Let's dispel this myth about W140s and reliability, maintainability and parts. I have had 4 W140s. First 1996 S500 one had 4 years in UAE in 50C heat, no problems whatsoever in 4 years. Second 1994 S320 bought 4000 USD in NZ, drove 3 years, changed fuel pump, 50 USD and fitted myself 30 minutes. Third 1995 S500 bought in NZ for 2500 USD because of the dreaded harness "problem", 250 USD and 1 hour of my time later it was fixed and had no problems since over last 4 years. Fourth and final W140 1996 S320 bought in NZ for 1500 USD because of misfire, fitted 3 coils and all new leads and plug, 100 USD and 1 hour later all fixed. Now my son is doing many miles in his super Mercedes. I am an Engineer. Do not be afraid of these cars.
Mr engineer got a question for ya, my yr 2000 E55 the city lights shorted out the fuse and SAM module, should i just drive without city lights or put money into repairs for those little lights, my main lights and high beams work.
I daily a 95 S320, its wiring harness was toast and car was acting up randomly especially on hot sunny days. Forked up some and bought a new main engine harness and throttle body. Since then its been problem free and its the most reliable car i ever had now.
I got a W140, it is a 95' a year ago. No electrical problems so far. The previous owner kept it well and it is not a daily driver. I am happy with it. Thanks for the info.
This video just makes me want to buy another w140... Yes, they are a headache, but when sorted correctly, there has never been a MB more enjoyable to drive... They are future/sleeper classics
i have 1998 s320 w140 still running great without any issues, my brother had 2001 s320L w220 that always broken, the transmision can't shift correctly, the cluster blinking like a christmas tree, and the air conditioner intermittently malfunction.. that's why i love my w140 so much and i will keep it as long as i can..
@Alex Pirzada here in indonesia we are using kilometer, my w140 have 119270 Km on the clock, it is about 75k miles and still running smoothly, the only issue that i had is the soft closing door in the driver side sometime not working, but everything else is working well, even the power memory seat and power mirrors are still good..
Thanks Pierre. I just discovered you and your beautiful site. I spent 12 years as a line mechanic for Mercedes-Benz Dealers in San Antonio, Texas, Houston, and Miami. I currently live in Key West, Florida and have a number of clients with older Mercedes that I service and repair. I recently bought a 1995 C220 W202 for a very low price due to the wiring harness issue with the disintegrating soy-wire in the engine compartment. I just finished the total replacement of the engine compartment harness--what a job that was! Of course, it would not start. Gave code for TP sensor. Had to replace the throttle body because that harness is separate and has soy-wire also. I expected these cars with the soy-wires to be part of your "do not buy video". Glad that I discovered you!
This video explains why I saw a beautifully clean '81 380SL at my local yunkyard last month. I knew previously that the engine is not as gas-efficient as the newer '82-'85 and this is why I didn't buy it despite being so nice in appearance. But now I understand this notion much deeper as now hereby we learn that the complex vacuum system is a never-ending problem. Nevertheless I took so many great parts off of it as of course I took advantage.
Enjoyed watching your video, as my first W140 was a 1992 400se which did have corroded fuel injectors wires under the hood, along with closing door assist issues. My current W140 is a 1999 S500 which now has 150,000 miles, however, only one problem which just started is, my engine started to make a tapping noise, which was those plastic Mercedes tube oilers which started to blow out. I changed all (16) oiler tubes with aluminum tubes, and new timing chain guides. This is my third Mercedes in all, and I can honestly say, this 1999 S500 is one of the best Mercedes to have and drive.
Curiosity made we watch this and imagine my chagrin when 3 of my cars are ones you claim no one should buy. Among others, I own a '94 W140 S500 (130K), a '95 R129 SL320 (112K) and a '97 W210 E320 (185K..my daily driver)...all of which were bought new and have been excellent cars, relatively trouble-free comparatively speaking. In 45+ years of driving, I've NEVER owned a completely "repair free" car and that includes Americans, Japanese, British and Italians. I turn my own wrenches more often than not and have spent less time under the hood of my MBs than any of the others (besides maybe the Toyota Camry I bought for my son.) Even the dreaded "biodegradable wiring harness" issues took me a couple hours at most to replace. ALL cars have their own "idiosyncrasies" and MBs are no exception but I've never had problems with them that took me more than a day or so to address. It usually takes longer to GET the needed parts than it does to repair the car. In short, I don't at all agree with your dislike for the cars.....but still enjoy your videos. Keep it up!!
I just purchased a ‘95 SL320 105k miles on it.. only issue I’m having is sending unit and the roll bar won’t come up. If you have any recommendations on keeping it on point for the second life it has can you please share thank you
I think this is sound advice and reflects market values of the cars mentioned. Happy to stick with my 1985 to 1990 300s and not considering those cars mentioned in the video anymore.
@@joshuaalvarez1832 Depending on the model year (pre-1996 IIRC), most definitely inspect the engine wiring harnesses. If the insulation on the wiring is flaking off, you have the dreaded "biodegradable" ones and they can cause all manner of BS. That would be my 1st stop. Replacing them with the later "DELPHI" ones isn't that complex, just time-consuming and tedious. Good luck finding them though....
Literally bought a 1996 S420 last week. Loving every moment driving it but also getting my hands dirty making it perfect. Won't show this video to my wife thank you very much.
I agree about W140. I have had W140 500 1993 for 15 years. So many things happened/changed - engine wire harness, air mass sensor - impossible to get new parts, throttle body, air conditioner evaporator, condensation in distributor cap, leaking steering box and more. It has a lot of problems compared to my W123. At the same time, the W140 is a great car to drive.
'99 S420, W140, 117K, Fla car. I stalked this piece in '15 and I have zero regrets. "The Legend", the last of the mostly hand built, over engineered cars, $1 Bil R&D to build the finest vehicle ever built, and it certainly is that. My mechanic begs me to get out of it, but, dayem, for what I have in it, I could never find anything at that price point to replace it. The ride of kings, queens, dictators, Popes, mobsters, and now an enthusiast.
Another Hedarylicous video production. Thanks for the advice. A mechanic (whom you know out here) said I should get a 140 (I do like them more and more) but he cautioned against the same thing. They’re dirt cheap for a reason, because, well, “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz.” Happy New Year to you, Pierre.
I have a 1993 R129 and it’s been an amazing car. BUT.... I did get a very clean example to start with. I replaced the soft top hydraulics and some front suspension parts. That’s it. I love it. And I’ve owned W123s, W124s, W126s, W211s, a W208 and a W221. So how do ya like that!!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! 😉
Thanks for this update. I had a 450SL and just sold it again for the shear shock of the difficult restoration. Owned other amazing 500 Saloon Benzes from the 80's
Love the train 🚂 in the background reminds of when I was a kid in the sixties. Walking down the alley guys working on cars in tiny sheds/garages. Helping the neighborhood kids fix flat tires and put chains back on the sprockets. Them’s the good’ol days 👨🏿🦳✌🏾👌🏾🖖🏾🙏🏾
As you are talking about the 5 problem cars here, it reminds me of my 2008 S600. That car has so many crazy systems on it, I find it almost impossible to drive without throwing some kind of code. I have always enjoyed the 123 and 126 cars, which in my opinion, were some of the best cars Mercedes made. W140s were for sure the last of the "good" Mercedes for me.
As usual. Spot on. For R129 and W140 cars, later is better. And as always, if you are not prepared to spend wheel barrow fulls of money, buy the cleanest, best example you possibly can. Oh, and have a PPI done by a COMPETENT Mercedes mechanic, such as Pierre. Again, thanks Pierre and Thomas for another great informative video.
Rick, this has been a wonderful journey, going far above my expectations. Totally new to the automotive world, to have a man like Pierre to learn and subscribers like your self for nearly four years has been a real pleasure. Thank you so much. Thomas
Excellent advice as usual Pierre. I totally agree that you should purchase the best available model, with limited issues. Rust is a deal breaker most often. So I will continue my savings for my 1971 280SL, Pagoda, W113. Thx.
This man speaks the honest to gosh truth. I'd love to have the time and money back that I've spent sorting out the Chrysler sourced automatic climate control, chain, and rust issues on these older Mercedes. Yes, I'm able to do the repairs myself, but there are other things that I'd like to do with my time. When I sold my "show car SL" I was shocked to learn that it was used as a donor car for the buy'er's garage queen. A donor car !!!
100% agree. The R129 was a terrific car, but any example that was abused or neglected is going to a huge project to sort out. Better to get a Garage Queen that has been properly looked after and then don't abuse or neglect it.
I would say that most of the R129's with wiring harness problems have been fixed now. It goes without saying that you would not touch anything that has not been properly maintained but to blow off the whole R129 model range is plain stupid. They are a marvellous design both practical and stylish and the latter model engines across the board are bullet proof. OK the fully remote hood can be a problem but you can get the ECU rebuilt with lifetime guarantees these days - I know because I got one!
