So, what do you think of when you see a late eighties Mercedes hauling down the road? Some might think of them as slow, dirty, unfashionable or just plain unreliable. I have had a few late eighties Mercedes S-Class sedans and this guide can help the novice buyer buying a W126.

Gasoline S- Class Sedans- 300SE/SEL, 380SE/SEL, 420SEL, 560SEL
This generation was considered one of the best Mercedes cars around. A great ride, great handling and reliablitlty.

What to look out for in these models:

300SE/SEL- 3.0 Inline 6 cyl. Oil leaking around timing cover and/or rear main seal.Transmission leaks. Front end suspension. Make sure when you test drive that you hear no thumps, thuds or rattles. These cars will need the front end rejuvenated at least 2 times in their lifetime. Check the bushings, tie rods, guide rods, shocks and springs as well as the sub frame mounts...

 420SEL-  4.2 V8. 1986-1991 Check to see if the timing chain and guides has been serviced. High miles and no chain and guide replacement could cost you a new engine in the future. I had a 420SEL with 200k miles still on the original chain and rods. That was stretching it. The recomended interval to change those bad boys would be around the 100-110k miles mark and/or when ever you start to hear some start up chatter for a few seconds then goes away. The guides are plastic and get brittle over time which leads the chain to slip and break. Also check the front end suspension as stated up above in the 300SE/SEL model. Check transmission and make sure the shift are smooth and that there are no strong jerks or thuds when shifting to D and or R and vice versa

560SEL. 5.6 V8. The flagship of Mercedes Sedan from 1986-1991. Also check the timing chain and guides and suspension as listed in the 300SEL/SEL and 420SEL sections. Rear suspension is hydraulic and needs fluid replacement every 30-50k miles. A low suspension or hard riding ride means the accumulators are shot. Rarely are the shocks needing replacement but if they do need to be replced= big bucks Check transmission and make sure the shifts are smooth and that there are no strong jerks or thuds when shifting to D or R and vice versa.

As for every car, check to see if the fluids have been changed regularly and make sure the car wasnt neglected. Check for rust or accident damage and ask for service records. I am sure I missed a few more points/tips but these basic ones shall help you find a nice W126 gasoline sedan. As for pricing, many cars prices vary based on condition/ market and willingness of the seller to get rid of the car.