12 cylinders are probably thirsty, but are there any known issues or maintenance concerns with these cars? beev
They're ridiculously complex mechanically. IIRC the early ones had two of everything almost everything since the engine was two I6s siamesed. Deferred maintenance will be an absolute nightmare.
They are about the best V12 you can own. I had one, it was a bored out 7.4L M120 (originally 6.0L V12 from 1992) from RENNtech in my 1992 S-Class W140. My mother owns 4 90's V12's herself. Mine was great! 575hp, 600tq, 0-60 in about 4.6, 5-8mpg and pulled strong well north of 160mph. My mother's S600's are all stock, she gets 10-14mpg, and in about 40k miles has not had any major failures. The biggest issue that needed solving was a small oil leak. On the other hand, each of her vehicles she purchased for $10k.... before they were in "like new condition" she had to spend an addition $10k on repairs (that's before she just bought the repair shop, so now it's all wholesale to us and costs about $2k total). I cannot say enough good things about the W140s. IMO, they are the best MB ever made. Not the best S-Class, not the best MB sedan, the BEST MB product ever. The W140 nearly bankrupted MB due to the billion dollar development cost. If you are looking to buy one, go for it. PM me and I would be more than happy to discuss the particular vehicle with you and what to watch out for. I can also give you rough repair costs at wholesale/DIY/dealer pricing. The only big thing you must watch out for is the pre '95 models had soybean wiring harness coating which degrades over time. Either buy a '95+ or make sure the 91(europe), 92-94 model has had the wiring harness inspected/replaced. If the wiring harness needs replacing, it will cost you ~$15k. I should also mention they are extremely easy to work on. I did most of the work on my S74. I even installed a Rotora BBK (355x32mm 6&4 pot), H&R lowering springs, Bilstein sport shocks, Lorinser wood extras for the interior, twin SPAL electric fans, a custom exhaust with an Eisenmann race muffler....... Ricky
My 95' S350 Diesel has the soy wire harness but so far other then oil changes and once glow pugs, it has never had any issues.
Thanks for the excellent information... i passed on an AMG 7.2 a couple months back because I was scared off by some advice that the cars are a nightmare but have since reflected that perhaps may not have been the case.... I feel confident to start a search for a nice example of a 600 and I may pm you when I find one and may need some more specific information. Thanks beev
Does the wire insulation just disintegrate over time in general, or only in specific places (high heat areas for example)? If it were just particular wires that typically fail, could just those be replaced or spliced?
I had one ,about 2 years ago for 6 months,with full service history,nice old car bags of torque ,wish i had kept it,as it was worth very little,great on the highway 200kph all day. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
As said before : - Wiring harness - Not that good on daily traffic in Jakarta, temp tends to go quite high Thats about it
Older cars are often exported from Singapore to neighboring countries. In a few years time the W140 will be a rarity. There are still tons of S320 in Jakarta, it is becoming a modern classic.
Beev, I'd be more than happy to help any way I can. Have you considered importing a Japanese car? It's fairly easy for those not stuck in the states. This one has been up on auction for a month or so. I'm surprised it hasn't sold, but on the other hand it is "only" an AMG 6.0L M120. Just to note, the peeling paint on the valve covers is completely normal. Typically M120 powered cars over 40k miles have this "issue." http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/f115907177 Ricky
The insulation was built to basically disintegrate (some BS story about making the car "greener"). It affects the wiring in it's entirety, but more so when hot or fiddled with. For example, you may buy one with no problems, decide to install new spark plugs, and need to replace the entire top engine wiring harness (about $500-1000 depending on source and location).
Couple of the guys on Bworld had their 140s bbq due to the wiring. It really just depends on the car. Just because it's a 90-94 S/SL/SEC(aka CL) does not guarantee you will have wiring problems.
Here's a couple pix of my S74 and here is a link to my SL74 donor car set on flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/57607833@N08/sets/72157625846384733/ Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
