Craig, if you could find a 5 speed 528I, ( there'r kinda rear) get it. They are great cars, perform very well and look great with the factory sport BBS 17" wheels. Check out "bimmerforums.com" . There is actually one on Ebay right now for sale check it out. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1850410745 .
Rich.......

 

Wow, that one on Ebay is really nice. Super cheap, too--but I don't have even $14K right now (and I live in Maryland, so Arizona's kind of far away). I heard 80% of 528e's were sold with automatics (so was mine), so I guess the new ones are the same way.

It seems like I could probably afford to maintain a 528i if I could just get one in the first place. I'll keep my eyes open as I struggle to earn more so I can afford a reasonable monthly payment--my current car is already costing me $200-300/month just in repairs, so if a 528i were more reliable...I'd like Titanium Silver with Gray leather...

 

Craig, I just bought mine for $13,200 at the public auction in the Bronx with 127000 miles on it. It has a few things wrong with it but I'm a mechanic so I will fix it. Other wise the car is perfect inside and out. I also get the mechanics discount at the local BMW dealer. You don't have to be wealthy to own high end automobiles just smart .

 

it is true that the old S-Class has an unparalleled presence in the road, mainly due to its size, and the styling, although unremarkable, spells solidity. However, the new one is much more beautiful, one of the best designs of all times in my opinion. And, while it does not look as big as its predecessor, it feels roomier in the inside. Had it not been for the minor quality slips, which should be fixed for 2003, I woul dnot regret anything from the old model. And now, the S600 will have performance enough to embarrase a Porsche 911 or a Corvette Targa.

 

coupeluva, you have to be wealthy to own old high-end automobiles! My friends give me plenty of guff about my car because their American or Japanese cars which are just as old (but not as nice) are more reliable. Truthfully, I'm thinking of selling the BMW and getting a first-generation Legend or maybe even an early 90's Maxima--just for now until I can save more than $4K for a car.

I went to an auction in south Baltimore--it was really a mess, since most of the cars were wrecks and almost all had broken windows and flat tires. Some cars were decent, but it seemed like a horrible place to buy a car unless you had several grand just to make it work properly. A guy there was telling me he got a nice '95 Grand Cherokee for $2K and spent another $2K fixing it up--a steal, but I can't deal with that right now. The auction you went to must have been much nicer; I'm sure there are different strata of public auctions.

 

The W126 (being the first MBZ I ever drove and owned) will always remain a timeless classic in my opinion. However, the transition in body styling from W126 to W140 was a smooth one.
I still look at the 140 as the "new" generation and the latest models as aliens. Sorry newcomers, if the new S Class is anything like our 99 and 01 ML 430 vehicles, I dont want one!
If you bought your car and are here to show it off just because it has a three pointed star on the hood, you've got another thing coming.

Passionately awaiting my 140.

Mercedes_SD

88 300 E
92 500 SL
01 Ml 430

 

Just bought a 1992 400 SE. Not sure what I've gotten into but love the car. Traded in my 1990 300 SE. Like the extra power!!

 

sread -

1992 was the first year of the W140 chasis.

 

I like big cars, much more confortable and more room to enjoy the ride like the maybach. Amazing

 

I HAVE HAD MANY MERCEDES BUT THIS LAST ONE IS AMAZING.

ITS A 94 S-600 COUPE ALL SILVER WITH AMG WHEELS IT HAS AN

AMG EXHAUST FROM HEAD TO TOE. I ALSO HAVE AN 2001 M3

WITCH YOU ALL KNOW IS A LITTLE ROCKET, WELL THIS BENZ IN THE 1/4 MILE IS ONLY 1 CAR LENTGH SLOWER.

I THINK THATS AMAZING CONSIDERING THE WEIGHT DIFERENCE.

IM ALSO SELLING IT.
IF INTERESTED EMAIL : JOE@SITTO.COM

71,000 MILES

 

ok the red 280SE is my Aunties car...1969 automatic...
My dad had a 1971 280SE 3.5, beautiful dark green he serviced the car a few weeks back and its still only done 66000 original miles...i'll try to get some fotos the next time its in...



