Mrs. and Mr Wizard, I have watched since the first videos this is my first time commenting. Clayton Cagle F#@kin Rocks!!! 🤘 great addition to the videos. You do a great job. They bring me a lot enjoyment! Thank You!
@@peterpetiet7900 Hahaha Well know you have, he is a great rock guitar player. Great sounds great guitar voicing! Hope you enjoy him if he is your genre.
Those colors on the driveshaft are balancing marks and weights applied by Mercedes to eliminate any driveline vibrations or harshness. It’s important that when the driveshaft are separated from the middle to replace the center carrier bearing mount the both ends of the driveshafts should be precisely marked so they don’t get out of balance after reassembly.
They have factory markings on both parts on them. So you dont have to mark them. They are cast in the parts. They started doing this in the beginning of the 80s or Latein 70s
One of my college buddies had one of these back in the old days. Its a total tank. Mercedes at it's pinnacle. You'll have fun times cruising around in this safe and reliable car like we did!
I worked at a high end body shop when these cars were popular. Wealthy people would own and drive these cars for a decade rather than replace them. It wasn't unusual to see one with over 300,000 miles looking that good. When one would total out it was like a death in the family for the owners. This was an automobile rather than just a car.
And the right code for these is 126 400 3002, its in the back of the wheel, some other MB use similar wheeles but different ET. Found a set of these for $180 last October, been resting in a barn for 20 years 😴.
Proud owner of a 1990 300SEL with original paint, same wheels, no dints, just a few scratches. It’s a daily driver with a beautiful interior and I appreciate every minute in it. Superb vehicles, great buy Mr. Wizard!
Two months ago I bought a 1991 300SE, same color (very faded) and the same wheels as the one in this video. It's a daily driver and amateur restoration project for me and I love it. The quality and passion are second to none.
@@JDStickland You know what's even better? Parts are not going to be a problem. Even for much older models, the Mercedes Benz Heritage Center (from what I've read) still supplies parts for basically all of them. Only problem would probably the the price.
I've always known that Mrs. Wizard did the filming, but seeing her in the reflection of the car at 4:10 making sure she got the angles just right Car Wizard points out the dings was really cool to see from the reflection of a 1989 car! Great job again guys!
It's hard to go wrong with MB of this era. They are almost indestructible. 300k is not unheard of and the look is classic. Clean ones still demand a premium price and they still turn heads. Nice car
300k? Are we talking miles or kilometers? Highest I have seen so far was well in excess of 700.000 kilometers (440k-ish miles) - albeit on an older model than even this one. In fact Mercedes used to be so proud of these cars' durability that they handed out badges to cars passing 500.000km (300k-ish miles) which could then be mounted to the car's grill.
In August I bought a light Ivory 1985 380 SE. I drove it home to Tennessee from San Diego. I rebuilt the fuel distributor, new plugs, fuel injectors, replaced the timing chain ( dual roller), upper guides, tensioner and guide. The upper guides had broken and one piece was on a ledge about to fall to the crankshaft gear. The interior is great, only a 3mm long crack in the dash near the speaker cover. It’s been in the body shop for 2 months now. A drunk off duty cop ran into it while it was in a parking lot. Then he backed up and did it again. His cop buddies came when I called, no sobriety test for him, he’s in the “club”! Hopefully I get it back soon, thanks for the video.
If you could buy a car like that today, then you could make it last a lifetime! With the oils and minerals and body treatment we have now. Fantastic vehicles that no manufacturer gets close too
Great car. Bought one in 04 at an auction for $1500, fixed a couple things, and sold it for $5000 did months later. Check the side pockets of the trunk for water/rust.
Very good buy, Wizard. These were my fathers favorite series of Mercedes. He drove his 560 SEC for over 200,000 miles and had very little trouble with it. Enjoy!
About the broken switches: You can still buy those from the Benz dealer. Mercedes sells about everything even for 50 year old cars. I love them for that. And...those switches can also be cleaned and serviced. By yourself. No need to buy the whole switch or units of anything. Just take the knob off, clean the switch.
I have just ordered all sorts of fuel system hoses for my '89. And fuel pressure accumulator and pressure regulator. The one thing that came back "not available" was the duo of hoses to the fuel cooler.
My family had an ‘87 420SEL, same color, it was so amazing. So nice inside and out. Got into a lower speed accident, hit by a van on the front right from someone running an intersection. Everyone in the car only really saw and heard the accident, the front crumpled just as it was supposed to. Odd to say, but that was such a comfortable accident. So incredibly well engineered.
I've only just entered the MB world with an 80 240d manual, but I could open and close a door all day ,and release the emergency brake. Haha,at first I was fooled by how quiet the brake release was and put my foot under the pedal to make sure it was all the way up 😂 And the door,I swear you could blow at it hard and it latches closed like a bank vault with the most satisfying click ever. And tbh I'm sure it's better when it's all freshly lubed. Coming from mk1/2vws into this gamble has been fun so far, and the car is in great shape and I haven't found any butchery.
Watch out, you'll be like Hoovie if you're not careful. Be interesting to see this restoration progress. Thanks for sharing an happy New Year to you both.
I had an 87 one of these. I remember getting into it in Paris one bright January morning in 2000. By late afternoon I was in London. I got out and thought, I could easily just turn round and go back to Paris again. I never had a better motorway charger yet.
