An unusual combination

"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
08/25/2016 at 16:57 • Filed to: Shop

A built to order purple W140 CL600 and a gold-wrapped R8 V10. A bit of a change from the bread and butter 3-series and Jettas.

DISCUSSION (30)

EL_ULY > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 17:02

The V12 is in the wrong car

Also, i have that same white Snap-On tool box lolz

#NeverClean

RallyWrench > EL_ULY
08/25/2016 at 17:04

I so wish Audi had gone full fuck it and built the V12 diesel R8 Le Mans concept.

TheHondaBro > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 17:12

Is it wrong if I like the Merc more?

Tareim - V8 powered > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 17:13

I’m glad they didn’t as you would get soooo many douchebags rolling coal in it

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 17:14

Kinja'd!!!

Show me “Dad’s oil money"!

RallyWrench > TheHondaBro
08/25/2016 at 17:17

Nope, I share that sentiment. If the R8 was its original dark gray I’d feel the other way.

fintail > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 17:18

140 needs monoblocks, not what looks like W211 E55 wheels.

The Audi, well, I’ll just not say anything

RallyWrench > Tareim - V8 powered
08/25/2016 at 17:19

Given what we now know, it may have done that stock.

RallyWrench > fintail
08/25/2016 at 17:21

I have to say, in person the split-spoke wheels look good on it, but yes, monoblocks are the only acceptable wheel upgrade for a Benz of this generation. And the Audi, well, yeah.

Nauraushaun > fintail
08/25/2016 at 18:34

WHEN YOU CAN AFFORD TO CUSTOM BUILD A PURPLE V12 MERCEDES COUPE YOU CAN CHOOSE THE WHEELS

sony1492 > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 19:43

Was the Audi in for something,”fun”.

RallyWrench > sony1492
08/25/2016 at 19:44

Nope, just a service.

fintail > Nauraushaun
08/25/2016 at 20:55

Stop shouting.

I’ll choose what I please, and say what I please :)

fintail > RallyWrench
08/25/2016 at 20:57

They are an anachronism on that car, kind of irks me, would be like putting bundts on a ponton. I have to respect that someone is caring for one of those cars anyway - C140s are still being discarded, eventually they will be quite rare, as electronics will doom many of them.

Last time I was at my local MB indy, there was a very clean 94 S600 sedan parked in the waiting lot. I pointed out the condition of the car, and the proprietor said the guy just spent about 6K - tough pill to swallow.

RallyWrench > fintail
08/25/2016 at 23:32

I hate seeing bundts on anything older than a W123. This one is quite nice as they go, and it’s got 175k on the clock. Funny you mention the S600's bill, this one is in for about $5,500. The guy requested we replace all the hydraulic suspension struts as a couple were seeping, and it has the very rare 4-wheel hydraulic shocks with 2-mode fronts. Factory parts account for most of the bill, the labor is only a few hours. And it has other significant needs. I couldn’t justify it, but I understand loving a particular car.

fintail > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 00:05

I think maybe the later run of W108 could be had with bundts, maybe even late 113s, but I am not exactly sure.

Seeing how those old V12s can be money pits makes me feel better about putting money into the fintail, anyway. Don’t get me wrong, I would love a mint original V12 140 too, but maybe not the running costs.

RallyWrench > fintail
08/26/2016 at 00:43

I’ve only ever seen original 108s & 113s on steelies with full covers, the ones on bundts I knew got the wheels later. I’m pretty sure the 108 wasn’t available with bundts but the 113 is definitely a maybe.

That Fintail will always be a better car than the 140 ever was, worth it for sure. People lost their jobs over the 140, no kidding. I’d have a 126 500SEC though, that’s a properly engineered car.

Jobjoris > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 06:41

R8: Goldmember would be proud... Love those wheels though!

W140: Now you’re talking! Although if I’d want a building on wheels I’d might end up getting me an RV.

RallyWrench > Jobjoris
08/26/2016 at 09:46

It had an unfortunate smelting accident. Otherwise cool car though, and I like the wheels too.

The 140 is definitely an apartment complex on wheels, it’s silly the way it makes you feel when driving. Move aside, proles.

fintail > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 10:44

When I search for images of the very final run of 108s, the cars often titled as 1973, I find a few with bundts. Not sure if they were originally sold with such, but they existed then. Per the 113 SL site, bundts were an option from late 1969 onward, on SLs, anyway.

The fintail is fortunate to have age and style from a certain period, where a 140 is more blunt and modern - that hinders aesthetic appeal. 126 coupes are still pretty cheap too, amazing ones can be had for 20K or less, which maybe isn’t surprising as SLCs are worth very little and even smaller engined 111 coupes aren’t really worth a lot, relative to their quality and elegance.

RallyWrench > fintail
08/26/2016 at 12:06

You’d know more than I would about them, I’ll buy that.

On the newer cars, beyond the better aesthetics the W126 is just old-tech enough to still be restorable well into the future,and I don’t see that happening for the 140s. Special coupes like this maybe, but as we’ve discussed, the costs are exorbitant. You have to try pretty hard to spend $6,000 on a W126 unless it’s doing the heads, but these will eat that for all kinds of things.

Jobjoris > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 13:03

You certainly bought some privileges driving that massive construction. The right to park everywhere. That kind of stuff.

What melted: wiring harness?

RallyWrench > Jobjoris
08/26/2016 at 13:11

Oh, nothing melted, it was another Goldmember joke about the gold wrap. Just in for a service. It’s spent time in an East coast winter though, there’s surface corrosion underneath. And the AC doesn’t work. And the rear shocks are blown. And the engine cover doesn’t open with the switch.

Jobjoris > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 13:20

Ah, typical Audi failures. That A/C unit is probably just lik $2K. Nothing to worry here, just move along...

fintail > RallyWrench
08/26/2016 at 13:27

Good point, so much less to go wrong. On the older cars, the cost of cosmetics can often exceed mechanical issues. On 90s+ cars, all of the systems can cost the most to get right.

I just happened to snoop around CL and found a nice 140 coupe,

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/ctd/573941…

No exceptional 126 coupes right now, but a few average ones, all well under 10K.

RallyWrench > fintail
08/26/2016 at 23:02

Funny, my dad found a very clean silver ‘89 560SEC with 100k or so today for $9900 I think, he’s not often enthusiastic about particular cars but couldn’t stop effusing about this one. He always had a little model of a 300sl on his desk and so deserves a nice car like that but is on a fixed income and is used to Subaru maintenance, I hated to burst his bubble because I love the cars too. Wish I could buy it for him!

fintail > RallyWrench
08/27/2016 at 00:18

And even a really nice one like that, with those miles, is probably a high market price - it seems the big money is for low mileage examples. Probably a nice car for the money, but as you say, it won’t be like caring for a modern Subaru or any relatively late model car. You gotta maintain it by the book, and keep a reserve fund just in case. Maybe save up in case one shows up in your shop? :)

RallyWrench > fintail
08/27/2016 at 00:41

We actually already have a gray market 500SEC, sitting effectively abandoned on the lot, that’s very close to being lien saled because the guy disappeared and we’ve got a couple grand into it. It’s got a lot of needs and the colors are awful.

CaptDale - is secretly British > RallyWrench
08/27/2016 at 14:16

Wow that R8 is just way too much.

fintail > RallyWrench
08/27/2016 at 16:36

Sounds like a parts car or a driver/beater. Paint and interior would cost more, if properly done, than a finished car would be worth.

In NA at least, the USDM models seem to fare better than grey market cars - probably since they were bought new and babied by likely older people.