I have found a 1991 600sel for sale that I am interested in - it is in Europe. It seems (I am still before a deeper technical review) that it is quite good both visually and technically. It seems as a relatively low spec (minimum options) - probably even the lowest spec that 600's could have. The mileage shown is 190kkm (ca 120k miles). There is no service book available (hmmmm ????), but otherwise all docs are still in a full old set, including all booklets/manuals obtained the dealer. What is especially attracting for me, is that this car looks exactly as from the factory in 1991 - no external modifications - so it looks like a kind of a "classic" one. What a typical acceptable price for this car should be? Any ideas where potential traps could be? And I'd like to treat it as my secondary car - not for daily use.

 

Do you have any pics?

 

It is not recommended to buy W140 years 91-93, they had alot of problems. Look for something newer. Where in Europe? Germany would be the cheapest place. S600 CAN NOT have minimum options. S600 has a very expensive V12 engine. Unless you have ALOT of money, I would recommend you to get a smaller engine. The car is 15 years old - big chances of having some problems with engine. V12 is VERY expensive to do anything with.
S600 V12:
http://www.gdtm.net/MBimages/M120.htm

 

Well - I know all the drawbacks of 600 maintenace costs. It is a risk in this case - no doubts. But as I said earlier, what is interesting in this case: is the year "1991", additionally it has a low VIN number (...03152 - I do not remember the whole one now). E.g. a '98 would be probably much more reliable, but not that "classy" - in my opinion. In fact - it is the best looking 600 of first months of production I have seen in recent years. I am just assuming (please tell me: right or wrong) that this would be interesting to keep this early example in good condition and maybe the value would grow one day... Is that possible at all? Any comments? ))

The current asking price is ca 7k USD. I will try to import some pictures when I get them.

 

7000 USD is a good price. If you plan to keep it as a collector's item, then buy it. It is definetly an interesting thing to do. I would do the same, if I had the extra money and a place to keep it. It would definetly grow in value, but not any time soon. S-class W116 from the '70s these days does not cost very much. So you will probably need about 50 years.

 

Here you are - some photos. Taken last winter, I was told. Now this car sits at one of the parkings and waits for its new potential owner....

I was mentioning "low spec": take a look at the control panel - not many buttons there.

I was sitting in this car, starting the engine and drive around and it seems to be OK.

So whatr are your "visual" impressions?

 

No leather is very interesting I have seen 2 S320 W140 that did not have leather. Also it has ASR by the looks of the cluster, which is origional. Also the 600SEL on the dash was only put there for the first year of production I think. The wheels may not be the origional ones as the ones that the car came with in 1991, looked like the ones on the late 1980's 190E's. As the vin number is very early this car may be some kind of demo model? The ones that they give to reporters. Running the VIN into a vin decoding site and looking at the VIN would give an idea to the date built and delivered and where to giving clues to the use of the car. Looks very clean inside. Also to me, it might just be the photo but the back of the car does not look right.

 

I think it looks pretty cool. I completely understand why you like it.

Having cloth actually might be kinda cool, because it is so rare. It looks like the hood star is broken. haha.

I like it, and the price seems OK.

 

You might want to find a US spec one which was fully optioned. The 140 has enugh issues to which I can testify, I dont know about importing it due to emission issues, and getting someone to work on it could be a real problem.
The US version had heated and power seats front and rear, ABS/ASR rear seat AC, glass roof, CD, mostly great leather and wood.
I would not choose it as a "collector"

 

What specifically is wrong with back? I see that he two red light colors are different (whch is strange - I'd have to find why). But any other "inconsistencies" with the original "as should be" look?

 

Like I said before, S600 can not have minimum or low options. Yours is full, this is "low spec":

Visually it is a beautiful Mercedes S-class, just like all of them.

 

Might just be the photo but the back of the car seems to be twisted, the boot looks slanted like the car has been rear ended and repaired. But like I say might just be the photo if other members have not pointed it out, that might also account for hte lights being slightly different colours, one was replaced and the other is origional.

 

One thing that was confusing me: shouldn't the 600SEL badge be level with the center of the three pointed star, not the bottom of it? But hey, if all checks out with a professional MB mechanic, then I think you found a great deal.

 

Just FYI, the VIN: WDB1400571A003152.

The decoders I have access to seem to be very simple and just indicate the make, model, assembly factory. Not a big deal.

Do you have any other tool that would give more sophisticated data (more details about the production date, maybe where it was delivered to etc...)? Would be great if somebody could post any results here. Thanks.

