W126 Honesty in Engineering

"SBA Thanks You For All The Fish" (santabarbarianlsx) 04/13/2020 at 12:55 • Filed to: None

6

15

Hey, I did the fuel pump and filter in my son’s 300SE awhile back. After years of struggling to remove, repair, upgrade and re-fit various “in-tank” Tetris-while-blindfolded submerged fuel pump assemblies (I’m looking at you BMW and AUDI!) it was a delight to peer under the Benz and see these guys under their protective cover plate. Solid mounting. Rugged  banjo fittings. Simple job that’s easy to inspect for proper fit and sealing. I love the W123 and W126 for this reason— straightforward engineering.

210,000 miles. M103 is rock-solid. Purrs like a kitten.

RallyWrench > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 13:22

2

Mercedes-Benz is still banking on the reputation that these cars solidified. Last of the golden-era Mercedes. They need their maintenance, but they’re fantastic cars. 

sony1492 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 13:24

1

I miss Ye ole smokey 

fintail > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 13:43

2

I had a 300SE around the turn of the century , drove it as a DD for 3 or 4 years. Barely had any issues, I think the fuel distributor and a relay were the only big hiccups. Here it is posing with the fintail back in the day:

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > sony1492 04/13/2020 at 13:44

1

yeah, it’s funny how well the interior on this car has held up.  Really looks nice after 200K miles.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > fintail 04/13/2020 at 13:45

1

What a sweet pair.

DipodomysDeserti > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 13:47

1

The fuel pump on my old E30 was set up in a similar way. My wife’s ‘13 BMW is even easier. Just pull the back off and it’s sitting right there on top. Very convenient considering they made it out of non fuel resistant plastic.

fintail > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 13:48

1

The 126 had one prior owner, all documents including window sticker, but was not low mileage. I miled it up even more, to around 200K, and parted ways around 2005. Sold it to an older guy who had a 126 that got hit, and he wanted another - but it had to be immaculate, with working AC (my car checked both boxes).

I’ll admit the color was as much as a deciding factor as condition.  DB355, best color.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > DipodomysDeserti 04/13/2020 at 13:56

1

Yeah, my E34 has it down in the tank— and I’ve visited it a couple of times as we upgraded the fuel system to run the big turbo on the M60.

My D2 Audis are the worst, though. It’s a whole gymnastics event to even get the assembly BACK INTO the tank— which may or may not actually seat properly in the plumbing in the bottom of the tank.

The W126 is a dream by comparison.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 14:34

1

Well Mercedes knows repairs on W123s will likely have to be made in the middle of Africa so it better be simple. The 300GD has the same engine too.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) 04/13/2020 at 14:41

0

It’s just an iconic look, isn’t it?  That’s what you think of when you hear “Mercedes”...

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 14:44

1

I hear my door making a nice secure clunk. For sure the old Mercs are just tough and it seems like they really designed cars the way they wanted, not just for a bottom line.

ihm96 > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 16:38

1

The Z3 is under a nice little plate on the underside, and then the E34 is the same as yours lol. Haven’t done that one yet

Victorinoo > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 04/13/2020 at 17:52

0

I have to replace both pumps on my W202. I tried undoing the clamps that hold the pumps but the clamping screws were too far rusted to remove . So once the quarantine is lifted I’ll remove the unit, cut out the screw and drill out the captive nuts . I hate rust.

testcrash > fintail 04/14/2020 at 07:06

1

I have two W126's, a 300SD and a 300SE, ‘85 and’ 90 respectively. Both run great, the ‘90 300SE has 285k and the ‘85 300SD 315k. I also had a 1962 220S that had about 185k on the clock, but it was totaled saving my life from a drunk driver. My 1990 is Black and Palomino , the 1985 is Silver and Red and the ' 62 was White and Palomino, Euro lens covers on the stacked headlights and bullet turn signals in front. It was a gorgeous lady.

fintail > testcrash 04/14/2020 at 12:45

0

Crumple zone worked, sad but good.

I eventually converted my 300SE to Euro lights, but I actually like the stacked lights on the fintail, and would never change them.  It’s a very 60s look to me, and I think helps get the car even more attention.