The cream car is a 1958 220Sc, fully restored around 10 years ago in dads workshop, now sitting on the showroom floor...some cowboys have fitted a cd player and an air-con to the underside of the dash. They could be removed without a trace but i wouldn't have them there in the first place! I'll have more photos on my website when i get time to update it in mid/late november.
Keep a look out! Trent's web page


cheers
Trent

 

v12 engines
Hi all,

Posting my first msg ever. I bought my dream car 3 years ago. S500 -96. My dad drove taxi cabs in Denmark back in the early 80's and I grew up listening to Mercedes stories. After researching for a year I finally spent the money to buy a used S500. During the year I checked out probably 20-30 deals on S classes (W140) and 7 series BMW's. The reason I looked at BMW was that I do really like the design of the previous 7 series, and I was always told a BMW can run around an S-class anytime.
Also I was tempted by the fact that it seemed I could get more for my money with BMW (read cheaper).
Here is what I found.
Yes, I had to give up about .5 sec to 60, when comparing the S500 to the 740il. I drove both - no biggie.
The S500 would be more expensive to buy. That's why I leased a used one and this coming spring the bank will be 15 grand in the hole. I will get a cheap deal...
The deal clincher for me was that consistently I found the interior plastic parts on the BMW to be broken/not working and a lot of -94, -95 had engines replaced. For the S class I found little to nothing on the interiors and engine wise you see 150 kmiles on S classes still worth something. The only biggie on the S class is the well known heater core/vaporater. My was fixed under extended warranty and nothing has gone wrong in 3 years. ( except the one only thing I don't understand is the tire shaking/balancing issue, which finally caused Mercedes to buy me new tires under warranty??? ).

Sorry for this personal account but I wanted to put some reference to my input which I am about to make.

When seeing all these people discussing the new high performance cars. V12's I never see anybody stating the fact the when BMW brought the V12 to market in -88 it was a preemptive strike against Mercedes who was 2 years late. But when comparing the outcome by -92 in America you had a BMW V12 producing 298 HP ( only 322 much later ) and the Mercedes came out with 402 HP (later detuned to 389) in a car that was structural way ahead of it's time. Many say the W140 is way too big and doesn't handle well. The S600(W140) is quite front heavy due to the heavier engine, but I can tell you that although the 7series might out run my S500 on the track it is not by much.
But when it comes to hurrying in traffic the big boat handles in such a smooth and secure way that my wife many times dosen't realize I am rushing corners and braking fairly hard. The car masks the speed so much better than any other car. Except for cops coz they have radars, dammit..

I do realize the S class probably was too big for most people to feel confident in. But most people who buys an S class drive very conservative and many more have little idea about driving all together. The size of the car fits me fine ( dane at 6.2ft ), and to me there is no competition between BMW and Mercedes. BMW's are very refined technical marvels that are going to be expensive to maintain. I don't need that. Mercedes has proven the right mix for me in terms of reliability/ owner cost and performance.

And again just for the record, some V12 history,

BMW: 1988 to present: 298HP to 322HP to 408 HP
MB: 1992 to present: 408HP to 389HP to * to 495 HP ???

To me this seems like no competition.

I would really love to have a 600 but money???
I have even heard that the V12 600 engine already back then was the only V12 with seperate knock sensing for each cylinder.
A true 4 valve per cylinder marvel of it's time, which I am sure the next V12 will be too.

* The star placed in here is for the 362 HP V12 with active shutoff.
I have a question here.
Does it seem to people that Mercedes was about to get off the HP race by offering a V12 with not more power but with much better/clever tradeoffs (fuel). I actually liked that coz really how much power do we need to get to 60. I personally hate those onramp races just to enter the freeway and have to brake for slower traffic or cops rendering 78MPH as reckless driving.
Speed only kills if you hit something!!!!! I hate driving in Seattle.
People here tailgate and hogs the left lane coz in America it is peoples right to be in somebodies way. And if you disagree, you are being type casted as aggressive driver.
Truely sorry for the venting here.............................................. .
I really liked the idea of a S600 0-60 in 5,6 sec and 24-25 miles per gallon on the freeway. Awesome?
But I guess the HP race is back on.

The only reason I won't be upgrading to the new (W220) S class is that I for one really think the interior material and design is dissapointing. Hope the new ones are much better.
My wife drives a 300SDL from -86 w/ 157kmiles. Best overall car in the world. Saves me money every day.


Thanks for having the patience to listen me out....

Jari

 

Hi, I owned a 500SEL (Euro) for 21 years, loved for many years, and finally got tired of it, gave it to a friend and purchased a 1997 S500, so far very happy with it, just wish I could have gotten it $2500 cheaper. I see them go for less on Ebay. Maybe I got too excited when I first sew it and caved in.

 

Hands down the w140 is the best generation. There is no other car, i mean no other car, that command such presence.

i do like the interior of the w220, but it smaller and less intimidating then w140.

I feel sometimes "to the most part" one tend to have an admiration to the car in his generation. I am 30, and the car i grew up with was the w140. I know my cousins who are older than me, their favorite is w126.....


I am surprised to see that alot here like the w140 coupe, i think the older coupes look more powerful to me.

