Another Cheap Benz: I like the pain.

Hi all,

I picked up a $300 W116 Mercedes last year. And I have it running pretty darn well with very little invested. Offensively cheap to be honest.

Few weeks ago. I bought another cheap Benz that has actual issues . It's been sitting in a driveway not being used. We used to drive by it all the time. Wife told me that she likes it more than the other Mercedes we own. And told me, "you should get it". Now I have it haha.

It's a 1988 560SEC with 161k miles. It has been sitting for 4 years and the owner didn't know anything about what's wrong with it at all. So I checked it out. Low-balled him and limped it home (.7 miles). The car stalls out when idling and during driving. Usually needs starter fluid to even start up. The fuel pump is leaking . And worst of all, the valve cover had a hole in it (see pics below haha). Besides that a few cosmetic things here and there.

So far, parts have been cheap and the car is very easy to work on. Basically the same engine as the w116 but with more computers and what not.

I know, seems like a lot of work. And She is. But, the car isn't hard to work on at all. And there's lots of potential. Plus everything electrical works flawlessly. When/If I get it running right I want to get some H&R spring, Bilstein struts, wheels, euro headlights, and tint it.

I'm weighing my options with the car:

1) Get the head rebuilt, do timing chain, new fuel pump/lines/filters. Drive it forever.

2) LSx swap

3) 2JZ swap

4) Part it out and make my money back x3? (Amazing how much w126 coupe specific parts go for)

I'd drive it with the OEM driveline for 5 years or so and sell it at that point. Those cars are at the lowest point in their depreciation and will go nowhere but up. If you are lucky enough will have died for it to be considered rare.

If you have the center caps for those Centras they are coming back in vogue in some circles and trading for decent money.

Good buy btw.

Well done. I'd say fix it and drive the hell out of it.

THAT is a cool Benz. I'd try to fix it. Lots of potential fuel and vacuum and emission type issues that could be solved relatively simply. In theory.

I really like those SEC models, probably my favorite of all Benz's. Nice purchase.

Somewhere I have a model of this from high school which I also painted white over tan; always thought these were very cool. I'll put in another vote to fix and drive it as is.

You sick bastard!

Love the SECs. I've never owned one so need to change that.

IMO, you have to lowball sellers that have had their car sit for a year or more. Some of the rubber hoses and other rubber items can be worn out and need replacing, including tires.

Damn!!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-500-Series-560SEC-1990-560-sec-amg-6-0-dohc-32-v-wide-body-m-117-9-/271808129377?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f4906e961&item=271808129377&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

chandlerGTi wrote: If you have the center caps for those Centras they are coming back in vogue in some circles and trading for decent money. Good buy btw.

Yeah I have the center caps. I don't have the lock & key for the caps though. These Centra's are powder coated and really clean. I've had them for awhile.

In reply to Cotton: Good gawd, lets remove those headlight wipers!

In reply to bgkast: Thanks! I'm selling the w116 though. Gotta make some room. I wish I could've picked up that red r107 I showed you.

Nice, guy online had his time chain do the hole in the valve cover but got lucky and it didn't skip time. I think what happens is the hydraulic tensioner either wears or looses tension allowing the time chain to flop around. Eventually it will either slap threw the valve cover metal or bunch up and jam and do what yours did. I would probably look for a used engine, you might have to helicoil the block to get the head torqued to spec. The 560 is an aluminum block so that is the issue, the threads only have so much life. I think there is a head bolt drill guide to do the head bolt holes correctly if you go that route. Might get lucky and just throw one used head on it.

In reply to yupididit:

I have a red R107 you can buy if you want to clean out the rest of my MB collection.

Parting it out would be really tempting if there were indeed that much potential profit in it and assuming you can get rid of the shell easily.

Obviously, a sweet swap would be cool, but it would seem that keeping it as close to stock would be the wisest. Fix it, drive it lightly for a few years and still make a profit when you finally sell it.

benzbaronDaryn wrote: Nice, guy online had his time chain do the hole in the valve cover but got lucky and it didn't skip time. I think what happens is the hydraulic tensioner either wears or looses tension allowing the time chain to flop around. Eventually it will either slap threw the valve cover metal or bunch up and jam and do what yours did. I would probably look for a used engine, you might have to helicoil the block to get the head torqued to spec. The 560 is an aluminum block so that is the issue, the threads only have so much life. I think there is a head bolt drill guide to do the head bolt holes correctly if you go that route. Might get lucky and just throw one used head on it.

There was a late model 560SEL in the junkyard that looked like it had a rebuilt engine in it. Perhaps it's still there. Thank you for the information though. Please share more if you have some.

What's the deal with the follower just hanging out not attached to anything? That looks bad.

Cotton wrote: Damn!! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mercedes-Benz-500-Series-560SEC-1990-560-sec-amg-6-0-dohc-32-v-wide-body-m-117-9-/271808129377?forcerrptr=true&hash=item3f4906e961&item=271808129377&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

BTW--this is incredible.

My wife loves older MBs. After her last Benz, I would only let one into the fleet with a Chevy swap. YMMV.

An SEC is one of the cars that I will pretend does not have an auto in it because they are the coolest and I really want one.

DO DIS!!!!

In reply to The_Jed:

Haha no thanks.

Which chevy engine from the mid eighties early 90s has an aluminum engine block and makes 250hp stock? The engines are reliable the only real issue is the timing chains. There are 560sl running around with over 250k miles on them. A guy online does race an r107 body and he did kill the stock m117 and replaced it with an LS6. With the LS engine the mercedes is kicking ass and taking names.

People fetishize the manual transmission mercedes but I don't mind the auto shift. You can shift the auto box using the gear selector.

The rally cars are a 280e and 500slc. I think there was a 500sec outfitted for racing but lets be realistic that isn't what these car are for.

Only chevy engine I'd swap in is a LS series. My M117 powered 450SEL has over 332k miles