Recovering the beast of an 80s Bahnstormer - Mercedes-Benz C126 560 SEC | Tyrrell's Classic Workshop

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  • Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
  • Iain's back in the workshop this week and featuring a car that regular viewers may have seen lurking in the background over several previous episode as it's been in for some time. Iain and his team have been gettting to the bottom of why this once mighty 80's Bahnstormer was no longer quite the beast it once was. Join Iain as he covers the history of the car and then explains the journey taken with this particular lovely example to restore it to its former glory, before a final road-test to check that everything is indeed in order.
    Thank you to everyone who has supported the channel by purchasing a hat or polo shirt through the store. For anyone else interested, you can visit Iain's store directly at:
    tyrrellsclassicworkshop.mysho...
    On mobile, you can shop directly through Iain's Instagram account at:
    / iain_tyrrell
    If you have any questions or problems purchasing (e.g. Shopify country restrictions) then please drop us an email at merchandise@iaintyrrell.co.uk and we will do everything we can to assist you.
    00:00 - Sponsors
    00:15 - Car history
    07:42 - Throttle linkage
    08:10 - KE-Jetronic fuel injection system
    09:07 - Plug chop
    10:08 - Exhaust system
    13:28 - Steering box adjustment
    15:51 - Seatbels
    16:35 - Roadtest
    26:15 - Outro
    This video was brought to you by Aston Lark - www.astonlark.com/tyrrellswor...
    Also brought to you by PM Classic - pmclassic.co.uk/
    Supported by Eurospares - www.eurospares.co.uk/
    Filmed and edited by Whipp3dCream - whipp3dcream.com/
    Interested in purchasing a classic car? Check out Iain's guides with Supercars Monaco - / @supercarsmonacotv7831
    Follow Iain on Instagram: / iain_tyrrell
    Follow Iain on Facebook: / iain-tyrrell-moments-2...
    ---
    IMAGE ATTRIBUTION:
    ilikewaffles11 (commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi..., „Ferrari Mondial Quattrovalvole (27077480052)“, crop by TCW, creativecommons.org/licenses/...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 692

  • @cuberjoe16
    @cuberjoe16 Рік тому +772

    Great to see my old car! I owned this exact car from 2006 to 2011. I would be embarrassed to say how little I sold it for! Also slightly embarrassed to say that I had the exhaust that Ian criticised fitted! It was a fast car, I hit 130mph with ease in it. I miss it, full of character, but I was skint at the time and I needed the money so it had to go. Thanks Ian, I never thought I would watch you review a car that I actually owned! Made my day!

    • @TBendez
      @TBendez Рік тому +21

      For such a tiny and improvised exhaust, it held up well during 11 years.

    • @dafalzonAUS
      @dafalzonAUS Рік тому +13

      Small world, I guess the owner after the repairs will receive more out of the car in performance and handling

    • @nuancepill8066
      @nuancepill8066 Рік тому +5

      Amazing! What’s the chances?! What year car is this?

    • @V8_screw_electric_cars
      @V8_screw_electric_cars Рік тому +2

      Is this a dual exhaust there's two pipes but connected to single muffler?

    • @pasquale78
      @pasquale78 Рік тому +6

      Wow that’s a great story!

  • @newsnowireland4028
    @newsnowireland4028 Рік тому +44

    Those Mercedes cars of that era are the best cars ever built in my opinion. Pure class.

    • @briancarton1804
      @briancarton1804 Рік тому +5

      They were great cars with style. Unfortunately Mercedes only make garbage now. Made to fall apart as soon as the warranty is out.

    • @marcelpatel9017
      @marcelpatel9017 8 місяців тому

      Lexus LS 400 & 430 are the greatest car ever to come off a production line. Period.

    • @Keckegenkai
      @Keckegenkai 8 місяців тому +1

      @@marcelpatel9017 These really want to have the same presence but they really dont have it as this coupe

  • @FrankValchiria
    @FrankValchiria Місяць тому +1

    this channel is an absolute gem

  • @literallyshaking8019
    @literallyshaking8019 Рік тому +14

    The greatest era of Mercedes. The build quality and design was spot on.

  • @joelhenderson4450
    @joelhenderson4450 Рік тому +59

    Bruno Sacco deserved a Nobel Prize for his design work at M-B. This car always reminds of the one old guy who had one in my hometown. It was a US spec, champagne over beige model, reeking of cigar smoke. I appreciate the cars despite that I wouldn’t have had one in the day.