Mentioned before but I got a 95 s500 w140, 1991 sl500 r129 and 86 w126. I daily my w140 and it's been a dream. After sorting a few things it's been most reliable car I own
Where was this video 2 years ago? I bought a 94 E320 cabriolet. Made sure that the wiring harness was already replaced and rust was missing from the usual spots. I used Top Hydroelectrics core replacement to fix the leaking cylinders. Top works great. Love the A124. Only 124,000 miles. Four seats means I can take the kids for a ride, which made the purchase OK with the wife. :) Great video, but now apprehensive about my purchase.
I think you lucked out and got a car that had been reasonably well maintained. This isn't the case with a lot of them but yours had enough mileage on it too.
When i saw R129 on opening pic I thought here we go ..... but not too tough just about avoiding neglected ones , I wish i had R107 convertible top on R129
I got given a w140 that had been stood for 6 years. Really enjoying working on the car and sorting all of the issues out 👍 Once finished I’m just going to drive it and keep it
Similar situation with mine. I found a 1992 600SEL for cheap and I've been working through fixing the big problems and now all the small issues. It sat unused for 5 years but it didn't take much to get it moving again.
Hello Pierre.. Watching from Nairobi Kenya. Love your straight up factual presentation.. I have learnt sooo much about Classic Mercedes... (love the smell of those older interiors) God bless the work you do in allowing an ignorant modern people taste and experience the glories of the past...
agreed, thats why you can buy old tired 140's for $2000 or less. Some owners cannot keep up with maintenance and repairs (wiring harness issues) to the point where they will almost give them away. However once sorted properly, the M119 cars are a true joy to drive.
Based on the comments in this video, it looks like the W140 is a helluva drug indeed! I have a 1995 S320 as I have mentioned before that is VERY close to 100% functional at ALL times. (Yes, including all the PSE systems, the HVAC, the Soft close doors & Trunk, etc etc). I should mention that I removed ALL (8 I think?) computer modules/boxes from the "coffin box" under the passenger side hood area, and replaced ALL of the electrolytic capacitors inside them... YOU GUYS, ALL BUT **2** CAPACITORS WERE BAD! I tested every single one of them, and although none were physically leaking electrolyte, the vast majority tested WAY outside of tolerance. Many were only rated at 85C from the factory, and I believe that is a major contributing factor to their failure. Replace your Caps!! Also, if anyone out there wants a parts list of the caps you will need to order to complete this job, just let me know.
hey, let me know if you got the harness. I would like to know the cost and source. I am planning ahead, I may need it down the line. Thank you in advance!
I bought a 62 W112 senior year HS in 74 for $900. It needed a few repairs which were a bit expensive like air bags and leveling valve. I owned it for close to 30 years. Had to sell due to storage issues. Absolutely loved that car. Now I’m retired I want to get a 280SE 3.5 or 4.5 for a semi daily driver.
You were much less harsh on the W140 today! I agree with almost all that you said this time. I see these cars ( I own and Daily-Driver '99 s320 ) tortured, abused and neglected by kids because of the affordable price point. The interior leather is trashed (a good sign of neglect ), use them ti do burnouts (RWD) etc. I guess I was smart to buy mine from an older book author with the $$ to keep it up as he intended to actually keep it for life.
I own a R129 1991 Mercedes SL convertible that I have owned for 20 years. I have only put 8,000.00 dollars in the car in 20 years because it was a low mile beautiful example bought new by a millionaire.Beautiful car in every way and I was lucky.
I have a 1998 S320 with over 520.000 K ... Daily driver, most engine electronics don't work, yet it runs smooth and comfy without engine management... Indestructible German Engineering !
You deserve to have a million subscribers. Thank God I found your channel. I'm considering buying an older sedan and sell my 2016 GLC300 4Matic because it's too tight for me while driving.
I have two beat up W140s. A 92 500SEL and a 94 S500. Bought each for $500. Totally agree they're not worth touching. They're actually both parts cars for my 5 liter swapped 400E. The 92 is also my Gambler 500 car.
Those are awesome but tough. My friend bought a gorgeous black on black W140 V12 at a dealer auction in Virginia and it had an oil leak that basically couldn’t be fixed. And he spent thousands of dollars trying.
W140 prices are declining every year.They are so costly to repair, nobody wants them anymore. Check value in OLDTIMER PREIS catalogues from Germany, if from EU.
My 1990 R129 has never let me down, its a fantastic car, my only grumble is the soft top makes the car look ugly. The straight 6 is ok but slow by todays standards until it gathers pace then it goes, but who gives a toss its a great car to drive.
W140 post 96 are literally the best cars ever made. You broke my heart when you brought them up. I could work on my CL500 all day and love every minute of it. The M119 is bullet proof
‘99 S420. W140 are a fine chassis. 91 k miles. Bought super cheap with 87k miles. A new s belt and an oil change is all. Runs great and no leaks, runs, drips. Electronics are fine without issues. It’s a great car and looks and runs as new.
Good evening from Switzerland! Mr. Hedary, I have to say the following, I have some minty low mile fetish 140s in my collection and the cars still look massive next to a new W222. You can look down very well on the pleabian minions when you ride along in the 140. The 140 conveys a certain respectful dictator / plutocrat aura similar to the W100 600, which (unfortunately) no longer embodies the current luxury class vehicles. This is probably why the 140 was one of the favorite vehicles of people like Muammar al-Gadaffi, Putin, the Yakuza and Co. even when there were successor series to choose from. The space, security [extremly rugged in a serious crash, a kind of unique "chopped" ladder frame like a truck, plus (!) a unibody is a construction they have not done on any other mercedes except the W240 maybach which build on the 140 chassis, makes this car a "tigertank" that will crush the other car in a serious accident, newer big cars are build weaker for socialist partner protection in a crash to help the smaller car, so you can say 140/240 was the pinnacle of crash saftey in some way, to only protect the occupants of the 140/240 and crush the enemy car with no mercy] a long-distance suitability and comfort of the 140s are in no way inferior to those of the new luxury vehicles, unlike, for example, the very old-school 126 model. Good examples of the 140 series are expensive, some are above comparable 126s, which was not the case a few years ago here in Europe (minty 140 500/600 under 60kmiles, go for about 45k/chf in Euros about 40k). I cannot understand the fear of some "control units", the electronics in the 140 are rock solid and really not rocket science, similar to the W124 E500 E420 E320 or all R129 up to ´98, sometimes even redundant and can still be repaired in the distant future, in contrast to today's cheap and over-complex electronics. In terms of mechanical durability and engine design, the M104, M119 and M120 engines are unsurpassed as far as the petrol engines from Daimler are concerned, provided they are properly cared for, that is the golden era of Daimler, something better was not built before and after. I think some are only now beginning to understand what epochal masterpieces have been created. Elsewhere in the world it was already considered a masterpiece that competed with Rolls Royce and Bentley and even degraded them, similar to the W100. It is not for nothing that the W240 Maybach builds on the chassis of the 140 series. An E32 / E38 or Audi V8 / A8, Lexus LS on the other hand, looks like a poorly manufactured mid-range car, the same with the unworthy supposed successor, the W220, which initiated the qualitative degeneration of Mercedes under J. Schrempp. The W220 actually was not the true successor of the 140, even if some may think so, actually the W240 Maybach was the successor/reincarnation of the W140. The development costs of the 140 were the highest in mercedes history with the engineers running the show and going truly megalomaniac, it was the last engineers car from mercedes and not a car, were accountants and shareholders made the development decisions. The ride, build quality and "aura" is unlike any other mercedes before and after. In short, you need money and knowledge to maintain a 140 series properly, you cant do the typical american hillbilly repairs on these sophisticated cars, but when you do it right they are bullit proof and go forever. I dont get it when you recommend the 124 inline six and V8 and warn about the 140, they are very similar, and i should know because i have all these cars. I am a serious collector, so maybe dont call out on things you are not so familiar with (regarding the 140). Its the same argument that its a pain in the ass to sort out problems on a beat up 126. Always, always, always buy the best condition one you can find, no matter what classic car.
le voile noir, thank you for restoring my faith and commitment to the w140. I own 4 of them and because of you, I will upsize (and not downsize) my collection.
@@keanwong8381 my pleasure, always have faith in your mighty 140 classics, there was nothing like them before and there will never be something like them in the future.
Very interesting information. Thank you. I envy those of you with such extensive technical/historical knowledge of your chosen 'old car favourite(s)'. It must make ownership both more rewarding (and less intimidating when inevitable repairs crop up).
I completely agree, and you outlined my reasoning for recently buying a W140. My greatest automotive fetish is attention to detail when it comes to the engineering aspects, and no other car in existence quite compares considering the prices that a good W140 can be had for!
I agree, there are weaknesses in the R129 range, biodegradable wiring, m119 oil supply issues and one shouldn’t be fooled by their w124 connection. HOWEVER, the good ones provide a level of engineering and luxury never seen again combined with a modern car comfort, usability and convenience not found in a r107.
Pierre excellent advice !!! Agree 100% and would add DO NOT buy any heavily negligent example of any Mercedes-Benz that has significant RUST. Unless you have an enormous amount of time, patience, and money to devote to an never ending task !!!!
