Broke down the day I bought it.
Continues to misbehave at will....
Guide rail broke - timing chain jumped a tooth, which led to major engine damage: $4k repairs.
This car has been plagued with undiagnosable (the car is still in the repair shop) rough running, which continues to resurface even now almost a year after buying it.
All major electrical components have been replaced in the engine, under warranty (thank goodness).
Other than those nightmares, the only defects have been a burned down ignition coil, and faulty electric window motors which needed to be replaced.
Regular servicing costs at an authorized dealer are not inexpensive.
11 months of ownership have cost over C$6k, and would have been much more (9k) if it were not for Mercedes goodwill and warranty.
The car - when it works, and I bought an immaculate looking one with full service history - is amazing. Fast, silent and hugely comfortable. It is a product of the end of an era when things were designed to really satisfy and give pleasure rather than being built to compete with the likes of Lexus and Acura.
If you can find a good one, there is no better car for the money - but can one find a good one ???
But despite my nightmare, I would still recommend it over the newer used S-Class models which have so many electronic motors and computers that I doubt any owner who would have to pay his own servicing costs would sleep at all.
Happy hunting.
I also have a 86 420 Sel, I've had plenty of trouble with the car after replacing bad Camshafts, the car idles rough, only 61,000 miles on it (belive it or not).
But, the car sure does look beautiful.
I STILL LOVE IT'''ALWAYS AND FOREVER.
I have a 1990 420Sel with 43,000 miles on it. It is, without a doubt, one of the best cars I have ever owned. I have had numerous BMWs and this is, by far, a better made car. Maybe the ones discounted on this site are lemons or were not properly maintained from day one. Anyway, I will never get rid of mine. They don't build cars like this anymore. Everything now is to compete with the Japanese automakers and searching for only good gas mileage.
I own a 1987 420 SEL. Without a doubt the best car I have ever had. 306M Kilometers, nearly 200,000 miles. Still drives for hours in 40 Celsius plus temperatures at 80 to 100 MPH. Comfortable and quiet. Would never be satisfied with another car after it.
I purchased an '86 420SEL Mercedes last month and in 40 plus years of driving, I have never been so proud of a vehicle.
Folks I know are amazed at it's striking appearance and even strangers seem to notice this grand classic as they walk by. Of course it drives like a dream on wheels as well. I call it my "grand old lady".
Even though this was a one owner local trade with a good service history, it does have 188,000 on it so there was one minor bug to report. It blew out the fuse, mainly for the radio, twice before I took it back to the dealer with a 30 day warranty and they fixed the short. Meanwhile, I'll treat this car better than any I have owned. Denny.
In spring of 2003 I purchased for my son two 1987 420SEL. One was in mint condition, but the transmission needed to be rebuilt which I got done at C$2k. The idling is a common problem with this model and from my experience, is because of age. At 150K km it was time to check the timing chain and guides. The latter got replaced. During the process, the intake manifold was lifted and the rubber/plastic connectors/seals (I'm sure this not the right terms) between the two halves were hard and leaking allowing more air than the controls allowed. Injectors were also replaced. Thereafter, the engine idled smoothly at 680-750 approximately. Age causes the seals to harden and fail. Joe.
I Purchased a 1986 420 SEL 3 months ago with 295,000 miles., it was idling rough and choking on take off. Had the injectors rebuilt, idle stabilizing valve changed and now runs like a champ.
It's fast and silent, a pleasure to drive, it shows what good maintenance will do for a well built automobile (1 owner)
I've also replaced or repaired things that age will deteriorate:
2 window lift switches.
Front seat springs (Leather still good)
Gas in the a/c unit (blows cold air now)
that's it, I love it!!
I come From Dubai, U.A.E. I bought My 1989 420 SEL a year Back, I'm restoring it to its showroom condition now, new paint job, rubber for the doors and the trunk, new leather interior and for those huge seats, and new rims and tires, it's a beautiful car, very luxurious, mine looks so good now because the color I chose is Metallic Black and I got the windows tinted (100%). Its My baby girl... the only problem I'm facing right now is that the windows get stuck always... that's it, my car is beautiful, if you think of buying a 420 SEL you should get one from here because they are really cheap. If you are interested in buying a Mercedes you should also try the 1989 560 SEL, And the 560 SEC, The SEC is the fastest thing You'll Ever Drive... it's an airplane with no wings...
I have owned a 1985 mercedes benz 420 sel for almost 6 years and it is still a beauty, I now have 312,000 miles on it and its still purring along. it has the dodge viper wheels with bridgestone turanza 17" tires and in the mountains of wnc old fort especially it comes up that 5,ooo foot climb of 9 miles in excess of 100 mph and holds the curves just barely. it's a good runner, but now the sensors are breaking down on the electrical.
Jim from wnc.
