Problems with my 560SEL
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7
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From: Marin County
Problems with my 560SEL
Hi guys, my 88 560SEL with 233K miles has a few problems...
The car spits up black smoke during a cold start, so I have to let it warm up for a while, and it'll spit black smoke when I accelerate really hard. It eats oil pretty fast, but doesn't leak. The gas mileage seems to be pretty bad, too.
Also, the car has a messed up suspension. Both front and rear suspensions are messed up. Can anyone recommend me to a place with cheap/used parts? I also need brakes...
Thanks, guys!
The car spits up black smoke during a cold start, so I have to let it warm up for a while, and it'll spit black smoke when I accelerate really hard. It eats oil pretty fast, but doesn't leak. The gas mileage seems to be pretty bad, too.
Also, the car has a messed up suspension. Both front and rear suspensions are messed up. Can anyone recommend me to a place with cheap/used parts? I also need brakes...
Thanks, guys!
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Joined: May 2002
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From: The Ferrari F1 Factory
F248 F1
If you live in the near the bay area (northen california) i highly recommend you go to Bela's Autosports
www.belasauto.com
The owners name is Bela Zabajnik
625 Tyrella Ave
Mt View Ca 94043
650-962-8200
He's cheap and does a great job, he's the only person that can fix my euro benz- that takes some skills. Everywhere else i take it they fix one thing but mess up another thing. He quoted me for new breake pads and suspension shock in the back tranny shifting bushings and motor mounts and bushings for left front for 1500$ he's been working on my car for 15 years now, my dad is a wack man so sometimes he ends up taking the car somwhere else and it ends up worse then when we took into the shop and we still end up paying 1000$. This guy knows how to do a job right. When i went to go pickup my car he had 2 ferraris in their hahaha go figure
www.belasauto.com
The owners name is Bela Zabajnik
625 Tyrella Ave
Mt View Ca 94043
650-962-8200
He's cheap and does a great job, he's the only person that can fix my euro benz- that takes some skills. Everywhere else i take it they fix one thing but mess up another thing. He quoted me for new breake pads and suspension shock in the back tranny shifting bushings and motor mounts and bushings for left front for 1500$ he's been working on my car for 15 years now, my dad is a wack man so sometimes he ends up taking the car somwhere else and it ends up worse then when we took into the shop and we still end up paying 1000$. This guy knows how to do a job right. When i went to go pickup my car he had 2 ferraris in their hahaha go figure
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Originally Posted by sfhighroller
Hi guys, my 88 560SEL with 233K miles has a few problems...
The car spits up black smoke during a cold start, so I have to let it warm up for a while, and it'll spit black smoke when I accelerate really hard. It eats oil pretty fast, but doesn't leak. The gas mileage seems to be pretty bad, too.
Also, the car has a messed up suspension. Both front and rear suspensions are messed up. Can anyone recommend me to a place with cheap/used parts? I also need brakes...
Thanks, guys!
The car spits up black smoke during a cold start, so I have to let it warm up for a while, and it'll spit black smoke when I accelerate really hard. It eats oil pretty fast, but doesn't leak. The gas mileage seems to be pretty bad, too.
Also, the car has a messed up suspension. Both front and rear suspensions are messed up. Can anyone recommend me to a place with cheap/used parts? I also need brakes...
Thanks, guys!
Banned
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,768
Likes: 0
From: The Ferrari F1 Factory
F248 F1
I had the same symtoms, when you step on it does teh car hesitate and choke ? and throws tons of black smoke? do you have hard time starting it up when the engine is hot ? I just got that prolbem fix about a month ago, what was wrong was my frequency valve was leaking gas, what my mechanic did was make the fuel go straight to the engine, so he basicly by pass it. He said my frequency valv was leaking gas, and when pressure built it would leak tons of gas, i was getting about 6-7 mpg. He said because my car is a euro it dosent need the frequency valve, so yup it was pretty c heap cost me 200 o get it fix. Also he said he had to disconnect the ECU cuz it wasent working ,and he said it dosent really make a diffs on my car. So yup yup good luck with your car !