 

Sure you got the vin right I ran it into this site that I used on mine and gives a whole lot of info on options, production, delivery etc and yours comes up with this:

Datacard for VIN WDB1400571A003152 is not found
1) VIN was misspelled in the request form;
2) VIN was erroneously read from vehicle body or documents;
3) VIN is not of an original vehicle and was forged by criminals;
4) The vehicle was produced in late 2005 or 2006, and is not included yet in our database

 

Ok it worked this time don't know why it did not before, very interesting:

It can't find a production date when with my car it managed to be April of 93, also by the options you may notice dates where the options where added to the general MB list some are after the SEL badging ended the stereo etc. That might just be the web site though. This car was a very low spec S600 (didn't think such a think exsisted) that went to Italy. This may have been a VERY early demo model for Mercedes dealers in Italy. This is a very strange car indeed. Hope this gives you a bit more info, all it does for me is alot more questions. Got any info from the seller or previous ownership/service records? I really want to know now.

VIN WDB1400571A003152
Model 600 SEL V12
Chassis 1400571A003152
Engine 120980 12 000275
Transmission 722362 03 518924
Order 0 0 543 56106
Approx. year not defined
Lights BOSCH
Wiper BOSCH
Cab 00204
Dealer Italy (543)
Interior velours grey (968)

Paint
199 metallic blue-black (с 01.01.1983)

Options
341 additional lamp (с 01.09.1982)
additional turn signal lamps for Japan, Denmark, Italy and national code 837 (с 01.08.1970 по 30.11.1976)
special version for export to cold countries (с 01.05.1967 по 29.02.1968)

442 airbag in steering wheel (с 01.02.1980 по 31.10.1993)
bumper, rear, with guards (с 01.01.1963 по 30.09.1973)

592 wyellow foglamps (с 01.01.1963 по 31.10.1965)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (laminated glass), band filter
heat-insulating glass, side window panes (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, laminated safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)

652 Dunlop tires (с 01.01.1963 по 31.07.1972)
8-hole light alloy rims (с 01.01.1990)

682 fire extinguisher (с 01.04.1970)

756 Becker radio Mexico 2000 (с 01.06.1990 по 31.03.1994)
radio MB Audio 10 CD with vk and RDS (с 31.10.1996)

880 headrest in the rear, right (с 01.03.1964 по 31.10.1972)
closing system with infrared remote control (с 01.02.1988

 

And one more photo: of the engine. Again - taken last winter, when the car was used. Can any "expert" tell based on this photo what the general state is? Currently the engine is cleaned/shiny - probably for selling purposes.

Are the dots (bullets) coming from the hood undercover? Is it OK?

And I saw in the documents that the first registration took place on 20th Jun 1991 in Italy (Milan).

 

Never seen that before. Is the bonnet/hood lining sagging, causing the marks some are very black and almost looks like the lining is melting onto the engine block.

 

Those dots are just caused by an old hood pad.

Looks like an interesting example.

 

Check all of the wiring harnesses for cracking in the insulation. THe v12s harnesses are a lot larger/expensive to replace compared to the other cars. I would really get an experienced MB tech to look over the car.

 

And one more small question - I will try to clarify with MB service, but maybe you can also advise.

When I checked the windows, the marking on all windows are made in black, with E1 in a circle and some numbers. These markings are the same for all side windows except for the front one (windshield), and back one.

The marking on the windshield is written in white, with E17. Does this mean for sure that this glass has been changed, or this is normal?

The marking on the back window seems to be original (is in black, and with the same font as on side ones).

 

I would not worry even if the windshield was not the origional one. It should be in better condition than whatever came out. The windscreen is the one bit of glass in the car that takes all the punishment.

 

Just FYI: I went for the first tech check with professional guys, and I feel that maybe I live in a kind of Matrix (where everything is set around you - like a theather ). You know why? Because the guy said, after having reviewed the key mechanical/driving/suspension parts and the bottom of the car, that he had never seen such a good state of this model.
This does not lower any risks related to huge servicing bills that may appear - I obviously take this into account. But anyway it was nice to hear.

The identified things that do not work are:
- front passenger's seat electrical movement (does not react to the buttons on the door) - so maybe this is just a fuse? or any connector is wrong? Any ideas?
- the passenger side mirror does not fold (and the driver's one does). Any ides also here, if costly to repair?

And I have found, in one of compartments, an original Mercedes Tape "How to live with your Mercedes". Unfortunately in Italian...

 

looks terribly torqued (twisted) and the 600 SEL, as someone said, is in the wrong spot. I'd run away...

 

hmmm...? but at least regarding the 600SEL badge: if I put a search in e.g. Google Graphics for "600 SEL rear" the photos do show the same location - I cannot tell the difference - and on other pics I have seems to be the same... (or it is just my impression)

and when I look at this car in reality, I do not see the twist. even though I tried a few times. maybe it is the photo?