@@thisisnightshop2037 You !!! Try looking under a 1 year old car from New Jersey after one winter. LOL !!! Love your videos !!! Folks it doesn't get any more real than Pierre Hedary !!!
Glad the 201 is pretty much off the hook. I daily drive a relatively rust free 201 2.0l 4cyl diesel, here in salty Scandinavia. Love spending an extra hour or two every 6 months, checking up and reapplying rust prevention. I've become best friends with the wheel arches during every summer/winter wheel change. Also removed all Sacco/plastic panels all way around once. Nothing but the slightest of rust where the plastic edges meets the body, which is treated now. Had to order some plastic clips along with many spares, if I ever manage to break one again. A stitch in time saves nine, or so they say. Just had a friend over and saw some rust had taken hold on the unprotected sheet edge in range of the tyre water/rock spray. Pretty quick to grab a wire wheel and some hammerite + asphalt/fluidfilm mix. Did it for free, half an hour, she was happy. The benz have a Volvolist (metal reinforced rubber U-strip) on the inner of the arches, and thus is relieved of this work.
One car specifically in the R129 category that I would strongly caution people against buying is the SL 600. We all know the horror stories of the biodegradable wiring harnesses and these cars are no exception to that. Volvos also had this problem as well back in the 80s and perhaps other generations as well. But the wiring harnesses on these SL 600 cars are discontinued and the only way to fix it is to hand make every wire from scratch. Ed Bolian from VinWicki has a MB mechanic in Atlanta, GA Cameron who makes these harnesses and they're about $8k-$9k. Not to mention the hydraulic cylinders in the convertible tops that like to fail and make a huge mess everywhere. That can also be about the same price to fix the convertible top depending on what needs to be done. So yeah I would definitely stay away from those ones as well if you're on any sort of budget.
How many miles? Wait until the transmission valve body solenoids start acting up. Get ready to spend $3K to fix. My 2007 CL550 Flagship Coupe began acting up when I got to 130Ks miles.
dham629 that’s a lot of miles You’re right, I have some costly maintenance ahead of me Thinking of trading it on a lower mile S550 or a new RAM truck Either way, will cost money :)
1986 560sl...the only car I could not make run correctly after three years. Sold it in disgust. thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours. yup...don't buy one...RUN!!! Endless vacuum issues, touchy k-Jetronic, electrical issues, fuel pressure issues...a nightmare!!! thanks for this video!
I have two W140 for 12 years now both are M104 engines 1998 minor problems due to age and easy to fix and forget about. I do light easy works on it.. my advice if you want to buy the W140 find something from late 1996 to 1998 the M104 (320) is easy to work on.
W140 Owned 3. Very reliable changed upper wiring harness on 2 of them 300$ from ebay (Delphi) . Less than 1 hour to change. Easily done by average DIY person. Worked perfect. afterwards. Do not be scared of W140 wiring harnesses. Too much scaremongering.
@@PatricioGarcia1973 Correct Patricio, that is exactly what I did. Any W140 with a wiring issue I look upon as an opportunity - as long as there are still good second hand looms on the market!
I've gat a 2009 SL550 with AMG package. I also have the VMI paperwork for it too to get the engine code in the car. The car has less the 17k miles on it. Car is pretty simple for the DIY mechanic.
I currently only own one of the cars on this list, a salvage title 1993 300se. I was surprised at how easy it was to fix the wiring issues, even after putting the battery in the car backwards. The radio doesn’t work, but I figure that a total replacement shouldn’t be ridiculous. Exhaust manifold replacement on the 1975 450 cars is not too hard or too expensive, just tedious. I think a bunch of r129 on the list could be good ones, but do generally agree with poo poo ing any early 90’s MB for fear of bad wiring harnesses, even on the ke-jet cars. No arguments on the servo climate control and single row chain 380 cars. Those things really can’t be “fixed” for cheap. I sold a trans to a neighbor with an e320 cabriolet with no reverse, and thought the car was valuable and beautiful until I drove it to pick it up for Jason Birch to do the trans swap, and was afraid the whole car was going to fall apart on me. I have to agree that these are early 90’s MB nightmares waiting to happen. There’s many thousands that would need to be spent on that single owner car. Sad.
The '91 350SD/SDL has been a really good motor. I was surprised when I heard car wizard say to avoid them. He that they were rod benders. But I know someone who has a '90 350SDL with 230,000 miles on it and appears to be running well. It still starts right up.
Car wizard is a joke, he makes it feel like every car is a death trap and will cost you thousands of dollars to repair. I have a 540 6 speed and has 250k miles, only did routine maintenance and made the upgrade to all aluminum radiator and metal water pump.
I agree with Patricio...... The car wizard just doesn't seem that bright to me sometimes. He once went on a bash fest on the W123 (I don't own one currently but have had two in the past). The oil cooler lines are a notorious place for leaks....mainly from the rubber just wearing out. He was talking about how easy it was to strip them where they connect to the cooler which is insanely stupid... they're very large, I've done them twice and the biggest bitch is figuring out how to reinstall them since they snake around so many thing... they come out easy but getting them back in is a bitch and a half. Anyway, I'd take anything that guy has with a grain of salt. He's got some kind of strange inferiority complex or something and he annoys the hell out of me. He's obviously still done some good work for Hoovie but in his attempts to sound authoritative he can expose his ignorance.
@@ZaphodsPlanet Oh, so he did go on a bashing spree about the W123. I didn't see him do that. really, I didn't. But in 1995, I did get a very shocking and disturbing statement about the Diesel powered W123s from a guy who worked at a Mercedes dealership although the 80's saying that their reputation for being able to last a long time i just nothing more than a myth and he's seen them come into the shop with blown engines at 80,000 miles all the time, especially the 300D Turbodiesels. And he went on to say that the turbos you especially have to watch out, they can't last 1/4 million miles on 1 engine, and anyone tells you that any of them will last forever, don't believe a word of it. Over a year later, I talked to a sales rep of another Mercedes dealership who said he had 1 or 2 customers who brought in '83 or '84 300D Turbos with over 1/4 million original miles on them and still running pretty well. Years later in 2010, I saw a couple of them on craigslist that were actually getting up to the 250K mile mark and still going with their original motors, while still no one really wanted them. Almost none of my local car mechanics thought very highly of them, especially the non-turbos. Then I'm seeing more on craigslist and UA-cam that in no way reflect what that former Mercedes mechanic said to me back in '95. I've noticed a far lower survival rate among the non-turbo 300D diesels than the turbodiesels and even the 240Ds w/ stick-shifts. I bought an '83 240 w/stick almost 2 years ago and still have it. Almost 380K miles are on it. I bought it with 363K. Looked in the history and saw motor was overhauled at 197K. Over 160K on re-built and aced the compression test I did when looking at it; starts right up like a gas engine and no oil consumption. That to me is a diamond. Previous owners had it for 21 years, took care of it, and kept it off long steep hills as much as they could and hardly drove it over 55-65 mph. I've done few road trips in it and drove it 70 in the speed limit 70 zones, then slowed it down when the posted dropped. Oil consumption on those trips, none.
@@ZaphodsPlanet I also noticed "car wizard" talk bad about the Ford/Mazda 3.0L V6 which my family has found to be a bullet-proof motor. And he also said to run from any Chevy/GMC product with a 3.6L V-6. I have a cousin who owns one and it's totally working out good for her. So maybe this "carwizard" guy can be a big dumbass. Although, my local German car mechanic did say that the 3.5L Mercedes 350SDs/SDLs were notorious for bending rods. And I saw on craigslist a '91 350SD with 360K miles on it that bend a rod at 60K, got overhauled, then went the rest of the 300K miles without any major problems. Do you have any takes on the early 90's 3.5L Turbodiesel motor?
@@kevinhabener1279 I had think my first Benz, was either 82 or 83 300D Turbo..... then maybe 15 years or so ago I had an 84 that was also a turbo. And both of them were pushing 400K miles and still ran like champs. I can't remember why I traded the first one. it was my first Mercedes that I bought in the early 90's. I had been in 3 accidents that year and I was getting paranoid....LOL. I had remembered a buddy's mom and a 300D turbo and how Mercedes were supposed to be safe. So I bought that first one from a dealership. Everything worked and I think it had 125K miles on it so maybe it was 10 years old or so. But with that I got hooked on benzes and haven't driven anything else since. it was that silver blue color that I love, and is or was called Alpine Rain on the 07 ML350 I have currently. Never should have traded the damn thing. I think I was starting to make a little more money and wanted a faster car, so I upgraded to a 90 300E from the same dealer. That little six banger could chirp the tires in 3rd gear. and at the time seemed so much nicer with the leather, etc. I picked up that 84 300D turbo many years later when I was flat broke. bought it for like $1500 at the time and I nick named it "stinky" since I bought it from a farmer who had been using it to cart around diesel in the trunk. I know the first W123 had well over 250K when I traded it, and the 84 probably had around 200+ and I was well into the 300's when I pulled it off the road. Should have fixed that damn thing. It went "Bang" and scared the shit out of me on the highway. It was either one of the rear bearings or the rear end but I was able to drive it home. I took horrible care of it. Rarely if ever changed the oil because it leaked so much I was always adding a quart and figured it was like a continual oil change...LOL. If I remember correctly what keeps these things running a long time is keeping the valves adjusted which I remembered doing. The one thing both of these turbos did was always break that damn T bracket that held the air filter. I never saw the numbers but I can't help but think the 300D (non turbos) you mentioned were just not ordered nearly as much. Even when I bought both of the W123's I had it was a rarity to see them. I did once drive a manual 240... it was fun except when cruising 70 MPH on the highway, when it sounded like you might make the engine blow from running it so hard. I vaguely remember there being some kind of issue with the next gen 6 cylinder (no longer 5) diesel but I thought it could get addressed if you did early enough. Maybe a timing chain .... I bet the guy who runs this channel knows. Enjoy your 240D. I'd love to pick one up again someday, but given the number of years that have passed it would be a lot of work to revive one, clean it up etc. or getting one that's in good condition.... ouch.... they're not cheap like they used to be. Thanks for the short trip down memory lane Kevin. Have a good one man.
