AaronBalto wrote: Thanks, man. I am like a kid waiting for Christmas. The car is on Long Island. I am flying up there on Friday morning and driving back to Baltimore--in S-T-Y-L-E. I already ordered the oil change kit and am making my appointment for winter tires for Saturday. Christmas road trip to NYC coming up. So geeked.
If you run into any trouble, let me know. I know all the good Mercedes independents in the area.
Any idea about valve jobs? Do valves get loose frequently? Is it really a $5k job?
Damn that's nice 420SEL. Get some polished Centra T31/Ronal R31 wheels on that thing.
In reply to slow:
The V8s are hydraulic lifters, I don't think they get loose.
Bonus! I just got the title in the mail. The car was owned by a Long Island thoracic surgeon living in a $2 million house with a three car garage. He had a one-mile commute and lived 8 miles from the Mercedes dealer where he traded the car. What more can you ask for in a previous owner?
In reply to AaronBalto:
That should be a great car. I have always loved that body style and I remember reading in one of the car mags when the 560 came out that it was quicker than the IROC Camaro.
That's a real nice 420SEL you picked up. I have started looking at W126 Mercedes thanks to you guys.
In reply to AaronBalto:
That's excellent.
In reply to AaronBalto: What more to ask for? A trunk full of cash for starters 
. Well bought sir, that car should be a hoot!
If that poor S-class has been coping with a one-mile commute, you owe it to the ghost of Rudolf Uhlenhaut to check the tires, fill a thermos with coffee, and drive to Nevada (or somewhere) with the hammer down.
I flew up to New York today and picked up the SEL. After driving it back to Baltimore in an off-and-on light drizzle all I can tell you is THIS CAR IS BADA$$!
First, it's H--U--G--E. Just ridiculously large. Next, highway mileage was close to 20MPG, and I was not exactly high-miling. I can live with this. After being beaten up by my E36 M3 Convertible all these years, the super-plush ride is very welcome. Yet it's not spongy--you feel very much in control. Brakes are great, it runs quiet. So far I am digging the Euro-Executive lifestyle!
There are only two apparent issues: the car needs a set of tires, and it doesn't really get the coolant temp up high enough for my liking. I think the thermostat is probably dead. Not sure how hard a fix that is, but I'm guessing not very.
Looking forward to beating on the car this weekend. I actually have two long drives I have to do over the next two days. I'll need a second mortgage for gas, but OPEC helped me out last week, so maybe I can afford it...
Changing out the thermostat on my wife's 500SL (which also suffered from running too cool) wasn't a big deal. Well, it wouldn't have been if the nut who worked on the car before me hadn't stripped the threads on the aluminum bleed screw on top of the thermostat housing...
Good to hear. This thing was one-owner and dealer maintained, so any nuts who worked on the car were at least charging $90+/hr, right?
Yep. One owner, only dealer and specialist maintained...
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