Those window switches are notorious for not working...but they don't break. Because of their location, crud falls down in them and they just get all dirty and sticky inside. The great thing is they were designed to be disassembled, lubed, and cleaned. Replacement is rarely necessary. Done it many times. Might as well clean them all when you have them out.
They do break, those window switches, due to age and use. The plastic inside disintegrates, the bit that keeps the ball bearing in. This problem can be found on the later 201s and early 124s.
I'll say this, I generally prefer the look of cars without tints also. However living in a place like Southern California and parking your car outside, having windows tinted can really go a long way to saving your interior from fading and cracking.
The new ceramic tint is pricey but cuts nearly 100% of the UV rays that damage the interior and is available in very light tint. Hardly noticeable that the window is tinted. It’s very good
@@dentmastersofnymichael3316 Even some of the older generation aftermarket tints were very light coloured, but claim a 99% UV reducing. However some cars come with a factory, very light tint, which also claims to virtually eliminate damaging UV rays.
im already nostalgic for the old intro and lift music, but the new music and constant effort into the content is great! its clear that you guys care a lot about improving and growing the channel
Good choice Wizard. For the past 6yrs, I’ve owned ‘89 300SEL (67k). I appreciated hearing that you don’t mind not having the 560SEL’s options. I live in CO & there’s no market for the W126. Therefore, I’m keeping it (unless someone can pay for what its worth).
Not sure why, but I like watching the tires coming off the floor then also as the car resettles back onto it's suspension. The new Lift Music is awesome 😎.
It is nice to have a wholesale dealer connection like Euro Asian Bob. You and Hoovie have found some great cars. Very low miles at 100K for a 420sel; no rust a big plus too. I have a 1990 300se I purchased in 2004 from the original owner when they became affordable. Always liked the styling especially the US version as they are what I remember when they were new. It looks like a keeper Wizard. Enjoy!
Always enjoy watching your videos and always learn a lot. I am just a car owner here, but it is great to know the sorts of things to look out for and understand the complexities that mechanics have to deal with. ( Dad was a diesel mechanic, but for trucks and farm equipment)
Covid and supply issues still have used prices through the roof. That was definitely a steal. Less than $4k gets you an '88 Corsica with 300k miles around here.
I’m with you Dave. 2 years ago I bought a 87 560SEL as a power train donor car. I fell in love with it and pretty much did what you are doing with your 420. These cars are hidden treasures.
I love European cars from the 80’s… my dad’s 1980 Volvo 240 had almost 500,000 miles on it before he drove it to the junkyard. I wish he had kept it… not easy finding those in nice condition.
My 1990 Volvo had 420,000 miles on it when I sold it. It was still running perfectly. The only reason I sold it was the road salt here in Massachusetts had taken its toll. The rust was beyond my skill level. I am a mechanic but not a body man! The Volvo engineers designed the car to be easy to maintain.
Make sure to never hang anything on the key. Key only in the ignition. Anything hanging or adding weight to the key will destroy the key cylinder. Also. Never ever re-set the VDO gauge trip odometer when the car is moving. It will damage the Trip ODO and will no longer work.
My pops worked on big trucks in the 70s and 80s. when we would go on vacation, he would bring his toolbox home. There were tape outlines all over the box, of naked lady posters that had been on the box - but no naked lady posters. I always used to wonder about what the posters actually looked like.
Make sure you check the timing chain, they always go out and the guides always breaks and destroys the engine around 100k miles. It's a very common problem, I used to replace timing chains every week for customers.
10:18 - that faded silver disc with the black knob in the center is the power steering reservoir. Remove knob, lift off disc-lid, and that's how you check the fluid. But I bring this up because it has a simple filter you can replace! Another reason I like these old Benzes.
Wizard I have been doing PDR since the late 90’s and have done hundreds of those large Mercedes. Wish I was local to you I would take care of it for you. Hopefully you have a good quality PDR guy. Those older cars require great care, the paint is more brittle. Let us now in the video how the dents turn out. Thanks
I absolutely love these older Mercedes cars. I purchased my first Mercedes a little over a year ago, a W124 E320 wagon, and even though it was neglected by its previous owner and needs a full suspension refresh, it still drives amazing. It puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Love the videos, keep it up!
These old Mercs are among the best cars ever made. They're overengineered, teutonic German super quality from the era when costs were a secondary thing. Same can be said about old air cooled Porsches 964 and 993. Mercedes is right up there among the top. Not to mention that Bruno Sacco who designed these cars made amazing job. They look better than ever. Completely timeless. Best cars ever.
Hello from Australia. I had a 300 SE and the cruise control stopped working for me too. A reconditioned control module was around $600. After looking at the forums it seems that over time some dry solder joints raise their ugly heads. So I removed the module from under the dash, which is a pretty easy job and resoldered every joint. The whole process including R&R the module took just two hours and the problem was fixed. Also a really good source of Mercedes information can be found on a UA-cam channel called Mercedessource. His channel is a must see if you have a Mercedes and you have a problem that is new to you. Great choice of car mate. There is simply nothing that drives like a W126 except a W124 or maybe a W140.
Did the same in my '87 300SDL... Pain to get out and in again, mostly because it was under the steering wheel. I also rebuilt some of the window switches as they are all mechanical (Be ABSOLUTELY certain to take them apart inside a shoe box).