I know I shouldn't ,but I saw a beautiful blacked out 91 560sec at a show a few years ago and fell in love with the looks alone. What a gangstermobile! I'd just be afraid of buying a headache. So to start out I got an 80 240d 4 speed. No,it's not really gangster at all but I've been having fun sipping my toes in the Mercedes world with it.
As we all know, there was a time between 1995 ish to about 2001 where the wiring harness were biodegradable. On my 1996 c220, I had to re-wire the entire ignition system from the throttle bottle onward due to bulls*** misfires.... It required a bit of patience, but its doable if you have time, a garage, heatshrink and patience.
That 300E you're standing in front of looks like mine. Mine runs perfect til it gets heat in it then quits. Wish you were near 43450 so you could fix it. Thanks Gene
I agree about the R129s, buy a pampered one with proven history. Dealing with the top hydraulics is a nightmare and I never understood German Engineer's logic when the front windshield hydraulic cylinders leaking on the driver or passenger as a way to get your attention?
I have a late R230 - dealer technicians are either incompetent or intentionally ripping people off. Thankfully found an independent shop that is competent. Wasted too much time and money dealing a convertible top issue which the dealer technician was apparently throwing parts at.
I always fancied SLs but have heard the horror stories of the convertible tops and the mis-shifting transmissions. Even the CLS has the same issues(320-500)
My poor w140 lol yes I bought a 95 with perfect paint, perfect interior. Got it very cheap do to mice chewing the entire engine control harness in two. So I replaced and repaired with an entire days of work granted I'm 21 year mechanic that helped. And after getting it to turn o er I found also I had to replace the Injectors and both pumps. Ok it finally ran, but wait oil pressure is terrible and it's tapping so I replaced the cam oilers all 16. Getting pricey now just wait. So get it running with good oil pressure finally. Now I can diagnose things. Many vaccum lines replaced. Knock sensor got replaced then the ignition control module the the k2 o ring had no 2nd gear. Steering damper and tie rod outer did all 4 since I was there. Ok it drives now oh wait the automatic locks and trunk and doors not working. Replaced motor under rear seat to gwt trunk and locks working then found some lines that needed replaced for the doors. Alright doors work 83 percent of the time now works for the time being lol. Rained one day and used my wipers and decided to run the headlight wipers also now one qiper is stuck straight up. Yet to repair that. But... but.. I must say this car when it's working properly is an absolute joy to drive. I will fix everything and I may get a divorce and claim bankruptcy once done. Btw I own an 89 560sec a, 90 190e sportline,a 1979 300d mint as can be. Of all the w140 has a feel to it the others do not , you can almost feel and see the efforts and heart put into this car on almost every detail. I still love it even after everything. Now granted alot was due to the mice and alot wasn't. Somethi g new that appeared just this morning on the way to my shop the cluster decided to flicker gauges dropping and lights flashing for oh 2 minutes then began working again as should smh looks like another weekend of work.
College student here with a $1400 beater w140 (1993)- I’ve had as a daily driver for 2 years now, if you can eat the repair costs for a few more years you’ll have a truly rare piece of kit 🤷🏻
We really appreciate you Dave Carlo for viewing our videos and leaving a comment. I tried to read as many as I can and take your responses for consideration on future videos. Thomas Polk UA-cam Creator.
R129 owner for 16 years Wise thoughts from the years of experience you have had fixing MB problems Always buy the best you can afford. Plus you get to enjoy it straight away instead of it being at the mechanics. Find a specialist mechanic before you find the car If he says no to the purchase don't do it. One of my rules of thumbs is the brand quality & condition of tyres. Think, like quality of shoes when you meet someone. If no full service history of the MB with all the special services charged for on the invoice don't do it. Use the car and maintain the car regularly. Operate all the features regularly. My car and soft top was 6 years old when I bought my 500SL (1992 model) and I sold it 16 years & 180,000klm later, and my soft top never failed to open or close and I never had a repair on it, although in the end the perspex could do to be replaced. Only sold after 16 years due to relocation. Buy well and you should get to enjoy cheaper motoring (well at least that is the theory)
Pierre I am wondering if you could help me. I have bin trying to find a timing chain Tension guide rail for a 1989 190e but no luck I give up!,, could you tell me where I can find one 😤
Let's dispel this myth about W140s and reliability, maintainability and parts. I have had 4 W140s. First 1996 S500 one had 4 years in UAE in 50C heat, no problems whatsoever in 4 years. Second 1994 S320 bought 4000 USD in NZ, drove 3 years, changed fuel pump, 50 USD and fitted myself 30 minutes. Third 1995 S500 bought in NZ for 2500 USD because of the dreaded harness "problem", 250 USD and 1 hour of my time later it was fixed and had no problems since over last 4 years. Fourth and final W140 1996 S320 bought in NZ for 1500 USD because of misfire, fitted 3 coils and all new leads and plug, 100 USD and 1 hour later all fixed. Now my son is doing many miles in his super Mercedes. I am an Engineer. Do not be afraid of these cars.
That’s the comment I was looking and hoping for👍🏻
Mr engineer got a question for ya, my yr 2000 E55 the city lights shorted out the fuse and SAM module, should i just drive without city lights or put money into repairs for those little lights, my main lights and high beams work.
W140 is really reliable if u take care of . Especially the straight 6
I daily a 95 S320, its wiring harness was toast and car was acting up randomly especially on hot sunny days. Forked up some and bought a new main engine harness and throttle body. Since then its been problem free and its the most reliable car i ever had now.
I don't believe you. I AM NOT AN ENGINEER (not sure why we have to say that part lol)
I got a W140, it is a 95' a year ago. No electrical problems so far. The previous owner kept it well and it is not a daily driver. I am happy with it. Thanks for the info.
This video just makes me want to buy another w140... Yes, they are a headache, but when sorted correctly, there has never been a MB more enjoyable to drive... They are future/sleeper classics
Brian Fox I have a 93 600 and I totally agree with your viewpoint.
Brian Fox Absolute garbage to maintain. Absolute dream to drive (when everything works properly).
Own a few. Best ever. My channel is dedicated to them and barely have any issues. Also have an r129 and a w126
i have 1998 s320 w140 still running great without any issues, my brother had 2001 s320L w220 that always broken, the transmision can't shift correctly, the cluster blinking like a christmas tree, and the air conditioner intermittently malfunction.. that's why i love my w140 so much and i will keep it as long as i can..
@Alex Pirzada here in indonesia we are using kilometer, my w140 have 119270 Km on the clock, it is about 75k miles and still running smoothly, the only issue that i had is the soft closing door in the driver side sometime not working, but everything else is working well, even the power memory seat and power mirrors are still good..
Thanks Pierre. I just discovered you and your beautiful site. I spent 12 years as a line mechanic for Mercedes-Benz Dealers in San Antonio, Texas, Houston, and Miami. I currently live in Key West, Florida and have a number of clients with older Mercedes that I service and repair. I recently bought a 1995 C220 W202 for a very low price due to the wiring harness issue with the disintegrating soy-wire in the engine compartment. I just finished the total replacement of the engine compartment harness--what a job that was! Of course, it would not start. Gave code for TP sensor. Had to replace the throttle body because that harness is separate and has soy-wire also. I expected these cars with the soy-wires to be part of your "do not buy video". Glad that I discovered you!
This video explains why I saw a beautifully clean '81 380SL at my local yunkyard last month. I knew previously that the engine is not as gas-efficient as the newer '82-'85 and this is why I didn't buy it despite being so nice in appearance. But now I understand this notion much deeper as now hereby we learn that the complex vacuum system is a never-ending problem. Nevertheless I took so many great parts off of it as of course I took advantage.
Enjoyed watching your video, as my first W140 was a 1992 400se which did have corroded fuel injectors wires under the hood, along with closing door assist issues. My current W140 is a 1999 S500 which now has 150,000 miles, however, only one problem which just started is, my engine started to make a tapping noise, which was those plastic Mercedes tube oilers which started to blow out. I changed all (16) oiler tubes with aluminum tubes, and new timing chain guides. This is my third Mercedes in all, and I can honestly say, this 1999 S500 is one of the best Mercedes to have and drive.
