V8 1988 Mercedes 420SE W126 - 2nd time around

[joseffronek]

Know that feeling of regret after selling a special car you've worked on?  So it's nice when the new owner texts to say, "I'm selling, do you want to buy it back?".

Hence the V5 having myself as 7th and 9th owner. With the 6th and 8th owners having the same first name and same project car they sold this one for. Funny old world.



Still under a grand, 4.2 litres of V8 aural utopia with a back box delete from my past ownership.



Confetti from former life as a wedding car remains on rear parcel shelf, last chap had undertaken decent work upon it before jaunting Silverstone and Millbrook,

Proper unslippery cloth and springy sprung seats.



One has plans. Started with decent K&N.



Outstanding roar ... waft ... roar ... barge motoring.

Insurance is decent at just under £8 a month (classic innit) and a proper little tinkering toy.

[maxypriest]

Lovely cars W126's, driven 420's, 500's and a 560SEL. All the v8's are lovely and the 420 wasn't bad on fuel either. Does the rear box mod work well?

[peter96]

Love it. Have to have a W126 some day.

[SmokeEm]

Lovely, I am too wondering about the rear box delete? I am pondering on a W140 V8 so would like to know if it does sound better?

[joseffronek]

Cheers.

Back box chuck was a surprising 13kg (2 stone) diet, less two new pipes.

Well worthy transmogrification for V8 aural worship and driver integration with revealed mechanical burning power intensity.

Albeit in a 1640kg 27 year old barge.

Burble at idle, roar at power, scream when kicked down, sensible rumble at cruising.

Worked with Fast Road Conversions in Ashford, Kent.

I'll try to record it and post up later.

[joem83]

Nice, love the number plate too lol.

[joseffronek]

Sept 22, 2015 13:39:00 GMT joem83 said:

Nice, love the number plate too lol.

Cheers.

"Fast that"

In the Top Gear tradition of CTU 131N and H982 FLK it's actually the original registration ...

[mark165]

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[joseffronek]

Sept 22, 2015 14:17:06 GMT mark165 said:

Millbrook? Silverstone? Quite the track car isn't she?

Does it still have the hubcaps? I'm very glad to see it back with you.

Hello!  Small world!

You took it tracking as well?  Nürburgring!!!  Love the photos.

Does that mean it can sport the Nürburgring sticker?

Well, the next/last owner sourced period S class hubs, but the centre stars were past saving from corrosion.

So, just taking your hub stars out and swapping into his S hubs.

[mark165]

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[mark165]

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[joseffronek]

Sept 22, 2015 16:41:20 GMT mark165 said:

I was also told (long after I sold it to you by the way) that the ASR light being on means it restricts power and goes into an early limp mode? I didn't bother ever looking further. Did it ever get fixed?

I fixed it. By removing the warning bulb. Sorted.

Next owner was fully informed, like us he didn't worry about ASR absence.

No, can't say you were correctly informed, no early limp mode.

The daft lack of power first thing in the morning for first ten metres remains, I've my suspicions and will be attacking it shortly. Unless that's it?!

Otherwise, maintenance wise, replaced exhaust manifold gaskets to fix exhaust gas perfume in cabin, hot wired rheostat to fix instrument binnacle lights, replaced that mirror switch and swapped the EU number plates for metal ones lacking that ghastly star circle.

You'll probably see it locally soon!

[joseffronek]

Sept 22, 2015 12:20:38 GMT maxypriest said:

Lovely cars W126's, driven 420's, 500's and a 560SEL. All the v8's are lovely and the 420 wasn't bad on fuel either. Does the rear box mod work well?




Sept 22, 2015 14:04:41 GMT 1 SmokeEm said:
Lovely, I am too wondering about the rear box delete? I am pondering on a W140 V8 so would like to know if it does sound better?

Here's a small exhaust blurp ...



And a little acceleration, but taken with a friend's useless phone with ghastly sound quality. I'll redo it with a GoAmateurHeroine

[Serby]

8th owner checking in.

Great to find this thread, I'll keep an eye out for updates. Glad to see the wheel trims are being put to use, be great to see it with those on.

Love the photo of the old girl going round the 'ring! I took her around Millbrook and the Porsche Experience Centre circuit at Silverstone whilst under my ownership, she could certainly surprise a few 'more sporty' cars!

[SmokeEm]

Well I did it, I bought me a V8 Merc. Did the rear box delete on Friday, VERY happy.