A real specimen of a vehicle you can truly say they don’t make em like they use too applies to the 126 The 126 of MB where style simplicity and reliability hit the peak yes 123 is just as reliable but not nearly as slick and good looking exterior or interior Great purchase and GOD bless
Hey Wizard, that broken rubber muffler hanger has a really cool chain inside.. it takes some patience to break all the rubber apart. But I think it’s worth it..
My ‘91 560SEL is close to flawless and it’s also for sale. It’s not the $45K BJ car but I’d not take anything less than $25K. These are amazing highway cars.
Nice car Wizard! As a former (recent) Mercedes tech I was always scared when one of these “dinosaurs” rolled into the dealership. This car is super clean and it looks to be well taken care of. No major leaks aside from the brake caliper is super impressive! And no rear diff seep? It seemed every one I saw seeped from the pinion, the axle stubs, and/or the cover.
I grew up in a mercedes shop, they're the best cars ever produced. full stop. you just have to maintain them. the W123 can laugh at the things that will destroy tanks and old volvos, but the W126 was very classy and wasn't quite as indestructible, but the ride is so much better. the vacuum locking/shifting system is a nightmare to troubleshoot now, and is a complete removal and reinstall to fix.
NICE!! I have had a few very nice examples come through our hands. Just fantastic cars especially if you can get a nice low mile one that has been preserved! We actually just reviewed a stellar one a few months ago. Awesome find for you!
I don't know what they cost, but if you can get a set of Euro headlamps it will really update the look of the front end. Previous owner of my W126 did so and it looks beautiful.
My dads friend had one of these. He converted it to run on used fryer oil. He got a few of the restaurants in town to give him their old oil. His car smelled like french fries and he got free fuel for his car! Two positives!
Great as always! On the heated ww fluid there is a video by Mercedes Source on these going bad and leaking. Not a good combo. You can bypass it really easy with a hack saw and a few hose clamps. Since all ww fluid is freeze protected I have not had an issue. I did not know about this feature and it was getting so hot it was vaporizing the fluid. All I could smell was chemical smell through the heater vents. I thought it was the heater box and spent good money to have a "MB expert" find the source of the smell. Surprise he could not. One day I could hear an noise coming from the ww fluid tank. Sure enough that was the source of the smell. By passed the tank thermostat and it's been perfect ever since. Great content.
I'm glad we have different bumper regulations over here in Europe (NL). Really not a fan of those US spec bumpers, ruïns the look of the car in my opinion.
@@lop8828 we can change whatever we want over here in the Netherlands. As far as I know only Belgium has very strict rules. Germany is no problem either but they have to be certified parts.
These wood center consoles do not have a lacquer coating them but rather a two-part polymer coating that has a dye in it making it hard to see through. The only way to remove this polymer coating is with a heat gun and as soon as it starts to bubble you scrape it off with a dull putty knife. I refinished all of the wood trim on my 1980s 300sd Mercedes as it had the same problems with the center console cracking. once all the wood trim is stripped I used the UV blocking Epifanes Clear Marine Varnish.
I love all the content! But I will just say that I think Mrs wizard is also pretty awesome! She has a good sense of humor and clearly is very knowledgeable about car things! You guys make a great pair, keep up the good content!
My Dad had one I went from Hollywood Ca to Concord Ca in 4.25 Hrs Doing 125-130. started at 7.30 Pm was there at 11:15 That car was Solid. I loved it. 365 Mi Raced many cars all the way.
You definitely bought the driver out of the two Mr Wizard. I completely agree that grey market car needs to be in a garage on display somewhere to keep it prestine
Make sure you check the climate control vacuum pods-the diaphragms tend to break at that age. As you know, the vacuum systems in those cars are complex-always need a thorough check with a new owner. Also lubricate that sunroof with the MB grease-it’ll save a lot of trouble down the road.
I love the mid 80s to early 90s w126 and I love it stock in US form. A lot of people prefer the Euro bumpers however Mercedes did a good job of integrating the larger bumpers in an elegant way. I’m going to unapologetically say the extra bumper length gives Mercedes and BMW cars of the 80s a more graceful look. I’m an e23 7 series guy for the driving dynamic, interior and I like the unique looks but the w126 is probably the classiest daily drive collectors car out of the 80s.
I have two W126s in my collection. They drive like nothing else when well sorted. First place to look for rust it up under the rear screen. Often not noticed till to late. Really prefer the Euro lights and bumpers luckily we got those in Australia.
I love the Wiz and Mrs. Wiz! So whatever and relaxed easy to watch content. Just like Hoovie's! (but not at all). There is a neat UA-cam family vibe going on here with all the cross platforms and spin offey's. Naming characters, new channels, Car Trek etcc's. 👌👌👌👌
Firstly, congratulations on getting such a nice specimen of W126. If well maintained they are nearly indestructible. Secondly, that music is pretty neat. Sounds like someone really went to town on that guitar. I for one wouldn't mind that as outro-music at the end of your videos either. Nice job.
Thank you. Much appreciated. Feel like I'm that much closer to automotive and music genius as I slowly realize I am but just Dust in The Wind. (Sorry I couldn't resist the Kansas reference) Cool stuff all around.