    • @neilwalsh4058
      @neilwalsh4058 Рік тому +1

      Bruno Sacco designed the W140 S-Class , this is the coupe version of a W126 S-Class (C126)

    • @carloscanziani1644
      @carloscanziani1644 Рік тому +2

      @@neilwalsh4058 Bruno Sacco was the designer of the w126 sedan and coupe for your information. Cheers

  • @richardprice7763
    @richardprice7763 Рік тому +61

    My mate's dad had a 500 SEC and he took us out on the M3 back in about 1986 and got it up to 140mph. I have never been faster. That was a beast in the day and this 560 is even better...they built them properly back then.

  • @rustybearden1800
    @rustybearden1800 Рік тому +104

    This is my favorite era of MB - the muscular styling, the beautifully restrained interior and massive drivetrain and powerplant engineering- this era is absolutely the pinnacle of the MB auto design spectrum (in my opinion) - I just love the exterior styling and presence!

    • @craigmorgan4676
      @craigmorgan4676 Рік тому +1

      Agreed brother, what a car it was when it emerged on the motoring scene in the late eighties.U were a BOSS if u owned one,motoring perfection!💪💪💪👊👌👌

    • @ianmedium
      @ianmedium Рік тому +5

      Completely agree, the last of the hewed from rock Mercs!

    • @rustybearden1800
      @rustybearden1800 Рік тому +3

      @@ianmedium the new MBs are meh - 'cept the AMGs and they are pick and choose problematic

    • @rustybearden1800
      @rustybearden1800 Рік тому +2

      @@ianmedium wait til the repair bills and warranty issues start coming in with the EVs

  • @davidbarnes6410
    @davidbarnes6410 2 місяці тому +2

    I loved that era of Mercedes. They had a great style to it. Gee it pulls well and sounds great. The boy racer in me would love to hear more of it with an exhaust tweak 😊

  • @twainjones
    @twainjones Рік тому +48

    Iain has such a humble and likeable personality, and is so knowledgeable, that these videos are just a treat to watch! 👍👍 More, more, more!

  • @Hannu_H
    @Hannu_H Рік тому +14

    I am so so so sad that these cars are considered as classics these days. Ageless and timeless beauties, still cabable to run with modern counterparts. I would live to own one and be crazy enough to use it my daily driver. Again amazing episode of Tyrrell's Classic Workshop. One of my favorite UA-cam channels. ❤

  • @moyadapne968
    @moyadapne968 Рік тому +14

    As a mechanic, I sat in one, and when the seat belt butler snuck into my peripheral vision, I thought a black shiny alien was attacking me. Heart-stopping.

  • @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X
    @X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X Рік тому +16

    This is very close to 'the' perfect car. The best model built during the best time of perhaps the best car maker of them all.

  • @CiscosDisco22
    @CiscosDisco22 Рік тому +9

    Gotta be one of the most satisfying shows of its type on the internet. Thank you.

  • @julianbrown.
    @julianbrown. Рік тому +43

    Thank you, I have been waiting for a SEC video. Understated, solid and elegant coupes.

  • @clevelandaeromotive
    @clevelandaeromotive Рік тому +5

    Owned a 1987 560 SEC in the mid 90’s. Everything you’d talked about, handling, problems, power delivery when healthy, totally on point.

  • @rampanttwattery4844
    @rampanttwattery4844 Рік тому +8

    My Sunday evening just got a lot better 👌

  • @shanefoster7524
    @shanefoster7524 Рік тому +12

    Drove a 560 SEC AMG in 1991, the lady who owned it traded it in for a 911 Turbo. Her family built Meadowhall shopping centre. It was a lovely car. It was great to see someone move it around in the workshops and the seatbelt butler touch them on the shoulder! The salesman offered it to me for 20k-which was 2 years pay back then

    • @tomosorio7530
      @tomosorio7530 Рік тому +3

      I think that same lady has recently "recovered' Grantley Hall Hotel near Ripon, worth a visit if you have some spare cash.

    • @timothyking2248
      @timothyking2248 Рік тому +1

      Paul Sykes ex wife

  • @sorenklausbo5685
    @sorenklausbo5685 Рік тому +7

    I just love the Mercedes-Benz / Bruno Sacco 1980's! Still the most beautiful MB's ever made. Thanks for sharing this car Iain.

  • @arthurdardalis
    @arthurdardalis Рік тому +8

    This is the epitome of MB engineering, alas never to be seen again.
    In the 80’s this was THE car to have. The timeless styling is Saccos’s masterpiece
    Iain is so knowledgeable and yet so modest with it.
    Greetings from Greece!

  • @edgeyt1
    @edgeyt1 Рік тому +13

    Always loved the look of the SEC models.