I have a 1992 400se any tips?
Saw the video...still bought a 1998 s320L 55k . blue with beige leather. Fuck it life too damn short . great video all the same.
Curiosity made we watch this and imagine my chagrin when 3 of my cars are ones you claim no one should buy. Among others, I own a '94 W140 S500 (130K), a '95 R129 SL320 (112K) and a '97 W210 E320 (185K..my daily driver)...all of which were bought new and have been excellent cars, relatively trouble-free comparatively speaking. In 45+ years of driving, I've NEVER owned a completely "repair free" car and that includes Americans, Japanese, British and Italians. I turn my own wrenches more often than not and have spent less time under the hood of my MBs than any of the others (besides maybe the Toyota Camry I bought for my son.) Even the dreaded "biodegradable wiring harness" issues took me a couple hours at most to replace. ALL cars have their own "idiosyncrasies" and MBs are no exception but I've never had problems with them that took me more than a day or so to address. It usually takes longer to GET the needed parts than it does to repair the car. In short, I don't at all agree with your dislike for the cars.....but still enjoy your videos. Keep it up!!
Unless I misinterpreted what you wrote, it appears that you say that the Camry is more reliable than your MBs!
I just purchased a ‘95 SL320 105k miles on it.. only issue I’m having is sending unit and the roll bar won’t come up.
If you have any recommendations on keeping it on point for the second life it has can you please share thank you
I think this is sound advice and reflects market values of the cars mentioned. Happy to stick with my 1985 to 1990 300s and not considering those cars mentioned in the video anymore.
What is a must to replace on the “R129” At 100,000 miles sir? @whozat2008 I plan on buying my father a sl 600 Once i complete my Mercedes school.
@@joshuaalvarez1832 Depending on the model year (pre-1996 IIRC), most definitely inspect the engine wiring harnesses. If the insulation on the wiring is flaking off, you have the dreaded "biodegradable" ones and they can cause all manner of BS. That would be my 1st stop. Replacing them with the later "DELPHI" ones isn't that complex, just time-consuming and tedious. Good luck finding them though....
Literally bought a 1996 S420 last week. Loving every moment driving it but also getting my hands dirty making it perfect. Won't show this video to my wife thank you very much.
Still have it? I bought one years ago and it was an astounding car but my god it was a nightmare, endless money pit haha.
@@AgentMrX7 yup hasn't cost me anything yet and using it daily. Having a ball though
I agree about W140. I have had W140 500 1993 for 15 years. So many things happened/changed - engine wire harness, air mass sensor - impossible to get new parts, throttle body, air conditioner evaporator, condensation in distributor cap, leaking steering box and more. It has a lot of problems compared to my W123. At the same time, the W140 is a great car to drive.
'99 S420, W140, 117K, Fla car. I stalked this piece in '15 and I have zero regrets. "The Legend", the last of the mostly hand built, over engineered cars, $1 Bil R&D to build the finest vehicle ever built, and it certainly is that. My mechanic begs me to get out of it, but, dayem, for what I have in it, I could never find anything at that price point to replace it. The ride of kings, queens, dictators, Popes, mobsters, and now an enthusiast.
The most important thing was that you bought the best example available
Another Hedarylicous video production. Thanks for the advice. A mechanic (whom you know out here) said I should get a 140 (I do like them more and more) but he cautioned against the same thing. They’re dirt cheap for a reason, because, well, “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes-Benz.” Happy New Year to you, Pierre.
Just keep the 126 and make it one hundred percent
Hehe. Just wait till I send you the list of stuff I had done recently to said 126. You might beam with pride.
I have a 1993 R129 and it’s been an amazing car. BUT.... I did get a very clean example to start with. I replaced the soft top hydraulics and some front suspension parts. That’s it. I love it. And I’ve owned W123s, W124s, W126s, W211s, a W208 and a W221. So how do ya like that!!!!! Ha! Ha! Ha! 😉
I have a w140 92´ and still running without problems, I dont know but in my country a car that is
functional after 27 years its a very good car.
where you from?
Thanks for this update. I had a 450SL and just sold it again for the shear shock of the difficult restoration. Owned other amazing 500 Saloon Benzes from the 80's
Love the train 🚂 in the background reminds of when I was a kid in the sixties. Walking down the alley guys working on cars in tiny sheds/garages. Helping the neighborhood kids fix flat tires and put chains back on the sprockets. Them’s the good’ol days 👨🏿🦳✌🏾👌🏾🖖🏾🙏🏾
As you are talking about the 5 problem cars here, it reminds me of my 2008 S600. That car has so many crazy systems on it, I find it almost impossible to drive without throwing some kind of code. I have always enjoyed the 123 and 126 cars, which in my opinion, were some of the best cars Mercedes made. W140s were for sure the last of the "good" Mercedes for me.
What was your most common or reoccurring problem?
Mercedes Benz lost its touch after the 90s. Quality, fit and finish no longer the same !
As usual. Spot on. For R129 and W140 cars, later is better. And as always, if you are not prepared to spend wheel barrow fulls of money, buy the cleanest, best example you possibly can. Oh, and have a PPI done by a COMPETENT Mercedes mechanic, such as Pierre. Again, thanks Pierre and Thomas for another great informative video.
It seems like some people who are watching this video don't quite understand that point. Thank you for putting it in writing
Rick, this has been a wonderful journey, going far above my expectations. Totally new to the automotive world, to have a man like Pierre to learn and subscribers like your self for nearly four years has been a real pleasure. Thank you so much.
Thomas
Excellent advice as usual Pierre. I totally agree that you should purchase the best available model, with limited issues. Rust is a deal breaker most often. So I will continue my savings for my 1971 280SL, Pagoda, W113. Thx.
This man speaks the honest to gosh truth. I'd love to have the time and money back that I've spent sorting out the Chrysler sourced automatic climate control, chain, and rust issues on these older Mercedes. Yes, I'm able to do the repairs myself, but there are other things that I'd like to do with my time. When I sold my "show car SL" I was shocked to learn that it was used as a donor car for the buy'er's garage queen. A donor car !!!
100% agree. The R129 was a terrific car, but any example that was abused or neglected is going to a huge project to sort out. Better to get a Garage Queen that has been properly looked after and then don't abuse or neglect it.
I would say that most of the R129's with wiring harness problems have been fixed now. It goes without saying that you would not touch anything that has not been properly maintained but to blow off the whole R129 model range is plain stupid. They are a marvellous design both practical and stylish and the latter model engines across the board are bullet proof. OK the fully remote hood can be a problem but you can get the ECU rebuilt with lifetime guarantees these days - I know because I got one!
Im about to buy a 1991 300 SL, so it reallt worth it?
Mentioned before but I got a 95 s500 w140, 1991 sl500 r129 and 86 w126. I daily my w140 and it's been a dream. After sorting a few things it's been most reliable car I own
Where was this video 2 years ago? I bought a 94 E320 cabriolet. Made sure that the wiring harness was already replaced and rust was missing from the usual spots. I used Top Hydroelectrics core replacement to fix the leaking cylinders. Top works great. Love the A124. Only 124,000 miles. Four seats means I can take the kids for a ride, which made the purchase OK with the wife. :) Great video, but now apprehensive about my purchase.
I think you lucked out and got a car that had been reasonably well maintained. This isn't the case with a lot of them but yours had enough mileage on it too.
When i saw R129 on opening pic I thought here we go ..... but not too tough just about avoiding neglected ones , I wish i had R107 convertible top on R129
I got given a w140 that had been stood for 6 years. Really enjoying working on the car and sorting all of the issues out 👍
Once finished I’m just going to drive it and keep it
Similar situation with mine. I found a 1992 600SEL for cheap and I've been working through fixing the big problems and now all the small issues. It sat unused for 5 years but it didn't take much to get it moving again.
Hello Pierre.. Watching from Nairobi Kenya. Love your straight up factual presentation.. I have learnt sooo much about Classic Mercedes... (love the smell of those older interiors)
God bless the work you do in allowing an ignorant modern people taste and experience the glories of the past...
agreed, thats why you can buy old tired 140's for $2000 or less. Some owners cannot keep up with maintenance and repairs (wiring harness issues) to the point where they will almost give them away. However once sorted properly, the M119 cars are a true joy to drive.
Based on the comments in this video, it looks like the W140 is a helluva drug indeed! I have a 1995 S320 as I have mentioned before that is VERY close to 100% functional at ALL times. (Yes, including all the PSE systems, the HVAC, the Soft close doors & Trunk, etc etc). I should mention that I removed ALL (8 I think?) computer modules/boxes from the "coffin box" under the passenger side hood area, and replaced ALL of the electrolytic capacitors inside them... YOU GUYS, ALL BUT **2** CAPACITORS WERE BAD! I tested every single one of them, and although none were physically leaking electrolyte, the vast majority tested WAY outside of tolerance. Many were only rated at 85C from the factory, and I believe that is a major contributing factor to their failure. Replace your Caps!!