@@AlienLivesMatter no w140 was only car UP TO DATE with standard double panel windows. Vacum doors. First Mercedes with V12 and more and more. W140 was first in a lot of things
@@wrt1958 1995 was not a good year on w140. It had 4 speed problemstic trans. Its had caps and rotors and it had biogreadable wires. In 1996 they switched to durable 5 speed trans and coils and sparks and no more wire problems.
Gotta get some Euro lights and bumpers. Bruno Scacco must have had a heart attack when he saw those US ugly modifications. Velour seats were very common in Asian delivered cars. Also MBTex.
You are going to love this car. You will be the king and queen of the road. Love the gunmetal color. Have some smoke-colored taillights from my old 560sel. Will try to get a pic of them over to you to see if you’re interested in them. Enjoy!
Any MB dealer will look up the 4 digit radio code. Nice thing about MB locking, you cannot lock yourself out as the door must be closed completely and then locked with the key. HP is 201 with 228 lb ft of torque. Not a lot but a great cruiser nonetheless.
I have a 1985 500SEL W126 I inherited from a relative. She bought it new and it has 70k miles on it. It is in perfect condition except the exhaust is rusted too. I love the car but don't use it much. I did have a new water pump put on it but that is it. Total tank. I'm thinking of selling it too.
Mrs. and Mr Wizard, I have watched since the first videos this is my first time commenting. Clayton Cagle F#@kin Rocks!!!
🤘 great addition to the videos. You do a great job. They bring me a lot enjoyment!
Thank You!
Yes. Clayton indeed rocks!!
Never heard of Mr. Clayton
@@peterpetiet7900
Hahaha
Well know you have, he is a great rock guitar player. Great sounds great guitar voicing! Hope you enjoy him if he is your genre.
Yeah Dan I agree, Mrs & Mr Wizard have got me through covid lockdowns, Rj in Oz
Thank you for the kind words my friend!! 🙏🙏
Still not convinced Bob isn't a time traveler and is not pulling these cars from the past
Old people who don't drive much are the real automotive time travelers.
It is a nice specimen the wizard got there, no question about that.
Those colors on the driveshaft are balancing marks and weights applied by Mercedes to eliminate any driveline vibrations or harshness. It’s important that when the driveshaft are separated from the middle to replace the center carrier bearing mount the both ends of the driveshafts should be precisely marked so they don’t get out of balance after reassembly.
👍😎
Uh, these W126's don't have "drive shafts" they are "propeller shafts" :)
@@chrisdraudt3713 Tomato 🍅 Potato 🥔
Also called having it in phase
They have factory markings on both parts on them. So you dont have to mark them.
They are cast in the parts.
They started doing this in the beginning of the 80s or Latein 70s
One of my college buddies had one of these back in the old days. Its a total tank. Mercedes at it's pinnacle. You'll have fun times cruising around in this safe and reliable car like we did!
And now The 600...👏👏👏
"1972 Mercedes-Benz 600 Kompressor
ua-cam.com/video/4LnHdWgLlFI/v-deo.html
Just Saying.....
@@22ab8 concourse 600's are $200k and equivalent w126 are $50k.
W126's have a higher top speed and similar comfort for occupants.
I worked at a high end body shop when these cars were popular. Wealthy people would own and drive these cars for a decade rather than replace them. It wasn't unusual to see one with over 300,000 miles looking that good. When one would total out it was like a death in the family for the owners. This was an automobile rather than just a car.
Well said !!
Those alloys are commonly called "Gullideckel" wheels, or manhole covers. I think they better suit the W126 than the bundt-style wheels as well.
The base 15 inch wheels on the E32 750iL (1988 to 1994) were known as pie plates. Surprisingly plain and low key wheels.
Are u sure bro,what in the hell wheels are those?😯🤯😯👁👀👁😯🤯🤯🤔
And the right code for these is 126 400 3002, its in the back of the wheel, some other MB use similar wheeles but different ET. Found a set of these for $180 last October, been resting in a barn for 20 years 😴.
@@houseofno We always (Bimmer Forum) called them bottle cap wheels.
My 1990 750iL had the basket weaves same as my 1990 535i.
The manhole cover wheels and the smoother lower body cladding made the later W126s look much better. Perfect even
Proud owner of a 1990 300SEL with original paint, same wheels, no dints, just a few scratches. It’s a daily driver with a beautiful interior and I appreciate every minute in it. Superb vehicles, great buy Mr. Wizard!
Two months ago I bought a 1991 300SE, same color (very faded) and the same wheels as the one in this video. It's a daily driver and amateur restoration project for me and I love it. The quality and passion are second to none.
Great taste Sir, congrats👌😎🇩🇪
@@JDStickland You know what's even better? Parts are not going to be a problem. Even for much older models, the Mercedes Benz Heritage Center (from what I've read) still supplies parts for basically all of them. Only problem would probably the the price.
Enjoy the 420 Wizard! Couldn’t have gone to a better home. Thanks again for the support!
I've always known that Mrs. Wizard did the filming, but seeing her in the reflection of the car at 4:10 making sure she got the angles just right Car Wizard points out the dings was really cool to see from the reflection of a 1989 car! Great job again guys!
It's hard to go wrong with MB of this era. They are almost indestructible. 300k is not unheard of and the look is classic. Clean ones still demand a premium price and they still turn heads. Nice car
300k? Are we talking miles or kilometers? Highest I have seen so far was well in excess of 700.000 kilometers (440k-ish miles) - albeit on an older model than even this one. In fact Mercedes used to be so proud of these cars' durability that they handed out badges to cars passing 500.000km (300k-ish miles) which could then be mounted to the car's grill.
