Is it the collective wisdom that the 560SEL with less than 120K miles and all service records is a reliable car? Will the doo-dads break repeatedly, or will this car go a long time without several big surprises for a few years? Was _this_ when Mercedes was reliable, or was that Winston Churchill's car ;-).
Are the cars generall still safe at out-west speeds (75-95MPH)?
These were the last of the engineer-designed, hand-built and hand finished cars, from an era before the accountants came to rule the roost. At least, that's what most 126 owners (like myself) would say!
Practically speaking, they are very well made and designed cars and can have exceptional durability IF they have been maintained properly. Engines CAN last 300,000 miles. The most important things are regular maintenance with oil and fluid changes and if yours has been serviced correctly the car should be reliable and a joy to own.
Having said all this it is still an older car. Make sure the bodywork is excellent as refinishing it to the original high standard can be very expensive. Make sure the engine sounds quiet and that the interior is not worn as interior parts can be expensive or hard to get hold of. Make sure all the electric or electronic equipment fitted works correctly, as the switches can fail. Check the cruise control, as these were always problematic.
Don't forget that these cars are quite heavy on tyres, and fuel! They demand correct maintenance but can last for a very long time if treated properly. At 120,000 miles with a good service history, provided you check it carefully, this could be a very nice buy.
Speed wise, the car would be unperturbed by the speeds you mention! Mine will cruise at well over 100 MPH with no difficulty or apparent effort. The top speed of a 560 is around 150MPH or so, and they were built for very rapid, quiet and comfortable travel on the Autobahn.
Good luck. Let us know more about the car (condition, cost) for a better analysis.
Al Bolton, G4VSQ
1990 Mercedes 500SE 127,000 miles
Are the cars generall still safe at out-west speeds (75-95MPH)? ___________________________________________ At 120 MPH these cars are just starting to run. They were built for the
140+ mph speeds of the Autobahn. At those speeds the 560s drive and handle better than most American cars at 85 mph.MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.