Volksy Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Just round the corner from the VolksFossils is a W126 Merc in 300SE flavour. It's a local car that I remember from my yoof being driven around by an elderly lady, It's full on '80s AMG kitted, with the BBS wheels, junkman approved interior and other bits and pieces. It's been stood for a VERY long time, and is covered in moss etc. The house has just gone on the market, so I called the estate agents to see if they would pass a message on to the vendor. They seemed quite keen, as in their opinion it's causing an issue with the sale of the property, so are keen to get it shifted. Anyway, yesterday I received a phone call from the owner, who is interested in selling. I know these rot like buggery, and the 6 pots are not the most desirable version. But I love the 80's LA Drug peddler/Despot style. I'm thinking it's not worth much more than scrap, and I havent had a poke around underneath as yet. Now I have the owners permission I'll be doing that tomorrow when I visit the VolksFossils. Any pointers or advice? nacho man 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince70 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 The house looks lovely as I love a 1930s but I can't offer any more advice on the Merc which also looks great apart from buy the house and try and get the Merc for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Either they'll virtually pay you to take it away or they'll want the earth. It's worth a fair bit in parts, if lowball them £500 on it if they are desperate, if it's fucked you'll at the very least double your money breaking it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dome Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Buy it! 2 randoms please... Cavcraft and binhoker668 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Do these not do the disappearing rear parcel shelf trick?Nice ones aren't worth an awful lot but as said if it's got an AMG body kit and wheels thats got to be worth something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike60 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I think SECs are worse for rear screen rot, Saloons tend to be under the battery tray and where the front suspension guide rod anchors at the back of the front arch. I have a 1989 200k one which spent 7 years parked on a farm and it's ok for it's years, I wouldn't say they rot like buggery, the survivors seem to vastly outnumber BMW/etc rivals from the same years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike60 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Untaxed for 12 years and either the old dear was a low rider fan or it's a bit shagged at the front, Merc springs often break when parked or unloaded, -mine snapped one when on axle stands! It's not worth much unless as a breaker and wheels are different offset to modern Mercs or W124. If it's an SEL and you get it I have a genuine MB exhaust centre section available.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 The bad guys always drove these on Miami Vice. spike60, Brodders, Junkman and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spike60 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 The bad guys always drove these on Miami Vice.Not to mention Saddam Hussain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dome Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I looked at one that was in similar condition a few years ago. It would be a brave, brave man who tried to get this back on the road. Still, fortune favours the brave and if it was cheap enough it could worth a punt... I have the proper tool for doing the front springs on these-it's a spring clamp that clamps internally. I did one spring on my w124 and it was so traumatic I swore never to do it again. gordonbennet and djimbob 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sierraman Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I'll be honest I wouldn't even attempt to get it running, I'd either make a quick turn on EBay on it or I'd strip it for spares. Make a bit of cash on it to spend on something viable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Reverend Bluejeans Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Drive before you buy. They really are bloody awful to drive, esp. the 300SE. XJ40 and E32 are so vastly superior. Pete-M and alf892 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omegod Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I looked at one of these and the vendor was adamant that expanding foam and fibreglass were an adequate way to construct a front bulkhead somewhatfoolish 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 Looking at running ones on the bay and C&C, they don't go for a lot running and in half decent condition. It is lowered from when I remember if cruising around the area. So may not have popped its springs. Tyres are flat which isn't helping! Seems a shame! Do they drive that badly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schaefft Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Save it, even if its just for the sake of not letting it end up in the scrapyard! Would be interesting to hear more about its condition, even if its entirely made out of rot you can still get your money back by selling parts to other enthusiasts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggy Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I'd be tempted to offer to take it away for nothing. Lord Sterling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanImp Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I'll weld it up if you do the mechanical bits on mine.... strangeangel, The Moog and binhoker668 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 I'll