  • @barrettwbenton
    @barrettwbenton Рік тому +6

    This proves how the "sweet-spot" cars often get ignored: something you can have fun with whenever you want, but can still hunker-down for the day-to-day needs of just-getting-around. You've definitely earned your keep (as usual) getting this one back in shape, but it's always an education to see just how much is involved in the process.

  • @Rinkydink73274
    @Rinkydink73274 Рік тому +10

    Love these cars,had a ride in a D reg 420sec in 1987 it was only a year old,blue with a blue interior so smooth and felt so fast compared to my dad's Sierra..🤣

  • @Desertduleler_88
    @Desertduleler_88 Рік тому +5

    I must admit l have a soft spot for classic Mercs, once again Ian you’ve done this car justice. Excellent review.

  • @wouterleenders
    @wouterleenders Рік тому +3

    Brings back memories of my old ‘89 126 500SEL, best MB I ever had, true kings of the road and a marvel of engineering and build quality

  • @thomassassen9174
    @thomassassen9174 Місяць тому +1

    I remember, here in Germany we called the wheels "Gullydeckel" which means sewer or mudhole cover and the car was the Zuhälterschleuder (Pimpride)....I used to have one in the 2000s when they were still affordable, but good ones are hard to find these days..

  • @busterboy7505
    @busterboy7505 Рік тому +5

    Thank you very much Mr Tyrrell, just bought a Mercedes C220 CDI Estate, it’s a 2013 model and we love it, 👍.

  • @jacoe2159
    @jacoe2159 Рік тому +10

    Great video. Such nice cars to enjoy. So glad you mentioned adjusting the tie rods to straighten the steering wheel- to keep the box centered. Too few people understand that!
    With that mileage the cam timing would be a few degrees off but still ok. And the tensioners getting brittle. Lots of life left in that car - my 500se is on 290000miles with unopened engine.

  • @GeorgesChannel
    @GeorgesChannel Рік тому +11

    Great episode as always. This car was considered one of the best engineered cars you could buy back then. And it pulls like a tank!

  • @cornishrider
    @cornishrider Рік тому +4

    Thanks! I was one of the Mercedes Nerds who requested a video on this a while back, it's great that you've done it.

  • @Isthatyoudermot
    @Isthatyoudermot Рік тому +5

    Great car. My boss had 1992 W124 230 in the convertible, coupe and the estate. They were all beautiful to drive. Faultless and effortless in all aspects of use. Also beautiful shape. The dashboard of the 560 and interior appointment reminds me of the smaller W124.
    The greatest style Era in my opinion.
    Thank you for the great video.

  • @garethgrundy8087
    @garethgrundy8087 Рік тому +3

    Proper car. We used to blast down the autoroutes to Frejus in the late 70's and through the 1980's. Was usually the S class Mercs stuck to the back bumper at 90+mph flashing the main beam because they just could not wait to get past 🤣 120mph in one of these feels like 70mph in a normal saloon car. Engineered like no other car...

  • @prophetate
    @prophetate Рік тому +2

    This era Mercedes S-Class are my favorites 😊❤️ remember in the 80’s seeing these on the Autobahn in Germany, in Monaco and in France ❤ these ones has stood the test of time 😍 this is the 560 SEC but I can settle for the more humble 500 SEL or SEC 😂😊 they are so beautiful❣️

  • @Shmee149
    @Shmee149 Рік тому +3

    That was a truly fantastic and useful episode. The segment of late 80's / Early 90's Mercedes videos is such unfulfilled on UA-cam, thank you again!

  • @SonnyFastSpeed
    @SonnyFastSpeed Рік тому +4

    Again, we received a great information package about the technology of that model and the small differences to other similar MB SEC versions.Thanks for the great ride!

  • @eeclass20
    @eeclass20 Рік тому +10

    A lovely car and one of my favs, the real rarity is the run out 560SE. I believe MB had surplus 560 engines as production wound down so just built a few standard wheelbase models. I also remember seeing at least one 560 estate appear for sale in Germany.

  • @oldgeordiegeezer3086
    @oldgeordiegeezer3086 Рік тому +4

    I had a beautiful 560 SEC in Abu Dhabi. A friend was leaving and needed to sell in a hurry, so I acquired it for a little over 3,000 pounds.
    I loved the fact that it was sleek and fast but so incredibly comfortable smooth to ride in.
    Of all the amazing tech inside it wasn't the fancy windows, or the fact it handed you your seatbelt that got me. I was most fascinated by being able to switch between the 2 different horns.
    I fell out of love with it when I did an online VIN check on it and found out that the VIN plate said it was supposed to be a 1979 VW Microbus.
    25 years later it's still one of the most amazing cars I have ever owned.