 

If you can't guess I also like the W140. My first Mercedes was an 96 SL500 but did not keep it long as with two kids and the second car was a truck, any long trips were no fun.

I went to get the oil changed in my SL and while waiting at the dealer, I was looking around and started talking with a salesman. He told me that he had a used 600 in stock. With that I wanted to see one since I had only seen pictures of them.

Went home that night and was telling my wife about it. Next day (Sat) we went back so she could test drive it. By Monday we were trading the SL500 for the 96 S600 coupe.

I drive it daily. I do have cars get out of my way when I am comming down the highway. I bought it with only 44600 miles it now has 56000. As for problems, the only thing that has happened is I had to replace some O-rings in the transmission. Other than that just the normal maintenance.

I love the car and really glad I found a Coupe.

 

What kind of mpg do people get out of the w140?

i know people say that if you ask you can afford it, but I believe that the V12 actually can stretch if driven lazy enough.

Just curious.

Quote below is from http://www.slmarket.com/touring.htm

"During this morning stretch of relaxed 35 to 65 M.P.H. driving, the 600 turned in 231/2 M.P.G. Incredible for a 390hp, 6 liter, V12. Credit the automatic engine retardation (cams and electronics) on deceleration. Branson's street system is so poorly designed that we got our worst M.P.G. plodding through its NYC-type traffic: 151/2 M.P.G. Overall for 3,700 miles: 17.9 M.P.G. Do you know of any 6+ liter, gasoline powered car that can beat these numbers?"


Jari

 

I get about 14 mpg in the city and 20mpg on the highway.

 

I was wondering what people with 600's think when they see how 70000-100000 miles 600's are dropping in value.
What expensive repair have you experienced if any?
And how have the engines aged? Is there any difference in feel, responsiveness and noise levels?
I am really contemplating to get one, one of these days.

Jari

 

I read that Mercedes is going to redesign their S-Class to match the size of the W140 probably due in 2006 or 2007, not sure when but definately bigger than the current W220.

 

The redesigned one , is the 2005 model, it will be 4 inches longer, but i am afraid it will still hold the same look as the w220s.

 

Yeah, the pictures I saw were computer enhanced or photoshop, difenately a W220 look but according to the article, closed to the size of the W140.

 

Yes, I love the W140 and I drive a 1992 600SEL. Did the 500SEL have ADS in 1992?

 

It took me 2 years of searching, but I finally found a late model 140 coupe.... I like it better than the newer coupe, because of its size and heavy feel on the road. Everytime I take it out I like it more and more.

I was very surprised to find the spread in quality amongst the selection of cars, esp. ones in the so-called certified pre-owned program at Benz dealers and what they felt was a Starmarked vehicle. So even at dealerships its buyer beware.....but if you're persistent your efforts will pay off with the reward of a fine motorcar.



99 CL 500 obsidian black, oyster int., all factory options

 

the W140 is the what premium luxury motoring is about, if your'e paying a six figure sum for that "expression of achievement" why would you ever want it to look like a 23K taxi??, lets not forget in europe cloth seats and no a/c are quite common for a benz, but i digress, If you look at today's offering in the "super luxury class" you have the maybach (every feature known to man , and some he never realized he needed!) and the rolls royce , (techno wizardry hidden away, old school styling). In my humble opinion the rolls has what it is all about "presence", you know just by looking at it ,that its powerfull, stately, opulent etc etc ( oh and bloody expensive!!) whereas the maybach tackes a couple of glances to register then the penny drops as to what it is. And I believe that the W140 has exactly what the current Rolls has , and why mercedes will never ever be able to achieve that type of instant recognition and presence again ,as the industry as a whole seeks to attain brand recognition by "key appearance attributes" and not by retaining core values to a particular market segment.

 

the W140 is the what premium luxury motoring is about, if your'e paying a six figure sum for that "expression of achievement" why would you ever want it to look like a 23K taxi??, lets not forget in europe cloth seats and no a/c are quite common for a benz, but i digress, If you look at today's offering in the "super luxury class" you have the maybach (every feature known to man , and some he never realized he needed!) and the rolls royce , (techno wizardry hidden away, old school styling). In my humble opinion the rolls has what it is all about "presence", you know just by looking at it ,that its powerfull, stately, opulent etc etc ( oh and bloody expensive!!) whereas the maybach takes a couple of glances to register then the penny drops as to what it is. And I believe that the W140 has exactly what the current Rolls has , and why mercedes will never ever be able to achieve that type of instant recognition and presence again ,as the industry as a whole seeks to attain brand recognition by "key appearance attributes" and not by retaining core values to a particular market segment.