Also, if anyone out there wants a parts list of the caps you will need to order to complete this job, just let me know.
I have a 1995 W140 and I love it. I do however need a wiring harness. Thank you for letting me know mine is in the safe category
hey, let me know if you got the harness. I would like to know the cost and source. I am planning ahead, I may need it down the line. Thank you in advance!
I have a 1995 w140 s320 charge my wire harness haven’t had a problem drive it everyday. Love it.
I bought a 62 W112 senior year HS in 74 for $900. It needed a few repairs which were a bit expensive like air bags and leveling valve. I owned it for close to 30 years. Had to sell due to storage issues. Absolutely loved that car. Now I’m retired I want to get a 280SE 3.5 or 4.5 for a semi daily driver.
You were much less harsh on the W140 today!
I agree with almost all that you said this time. I see these cars ( I own and Daily-Driver '99 s320 ) tortured, abused and neglected by kids because of the affordable price point. The interior leather is trashed (a good sign of neglect ), use them ti do burnouts (RWD) etc. I guess I was smart to buy mine from an older book author with the $$ to keep it up as he intended to actually keep it for life.
I have a w140 s600. It’s a gararge queen. I love this car just a big ass slab of solid metal. In Australia they going up in value as 0 for sale.
I own a R129 1991 Mercedes SL convertible that I have owned for 20 years. I have only put 8,000.00 dollars in the car in 20 years because it was a low mile beautiful example bought new by a millionaire.Beautiful car in every way and I was lucky.
I have a 1998 S500... and I love it... been having it for 10 years... still runs strong..
I’ve always wanted a 98’sl 500. Im looking to buy one currently. Any advice you can offer? This would be my first car.
This guy is excellent Mechaninc he is very knowledgeable
He is 100 💯 % correct
I have a 1998 S320 with over 520.000 K ... Daily driver, most engine electronics don't work, yet it runs smooth and comfy without engine management... Indestructible German Engineering !
You deserve to have a million subscribers. Thank God I found your channel. I'm considering buying an older sedan and sell my 2016 GLC300 4Matic because it's too tight for me while driving.
Good video
But I have never ever seen bad Mercedes since 1887 well
I think Benz is ahead of every car manufacturer around the globe
I have two beat up W140s. A 92 500SEL and a 94 S500. Bought each for $500. Totally agree they're not worth touching. They're actually both parts cars for my 5 liter swapped 400E. The 92 is also my Gambler 500 car.
You were doing great until you mentioned W140.
I have 3 V12s and looking for more to buy
v12 or walk! i'd prefer a ferrari v12 though.... they have proven reliable?
So is he...that's what he wants you to believe.... mooohahaha. Keep prices down
Those are awesome but tough. My friend bought a gorgeous black on black W140 V12 at a dealer auction in Virginia and it had an oil leak that basically couldn’t be fixed. And he spent thousands of dollars trying.
W140 prices are declining every year.They are so costly to repair, nobody wants them anymore. Check value in OLDTIMER PREIS catalogues from Germany, if from EU.
I have a half a v12 140 😶😶with 200k miles and still going strong!
My 1990 R129 has never let me down, its a fantastic car, my only grumble is the soft top makes the car look ugly. The straight 6 is ok but slow by todays standards until it gathers pace then it goes, but who gives a toss its a great car to drive.
you are spot on iv been benz tech for 30 plus year could no agree more if you must have a 140 by ME motor electronic car 1996 and up
W140 post 96 are literally the best cars ever made. You broke my heart when you brought them up. I could work on my CL500 all day and love every minute of it. The M119 is bullet proof
I've got my 2014 C63 AMG. But I want an old 500 SL to go in the garage with it. Thinking a 91 or 92. Miss that body style
‘99 S420. W140 are a fine chassis. 91 k miles. Bought super cheap with 87k miles. A new s belt and an oil change is all. Runs great and no leaks, runs, drips. Electronics are fine without issues. It’s a great car and looks and runs as new.
Good evening from Switzerland! Mr. Hedary, I have to say the following, I have some minty low mile fetish 140s in my collection and the cars still look massive next to a new W222. You can look down very well on the pleabian minions when you ride along in the 140. The 140 conveys a certain respectful dictator / plutocrat aura similar to the W100 600, which (unfortunately) no longer embodies the current luxury class vehicles. This is probably why the 140 was one of the favorite vehicles of people like Muammar al-Gadaffi, Putin, the Yakuza and Co. even when there were successor series to choose from. The space, security [extremly rugged in a serious crash, a kind of unique "chopped" ladder frame like a truck, plus (!) a unibody is a construction they have not done on any other mercedes except the W240 maybach which build on the 140 chassis, makes this car a "tigertank" that will crush the other car in a serious accident, newer big cars are build weaker for socialist partner protection in a crash to help the smaller car, so you can say 140/240 was the pinnacle of crash saftey in some way, to only protect the occupants of the 140/240 and crush the enemy car with no mercy] a long-distance suitability and comfort of the 140s are in no way inferior to those of the new luxury vehicles, unlike, for example, the very old-school 126 model.
Good examples of the 140 series are expensive, some are above comparable 126s, which was not the case a few years ago here in Europe (minty 140 500/600 under 60kmiles, go for about 45k/chf in Euros about 40k). I cannot understand the fear of some "control units", the electronics in the 140 are rock solid and really not rocket science, similar to the W124 E500 E420 E320 or all R129 up to ´98, sometimes even redundant and can still be repaired in the distant future, in contrast to today's cheap and over-complex electronics. In terms of mechanical durability and engine design, the M104, M119 and M120 engines are unsurpassed as far as the petrol engines from Daimler are concerned, provided they are properly cared for, that is the golden era of Daimler, something better was not built before and after. I think some are only now beginning to understand what epochal masterpieces have been created. Elsewhere in the world it was already considered a masterpiece that competed with Rolls Royce and Bentley and even degraded them, similar to the W100. It is not for nothing that the W240 Maybach builds on the chassis of the 140 series. An E32 / E38 or Audi V8 / A8, Lexus LS on the other hand, looks like a poorly manufactured mid-range car, the same with the unworthy supposed successor, the W220, which initiated the qualitative degeneration of Mercedes under J. Schrempp. The W220 actually was not the true successor of the 140, even if some may think so, actually the W240 Maybach was the successor/reincarnation of the W140. The development costs of the 140 were the highest in mercedes history with the engineers running the show and going truly megalomaniac, it was the last engineers car from mercedes and not a car, were accountants and shareholders made the development decisions. The ride, build quality and "aura" is unlike any other mercedes before and after.
In short, you need money and knowledge to maintain a 140 series properly, you cant do the typical american hillbilly repairs on these sophisticated cars, but when you do it right they are bullit proof and go forever. I dont get it when you recommend the 124 inline six and V8 and warn about the 140, they are very similar, and i should know because i have all these cars. I am a serious collector, so maybe dont call out on things you are not so familiar with (regarding the 140). Its the same argument that its a pain in the ass to sort out problems on a beat up 126. Always, always, always buy the best condition one you can find, no matter what classic car.
le voile noir, thank you for restoring my faith and commitment to the w140. I own 4 of them and because of you, I will upsize (and not downsize) my collection.
@@keanwong8381 my pleasure, always have faith in your mighty 140 classics, there was nothing like them before and there will never be something like them in the future.
@@levoilenoir8799 Will do, and thanks again for your re-assurance. All the best to you and your collection!
Very interesting information. Thank you. I envy those of you with such extensive technical/historical knowledge of your chosen 'old car favourite(s)'. It must make ownership both more rewarding (and less intimidating when inevitable repairs crop up).
I completely agree, and you outlined my reasoning for recently buying a W140. My greatest automotive fetish is attention to detail when it comes to the engineering aspects, and no other car in existence quite compares considering the prices that a good W140 can be had for!
I thought the Mercedes 600 was going to be on that list. Very complex and expensive to fix and definitely not a daily driver, Oh so beautiful though!
not much danger of any of us having to consider a purchase of one of these...
What chassis? The 220?
@@denitipuric1130 W100
I agree, there are weaknesses in the R129 range, biodegradable wiring, m119 oil supply issues and one shouldn’t be fooled by their w124 connection. HOWEVER, the good ones provide a level of engineering and luxury never seen again combined with a modern car comfort, usability and convenience not found in a r107.
The wiring harness issues was the early years. I believe they used a different harness after 95 or 96. That goes for the 124 and the 140 also.
Every ride on your list is what i like(d)! Lol
Very informative, confirming some of what I have already heard. Thanks so much!
Pierre excellent advice !!! Agree 100% and would add DO NOT buy any heavily negligent example of any Mercedes-Benz that has significant RUST. Unless you have an enormous amount of time, patience, and money to devote to an never ending task !!!!
Rust is part of life down here
@@thisisnightshop2037 You !!! Try looking under a 1 year old car from New Jersey after one winter. LOL !!! Love your videos !!! Folks it doesn't get any more real than Pierre Hedary !!!
