I am selling my 1988 Mercedes 300SE W126 S-Class.
Key facts:
11 Months MOT (no advisories)
1580000 miles
telephone is O7875 I226I3
I've owned the car for 14 months, I had planned on keeping it for a long time (had my other car for 15 years). I purchased the car with aspirations to use it for family holidays and road trips to Europe. The reality though is that with a 4 month old baby I just don't have time to enjoy it and we use our other car which has isofix for baby things, so it will be better use to someone else than sitting not being enjoyed. The car hasn't given me any problems and the parts I have changed are just preventative maintenance and general servicing. Insurance is really cheap, at 32 with no NCB it was around £120. The car is the most comfortable I've driven for long periods of time, I have completed 4 hour drives in comfort which newer prestigious cars give me back ache.
The specifications are as below
Model 300 SE
Engine 103981 22 053594
Transmission 722319 03 075844
Order Number 0 8 537 25510
Order Location GREAT BRITAIN
Interior LEATHER - BEIGE (275)
Paint 1 SMOKE SILVER METALLIC (702U)
Approx. Build Date 1988-03
Code Description
238 CITY DRIVE LIGHT FOR GREAT BRITAIN
286 LUGGAGE NETS ON DRIVER RESTS L AND R
341 ADDITIONAL BLINKER LAMPS
362 RHD VEHICLES AS PER EC REGULATIONS (CONTROL CODE)
412 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF WITH TILTING DEVICE
420 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-GEAR
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
507 OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR, LEFT AND RIGHT, HEATED (ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE ON THE RIGHT)
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
543 SUN VISOR WITH VANITY MIRROR, ILLUMINATED, LEFT AND RIGHT
574 FRONT FOLDING ARMREST AND LEFT FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
584 ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT AND REAR DOORS)
592 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, BAND FILTER
615 LAMP UNIT, ASYMMETRICAL L.H. TRAFFIC, AND FRONT AND REAR DOOR COURTESY LAMPS
640 15-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
731 WOOD TRIM, BURRED WALNUT ROOT
During my ownership I have serviced the car myself, the below have all been done within the past 12 months/3500 miles:
Shell Helix ultra oil and filter
Air filter
6 x Bosch Super spark plugs
New Nissens Radiator with built in transmission cooler
New transmission cooler pipes
Head unit rewired and 4 x alpine speakers
New electric ariel
Stainless steel exhaust
Condition:
Exterior
The car is in good condition, the photographs speak for themselves, the chrome work is all in excellent order with the previous owner replacing many parts are considerable cost. The paintwork is excellent and shines very nicely when cleaned, the car was previously a concours car in the Mercedes club (provenance included in history) there are a few small chips from stones and unfortunately a graze on the rear bumper which I am not proud to say I did myself (visible in photo 2). The wheels ideally need to be repainted as the paint is a bit flaky in places. I have pressed plates fitted but I do have the original dealer plates if you wish to refit them. Unfortunately the rear arches have a couple of small bubbles forming and the lips of the inner wings have also gone a bit crusty. This has remained the same since I purchased the car and doesn't detract too badly from the overall appearance. There is also a small area of bubbling around the indicator on the front wing.There are some 'retro' cold stream guards stickers on the windows, the previous owner told me that it was once owned by one of the beef eaters that guard the Tower of London.
Interior:
The cars interior is in very good order with minimal wear visible to the drivers seat and center arm rest. The wood work is all in good order with no de-lamination or cracking. The passenger seat is a little softly sprung, I have a reconditioned seat base that I need to fit which will resolve this, I just haven't got round to it yet. I also have the additional foam supports from the w124 which help in giving the seat a little more firmness if desired. I have the original radio, sadly its not a Becker. The speakers were broken and the wiring was all over the shop when I first got the car, I had the wiring fixed and also added 4 new alpine speakers which now sound much better. Inside everything electric works fine, the sunroof works in both positions, windows go down, steering column adjusts etc. The car is a fairly basic specification with manual climate control and no air conditioning, which is a moot point as all of the cars I went to look at that had AC it didn't work anyway. My thoughts were less to go wrong. The car also benefits from remote central locking and an immobilizer which functions correctly.
Mechanically
The engine runs very nicely and is smooth, there is no smoke and the engine does not burn any oil. Oil pressure sits in the correct place at 1.5 at idle and 3.0 whilst driving, I tend to see 24mpg on average. This weekend I took the car to Norfolk for Easter which is a 300 mile round trip and it behaved faultlessly, in fact, I only ever use it for long journeys, normally to London which again is 250 mile round trip and i have the utmost confidence in its reliability. The transmission changes smoothly and kicks down when required, the sport or normal button functions correctly if you need to over take anyone lesser than you it will hold the revs for longer and kick down sooner.
I installed a new radiator as I found a small pin prick hole, whilst the radiator was out I also changed the transmission cooler pipes as they were looking a little corroded and I felt it was safer to do it now. There are a couple of jobs that do need doing, the front passenger ARB bush is worn and as such makes a clonk over some larger bumps, I have genuine Mercedes ones to fit but I haven't had time as of yet. Now, controversially I replaced the rotten exhaust with a stainless steel one made by Custom Chrome in Nuneaton who have an excellent reputation. Just don't tell the Mercedes owners club!