  • @robertwelburn
    @robertwelburn Рік тому +18

    Great video as always TCW. My all time favourite car! Perfect colour and interior too. Lucky owner.

  • @ploneuk
    @ploneuk 2 місяці тому +2

    Best looking Merc of all time.

  • @tonyd321
    @tonyd321 Рік тому +5

    My favorite car channel. Thanks again for making all these videos for me.

  • @mudkipsarekool
    @mudkipsarekool Рік тому +41

    This and Harrys Garage are my favourite car channels

    • @bolshevikproductions
      @bolshevikproductions Рік тому

      Harry the greedy old tosser

    • @tastypymp1287
      @tastypymp1287 Рік тому

      Definitely better than Mat Armstrong. What an utter unlikeable rat.

    • @dinispaulino7512
      @dinispaulino7512 Рік тому +1

      Mine too! More recently I have discovered "Kidd in a sweet shop", which has phenomenal car content as well.

    • @tastypymp1287
      @tastypymp1287 Рік тому +1

      @@dinispaulino7512 You mean Jodie Kidd.
      "Kidd in the sweet shop" I've never heard of. Jodie Kidd, we all know. Thanks for the tip.

    • @dinispaulino7512
      @dinispaulino7512 Рік тому +1

      @@tastypymp1287 Yes, it's her youtube channel.

  • @rjnation5042
    @rjnation5042 Рік тому +5

    The last of the over engineered big Merc coupes, always remember a black on black 560sec in Sydney when I was a young man, number plate DVADER, pretty sure the owner did something nefarious for a living, Rj in Oz

  • @AdamLeask
    @AdamLeask Рік тому +1

    I used to own a W126 420SEL and it was a weapon of a car. I remember my first overtaking manoeuvre back in period, and the sudden change down and burst in torque sent me into the weeds on the other side of the road. My father had a drive and accelerated before pulling out and we nearly rear-ended a tractor! Till this day we still joke about how we didn't expect such a large barge to hustle so quickly. Thanks for sharing this video Iain.

  • @gpdl4438
    @gpdl4438 Рік тому +5

    I remember on a famous italian magazine a test done by Michele Alboreto on the 500SEC upgraded by AMG (wich at time, was a separate entity from MB), and he was thrilled with the car.

  • @andrewcameron1346
    @andrewcameron1346 Рік тому +2

    I can only imagine the breadth and depth of knowledge housed in Ian’s brain. A wonderful way of explaining the intricacies of the mechanical world as well.
    Thank you Ian.

  • @stoneylonesome4062
    @stoneylonesome4062 Рік тому +1

    Love the euro-spec bumper and headlights with wipers, and the grill from the R107. Love how they actually tried to differentiate it from the Sedan and Estate.

  • @jeremylockey3220
    @jeremylockey3220 Рік тому +3

    Well that took me back, I was a Mercedes mechanic in the late 80's and these cars where soo much quicker than the 500s Sublime!

  • @lawrencerobbins8157
    @lawrencerobbins8157 Рік тому

    Sold mine this year after fifteen years of ownership. It was a match for the one in this video. My ownership had run it’s course as increasing traffic, cameras, and speed bumps in suburbia took the pleasure out of use. After seeing your video the pangs of regret have started.

  • @Rockape501
    @Rockape501 Рік тому +3

    I used to work for Gerrard Mann in Birmingham and used to work on these. The 560SEC was my absolute dream car...never did get one in the end, but settled for the much lower spec 230E

  • @drsnooz8112
    @drsnooz8112 3 місяці тому +2

    GREAT video. Thank you!

  • @gordonsimpson3235
    @gordonsimpson3235 Рік тому +2

    Excellent Iain. I have owned a couple of these years ago, and you are quite right, they are continent crushers.
    They were the darling of Grand Prix drivers back in the day, who mostly drove to the European circuits rather than the current trend of private jets. Most of them owned one of these and covered huge annual mileages in them too.

  • @ravipeiris4388
    @ravipeiris4388 11 місяців тому +2

    Truly, the high watermark of excellence relative to the disposable (i.e. high initial cost, unreliability, rapid depreciation, etc.) models Mercedes puts out today.

  • @martinboulden4388
    @martinboulden4388 Рік тому +12

    Great car, awesome video channel, and a fabulous presenter ! Thank you as I really enjoyed this episode.