@@thisisnightshop2037 I left Ft Lauderdale in '80 for CA. Are the newer cars as sensitive to rust as they used to be?
Glad the 201 is pretty much off the hook. I daily drive a relatively rust free 201 2.0l 4cyl diesel, here in salty Scandinavia. Love spending an extra hour or two every 6 months, checking up and reapplying rust prevention. I've become best friends with the wheel arches during every summer/winter wheel change. Also removed all Sacco/plastic panels all way around once. Nothing but the slightest of rust where the plastic edges meets the body, which is treated now. Had to order some plastic clips along with many spares, if I ever manage to break one again. A stitch in time saves nine, or so they say. Just had a friend over and saw some rust had taken hold on the unprotected sheet edge in range of the tyre water/rock spray. Pretty quick to grab a wire wheel and some hammerite + asphalt/fluidfilm mix. Did it for free, half an hour, she was happy. The benz have a Volvolist (metal reinforced rubber U-strip) on the inner of the arches, and thus is relieved of this work.
The wiring harness issues isn’t for all the R129s, and you also put another SL when you were talking about the E320 Cabriolet
One car specifically in the R129 category that I would strongly caution people against buying is the SL 600. We all know the horror stories of the biodegradable wiring harnesses and these cars are no exception to that. Volvos also had this problem as well back in the 80s and perhaps other generations as well. But the wiring harnesses on these SL 600 cars are discontinued and the only way to fix it is to hand make every wire from scratch. Ed Bolian from VinWicki has a MB mechanic in Atlanta, GA Cameron who makes these harnesses and they're about $8k-$9k. Not to mention the hydraulic cylinders in the convertible tops that like to fail and make a huge mess everywhere. That can also be about the same price to fix the convertible top depending on what needs to be done. So yeah I would definitely stay away from those ones as well if you're on any sort of budget.
my 2007 w221 S550 is awesome....I bought it for $14000. it has dynamic cruise, glass moonroof, massage seats..etc etc etc
How many miles? Wait until the transmission valve body solenoids start acting up. Get ready to spend $3K to fix. My 2007 CL550 Flagship Coupe began acting up when I got to 130Ks miles.
dham629 that’s a lot of miles
You’re right, I have some costly maintenance ahead of me
Thinking of trading it on a lower mile S550 or a new RAM truck
Either way, will cost money :)
1986 560sl...the only car I could not make run correctly after three years. Sold it in disgust. thousands of dollars, hundreds of hours. yup...don't buy one...RUN!!! Endless vacuum issues, touchy k-Jetronic, electrical issues, fuel pressure issues...a nightmare!!! thanks for this video!
As a 38 year Mercedes mechanic, I would add the 6.9 and 6.3!
I have two W140 for 12 years now both are M104 engines 1998 minor problems due to age and easy to fix and forget about. I do light easy works on it.. my advice if you want to buy the W140 find something from late 1996 to 1998 the M104 (320) is easy to work on.
I used to have a 2002 SLK 200 Kompressor and it drove like a dream and never had a problem! Loved it!
Another excellent video and thanks for adding pics of the cars that you were discussing!
My 126’s and 123’s are in the clear! 👍😉
All day! There's no 123 or-126 I wouldn't recommend
Excellent! I have a ‘78 280 CE, an ‘82 300D Euro 4spd , and an ‘87 560 SEC
also My w124's I got 2 of them 1987 300D and 300TD.
Christopher Baker oh....I forgot my ‘82 300TD 👍🏻
My W140 is not without issues but nothing major has happened. Lots has been sorted and the ride is excellent.
Another great video. Pierre i got a kick out of the work line up in the the back ground. Nice
Robert Sykes, I loved the train hooting in the background
It’s black and beautiful- I’m driving it tomorrow. I hope I don’t lose it because I’m been proceeding w caution.
W140 Owned 3. Very reliable changed upper wiring harness on 2 of them 300$ from ebay (Delphi) . Less than 1 hour to change. Easily done by average DIY person. Worked perfect. afterwards. Do not be scared of W140 wiring harnesses. Too much scaremongering.
Plus you can always haggle the price down due to the wiring issue.
@@PatricioGarcia1973 Correct Patricio, that is exactly what I did. Any W140 with a wiring issue I look upon as an opportunity - as long as there are still good second hand looms on the market!
I've gat a 2009 SL550 with AMG package. I also have the VMI paperwork for it too to get the engine code in the car. The car has less the 17k miles on it.
Car is pretty simple for the DIY mechanic.
LOL I just bought the one on your thumbnail. Love it and nothing is wrong with it : )
You forgot to tell people about my 180e !! Ha ha ha - no I actually love that old beast - top video too !!
The R129 is a great vehicle but yes, if neglected and run into the ground will be problematic.
Love the drumroll at 5:50😂😂😂
The cars you are talking about done even match the Photo ( 320 and showing a photo of an SL)
The E300 behind you looks quite delicious.
I currently only own one of the cars on this list, a salvage title 1993 300se. I was surprised at how easy it was to fix the wiring issues, even after putting the battery in the car backwards. The radio doesn’t work, but I figure that a total replacement shouldn’t be ridiculous.
Exhaust manifold replacement on the 1975 450 cars is not too hard or too expensive, just tedious.
I think a bunch of r129 on the list could be good ones, but do generally agree with poo poo ing any early 90’s MB for fear of bad wiring harnesses, even on the ke-jet cars.
No arguments on the servo climate control and single row chain 380 cars. Those things really can’t be “fixed” for cheap.
I sold a trans to a neighbor with an e320 cabriolet with no reverse, and thought the car was valuable and beautiful until I drove it to pick it up for Jason Birch to do the trans swap, and was afraid the whole car was going to fall apart on me. I have to agree that these are early 90’s MB nightmares waiting to happen. There’s many thousands that would need to be spent on that single owner car. Sad.
You're in for a surprise with the radio, I have a 92 300se
absorbz ok. That gets me excited. Not. So what are you trying to tell me?
The '91 350SD/SDL has been a really good motor. I was surprised when I heard car wizard say to avoid them. He that they were rod benders. But I know someone who has a '90 350SDL with 230,000 miles on it and appears to be running well. It still starts right up.
Car wizard is a joke, he makes it feel like every car is a death trap and will cost you thousands of dollars to repair. I have a 540 6 speed and has 250k miles, only did routine maintenance and made the upgrade to all aluminum radiator and metal water pump.
I agree with Patricio...... The car wizard just doesn't seem that bright to me sometimes. He once went on a bash fest on the W123 (I don't own one currently but have had two in the past). The oil cooler lines are a notorious place for leaks....mainly from the rubber just wearing out. He was talking about how easy it was to strip them where they connect to the cooler which is insanely stupid... they're very large, I've done them twice and the biggest bitch is figuring out how to reinstall them since they snake around so many thing... they come out easy but getting them back in is a bitch and a half. Anyway, I'd take anything that guy has with a grain of salt. He's got some kind of strange inferiority complex or something and he annoys the hell out of me. He's obviously still done some good work for Hoovie but in his attempts to sound authoritative he can expose his ignorance.
@@ZaphodsPlanet Oh, so he did go on a bashing spree about the W123. I didn't see him do that. really, I didn't. But in 1995, I did get a very shocking and disturbing statement about the Diesel powered W123s from a guy who worked at a Mercedes dealership although the 80's saying that their reputation for being able to last a long time i just nothing more than a myth and he's seen them come into the shop with blown engines at 80,000 miles all the time, especially the 300D Turbodiesels. And he went on to say that the turbos you especially have to watch out, they can't last 1/4 million miles on 1 engine, and anyone tells you that any of them will last forever, don't believe a word of it. Over a year later, I talked to a sales rep of another Mercedes dealership who said he had 1 or 2 customers who brought in '83 or '84 300D Turbos with over 1/4 million original miles on them and still running pretty well. Years later in 2010, I saw a couple of them on craigslist that were actually getting up to the 250K mile mark and still going with their original motors, while still no one really wanted them. Almost none of my local car mechanics thought very highly of them, especially the non-turbos. Then I'm seeing more on craigslist and UA-cam that in no way reflect what that former Mercedes mechanic said to me back in '95. I've noticed a far lower survival rate among the non-turbo 300D diesels than the turbodiesels and even the 240Ds w/ stick-shifts. I bought an '83 240 w/stick almost 2 years ago and still have it. Almost 380K miles are on it. I bought it with 363K. Looked in the history and saw motor was overhauled at 197K. Over 160K on re-built and aced the compression test I did when looking at it; starts right up like a gas engine and no oil consumption. That to me is a diamond. Previous owners had it for 21 years, took care of it, and kept it off long steep hills as much as they could and hardly drove it over 55-65 mph. I've done few road trips in it and drove it 70 in the speed limit 70 zones, then slowed it down when the posted dropped. Oil consumption on those trips, none.