Key facts:
11 Months MOT (no advisories)
1580000 miles
telephone is O7875 I226I3
I've owned the car for 14 months, I had planned on keeping it for a long time (had my other car for 15 years). I purchased the car with aspirations to use it for family holidays and road trips to Europe. The reality though is that with a 4 month old baby I just don't have time to enjoy it and we use our other car which has isofix for baby things, so it will be better use to someone else than sitting not being enjoyed. The car hasn't given me any problems and the parts I have changed are just preventative maintenance and general servicing. Insurance is really cheap, at 32 with no NCB it was around £120. The car is the most comfortable I've driven for long periods of time, I have completed 4 hour drives in comfort which newer prestigious cars give me back ache.
The specifications are as below
Model 300 SE
Engine 103981 22 053594
Transmission 722319 03 075844
Order Number 0 8 537 25510
Order Location GREAT BRITAIN
Interior LEATHER - BEIGE (275)
Paint 1 SMOKE SILVER METALLIC (702U)
Approx. Build Date 1988-03
Code Description
238 CITY DRIVE LIGHT FOR GREAT BRITAIN
286 LUGGAGE NETS ON DRIVER RESTS L AND R
341 ADDITIONAL BLINKER LAMPS
362 RHD VEHICLES AS PER EC REGULATIONS (CONTROL CODE)
412 ELECTRIC SLIDING ROOF WITH TILTING DEVICE
420 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 4-GEAR
430 HEADREST IN THE REAR, LEFT AND RIGHT
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
507 OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR, LEFT AND RIGHT, HEATED (ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE ON THE RIGHT)
524 PAINTWORK - PRESERVATION
543 SUN VISOR WITH VANITY MIRROR, ILLUMINATED, LEFT AND RIGHT
574 FRONT FOLDING ARMREST AND LEFT FRONT SEAT WITH SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
584 ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT AND REAR DOORS)
592 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS, ALL-AROUND, HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, BAND FILTER
615 LAMP UNIT, ASYMMETRICAL L.H. TRAFFIC, AND FRONT AND REAR DOOR COURTESY LAMPS
640 15-HOLE LIGHT ALLOY RIMS
731 WOOD TRIM, BURRED WALNUT ROOT
During my ownership I have serviced the car myself, the below have all been done within the past 12 months/3500 miles:
Shell Helix ultra oil and filter
Air filter
6 x Bosch Super spark plugs
New Nissens Radiator with built in transmission cooler
New transmission cooler pipes
Head unit rewired and 4 x alpine speakers
New electric ariel
Stainless steel exhaust
Condition:
Exterior
The car is in good condition, the photographs speak for themselves, the chrome work is all in excellent order with the previous owner replacing many parts are considerable cost. The paintwork is excellent and shines very nicely when cleaned, the car was previously a concours car in the Mercedes club (provenance included in history) there are a few small chips from stones and unfortunately a graze on the rear bumper which I am not proud to say I did myself (visible in photo 2). The wheels ideally need to be repainted as the paint is a bit flaky in places. I have pressed plates fitted but I do have the original dealer plates if you wish to refit them. Unfortunately the rear arches have a couple of small bubbles forming and the lips of the inner wings have also gone a bit crusty. This has remained the same since I purchased the car and doesn't detract too badly from the overall appearance. There is also a small area of bubbling around the indicator on the front wing.There are some 'retro' cold stream guards stickers on the windows, the previous owner told me that it was once owned by one of the beef eaters that guard the Tower of London.
Interior:
The cars interior is in very good order with minimal wear visible to the drivers seat and center arm rest. The wood work is all in good order with no de-lamination or cracking. The passenger seat is a little softly sprung, I have a reconditioned seat base that I need to fit which will resolve this, I just haven't got round to it yet. I also have the additional foam supports from the w124 which help in giving the seat a little more firmness if desired. I have the original radio, sadly its not a Becker. The speakers were broken and the wiring was all over the shop when I first got the car, I had the wiring fixed and also added 4 new alpine speakers which now sound much better. Inside everything electric works fine, the sunroof works in both positions, windows go down, steering column adjusts etc. The car is a fairly basic specification with manual climate control and no air conditioning, which is a moot point as all of the cars I went to look at that had AC it didn't work anyway. My thoughts were less to go wrong. The car also benefits from remote central locking and an immobilizer which functions correctly.
Mechanically
The engine runs very nicely and is smooth, there is no smoke and the engine does not burn any oil. Oil pressure sits in the correct place at 1.5 at idle and 3.0 whilst driving, I tend to see 24mpg on average. This weekend I took the car to Norfolk for Easter which is a 300 mile round trip and it behaved faultlessly, in fact, I only ever use it for long journeys, normally to London which again is 250 mile round trip and i have the utmost confidence in its reliability. The transmission changes smoothly and kicks down when required, the sport or normal button functions correctly if you need to over take anyone lesser than you it will hold the revs for longer and kick down sooner.
I installed a new radiator as I found a small pin prick hole, whilst the radiator was out I also changed the transmission cooler pipes as they were looking a little corroded and I felt it was safer to do it now. There are a couple of jobs that do need doing, the front passenger ARB bush is worn and as such makes a clonk over some larger bumps, I have genuine Mercedes ones to fit but I haven't had time as of yet. Now, controversially I replaced the rotten exhaust with a stainless steel one made by Custom Chrome in Nuneaton who have an excellent reputation. Just don't tell the Mercedes owners club!
