The 560SEL is an S-Class of the W126 range (1980-1991), a car that many enthusiasts regard as the last of the classic ‘over engineered’ Mercedes. The 560SEL was the top of the range four door model offered by Mercedes-Benz during second series of the W126. This car cost almost AUD$200,000 in 1987 before on road costs. That was more than the cost of a nice house. For comparison, a 300SE cost just over $120,000. For that extra eighty thousand dollars (about the price of an apartment), you got most of the options thrown in at no charge, a 14cm longer wheelbase and a 5547cc M117.968 OHC V8.
For more information about the W126 in Australia, see this post.
About this car
This 560SEL was purchased new by a prominent western Sydney business man. For most of its life, it ran the plate ‘700’ a highly coveted NSW numeric plate. The original owner had business interests in country NSW, and the car was actually delivered out of the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Orange. It would have been an excellent car for long distance driving.
I purchased the car off the original owner in March of 2020. I wasn’t looking for a new car, but a one owner 560SEL in a great colour was not something I could pass up. It will replace my 300SE as my primary driver.
The 560SEL is in 929 Nautical blue with a Grey (278) leather interior. At the time of purchase, it had 326,000km on the clock. The leather is in excellent original condition, as is the paintwork.
As part of the sale, the original owner donated the proceeds to the 2020 Australian bush fire appeal. What a generous gesture!
Option codes
Option Code
Meaning
233
Foglamp wiring for France, Switzerland, Australia, Sweeden, Norway
481
Undershields
524
Paintwork Preservation
581
Automatic Climate Control
596
Windshield, Untinted
601
Oil for rear axle with limited slip
613
Headlamp Left-Hand Traffic
625
Version for Australia
677
Tropical Battery
807
Model year 1987
The option codes are actually few on this car. This is primary because pretty much everything on the 560SEL was standard. The only real ‘option’ on this car is the sump plate (undershields), befitting a car that was used extensively in the country.
I am now the second owner of a 1987 560SEL. I wasn't looking for a new car, but I could not pass by the chance to get my hands on a one owner 560SEL. ...
After owning the 560SEL for a couple of weeks I've had a chance to spent a bit more time looking over the car. I've also had a few more opportunities to drive the car - ...
After driving the 560SEL more I have decided to reinstate the W126 self-leveling suspension. I am probably one of a very small group of people who is putting this system back after it is removed. ...
Before I begin regular usage of the 560SEL there is further maintenance required. Per a receipt I have, a new timing chain and tensioner was fitted around 20,000km ago. This is obviously a good thing, ...
I hadn't planned on doing anything to the 560SEL's exhaust system. However, when I was checking on the possibility of reinstating the self leveling suspension I noticed that the current system was rubbing quite badly ...
Long wheelbase models of the W126 could be equipped with an electric reclining rear seat. From the factory the W126 reclining rear seat was standard on the 560SEL and optional on other models. local subsidiaries ...
The other day I was driving my 560SEL on a fairly hot (30C) day in heavy traffic. The engine temperature got quite warm when sitting in traffic. It was well over 100C in traffic, which ...
An obvious issue on my 560SEL was how the rear seat was mounted. There was an obvious gap between the parcel shelf and the rear seat. The 560SEL came standard with a W126 power rear ...
The W126 battery tray serves a dual purpose. The first and most obvious is to keep the battery in place. The other is to protect the body work. Over time car batteries can leak acid ...
Today's job was EHA replacement (Electro-Hydraulic Actuator) on my 1987 560SEL. The EHA is part of the KE Jetronic fuel injection system and makes minute adjustments to the air/fuel mixture. One of the sources for ...
Now we have hit summer here in Sydney, it was apparent that the auxiliary fan was not working. The fan is triggered either by high coolant temperature, or refrigerant pressure. High coolant temperature causes the ...
Under normal operation, the auxiliary fan on the M117 engine cuts in at 105C. It can also be triggered by A/C system pressure. These settings work fine to keep the engine at the correct temperature. ...
My 560SEL was sold new by West Orange Motors, in Orange NSW. The original owner lived in Western Sydney, but had business in Orange and Dubbo. While it was sold new in Orange, it was ...
When I restored the battery tray on my 560SEL, I noticed the W126 battery hold downs were missing. While the battery on the W126 sits quite snugly between the inner and outer firewalls, the hold ...
The W126 introduced a lot of new features for Mercedes-Benz. A small convenience feature is the height adjustable seatbelt for the front seat passengers. This feature brought with it a few problem. The W126 B-pillar ...
The previous owner of my 560SEL had the self-leveling rear suspension removed. He told me that he was having problems with it, and the suspension shop he took that car to (Pedders) advised him ...
This week I got my 560SEL back from having a front suspension rebuild. This wasn't something I really wanted to take on myself. My SEL drove well, but there was some looseness in the front ...
My one owner 560SEL still has its original Becker CD player. Australian delivered 560SELs and SECs came standard with the CD player, which also has a control box in the boot. Mine is still working ...
The second generation W126 controls ignition timing from the EZL. In most countries, Mercedes-Benz provided a knob to adjust the timing based on the petrol that was available in your area. This knob is present ...
My 1987 560SEL is in very nice cosmetic condition for its age and mileage. The only thing that really let it down was the condition of the alloy wheels. It was clear that they ...
I recently attempted to take my 560SEL on a Mercedes Club night drive. On the way there, I experienced a soft brake pedal and a very hot drivers side rear wheel. I had an ...
I attempted to attend the MBCNSW May night drive with two separate cars. Coincidently, I had the same brake issue with both cars. On both cases I experienced a soft brake pedal, and on further ...
A couple of months ago an eagle eyed viewer of my Instagram feed asked my why my 560SEL doesn't have a Hirschmann Antenna. Given how original the car is, it was a good question. ...
Late last year the power window on my 1987 Mercedes 560SEL stuck in the down position. I lowered the window to exit a parking station and the window would not go back up. The first ...
Recently the odometer stopped working on my 1987 560SEL, just before the car hit 340,000km. This is a pretty common problem on the W126. I had to repair both my old 300SE and my 560SEC. ...
I will be taking my 560SEL on a 4,800km road trip to outback Queensland soon. Over the past couple of months I have been slowly sorting out a few things that could impact its reliability. ...