@@ZaphodsPlanet I also noticed "car wizard" talk bad about the Ford/Mazda 3.0L V6 which my family has found to be a bullet-proof motor. And he also said to run from any Chevy/GMC product with a 3.6L V-6. I have a cousin who owns one and it's totally working out good for her. So maybe this "carwizard" guy can be a big dumbass. Although, my local German car mechanic did say that the 3.5L Mercedes 350SDs/SDLs were notorious for bending rods. And I saw on craigslist a '91 350SD with 360K miles on it that bend a rod at 60K, got overhauled, then went the rest of the 300K miles without any major problems. Do you have any takes on the early 90's 3.5L Turbodiesel motor?
@@kevinhabener1279 I had think my first Benz, was either 82 or 83 300D Turbo..... then maybe 15 years or so ago I had an 84 that was also a turbo. And both of them were pushing 400K miles and still ran like champs. I can't remember why I traded the first one. it was my first Mercedes that I bought in the early 90's. I had been in 3 accidents that year and I was getting paranoid....LOL. I had remembered a buddy's mom and a 300D turbo and how Mercedes were supposed to be safe. So I bought that first one from a dealership. Everything worked and I think it had 125K miles on it so maybe it was 10 years old or so. But with that I got hooked on benzes and haven't driven anything else since. it was that silver blue color that I love, and is or was called Alpine Rain on the 07 ML350 I have currently. Never should have traded the damn thing. I think I was starting to make a little more money and wanted a faster car, so I upgraded to a 90 300E from the same dealer. That little six banger could chirp the tires in 3rd gear. and at the time seemed so much nicer with the leather, etc. I picked up that 84 300D turbo many years later when I was flat broke. bought it for like $1500 at the time and I nick named it "stinky" since I bought it from a farmer who had been using it to cart around diesel in the trunk. I know the first W123 had well over 250K when I traded it, and the 84 probably had around 200+ and I was well into the 300's when I pulled it off the road. Should have fixed that damn thing. It went "Bang" and scared the shit out of me on the highway. It was either one of the rear bearings or the rear end but I was able to drive it home. I took horrible care of it. Rarely if ever changed the oil because it leaked so much I was always adding a quart and figured it was like a continual oil change...LOL. If I remember correctly what keeps these things running a long time is keeping the valves adjusted which I remembered doing. The one thing both of these turbos did was always break that damn T bracket that held the air filter. I never saw the numbers but I can't help but think the 300D (non turbos) you mentioned were just not ordered nearly as much. Even when I bought both of the W123's I had it was a rarity to see them. I did once drive a manual 240... it was fun except when cruising 70 MPH on the highway, when it sounded like you might make the engine blow from running it so hard. I vaguely remember there being some kind of issue with the next gen 6 cylinder (no longer 5) diesel but I thought it could get addressed if you did early enough. Maybe a timing chain .... I bet the guy who runs this channel knows. Enjoy your 240D. I'd love to pick one up again someday, but given the number of years that have passed it would be a lot of work to revive one, clean it up etc. or getting one that's in good condition.... ouch.... they're not cheap like they used to be. Thanks for the short trip down memory lane Kevin. Have a good one man.
I know I shouldn't ,but I saw a beautiful blacked out 91 560sec at a show a few years ago and fell in love with the looks alone.
What a gangstermobile!
I'd just be afraid of buying a headache.
So to start out I got an 80 240d 4 speed.
No,it's not really gangster at all but I've been having fun sipping my toes in the Mercedes world with it.
Best video that I have seen of yours.
As we all know, there was a time between 1995 ish to about 2001 where the wiring harness were biodegradable. On my 1996 c220, I had to re-wire the entire ignition system from the throttle bottle onward due to bulls*** misfires.... It required a bit of patience, but its doable if you have time, a garage, heatshrink and patience.
That 300E you're standing in front of looks like mine. Mine runs perfect til it gets heat in it then quits. Wish you were near 43450 so you could fix it. Thanks Gene
Why why why are you living my dream life. I should be hating but all I have is mucho respecto for you bro. And your beard is fire 🔥
I must say that an MB specialist told me years ago to avoid the early 90s W140 sedans.
Pierre Hedary for President of the MBCA !!!! You have my vote !!!
I guess that means you're willing to become a regional director or director at Large, because they are the only ones who can vote.
💯 agree 👍 and thank you for being honest..!
I spent quite some time on your channel, I’ve been looking at a 1982 380sl, and now I’m second guessing my decision.
Thank you for your insight
Mate don’t let this guy second guess yourself I bought a 1983 380sl and let me tell you sum it’s worth they are such a gem
I agree about the R129s, buy a pampered one with proven history. Dealing with the top hydraulics is a nightmare and I never understood German Engineer's logic when the front windshield hydraulic cylinders leaking on the driver or passenger as a way to get your attention?
I have a late R230 - dealer technicians are either incompetent or intentionally ripping people off. Thankfully found an independent shop that is competent. Wasted too much time and money dealing a convertible top issue which the dealer technician was apparently throwing parts at.
I always fancied SLs but have heard the horror stories of the convertible tops and the mis-shifting transmissions. Even the CLS has the same issues(320-500)
I recently found an R129 93 lorinser, gorgeous car. The harness and top scare me tho, but damn it looks good
My poor w140 lol yes I bought a 95 with perfect paint, perfect interior. Got it very cheap do to mice chewing the entire engine control harness in two. So I replaced and repaired with an entire days of work granted I'm 21 year mechanic that helped. And after getting it to turn o er I found also I had to replace the Injectors and both pumps. Ok it finally ran, but wait oil pressure is terrible and it's tapping so I replaced the cam oilers all 16. Getting pricey now just wait. So get it running with good oil pressure finally. Now I can diagnose things. Many vaccum lines replaced. Knock sensor got replaced then the ignition control module the the k2 o ring had no 2nd gear. Steering damper and tie rod outer did all 4 since I was there. Ok it drives now oh wait the automatic locks and trunk and doors not working. Replaced motor under rear seat to gwt trunk and locks working then found some lines that needed replaced for the doors. Alright doors work 83 percent of the time now works for the time being lol. Rained one day and used my wipers and decided to run the headlight wipers also now one qiper is stuck straight up. Yet to repair that. But... but.. I must say this car when it's working properly is an absolute joy to drive. I will fix everything and I may get a divorce and claim bankruptcy once done. Btw I own an 89 560sec a, 90 190e sportline,a 1979 300d mint as can be. Of all the w140 has a feel to it the others do not , you can almost feel and see the efforts and heart put into this car on almost every detail. I still love it even after everything. Now granted alot was due to the mice and alot wasn't. Somethi g new that appeared just this morning on the way to my shop the cluster decided to flicker gauges dropping and lights flashing for oh 2 minutes then began working again as should smh looks like another weekend of work.
Good points about the R129
College student here with a $1400 beater w140 (1993)- I’ve had as a daily driver for 2 years now, if you can eat the repair costs for a few more years you’ll have a truly rare piece of kit 🤷🏻
You may have saved me a lot of money and frustration, thank you.
I never found the w140 hard to work on. 93 600SEL daily driver
@@NorthGaLife You are my hero.
@@NorthGaLife I aspire to a V12 but had been looking at Pierre's #2.
@@seeburg10 My other daily is a 1982 Lapis Blue 380SEC. Double roller timing chain conversion done
You fit in a unique category of people that possess both intelligence and patience
Here is a man that works on our beloved MB cars and KNOWS what he is talking about...One can learn the easy way or the hard way$
We really appreciate you Dave Carlo for viewing our videos and leaving a comment. I tried to read as many as I can and take your responses for consideration on future videos.
Thomas Polk
UA-cam Creator.
E320 cab, then at two different times an SL is shown... first from the 90's & then a Bobby Ewing.
Pierre, the freight train at 8:30 is telling you something 😂
I know, it absolutely wouldn't stop.
Thats why there's a neighbor with a W140 parked in his driveway here in London, Harrow Road, FOR SALE, for at least 10 years.
R129 owner for 16 years
Wise thoughts from the years of experience you have had fixing MB problems
Always buy the best you can afford. Plus you get to enjoy it straight away instead of it being at the mechanics.
Find a specialist mechanic before you find the car
If he says no to the purchase don't do it.
One of my rules of thumbs is the brand quality & condition of tyres. Think, like quality of shoes when you meet someone.
If no full service history of the MB with all the special services charged for on the invoice don't do it.
Use the car and maintain the car regularly.
Operate all the features regularly.
My car and soft top was 6 years old when I bought my 500SL (1992 model) and I sold it 16 years & 180,000klm later, and my soft top never failed to open or close and I never had a repair on it, although in the end the perspex could do to be replaced.
Only sold after 16 years due to relocation.
Buy well and you should get to enjoy cheaper motoring (well at least that is the theory)
Great info, thoughts on SL 500 1998?
Glad you specified beat up r129
4:28 talks about E320 Cabrio, but picture is another SL?
Pierre I am wondering if you could help me. I have bin trying to find a timing chain Tension guide rail for a 1989 190e but no luck I give up!,, could you tell me where I can find one 😤
trucker try reaching out to the mercedes benz classic center located in Irvine,CA
The "D" type jetronic system issues can be easily sorted by converting to the "K" type, which I have in my car.