It’s been a long time coming. For a while now I’ve been hankering for another Mercedes-Benz W126, and even featured my ‘hunt’ for number 5 some time ago. Having scoured the online classifieds like Carlist.my and Mudah.my, it was proving fruitless. Till I took my own advice…
In Part 1 of this hunt, I chronicled the difference between buying a car like this from a used-car dealer (UCD) and a private seller, and surmised that whenever possible, always buy from the latter. In the time following that first article, I’ve visited no less than half a dozen UCD’s and an almost equal number of private sellers in my quest to obtain that elusive W126 Sonderklasse numero #5; and guess what’s changed? Nothing.
Of the 6 or so UCD’s that I called and visited who’d advertised a W126 for sale, would you believe, there was not a single one who could impart even a modicum of history in regards to the car they were trying to sell? Believe it. Oft times relegated to the back-end of the fore-court yard where the dumpsters are, these W126’s were in a terrible state. Unloved, neglected and left to rot out in the open without so much as a tarp to shield them from the harsh elements, they were what I refer to as ‘the forgotten’. Case in point, one UCD that I called up could not recall that he had one for sale!
I’d just about given up hope – after all this quest had been going on almost two years already – when all of a sudden, inexplicably, something weird happened. Ironically, in the first part of this series, the same private seller whose black W126 300SE I’d gone to see (the two photos above), had acquired a W126 280SE over a year ago, just for its rather ‘lucky’ 2-digit registration number. Already having three W126’s in his possession (he’s even crazier than I am), this newly acquired 280SE would have probably been scrapped and used for parts once the registration was successfully transferred to a new vehicle; typically a ‘kapchai’ if one intends to ‘keep’ a special number for later use. I only had these 2 photos which he sent me to go on:
Hardly inspiring I have to say, but nonetheless I went and had a look at the car of course, and apart from the usual wear and tear associated with prolonged non-use (it had been sitting outside for the better part of over a year) the body looked in remarkably good condition, with minimal body rust.
The ‘lines’ were straight indicating a possibly accident-free car, the doors opened and closed with reassuring ease, and the interior – especially the wood trim and other bits – was in better shape than most of the units I’d gone to see at the various UCD’s. It was painted a handsome metallic silver with leather interior, but sporting 15-inch alloy wheels from a W124, and that’s when something clicked…
A few months ago I’d spied a set of gorgeous 16-inch AMG alloys at a workshop I frequent (below), and I recall saying to myself ‘If only I still had a W126, these would look amazing on that model’. So I decided to test fate. Visiting the same shop a few days later, I inquired about those AMG alloys, for at the back of my mind, if they were still un-sold and available, (very unlikely) I’d have to take that as a sign from the Car-Gods. Well ‘lo and behold, yes they were. It was time to take things to the next level…
I arranged a second viewing of the silver 280SE and on this occasion, it was time to bring the car back to life. Here’s the clincher. Having been left idle for more than a year, we fitted a battery, poured in some oil into the engine, and cranked her up, fingers and toes firmly crossed. She stirred for a bit, rumbled, cleared her throat, released her valves and amazingly, burst to life. Sounding every bit like a W126 should – a sound I remember very well from my previous four – I was amazed.
There was a bit of noise from the weather-beaten belts, but by and large she was idling smoothly. It was crunch-time, a time and place I’m all too familiar with actually…proceed or bail.
With a car like the Merc W126, which is going on three decades old now, it’s always going to be a case of “willing buyer, willing seller”. Those looking will know what to look out for, and those selling pretty much have a figure in mind that they’re comfortable letting the car go for; and it’s the buyer’s task to make sure the Twain’s meet somewhere. Too low and you risk insulting the seller, who might be so put-off there’s a risk of being chased away with a broom, and too high and well, that needs no explanation…
In this instance however, I had one distinct edge on my side, passion. I knew the owner was a die-hard Merc W126 fan, I’d seen his other three and they were museum-quality, so I admit, I pandered to his emotional side. I put forth an argument that was hard to counter-attack; I begged. No, actually I’d already known the seller just wanted the number and I had a sneaking suspicion that despite the possible eventual ‘scrap for parts’ outcome awaiting this 280SE, he being a fan, would rather see this car back on the road at the hands of another die-hard W126 aficionado. Might as well be me right?