@@ranekeisenkralle8265 miles. I remember those badges. One of my parents neighbors had a 450SEL it had a couple on the grill
Damn right! Ever seen as many BMW 7-Series from that era still going?
I was a Mercedes-Benz sales consultant back in the late '80s here in Chicago. We referred to those wheels as "manhole covers".
Sportline 15 slot flowforged wheel
The wheels are called in German : "Gullideckel" or "sewer lid". It resembles the sewer lids that are in the street in Germany.
Manhole Covers 🇬🇧👍
@@ianmangham4570 Thanks for the correction.
@@Grunniger61 It's not a correction, i was just telling you what we call them around here 😊🙏
In August I bought a light Ivory 1985 380 SE. I drove it home to Tennessee from San Diego. I rebuilt the fuel distributor, new plugs, fuel injectors, replaced the timing chain ( dual roller), upper guides, tensioner and guide. The upper guides had broken and one piece was on a ledge about to fall to the crankshaft gear. The interior is great, only a 3mm long crack in the dash near the speaker cover.
It’s been in the body shop for 2 months now. A drunk off duty cop ran into it while it was in a parking lot. Then he backed up and did it again. His cop buddies came when I called, no sobriety test for him, he’s in the “club”!
Hopefully I get it back soon, thanks for the video.
If you could buy a car like that today, then you could make it last a lifetime! With the oils and minerals and body treatment we have now. Fantastic vehicles that no manufacturer gets close too
Great car. Bought one in 04 at an auction for $1500, fixed a couple things, and sold it for $5000 did months later. Check the side pockets of the trunk for water/rust.
Very good buy, Wizard. These were my fathers favorite series of Mercedes. He drove his 560 SEC for over 200,000 miles and had very little trouble with it. Enjoy!
Not much of a surprise to me. if well maintained, 200k miles is, well, not nothing, but close to it for these cars.
Love the new intro and music. It's been fun watching the channel grow and get more professional looking in the production quality.
I've said it before but I love the husband and wife dream team, you've got it down to perfection, love you guys, keep it real x
I can tell they are so good together that they have crazy wild sex 🤣😃
Sweet ride! Nice pick up Wizard!
Shutting the doors on those old Mercedes is almost like shutting a bank vault! Love it!
About the broken switches: You can still buy those from the Benz dealer. Mercedes sells about everything even for 50 year old cars. I love them for that.
And...those switches can also be cleaned and serviced. By yourself. No need to buy the whole switch or units of anything.
Just take the knob off, clean the switch.
I have just ordered all sorts of fuel system hoses for my '89. And fuel pressure accumulator and pressure regulator. The one thing that came back "not available" was the duo of hoses to the fuel cooler.
The best car you will ever own wizard…. They just don’t make them like that anymore. Hello from Ireland 🇮🇪 🇺🇸
My family had an ‘87 420SEL, same color, it was so amazing. So nice inside and out. Got into a lower speed accident, hit by a van on the front right from someone running an intersection. Everyone in the car only really saw and heard the accident, the front crumpled just as it was supposed to. Odd to say, but that was such a comfortable accident. So incredibly well engineered.
I've only just entered the MB world with an 80 240d manual, but I could open and close a door all day ,and release the emergency brake.
Haha,at first I was fooled by how quiet the brake release was and put my foot under the pedal to make sure it was all the way up 😂
And the door,I swear you could blow at it hard and it latches closed like a bank vault with the most satisfying click ever.
And tbh I'm sure it's better when it's all freshly lubed.
Coming from mk1/2vws into this gamble has been fun so far, and the car is in great shape and I haven't found any butchery.
Watch out, you'll be like Hoovie if you're not careful. Be interesting to see this restoration progress. Thanks for sharing an happy New Year to you both.
My mother had this exact car when I was a kid. Same color and trim. This video took me back in time. Thanks Car Wizard!
I had an 87 one of these. I remember getting into it in Paris one bright January morning in 2000. By late afternoon I was in London. I got out and thought, I could easily just turn round and go back to Paris again. I never had a better motorway charger yet.
Love the intro and the intro skit.
Those window switches are notorious for not working...but they don't break. Because of their location, crud falls down in them and they just get all dirty and sticky inside. The great thing is they were designed to be disassembled, lubed, and cleaned. Replacement is rarely necessary.
Done it many times. Might as well clean them all when you have them out.
They do break, those window switches, due to age and use. The plastic inside disintegrates, the bit that keeps the ball bearing in. This problem can be found on the later 201s and early 124s.
I'll say this, I generally prefer the look of cars without tints also. However living in a place like Southern California and parking your car outside, having windows tinted can really go a long way to saving your interior from fading and cracking.
I'm born in raised in Southern California and have never had tint on any car windows...
The new ceramic tint is pricey but cuts nearly 100% of the UV rays that damage the interior and is available in very light tint. Hardly noticeable that the window is tinted. It’s very good
@@alpaljl Then I'd wager a guess you aren't going a long way to saving your interior from fading and cracking.
Glad you shared lol
@@Onewheelordeal I do what I can. Park in the shade as well as front and rear dash covers (sedan). She's holding up rather well.