  • @alexwilk99
    @alexwilk99 Рік тому +1

    For whatever reason every single video Ian does on a Mercedes is incredibly enticing & informative.

  • @lindaoffenbach
    @lindaoffenbach Рік тому +16

    These were/are justly fantastic. Specially as ‘Autobahnkreuzer’ on the most left lane, they were such a joy zooming over 220 km/h with utmost ease and without any limiter. Fabulous. Thank you for this wonderful upload for a Sunday’s evening.

    • @TheStefanskoglund1
      @TheStefanskoglund1 Рік тому +1

      Not any longer (unfortunately) most BMW will be faster.... so keep a sharp lookout to the rear while in the left-most lane.

    • @muckle8
      @muckle8 Рік тому +3

      @stefan skoglund back in 89/90 155 mph /250kmh + was a very big deal , yeah there were a few bmw,s that could do that too , also jaguars, Porsches and Audi,s Amongst others but it was warp speed then and
      still fast now!

    • @lindaoffenbach
      @lindaoffenbach Рік тому +1

      Indeed. Cruising at 220 km/h and still being overtaken by a Ferrari or Lambo as if I was standing still, lol. Such is not a rare experience...

    • @Mercmad
      @Mercmad Рік тому +1

      They were limited actually, through a simple switch in the speedo head,via white lead running to the OVP. By cutting that lead the speed limiter was disengaged.

    • @BanjoLuke1
      @BanjoLuke1 Рік тому

      Ha ha... Back on the late 80s and early 90s I would cross West Germany/Germany on an unfaired motorcycle by Autobahn. 110mph was a realistic maximum, with head tucked right down. Mirrors were useless at high speed, so I had to look backwards under my arm... Turning the head in the usual way would remove the visor. The cars that were usually approaching from behind at speed were Porsches and V8 Mercedes. There were others that sat at 130-150mph, but the great majority were from those two marques. Things may have changed now....

  • @ravington666
    @ravington666 Рік тому +4

    My request was more than fulfilled,, one of your best video's to date ! Thank you Sir

  • @Julianpms
    @Julianpms Рік тому +5

    I love the Bruno Sacco-designed Mercedes from the 80s and 90s. No SEC (yet ...) but I have been fortunate enough to own an SL 500 (R129) and a 190 E 2.6 (W201). I currently have an E420 (W124) with the 'small' 4.2-litre V8 and standard body, a complete sleeper.

    • @SavedbyHim
      @SavedbyHim Рік тому +1

      Wow what a great set of cars. never knew an E420 existed!

    • @cityoflights3808
      @cityoflights3808 Рік тому

      I had a 1993 400E that I loved very much. Amazing car and the m119 v8 was fantastic. It was not without issues however. Namely, it had vast low rpm torque and was very front heavy due to the v8; no traction control of course, so if the road was damp or there were some leaves you could find yourself doing a 360 while making a left hand turn or fish tailing out and doing a 180 going straight. Unlike its big brother, the 500e, the wheel arches were not flared so you could not put a wide and sticky enough tire on it to compensate. A few hundred pounds of sand in the trunk helped a bit.
      Second, I live in a hot climate and that v8 pit out a lot of heat in an engine bay designed for a v6. It never overheated as the cooling system was massive. However, all the plastics and rubber parts got baked and brittle very quickly. Indeed, it was worse after you parked as the heat from the engine did not vent and the temperature climbed. I took to opening the hood at home, but nothing you could do when out. The belt tensioner worked via giant rubber or elastomeric flange that disintegrated due to the heat like clock work every 18 months. The belt went every year. radiator hoses etc cracked if you looked at them. Vacuum tubes..and there were lots of those as the whole car used them for everything from door locks to engine management tended to get loose at the pressure connectors as the rubber bake . Engine mounts every three, spark plug wires the same. And it was hard to get to lots of things due to lack of space and the engine went back past the hood opening. The heat caused issues in the dual distributor caps too in the form of condensation forming inside the caps when parked, corroding the contacts and creating misfires.
      I finally sold it when the timing chain and transmission started making noise and acting up. It had just over 200k miles so both were due for replacement and at least a rebuild respectively The timing chain is a double wide beast that is not easy to roll in without special tools and required something like over 20 hours of labor to replace, in part because everything in front of it had to cone out due to lack of space. It is an interference engine and not for the faint of heart to get right. And if you don’t there goes your block. Oh yeah, the engine needed a main seal gasket replacement and head gaskets too, because, well it was old car in a lot of heat.
      Hated to get rid of it but the maintenance was getting to be not only super expensive but too annoying as well. I mean it was nice and is still my favorite carI have owned but it was not an SEL or w124 500e (tuned by Porsche) or anything.
      But man, any Mercedes after the w124 era seems like cheap junk when I get in one. Albeit junk with traction control, better abs and rack and pinion steering. For me, That w124 generation e class was the last great vintage by Mercedes (though the w124 interior was not as nice in many ways as the w123, even it it looked sleeker. I agree with Ian that the s class w140 was just too bloated. Though I came close to getting a 1996 600sel v12 until reason returned (those eras v12 was literally two v6 engines put together and could be super expensive to maintain as many of the systems were literally doubled.

