[W126 Coupe] new member from new zealand

[Axel Wulff]

Richard,

Congratulations!

These are truly great cars, but only if maintained properly (don't ask me 
how I know that).

First off, locate a mechanic who really knows these cars and take yours to 
him for a thorough inspection. One preventative maintenance job you should 
look into is changing the timing chains and guides. Most people reckon that 
they should be changed every 100k miles, but age is a factor as well, not 
just mileage. The plastic guides become brittle with age and break, and when 
they do you can have a catastrophic failure on your hands (pistons vs. 
valves - everyone loses...).

Get onto the w126 forum on benzworld.com and ask for references from your 
fellow Kiwis there. I've seen quite a few of your compatriots on that site.



Regards,
Axel J. Wulff




>From: Richard Dougherty <rldougherty at paradise.net.nz>
>Reply-To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists <mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com>
>To: mbcoupes at mbcoupes.com
>Subject: [W126 Coupe] new member from new zealand
>Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2005 23:27:09 +1200
>
>Hello all,
>
>I am the proud owner of a 1989 560 sec.
>
>This is a new acquisition for me..and my second mb.
>My first was (is) a 1974 250.6 4-door which I drove 50,000km with
>minimal trouble..in NZ we have 6 monthly vehicle inspections & they were
>becoming difficult to pass (running gear, rust), so I decided to start
>searching for a coupe replacement.
>
>I budgeted myself around $10,000 ($7,000 USD) and gave myself plenty of
>research time. On my shopping list was:
>
>1970's 250c or 280c (same 114 chassis).I love the look of these great
>entry level sports cars'($5 to 10K..200km minimum)
>1970's 350sl, 450sl..a legendary car , and a bit of a chicks dream.($8
>to 15k..180km and up)
>
>then on a local internet auction site I came across my 560sec on $1
>reserve..these cars are very rare in NZ.(they are probably not perfectly
>suited to our roads.usually tight with minimal straights)..I did my
>research on the model, highly regarded and powerful.
>
>This one was ex hong kong ,220kw (300hp) with 91,000km on the
>clock..missing one fog light. Reconditioned gearbox 1000km ago.air con
>also fixed (apparently a common problem.It hardly ever gets hot enough
>for AC in NZ) otherwise perfect.
>
>I could not find any others for sale in nz ,in Aussie they were $20
>to30k..I did not expect to win the auction..I got it at my top dollar of
>$11,000(NZD).I was lucky,,I don't think the auction was well put
>together, the pictures were awful ,badly lit in a dank ally, taken by a
>poor photographer with a piece of shit camera from unflattering angles.
>And the other bidders were unaware how great this car is.$260,000 new in
>NZ in 89',and I think aging with class.
>
>It's a great drive, I'm hooked.
>Richard Dougherty
>
>
>
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