Tidbits...
That car weighs 4000lbs. How many cars weigh that today? LOTS!! LOL!
It was over $100,000 new. Figure out $100K in 1988 in today's dollars, and it was damned pricey.
The M117 V-8 is super durable EXCEPT for the one weak spot: plastic timing chain guides. Read this...
https://mercedessource.com/problems/engine/preventing-catastrophic-v8-engine-failureA good MB indie will know right off about this problem. It's age related, not mileage. The plastic guides become brittle.
If you do decide to have the chain and guides replaced (it's a big job, but if needed, then do it...) only buy a new MB chain, not a jobber part. This thread is great...
http://autotrend.activeboard.com/t52277480/timing-chain-installation-guides-560-420-mercedes-benz-v8-m1/?page=1Change the trans fluid every 50K and it will last a long time. Lack of regular fluid changes will lead to premature valve body failure.
The bottom end of the engine will last
at least 500K, probably a lot more with regular oil/filters.
Lots of stuff on the car is vacuum operated. The HVAC system, the door locks, etc, etc. Vacuum leaks are horrible as they're hard to track down. As those things are working now, PRAISE BE DA LORD OF CARS as it means you won't be spending the first month of ownership hunting for the leaks. Another problem with the HVAC system is the Monovalve. No heat usually means it's done for.
If it clunks in the rear, it's usually the rear sway bar. Dealers will try to replace the entire assembly for $$$$$. There's a kit for way less. Sometimes the SLS is blamed for the clunking - investigate the sway bar first.
Mileage sucks. MBCA club members I knew with these recorded 18-20L/100km in the city and struggled to get under 14 on the highway.
There's a reason they were so expensive new. The engineering was incredible and the build quality above anything, and I really mean ANYTHING. Go look at used 7-series or other flagship cars from then. None have held up even remotely as well as the big S-Class. The only comparable car would be the came-along-two-years later LS400 in terms of longevity.
What other 1988 cars aren't rotted away? Go forward 10 model years and you can find rusting 1998 Mercedes models - most of them are. But those 80's cars have great bodies and great paint. Lots of them out there with surprisingly little rust. When we finally got rid of the 1990 190E 2.6 with 510K on it, it had almost no rust. My 1998 C230 was rusting when I sold it in 2008. Hey, MB, what da faq?
What a great find! Classy car with a lot of cool factor now. The monoblocks will look great.