weld it up if you do the mechanical bits on mine.... All of them?? The Moog and HillmanImp 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cort16 Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Just don't ask him to bring the jump leads. somewhatfoolish, HillmanImp and The Moog 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HillmanImp Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 All of them??Depends how much welding. Look at it this way, you normally get roped into mending my cars once I feck it up anyhow, this way you get some free welding too. The Moog and Volksy 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 My friend with a Morgan bought a mint F reg 60,000 300se from a woman who worked in the French embassy for decades. It was £1600. The only problem with it was the sunroof was stuck and would only lift up and not retract. The main issues with the 300 are the distributor which sits right behind the rad and seems to get damp when left standing. Look at this- high cost luxury and a lw/mw radio! This was at the first fettling weekend when i crawled under it to check for rust. There wasn't any apart from one very small spot on one of the front legs. Wire brushed it back to metal, kurested and undersealed over the 50p size lump. The chrome bumper inserts though were very flaky and rusted away underneath. Left them as is, after a quick spray with kurust as new ones are a fortune.This is his daily replacing the 56 reg E class which had rust on every panel.At the time of buying he had a rubber bumper mgb ( in photo) but the next month pxed it for the Morgan. Volksy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 The main issues with the 300 are the distributor which sits right behind the rad and seems to get damp when left standing. Same issue as with this motor in the W124 and R129. Virtually a service item. Though I think Volksy may have other concerns... Volksy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richardmorris Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Same issue as with this motor in the W124 and R129. Virtually a service item. Though I think Volksy may have other concerns... Pessimist! chaseracer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sterling Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I am supremely jealous. A black W126 (along with the W140) are my dream cars. A W126 with an 80s body kit is even more my dream. I've been watching Miami Vice recently which has contributed to this. warren t claim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorfolkNWeigh Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I used to love driving these when new, even though compared to an e32 or xj40 they felt almost vintage.But those big bouncy seats, giant wheel and the way the nose lifts under acceleration always made me smile, even the 300s go well, much quicker than you'd expect. Saying all that, I wouldn't want to pay more than a couple of hundred quid for that one, the AMG shite and low stance make the little old lady history a bit dubious. Seems unlikely a 300 with cloth would have had that fitted from new, so somewhere along the line it's been molested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I loved my w124 with the 300 einspritzung engine. Never a moment's bother. Lovely lazy engine that can hitch its skirt up when provoked. If you can, you should. chaseracer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaseracer Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Agreed. I did. Cost me a bloody fortune while I had it, but it was all worth it when that lovely straight-six climbed onto the cam at about 4000... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volksy Posted July 22, 2017 Author Share Posted July 22, 2017 I used to love driving these when new, even though compared to an e32 or xj40 they felt almost vintage.But those big bouncy seats, giant wheel and the way the nose lifts under acceleration always made me smile, even the 300s go well, much quicker than you'd expect. Saying all that, I wouldn't want to pay more than a couple of hundred quid for that one, the AMG shite and low stance make the little old lady history a bit dubious. Seems unlikely a 300 with cloth would have had that fitted from new, so somewhere along the line it's been molested. It's had 4 owners according to the HPi check I did, but the last one since 1995. The chap selling it has some sentimental attachment to it, as it was his mothers car, and as mentioned I do remember a tiny elderly Indian lady piloting it about way back when. Interior fabric is grey velour, which I think you can just see in the pics. I was thinking of offering a couple of hundred, as mentioned, even when 'on the road' they don't go for a lot. I'll view it tomorrow and take a load of pics. Although, the main problem will be where to keep the bloody thing, The VolksFossils garage is a possibility, and 200 yds away, but I doubt it'll fit in!Alternativley, I may be able to 'hide it' in the work compound on Death row. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BorniteIdentity Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 Agreed. I did. Cost me a bloody fortune while I had it, but it was all worth it when that lovely straight-six climbed onto the cam at about 4000...This is the reason to buy it. An absolute wolfcry is your reward for stabbing it. Sonically marvellous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cavcraft Posted July 22, 2017 Share Posted July 22, 2017 I wouldn't be in a huge rush to offer much more than £350 for it. It'll be ripe as a pear and some of the 'AMG' wheels are either bloody horrible, or cheap replicas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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