@@dentmastersofnymichael3316 Even some of the older generation aftermarket tints were very light coloured, but claim a 99% UV reducing. However some cars come with a factory, very light tint, which also claims to virtually eliminate damaging UV rays.
im already nostalgic for the old intro and lift music, but the new music and constant effort into the content is great! its clear that you guys care a lot about improving and growing the channel
The “head light doors” are and easy and inexpensive upgrade to make the car look new again. I did my ‘91 when I painted her and she’s as fresh as new!
Better change those aweful headlights man.. it looks like it has two band aids on its eyes. Or it has some nasty eye infection 😵
The Euro ones are all glass and look SO much better.
You can still buy OEM Mercedes Parts. For our 1992 190E, Mercedes wanted $70AUD each for the visor clips shown in your video.
Good choice Wizard. For the past 6yrs, I’ve owned ‘89 300SEL (67k). I appreciated hearing that you don’t mind not having the 560SEL’s options. I live in CO & there’s no market for the W126. Therefore, I’m keeping it (unless someone can pay for what its worth).
W126 Fan, I have a 1983 380SEC. Love them! congrats on this purchase, Can't wait to see it completely fixed! Great Find!
4k that’s amazing. Beautiful car and I’m sure you’re going to love having it. Am a little jealous… Happy and prosperous New Year btw to you both.
Not sure why, but I like watching the tires coming off the floor then also as the car resettles back onto it's suspension. The new Lift Music is awesome 😎.
Wizard gotta say that the intro is awesome, props to the editor and the music artist.
What I like about his channel is that his wife on the videos with him. I think it's awesome that his wife takes a big role in his videos..
Happy New Years Mr and Mrs Wizard. That is heck of a deal, 100k miles on an 89-420 MBZ. Enjoy.
It is nice to have a wholesale dealer connection like Euro Asian Bob. You and Hoovie have found some great cars. Very low miles at 100K for a 420sel; no rust a big plus too. I have a 1990 300se I purchased in 2004 from the original owner when they became affordable. Always liked the styling especially the US version as they are what I remember when they were new. It looks like a keeper Wizard. Enjoy!
Love the new music! 👍 The opening skit was fun too!
Always enjoy watching your videos and always learn a lot. I am just a car owner here, but it is great to know the sorts of things to look out for and understand the complexities that mechanics have to deal with. ( Dad was a diesel mechanic, but for trucks and farm equipment)
Covid and supply issues still have used prices through the roof. That was definitely a steal. Less than $4k gets you an '88 Corsica with 300k miles around here.
I’m with you Dave. 2 years ago I bought a 87 560SEL as a power train donor car. I fell in love with it and pretty much did what you are doing with your 420. These cars are hidden treasures.
I love European cars from the 80’s… my dad’s 1980 Volvo 240 had almost 500,000 miles on it before he drove it to the junkyard. I wish he had kept it… not easy finding those in nice condition.
My 1990 Volvo had 420,000 miles on it when I sold it. It was still running perfectly. The only reason I sold it was the road salt here in Massachusetts had taken its toll. The rust was beyond my skill level. I am a mechanic but not a body man! The Volvo engineers designed the car to be easy to maintain.
@@royfrye333 I live in CT, I know what you mean, but this car wasn’t too bad. Still passed inspections (when we had them)…
Joey, I have an ‘83 245 that I’m looking forward to bringing back to life soon. I love it even if it’s just sitting at the moment.
Thank you for adding your wife to your videos it's a big plus to your UA-cam channel thank you very much you guys are awesome keep up the good work
Make sure to never hang anything on the key. Key only in the ignition. Anything hanging or adding weight to the key will destroy the key cylinder. Also. Never ever re-set the VDO gauge trip odometer when the car is moving. It will damage the Trip ODO and will no longer work.
That cost me $870. had to have the odometer repaired
Did that on one of my cars and the numbers never lined up straight ever again
you know your Benz!
I never knew they had this problem wow
My pops worked on big trucks in the 70s and 80s. when we would go on vacation, he would bring his toolbox home. There were tape outlines all over the box, of naked lady posters that had been on the box - but no naked lady posters. I always used to wonder about what the posters actually looked like.
What a properly elegant MB
I would never expect MB to stop making properly elegant and unique cars after 2000s
2000s was their last best line up
You brought a W126 to the channel, you made my year! You rock!!!!
Make sure you check the timing chain, they always go out and the guides always breaks and destroys the engine around 100k miles. It's a very common problem, I used to replace timing chains every week for customers.
10:18 - that faded silver disc with the black knob in the center is the power steering reservoir. Remove knob, lift off disc-lid, and that's how you check the fluid. But I bring this up because it has a simple filter you can replace! Another reason I like these old Benzes.
Wizard I have been doing PDR since the late 90’s and have done hundreds of those large Mercedes. Wish I was local to you I would take care of it for you. Hopefully you have a good quality PDR guy. Those older cars require great care, the paint is more brittle. Let us now in the video how the dents turn out. Thanks
I absolutely love these older Mercedes cars. I purchased my first Mercedes a little over a year ago, a W124 E320 wagon, and even though it was neglected by its previous owner and needs a full suspension refresh, it still drives amazing. It puts a smile on my face every time I get behind the wheel. Love the videos, keep it up!
