Topic: Vantage's 1988 Mercedes 560 SEL

[aquadorhj]

such an awesomely built car.   this is what they mean when people say "german bank vault-like build quality"

i remember working on this car at my dad's garage, i think it was 460 sel or something.  it had polished stainless plates on the back parcel shelf thicker than DVD discs...  i probably can't find ANY panel on either of my car thicker than a dvd.    ...maybe a driveshalf tunnel brace on my M3.  but it's painted steel.  not polished stainless steel.

[TheHire]

Thanks for all of the compliments!

I have all of the parts I need ordered and they should be here within a week or two. The catch is, doing the body work to make it perfect will require taking the front fenders, bumper, and hood off. I'm not mechanically inclined in any way but I plan to do it in an afternoon with our friend Firm and another good friend of ours. She should shine very soon!

[5 Wheel Drive]

Wow...that looks like it's in fantastic shape!  What a great car to find. 

[normancw]

    Very nice!  Would love to see more interior pics when you have time.

[johngenx]

  Very nice!  Would love to see more interior pics when you have time.

He's busy driving it!  Nice to find - I see the 300Es are now changing hands a lot and getting pretty rough in that age - I'd love a similar vintage 300E or a 560SEL or 560SEC.

[CanuckS2K]

Adi, what a wicked car man....congrats!  There isn't a single current MB that I aspire to own, but I'd rock this one in a heartbeat. 

On a side note, are you still planning on coming east this summer?  I still want to drive that R8!  :-D

[2JDM]

  Classy!

[Firm]

I've both driven and spent a good bit of time as a passenger in this car and I was seriously impressed by how well it drives for a car this old that has been used it's whole life (it's got 300K+ kms on it). Engine is smooth, no rattles, clunking, etc. A/C blows cold, and most of the electrics work....With some TLC, mostly on the cosmetics, this thing will be pretty mint.

[TheHire]

  Very nice!  Would love to see more interior pics when you have time.

He's busy driving it!  Nice to find - I see the 300Es are now changing hands a lot and getting pretty rough in that age - I'd love a similar vintage 300E or a 560SEL or 560SEC.

If only! I have taken it out a few times but I'm mostly just patiently waiting for the parts to come in so I can get her up to my own (high-ish) standards. Oh yeah, and it drinks fuel at an alarming rate... I'm anticipating 20L/100km on the first tank. It's a 90L tank that takes premium, so I'm not looking forward to the first full fill-up.

More interior pics this weekend - the inside is actually pretty flawless and spotless right now!

Shane - sending you a message in the morning!

[johngenx]

Oh yeah, and it drinks fuel at an alarming rate... I'm anticipating 20L/100km on the first tank. It's a 90L tank that takes premium, so I'm not looking forward to the first full fill-up.

Fellow MBCA members with the M117 5.6L cars (SL, SEL, SEC) reported 18-20L/100km for city driving.  No DI, CVT, variable valve timing, multi-ECU engine management systems combined with the 5.6L of V-8 displacement means "gulp gulp gulp!"

[rrocket]

Oh yeah, and it drinks fuel at an alarming rate... I'm anticipating 20L/100km on the first tank. It's a 90L tank that takes premium, so I'm not looking forward to the first full fill-up.

Fellow MBCA members with the M117 5.6L cars (SL, SEL, SEC) reported 18-20L/100km for city driving.  No DI, CVT, variable valve timing, multi-ECU engine management systems combined with the 5.6L of V-8 displacement means "gulp gulp gulp!"

Sheesh.  I wonder if this is another reason the LS400 really changed things? My 1990 regularly returned 11-12L/100km in the city..and combined was always 10 or so.  Granted it was only 4.0...but it still packed an impressive performance punch for a large luxury sedan.

[johngenx]

Sheesh.  I wonder if this is another reason the LS400 really changed things? My 1990 regularly returned 11-12L/100km in the city..and combined was always 10 or so.  Granted it was only 4.0...but it still packed an impressive performance punch for a large luxury sedan.

Oh, the LS400 was much newer in terms of technology.  The M117 Mercedes engine was introduced in 1969!!  It's basic architecture was 19 years old in 1988.

[carcrazed]

Awesome ride.  I remember this thing turning my head every time I saw one. 

[mixmanmash]

[emoji106] [emoji106]  Very nice!  Would love to see more interior pics when you have time.

He's busy driving it!  Nice to find - I see the 300Es are now changing hands a lot and getting pretty rough in that age - I'd love a similar vintage 300E or a 560SEL or 560SEC.

I'd love to get my hands on a 1991-1993 500E or a 1994 E500.

[TheHire]

Oh yeah, and it drinks fuel at an alarming rate... I'm anticipating 20L/100km on the first tank. It's a 90L tank that takes premium, so I'm not looking forward to the first full fill-up.

Fellow MBCA members with the M117 5.6L cars (SL, SEL, SEC) reported 18-20L/100km for city driving.  No DI, CVT, variable valve timing, multi-ECU engine management systems combined with the 5.6L of V-8 displacement means "gulp gulp gulp!"

Sheesh.  I wonder if this is another reason the LS400 really changed things? My 1990 regularly returned 11-12L/100km in the city..and combined was always 10 or so.  Granted it was only 4.0...but it still packed an impressive performance punch for a large luxury sedan.

It's funny, the LS400 was actually cross shopped a few weeks ago. At the end of the day, the W126 has always had a piece of my heart, so the SEL won. I think if it were between a 380/420SEL and an LS400 it might have been a tougher decision, but the big-boss 560, black on black was a winner.

[Weels]

but the big-boss 560, black on black was a winner.

Definitely.  I wouldn't give two facks about the fuel bill.

[TheHire]

but the big-boss 560, black on black was a winner.

Definitely.  I wouldn't give two facks about the fuel bill.

Says the man in a car averaging 6.8... haha!

[Firm]

I will be quite pleased if this proves to get worse mileage than the `slade. 

[Angry Chicken]

That's what a Mercedes should look like!  Awesome find!!!!

[KD]

Wow, I missed this!  Incredible find V007!!  This iteration is the pinnacle of the S-Classes IMO.  Very very nice!