Thus with my hat in my hand, it was do-or-die time. Putting on my game face as best I could, I suggested he keep the registration number and just sell me the car as a whole, instead of cutting it up and selling it for parts, for what I could afford, which was only a couple of grand. My deal also came with the caveat that I’d come to him for whatever parts I might need for the 280SE in future. Yes, I forgot to mention, the seller also happens to be a new, NOS and used-parts stockist for older Mercs.
It was 50:50 at that point, I’d done my part and put my offer on the table. As I waited for his response, I could almost see his thoughts doing quick mental-arithmetic, and suddenly so was I. I realised a bit too late what I’d done. In short, would he be financially better-off selling the car to me whole right now, or could he stand to make more in the long-run selling it off piece by piece? My own mental arithmetic, which is wanting at best, unfortunately favoured the latter, and I didn’t think he’d go for it…
Well that’s the funny thing about passion, because after what seemed like an eternity, he agreed. Deep down I guess no one wants to cut up a car and sell it of for parts, especially not one that’s still very much salvageable and has so much potential. I was elated. Securing the car with a small deposit, I collected it the very next day, and took my own advice yet again. I brought along a trusted Merc mechanic (above), because despite having six tow-truck numbers on speed-dial (you need this when playing around with old cars), I really wanted to drive this car back from the place it had languished idle for more than a year.
I have to admit, the drive back was one of elation, trepidation, exhaustion and sheer automotive joy; I was beaming from ear to ear and must have looked pretty stupid to other motorists, seeing as how I was sweating profusely (the a/c had run out of gas a long time ago but at least the compressor was still churning). I’d held true to my word and the caveat as well, and before departing the area I’d duly purchased a new front grille and bonnet ‘star’ emblem from the seller.
The first stop was for fuel, thanks to the amber ‘low-fuel’ warning light still working, and the car greedily chugged down 77-litres in one sitting; I was suddenly, brutally reminded of its 80-litre petrol tank.
Next up was a thorough wash and vacuum to gauge the paint quality, which turned out to be in a lot better shape than what I expected.
It was then off to a trusted workshop that’s taken care of my old Mercs and BMWs in the past for a full service and ‘blood’ transfusion, i.e. ALL liquids swapped for new, a full check on all the running gear, wear and tear items and electrical system, which again as testament to just how hardy and well-made these cars were, turned-out to be in remarkably good condition. I had to replace one hose, and as a safety precaution, all the belts.
I did break one cardinal rule though. When it comes to restoring old cars like this, it’s always been the case of ‘essentials first’, as in mechanical, electrical and only then, ‘peripheral’. Well, remember those AMG alloy wheels I mentioned earlier? They were waiting for the W126 when I arrived at the shop, so it seemed only right to slap them on right away, without delay (below). And yeah folks, they do indeed look amazing on the car. Well, the car needed new tyres and brake pads anyway, ahem. Passion overtakes logic, yet again…
It’s been a long journey getting back behind the wheel of the “Best Car in the World”, fraught with ups and down, highs and lows, frustrations and anxieties. But at the end of the day, the long quest has been worth it. I watch in awe as she’s getting spruced up, thrilled at the prospect of our first long-distance drive together. I need to remind myself that this car predates every gadget I currently have with me, even this laptop I’m hacking away on, and the wifi I’m going to use later to upload this article, and the server that’s going to hold it.
It’s a lot like time has not just come to a standstill, it’s rewound itself. For all intents and purposes, here’s a relic from a bygone era, a different age really, that’s still able to do what it was made to do, and doing it well, and in style. Mercedes-Benz take a bow, you got this one spot-on right from the beginning. – Chris Wee.
Merc W126 Photo Gallery…