These old Mercs are among the best cars ever made. They're overengineered, teutonic German super quality from the era when costs were a secondary thing. Same can be said about old air cooled Porsches 964 and 993. Mercedes is right up there among the top. Not to mention that Bruno Sacco who designed these cars made amazing job. They look better than ever. Completely timeless. Best cars ever.
Great start to 2022, Wizard. BTW, I LOVE Molly Hatchet. They’re the best, man.
I had a 1985 500SEL. Best car I've ever owned.
Hello from Australia. I had a 300 SE and the cruise control stopped working for me too. A reconditioned control module was around $600. After looking at the forums it seems that over time some dry solder joints raise their ugly heads. So I removed the module from under the dash, which is a pretty easy job and resoldered every joint. The whole process including R&R the module took just two hours and the problem was fixed. Also a really good source of Mercedes information can be found on a UA-cam channel called Mercedessource. His channel is a must see if you have a Mercedes and you have a problem that is new to you. Great choice of car mate. There is simply nothing that drives like a W126 except a W124 or maybe a W140.
I had the same in my S124 300d . Check also the electrolyte capacitors, those could be dried out.
Did the same in my '87 300SDL... Pain to get out and in again, mostly because it was under the steering wheel. I also rebuilt some of the window switches as they are all mechanical (Be ABSOLUTELY certain to take them apart inside a shoe box).
A real specimen of a vehicle you can truly say they don’t make em like they use too applies to the 126
The 126 of MB where style simplicity and reliability hit the peak yes 123 is just as reliable but not nearly as slick and good looking exterior or interior
Great purchase and GOD bless
Hey Wizard, that broken rubber muffler hanger has a really cool chain inside.. it takes some patience to break all the rubber apart. But I think it’s worth it..
These old mercs are pure class! Can’t wait to see the update on this one
My ‘91 560SEL is close to flawless and it’s also for sale. It’s not the $45K BJ car but I’d not take anything less than $25K. These are amazing highway cars.
Any engine rebuild yet? How's the m117 hold up
Born to be Freeway. 😎🙏
@@bwatt1383 48,000 orig miles, everything serviced, $7K complete repaint. She’s the crown jewel in my 25 car collection.
Nice car Wizard! As a former (recent) Mercedes tech I was always scared when one of these “dinosaurs” rolled into the dealership. This car is super clean and it looks to be well taken care of. No major leaks aside from the brake caliper is super impressive! And no rear diff seep? It seemed every one I saw seeped from the pinion, the axle stubs, and/or the cover.
when I was young it was my dream car. I've had some mercedes cars but never w126
I grew up in a mercedes shop, they're the best cars ever produced. full stop. you just have to maintain them. the W123 can laugh at the things that will destroy tanks and old volvos, but the W126 was very classy and wasn't quite as indestructible, but the ride is so much better. the vacuum locking/shifting system is a nightmare to troubleshoot now, and is a complete removal and reinstall to fix.
NICE!! I have had a few very nice examples come through our hands. Just fantastic cars especially if you can get a nice low mile one that has been preserved! We actually just reviewed a stellar one a few months ago. Awesome find for you!
nice new intro!
Haha, the beginning so funny, Mrs. Wizard is best wife 😄🙌 The new intro is awesome! Much love from Germany to you guys and the Hoovster! 😎❤️
I don't know what they cost, but if you can get a set of Euro headlamps it will really update the look of the front end. Previous owner of my W126 did so and it looks beautiful.
My dads friend had one of these. He converted it to run on used fryer oil. He got a few of the restaurants in town to give him their old oil. His car smelled like french fries and he got free fuel for his car! Two positives!
You should mention the repair cost if you were to pay as a customer it would be interesting
Great as always! On the heated ww fluid there is a video by Mercedes Source on these going bad and leaking. Not a good combo. You can bypass it really easy with a hack saw and a few hose clamps. Since all ww fluid is freeze protected I have not had an issue. I did not know about this feature and it was getting so hot it was vaporizing the fluid. All I could smell was chemical smell through the heater vents. I thought it was the heater box and spent good money to have a "MB expert" find the source of the smell. Surprise he could not. One day I could hear an noise coming from the ww fluid tank. Sure enough that was the source of the smell. By passed the tank thermostat and it's been perfect ever since. Great content.
I'm glad we have different bumper regulations over here in Europe (NL). Really not a fan of those US spec bumpers, ruïns the look of the car in my opinion.
It can be changed the moment you own it.
As I've heard euro rules prohibit any modification much harsher than us.
@@lop8828 we can change whatever we want over here in the Netherlands. As far as I know only Belgium has very strict rules. Germany is no problem either but they have to be certified parts.
According to my original window sticker from my bought new 1991 350SD, now with 108K miles, the color is Black Pearl Metallic #199.
Awesome buy! That's the absolute perfect car for the Bob Ross of auto mechanics to take the harbor
These wood center consoles do not have a lacquer coating them but rather a two-part polymer coating that has a dye in it making it hard to see through. The only way to remove this polymer coating is with a heat gun and as soon as it starts to bubble you scrape it off with a dull putty knife. I refinished all of the wood trim on my 1980s 300sd Mercedes as it had the same problems with the center console cracking. once all the wood trim is stripped I used the UV blocking Epifanes Clear Marine Varnish.
