speedster964

I live in the North East and I have always loved the big body s and sel class cars from the early and mid 90's.

I recently found a 1992 with 187k on the clock guy wants 3k car has small level of dings and scratches.

Does anyone have any experince as to what I should be looking for or what I should avoid with this cars?

Thaks for the advice...

Peter Guenther

This is a first year car, the major cost item is the AC, the evaporator developes a leak, and the repair is more than you car is worth. The dash comes out completely, and while you are in there you should change actuators and filters. To change the AC recic. filter the wiper transmission must come out. I would think the hydraulic struts in the rear are about due, and the accumulators, some suspension work is probably due. I would definately confirm what work was done by previous owners. This is a luxurious car, but parts and other items are expensive. The major fault items are, close assist , window regulators, the Bose amp, blower motor, vibration.

Speedriven1

All the wiring on the W140s is a bit sketchy.

bzliteyear

IF...you're going to buy, I'd buy 1999. MB has a much better track record on the last year of a particular model style. Although it's heavy and some parts/wiring not great, this car's built like a tank. I looked at this a few years back, but it takes patience to find a good one that's well cared for. As long as it's cared for, however, it should last 200k+ miles and it's a classic - they don't build them like this anymore. Good luck.
PL

MB_Fahrer

Not to split hairs, but I disagree. In my opinion the late '92 models through '96 are the better quality. It seems to me that as the W140 production went on, that even in these cars the quality dropped. Yes, the '99s are newer and easier to find "showroom condition" examples of, but I feel that it would be better to find a very well maintained earlier production W140. That's just my $.02 though.

I would also like to mention that a 1992 500sel and a 1999 S500 both drive completely differently. The '92 has a variable weight steering gearbox (light steering at slow speeds and firms up at highway speeds), a four speed transmission, an earlier model engine, and a different/older style radio. The '99 has a five speed transmission; a very light (floppy, floopsie-doodle, etc) steering gearbox (with almost no "feeling" at all); a newer/redesigned engine; and a newer radio (which, I will admit, has better sound quality than a '92).

MB_Fahrer

Unless the car has been very well cared for, it sounds like your heading for a maintenance nightmare. A bit of a wrong example, but one of our W140s (1996 S600) we purchased for $9k and had 89k miles on the odometer. With just a simple fluid change (all fluids in car), and a new set of shocks and springs, we spent $6,600. Yes, you are buying a $3k car, but you are maintaining a $100k car. Keep that in mind.
Cheers,
Ricky

speedster964

Thank you all for your input and advice...

I looked at the car today and I was not impressed with the condition. I fully realized that the car is older, but I found some button on the center console to be missing and broken.. I also notice the driver side rear shock shaging lower that the rest of the car.

I few other odds and ends that just made me think that this car could become a nightmare...

I LOVE this style of car. I think the car would only be worth 1k to me... even than I might give it a second thought before buying.

I guess I will keep my eyes open for an better example of a truely classic car.

Thanks again all for your help!

benica

I am the original owner of a 92 500 SEL...had it for 18 years...never had any problems with the trans or engine....low miles...80K....
however, buying any used car is a crap shoot....regular maintenance, PM's, care, etc..does not matter....one can "baby" their car and yet have headaches with it...one can baby their car, never have problems and sell it and the new owner has headaches!
I would never ever buy a care the east coast, New England, etc....rust. And a 92 would have rust if it's from NE.
If I was you and knowing what I know about W140's...look at newer W140's....especially the last years...98/99...all the "bugs" have been worked out, etc...
If I was to do it over...I would not get a W140...I'd get a W129..(SL)
You can pick up a 98/99 SL for around 10K and if you take care of it...it will always be worth around 10K and even more in the future...W140's...not as lucky.

MB_Fahrer

I have a 99 SL500 that I'm selling. It was a nice car, but it seems like it would be a maintenance nightmare as the car would age. As it sits it only has 26k miles and I'm asking $24.5k for it. The car has sooo many electronics (8[?] hydraulic pistons just for the soft top alone! Not to mention the "smart" transmission or any of the other electronic systems MB has installed into this car)!!! Don't get me wrong the R129 (not called the W129 the "W" is for the sedans only) series are great cars, but again, not the later models. With post 2000 MB's I would definitely suggest going newer. But if you are going pre 2000, I would highly recommend the older the better. Better build quality, better engineering, etc. Yes, it's harder to find a better example the farther back in time you go, but I definitely stand behind saying that the hunt will be worth it.