    • @Julianpms
      @Julianpms Рік тому

      @@SavedbyHim It was only built in LHD. Most went to North America, but I live in France and bought a two-owner car originally sold new in Germany.

  • @750coda
    @750coda Рік тому +5

    Great video as always Ian 👍
    That F40 in the background, can we have a video on that please 🙏🙏🙏🙏

  • @daninwales1
    @daninwales1 Рік тому +2

    Finally! Finally we get to see this sec. Great video, thanks.

  • @muhammadzailani7313
    @muhammadzailani7313 Рік тому +19

    I just love seeing old experienced people explaining things. Real knowledge just spews out of them effortlessly. I love this channel. Great work Sir.

    • @tastypymp1287
      @tastypymp1287 Рік тому +6

      I didn't see any old people? Are you talking about the same channel?

    • @stringer-ik1pc
      @stringer-ik1pc Рік тому +1

      Europeans have invented everything in the modern world. I suppose you people can appreciate this more. Coming from where you do.

    • @muhammadzailani7313
      @muhammadzailani7313 Рік тому

      @@stringer-ik1pc what does this have to do with what I said in my comment?

  • @joaopombolopes7866
    @joaopombolopes7866 Рік тому +1

    Magnificent beast. One of my favourite cars ever. 40 years old & it still looks beautiful. And the built quality is superb.

  • @kostasvassiliadis9178
    @kostasvassiliadis9178 Рік тому +2

    It's not only the car but the preventer who makes the difference. I always enjoy your videos Iain. Regards from Greece.

  • @ruk2023--
    @ruk2023-- Рік тому +4

    Seat belt butler…I remember being 10 or 11 so 90 or 91 and going past a Mercedes and seeing the butler in action. I thought I must have imagined it for a good 15 years until I saw them on videos

  • @jefferysmith3930
    @jefferysmith3930 Рік тому +3

    What a car! What a noise! Just a treat to watch.

  • @georgezahorcak7764
    @georgezahorcak7764 Рік тому +8

    Thanks for the great ride. Enjoyed hearing your solutions to make the car a driver again.

  • @denseljosephs9500
    @denseljosephs9500 Рік тому +16

    I uses to deliver car's in the early 90s I was lucky enough to drive one of these sleepers I'll never forget how the whole car rocked when I blipped the throttle. Epic

  • @miamimo70
    @miamimo70 Рік тому +6

    Fabulous car, I cried when my dad sold our F reg 500SEC black on black, many moons ago..

  • @matiasnappi
    @matiasnappi Рік тому +1

    Thank you for this video, after watching it I had my mechanic check my 560 sec' accelerator linkage : came out my car had same problem as yours, I had it fixed, it now is a completely different car ! Thank you very much !

  • @christopherprose3881
    @christopherprose3881 Рік тому

    I believe one of these models holds the records for the most parts used in one car: 666,000, if I remember right. It might have been a later version, not sure. Still, this generation of M-Bs will never be seen again. They were over-engineered and overbuilt, meant to last a million miles and not fall apart right after the warranty expires like most modern M-Bs. The design is a classic too, still holds up even today. I drove a sedan version of this car (the S-series) and was awed. It surged ahead like a tidal wave and was whisper-quiet the entire time. A fantastic cruiser, you can take these cars on long drives and never get tired of being behind the wheel.

  • @PixelSchnitzel
    @PixelSchnitzel Рік тому +7

    I bet that owner feels like he just got a brand new car. Awesome!

  • @KeiranDavie
    @KeiranDavie Рік тому +3

    My favourite bit of the video 20:23
    Now I want an 80’s V8 Merc

  • @tylerlange4949
    @tylerlange4949 Рік тому

    I've been waiting for Iain to present us with a W126/C126. The 560SEC is one of my dream cars. A friend had a euro-spec example and is was the first Mercedes-Benz that I ever drove. I never understood what "build quality" meant until I drove this car. It was 20 years old and felt like a new car. One of the Best. Thanks Iain.