I love all the content! But I will just say that I think Mrs wizard is also pretty awesome! She has a good sense of humor and clearly is very knowledgeable about car things! You guys make a great pair, keep up the good content!
My Dad had one I went from Hollywood Ca to Concord Ca in 4.25 Hrs Doing 125-130. started at 7.30 Pm was there at 11:15 That car was Solid. I loved it. 365 Mi Raced many cars all the way.
Make sure to check the battery tray and underneath for rust! My 300SD has this issue. The cruise control never seems to work on these old Mercedes’.
Another common rust area is the bottom of the rear window frame, you can check with your fingers from inside the trunk
Indeed on the cruise control, but often solved by resoldering the circuit board in the cruise control unit.
Springs not that far off. Nice Benz to take the family to the yacht. Can always take Mrs. Wizard's Ferrari when it's just the two of you!
You definitely bought the driver out of the two Mr Wizard. I completely agree that grey market car needs to be in a garage on display somewhere to keep it prestine
Loved the addition of Mrs Wizard in the show. The quirks of this channel and knowledge always keep me tuned in.
Nice car...a classic actually. Relatively cheap to repair with the A/C having the biggest potential for $$
Drives like a tank
Make sure you check the climate control vacuum pods-the diaphragms tend to break at that age. As you know, the vacuum systems in those cars are complex-always need a thorough check with a new owner. Also lubricate that sunroof with the MB grease-it’ll save a lot of trouble down the road.
I love the mid 80s to early 90s w126 and I love it stock in US form. A lot of people prefer the Euro bumpers however Mercedes did a good job of integrating the larger bumpers in an elegant way. I’m going to unapologetically say the extra bumper length gives Mercedes and BMW cars of the 80s a more graceful look. I’m an e23 7 series guy for the driving dynamic, interior and I like the unique looks but the w126 is probably the classiest daily drive collectors car out of the 80s.
I agree, the bumpers don't look that bad. On the other hand 70's US really had benches for bumpers! 😄
Salute. I'm a fan of e28 and e34 5 series
I have two W126s in my collection. They drive like nothing else when well sorted.
First place to look for rust it up under the rear screen. Often not noticed till to late.
Really prefer the Euro lights and bumpers luckily we got those in Australia.
Yes another well built car from the time cars where ment to last !
This made me chuckle because in the late '80s we were all talking about how crappy cars were now, not made to last like they were in the '60s.
The new Intro feels really Modern, Hit or miss with the music, I like the short rift of the old one, It was really recognizable to your channel.
I love the Wiz and Mrs. Wiz! So whatever and relaxed easy to watch content. Just like Hoovie's! (but not at all). There is a neat UA-cam family vibe going on here with all the cross platforms and spin offey's. Naming characters, new channels, Car Trek etcc's. 👌👌👌👌
Firstly, congratulations on getting such a nice specimen of W126. If well maintained they are nearly indestructible.
Secondly, that music is pretty neat. Sounds like someone really went to town on that guitar. I for one wouldn't mind that as outro-music at the end of your videos either. Nice job.
Urination Bob gets all the nicest cars!
I had a demonstration video of the British Ski Association from 1987 that had your old intro music. It was so outdated glad you changed it.
I don't know where Bob gets these cars. For
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Feel like I'm that much closer to automotive and music genius as I slowly realize I am but just Dust in The Wind.
(Sorry I couldn't resist the Kansas reference) Cool stuff all around.
Honestly, I prefer the old intro. It’s a classic.
The official name for that color is Black Pearl. LOVE IT!
The W126 is one of the best Mercedes Benz every built… I would trade my W140 in a minute
W140 is more refined. Better engine option. W140 best is 1996-1999 model years
@@dariodjakovic1600 at the time. The same argument would say the newest sclass is better.
In every other way the 126 is better.
@@AlienLivesMatter no w140 was only car UP TO DATE with standard double panel windows. Vacum doors. First Mercedes with V12 and more and more. W140 was first in a lot of things
@@dariodjakovic1600 it was actually but it’s a beast to maintain I have a 95
@@wrt1958 1995 was not a good year on w140. It had 4 speed problemstic trans. Its had caps and rotors and it had biogreadable wires. In 1996 they switched to durable 5 speed trans and coils and sparks and no more wire problems.
Gotta get some Euro lights and bumpers. Bruno Scacco must have had a heart attack when he saw those US ugly modifications.
Velour seats were very common in Asian delivered cars. Also MBTex.
I have a pin up of Sabine Schmitz in my garage. My wife approves.
You are going to love this car. You will be the king and queen of the road.
Love the gunmetal color.
Have some smoke-colored taillights from my old 560sel. Will try to get a pic of them over to you to see if you’re interested in them.
Enjoy!
Any MB dealer will look up the 4 digit radio code. Nice thing about MB locking, you cannot lock yourself out as the door must be closed completely and then locked with the key.
HP is 201 with 228 lb ft of torque. Not a lot but a great cruiser nonetheless.
MB thought of everything I have a '98 E320. It's the oldest car I've owned but the genius of their engineering and build quality is amazing.
I have a 1985 500SEL W126 I inherited from a relative. She bought it new and it has 70k miles on it. It is in perfect condition except the exhaust is rusted too. I love the car but don't use it much. I did have a new water pump put on it but that is it. Total tank. I'm thinking of selling it too.