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Joined: Nov 2004
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for inexpensive parts go to http://www.BuyMBparts.com
or call 1-800-741-5252
or call 1-800-741-5252
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Originally Posted by rustys380sl
for inexpensive parts go to http://www.BuyMBparts.com
or call 1-800-741-5252
or call 1-800-741-5252
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Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 235
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From: Kansas City, MO, USA
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
My point is that I find it funny that you came here to advertise! Not like I care, I've bought stuff from you many times before. Nothing personal. I'd still buy from you again if I see that you have the best deal for me.
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Newbie
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 12
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There is a lot of competition out there now, I have to beat the bushes wherever I can. Times are tough. I have also started a new Mercedes Forum at http://www.BuyMBparts.com/forum join up and post away.
Rusty Cullens
http://www.BuyMBparts.com
1-800-741-5252
Rusty Cullens
http://www.BuyMBparts.com
1-800-741-5252
Member
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City, MO, USA
1989 560SEL, 1999 S600, 2005 S600, 2008 S550 4Matic
Is the competition now THAT bad? Well, that's the story in the entire industry. I'm a business man myself, I own my own computer support, sales, networking and consultation firm. I was doing well at first, actually very well. I thought I'd be able to by a 1999 S600 for myself this Christmas, based on how good business was in March. But business has really slowed down and while I am still profitable, there probably won't be an S600 in my life for at least another year! 
Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 90
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From: Atlanta, GA
96 S600 Euro, 91 560 SEC, 88 300TE, 87 560SEL, 86 560SL, 80 280SE, 64 Austin Healey 3000MIII
Could be a couple of things you are dealing with. First off, at 233K, if your car has never had heads done (judging from the high oil usage I would say no..) it's time. 560 heads at Best last for 200K before the valve guides are shot.
The black smoke sounds to be an overly rich issue. Try disabling your cold start injector (unplug the blue cap/wire leads that tell it to fire) and see if that helps. If that doesn't do it your EHA might be acting up. Lastly, as the KE control unit (FI systems brain) start to die they have been known to cause an overly rich condition.
Let me know what you find w/ the cold start injector. If that makes no difference, un plug the EHA valve.
What kind of mileage are you getting??
Jonathan
The black smoke sounds to be an overly rich issue. Try disabling your cold start injector (unplug the blue cap/wire leads that tell it to fire) and see if that helps. If that doesn't do it your EHA might be acting up. Lastly, as the KE control unit (FI systems brain) start to die they have been known to cause an overly rich condition.
Let me know what you find w/ the cold start injector. If that makes no difference, un plug the EHA valve.
What kind of mileage are you getting??
Jonathan
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 44
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merc 126 500 sec 1984
Could be a couple of things you are dealing with. First off, at 233K, if your car has never had heads done (judging from the high oil usage I would say no..) it's time. 560 heads at Best last for 200K before the valve guides are shot.
The black smoke sounds to be an overly rich issue. Try disabling your cold start injector (unplug the blue cap/wire leads that tell it to fire) and see if that helps. If that doesn't do it your EHA might be acting up. Lastly, as the KE control unit (FI systems brain) start to die they have been known to cause an overly rich condition.
Let me know what you find w/ the cold start injector. If that makes no difference, un plug the EHA valve.
What kind of mileage are you getting??
Jonathan
The black smoke sounds to be an overly rich issue. Try disabling your cold start injector (unplug the blue cap/wire leads that tell it to fire) and see if that helps. If that doesn't do it your EHA might be acting up. Lastly, as the KE control unit (FI systems brain) start to die they have been known to cause an overly rich condition.
Let me know what you find w/ the cold start injector. If that makes no difference, un plug the EHA valve.
What kind of mileage are you getting??
Jonathan
i have this same black smoke prob on my grandfathers '84 500sec.
i would love to check these things u have mentioned above but not sure where they are???
can u direct me??
thanks