  • @BanjoLuke1
    @BanjoLuke1 Рік тому +1

    Brian Sewell, an art historian and critic, had one of these for many years and drove it on one of his roving documentaries. A very cle er man and an excellent writer, if slightly waspish at times. It brought a smile to see him driving a 560 coupé. He enjoyed excellent things and he drove an excellent car.

  • @simonc4810
    @simonc4810 Рік тому

    I lived in Germany as a kid in the 1980’s and the sight of the S-class, and to a lesser degree the BMW 7-series, made every autobahn journey interesting. Back then, no speed limits meant a noisy, temperature-gauge-scrutinised, real-world 80-odd mph for the vast majority of cars (the magic 100mph or 160kmh was achievable for plenty of cars but definitely not easy or quick to reach). Even Golf GTi’s clearly knew their place in the pecking order! The odd 6-cylinder 3-Series BMW would venture into the big league of constant left-lane high-speed cruising but they clearly had an issue with rapid throttle closure from high speed because many headed straight to the hard shoulder in clouds of burnt oil immediately after being forced to halve their speed by an inconsiderate truck pulling out. The really memorable sight though, partly due to rarity but also due to styling and a bit of national pride, was the occasional Jag XJ12 reminding everyone that it’s not a 2-horse race.

  • @TheMoistpotato
    @TheMoistpotato Рік тому +6

    Great video Iain
    Some info about the difference between the US spec M117 and euro spec engine.
    The US spec did have the dual intake filter box runners, but only the 560 model. The 420's and 380's only had the single plenum intake box.
    US spec engines had these terrible exhaust manifolds where it consolidated the left and right hand manifolds then down in a single down pipe with Catalytic converter. This was unfortunately a serious restriction in the exhaust system, and killed performance.
    Euro engines had proper dual down exhaust manifolds (commonly called euro logs). This 560 doesn't have the stock standard euro manifolds, it has what is called "tri-y" which is a special spec manifold for the "ECE/RUF" model cars. They are basically the ultimate setup for the M117, and have a price associated with trying to score a set. The AMG "TRI-Y's" of the period are also extremely rare to get a hold of and are of similar design (tubular vs the factory style casted TRI-Y's"). They can seriously liven up one of these engines when installed.
    US spec engines also had lower compression pistons, and different cam profile to help meet the emissions standards in NA. The euro cars had more aggressive ignition timing profiles to help performance.
    All these changes are the reason why euro M117 (w126/c126) cars can be a very spicy and fun car to drive on the hwy.
    One of the things Ian touched on which i couldn't agree more is, a lot of these cars have had so much improper tinkering and adjustment on the throttle and transmission linkages that it gets everything out of sync, reducing performance and improper transmission shift points that can seriously kill any performance the car could of had. The Bosh KE-jetronic systems (mechanical efi these later 126's have) have a full throttle enrichment switch that is only activated obviously at full throttle. When engaged, you can really feel the extra power from a richer fuel mixture. KE-jetronics were not suited towards performance, and were always designed to run relatively lean/economical. That extra few points of enrichment really makes a difference to full throttle acceleration. It should be activated at full throttle, but before kickdown switch engagement behind the pedal.
    The transmissions (722.350 for the 560's), can be tuned to have near perfect shift points, great kickdown performance, and firm shifts. Which considering they were non electronic transmissions, can be very impressive.
    Another awesome vid for the 126 cars! Thanks Iain!

    • @tastypymp1287
      @tastypymp1287 Рік тому

      What do I do with that information?

    • @TheMoistpotato
      @TheMoistpotato Рік тому +2

      @@tastypymp1287 Absolutely nothing if you dont own or plan to own one of these

    • @MercSLRFan
      @MercSLRFan 3 дні тому

      @@TheMoistpotato But for those of us do it's practically erotica. Thanks

  • @andysalter4473
    @andysalter4473 Рік тому

    My Dad's cousin had the 560 SEL from New in 85' and kept it for 15 years. It was a beast of a car and sill is the fastest car I have been in.
    Another great video.

  • @cam2794
    @cam2794 4 місяці тому +1

    What a beautiful Mercedes, Top German Engineering!

  • @KRAZEEIZATION
    @KRAZEEIZATION Рік тому +1

    I had one in Arizona in 2009 for over two weeks. What an amazing car. Hated saying goodbye to it.

  • @garnitan2706
    @garnitan2706 Рік тому +1

    Always so much to learn from these videos. Thank you!

