I have never owned anything Mercedes so ANY info, even if it is trivial would be much appreciated.
Thanks for your time everyone.
Cheers, Brendan
Thanks for your time everyone.
Cheers, Brendan
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 2
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Haha, Thanks for the laugh this morning! No kids to speak of. The asking price from this person is, I must admit, high. Heres a link to the ad currently posted if anyone is interested. Please keep the constructive criticism coming! My mind can easily be changed.
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...sel/1346712306
https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...sel/1346712306
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 52
From: tennessee
s320
plan to do timing chain,and check oilers for the cams,replace all rubber suspension,mounts,vacuum lines,most plastic parts.retro ac,door lock system,window regulators,seat motor,and switches. These *******'s that sell these old car's don't think about the buyer.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 130
From: NY
2010 C63 2019 GLA45
This is wrong.
The 420 has the V8 with the double timing chain. And this is a late model 420.
You won't have to deal with the chain unless you hear it slapping around. Mine didn't do it at 200 k miles. The single chain cars required the replacement.
What it will actually need is to have the brake lines checked for rust. Sadly, the dealership replacements that I bought for one of my w126 were not improved as compared to the factory installed ones. They too rust.
Check seats and windows power operation.
Don't replace window regulators with anything other than OEM. The aftermarket mechanisms flex and don't lift the windows.
The shocks could be gone and the 420 doesn't in US have the rear self leveling hydro suspension so replacement shocks are cheap and easy to install.
Check the steering play, read about what is normal. Don't be tempted to fix the play by tightening the screw on the box.
Test the shifting of the transmission. Here there is an adjustment that I personally used. Not all agree it should be used.
Do a thermostat early on it's cheap and easy.
Take a good look in the trunk. Keeping rain water out of there will be a battle.
The 420 has the V8 with the double timing chain. And this is a late model 420.
You won't have to deal with the chain unless you hear it slapping around. Mine didn't do it at 200 k miles. The single chain cars required the replacement.
What it will actually need is to have the brake lines checked for rust. Sadly, the dealership replacements that I bought for one of my w126 were not improved as compared to the factory installed ones. They too rust.
Check seats and windows power operation.
Don't replace window regulators with anything other than OEM. The aftermarket mechanisms flex and don't lift the windows.
The shocks could be gone and the 420 doesn't in US have the rear self leveling hydro suspension so replacement shocks are cheap and easy to install.
Check the steering play, read about what is normal. Don't be tempted to fix the play by tightening the screw on the box.
Test the shifting of the transmission. Here there is an adjustment that I personally used. Not all agree it should be used.
Do a thermostat early on it's cheap and easy.
Take a good look in the trunk. Keeping rain water out of there will be a battle.