  • @hydorah
    @hydorah Рік тому +3

    I remember the time when these were worth nowt and folks were just driving them letting the rot so its thing and not keeping up on oil changes! Mad really. They were excellent and still are. Always worth looking after properly and they don't demand too much upkeep. Very solidly engineered

  • @merlinzipp
    @merlinzipp Рік тому +2

    It is the same colors inside and out as my '91 350SD. which we bought new and still have with 110K miles on the odometer. These are special automobiles. Like a Swiss watch, it doesn't matter how old it is if it has been well maintained.

  • @markstott8864
    @markstott8864 11 місяців тому +1

    I’m sure the owner was over the moon to get the car back and working as it should . Great information Iain . Your wealth of knowledge knows no boundaries. Great video again . Thank you.

  • @andybrimer8216
    @andybrimer8216 Рік тому +3

    Great as always and why I look forward to these coming out. Additionally, I really hope a vid is coming on that F40 behind it

  • @fastmmw
    @fastmmw Рік тому +3

    I have always loved this model. Thank you.

  • @SimonWallwork
    @SimonWallwork 2 місяці тому +2

    Lovely!

  • @93455Driver
    @93455Driver Рік тому +1

    Good coffee and a Tyrell Classic video, great way to start the day. Amazing how many old Mercs are pottering around the world, testament to the engineering.

  • @ArchimedeanEye
    @ArchimedeanEye Рік тому +2

    One of a few 80s cars that is designed beautifully.

  • @woodendoorgarage
    @woodendoorgarage Рік тому +3

    The Tri-Y exhaust manifolds with the stainless exhaust sounds great.
    The steering box adjustment looks very accessible on RHD W126. It is nightmare on LHD C107 with V8 engines. I will see this winter if loosening the engine mounts and lifting the engine few centimeters makes the difference.

  • @lamarw9901
    @lamarw9901 Рік тому +1

    Lovely video. My grandmother had a W123 and her brother had a couple of different R107s. MB was so well engineered. I was lucky to drive the W123 but the R107s were gone by the time I was driving age. The W123 was a slow 240D but solid as rock. Every switch and input was well engieered. My Uncle traveled for work and my father was always more than willing to help get the R107 flavor of the year to the next location if the chance or excuse could be thought up.
    American hot rodders refer to the style of exhaust as Tri Y. Doug Thourley is most known for the design on V8s but Pfadt has made versions for Corvettes. The 97-04 Corvette mufflers are similar to the 560. Corsa is known for being quiet in side the car, if you need to adapt something. Always enjoy seeing the engineering behind great cars, C126 or the F40 :) in the backgound.

  • @markkerry5840
    @markkerry5840 Рік тому +1

    Simply wonderful Ian ! Thank you.

  • @desertwindauh
    @desertwindauh Рік тому

    Thank you for the video of one of my favorite Mercedes Benz cars. I learnt more from your video than I have from most of the other related videos on this model. Do keep it up.

  • @graham6229
    @graham6229 Рік тому +1

    A real monster from the 80's. My 2004 V8 5 litre Mercedes also pack as punch and very smoothly. Beautiful engines.

  • @paulelverstone8677
    @paulelverstone8677 Рік тому +1

    Glorious. I'm not Mercedes' biggest fan but I do love a pillarless coupe...

  • @komradkolonel
    @komradkolonel Рік тому +2

    This was my favorite era of Mercedes. Way back when I was in high school one of the cars I would have loved to have as a daily driver was a 560 SEL. These were very simple and straightforward. You could do a lot of work on them yourself. Mercedes built now are computerized/electronic nightmares.

  • @ideal1968
    @ideal1968 Рік тому

    The power comes from below and goes evenly up. It is a pleasure to drive these engines.

  • @lehlogonolomashego929
    @lehlogonolomashego929 Рік тому

    Thank you so much for this video. This car reminds me of my high school days and it remains my favorite Mercedes even today.

  • @ruutbianchi4358
    @ruutbianchi4358 4 місяці тому +1

    One of the last real Mercedes' Benz cars. Very good build quality. Again very interesting video, although it's not one of my favourites, only a handful of Mercs actually! It does prove the beauty of a very well build premium class analogue car! Thans for sharing, Iain!

  • @simonhodgetts6530
    @simonhodgetts6530 Рік тому +1

    Another brilliantly presented video! Thanks!

  • @dehaviland7645
    @dehaviland7645 Рік тому +1

    Awesome as always.
    Absolutely love the W126 and W107

  • @jamesrobert4106
    @jamesrobert4106 Рік тому

    The best car channel on UA-cam by a mile.

  • @steffydog
    @steffydog Рік тому +2

    Always a great video, loved it, thank you for sharing this with us