I own a 1986 420 SEL and it was a great car at first. so far I have replaced 3 rotrs and all brake pads. the windows get stuck and lights stay on even when the car is turned completely off. it has had two or three previous owners and has over 218,000 miles. the odometer stopped at about 217,900+ miles. and he shakes at 60mph when getting on the interstate and such. he needs a new muffler, but I'm cheap and keep fixing it alternatively. I love my car, but feel it is about time to retire it to my yard for driving on special occasions only. Tabitha- Benton, Arkansas, USA
I purchased a very clean 1986 420 SEL a few months ago for a good price. I am a mechanic and a customer was moving and wanted to sell it. I never thought I would buy a Mercedes, but when I researched my cost in parts it was a no brainer. This is truly a solid car of the last years of Mercedes Benz's best automobiles. I live in a town with a number of bumpy brick streets and even at this age and 162k miles it is still smooth and rattle free. As part of my job, I test drive numerous cars, trucks and SUVs of all makes and ages, but this car exceeds all.
New luxury sedans may ride more comfortably, but I have yet to drive a more solid car (except a ’62 Rolls Royce I repaired and test drove years back). A friend of mine has a shop that repairs MB exclusively. He came to the US from Germany almost 40 years ago. His son was trained at the factory in Germany. He owns the same model and year Benz as mine. There is a 420 SEL in the back of his shop that hit a parked truck on the highway doing approximately 70 mph. The car is a wreck, but the driver walked away with minor injuries and this is a pre-airbag model. That is why I call mine “der Panzer vagen” it truly is a tank.
The car does have its quirks as would be expected for a 20 year-old car, but mostly minor problems that I can repair myself at a good price. It helps a great deal that I am a mechanic and purchase replacement parts from a wholesale distributor.
Thus far I replaced a tie rod and both radius arm bushings in the front end. The power steering box has a little play and seeps a little fluid, but a rebuilt unit will run me about $400 at my cost – that will have to wait. Replacing the p/s seals is a big job needing specialized tools. My friend with the MB shop recommends this and that is what he did on his own 420 SEL. I also have an annoying creaking ball joint on the left upper control arm. I bought the part yesterday and will replace it this week.
The drivers seat has the typical collapsed springs that it seems all older Mercedes suffer from. Yet the power seats and windows all function well. The power sunroof has a broken actuator cable, but that is not critical so I will wait on that repair also. The A/C is cold, but the heat does not function. I live in Florida so I do not care much about the heat, but the A/C is a must. The interior is in excellent condition except for two spots where the wood trim has delaminated slightly and the back seat seams between the headrests has pulled apart due to sun/heat shrinkage.
The engine was well maintained and runs powerfully. The idle is good, but not perfect. Cranking time is a bit excessive at start up if parked for more than 20 minutes and stumbles as the idle stabilizes, but if it sits for 2 or more days it is fine. These cars are known to require fuel injector replacement at higher milages. The injectors tend to leak-down fuel and cause a rich starting condition, hence the longer cranking time and sputter. The injectors will also drip when the engine is running which contributes to an unstable idle. This will help the over all performance and fuel economy so that is a repair I plan to do soon as well as the intake manifold gaskets and seals. Soon I also plan to dig into the front engine cover to inspect the timing chains, sprockets and guides.
The alarm would arbitrarily go off by itself so I disconnected that. These cars are extremely difficult to break into and are not much of a target of thieves anyway so that does not worry me. All of the automatic power door locks, trunk and even gas filler door work with the master key. It does need the wiper, washer combination switch because the washer function is broken. I disconnected the headlight wipers because the blades are dry rotted, but I can make those buy cutting down a regular windshield wiper blade. I doubt they will function with the bad switch anyway but I do not need them right now. I do not have the correct drivers manual for this car so I am not even sure how to turn them on. I will figure it out eventually!
Over all I love this car! It is very well built and as I said, solid as a tank. Ride is firm - not too plushy like most luxury boats. It handles well for an almost two ton car. The paint is original and very good. Only two minor dings on the body. I plan to keep this one as I can restore it with minimal effort and cost. Hope there are some helpful hints for the other readers of these reviews. Happy motoring and drive safely! Basil.
When I bought my 86 420 SEL, she was a good girl. I drive from Huntington Beach to Torrance every day... about 50 miles... one way. I have been trying to sell her... starting when I began my new job. I have not had anyone look at her, who really saw what she was. She had a great body, and she liked going over 55, with her occasional shakes (I like to think it was cause she was so excited) Everyone else saw 300,000 miles, they saw windows that only worked when they felt like it, and never without a bit of incentive, her interior isn't trashed, but the person who owned her before me weighed 300+ lbs. Her radio doesn't work (she likes to be sang to) I really love this car, and I am in quite the predicament. You see, she had never left me stranded, and with my track record with cars, that's amazing!!! My husband and I were talking the other day, because we both knew that it was time to get a new, reliable car. He gave me a date that we would buy a new one. Exciting, but sad. On my way to work the next day, about a half mile away from home (she must have overheard the conversation about getting rid of her!!), I was getting on the freeway, she decided that she was done. She shut herself down, and there I was on the freeway on ramp and my car was dead. : (My husband came to tow her home, and I now have my new car. It is nice, the windows work, and I have a radio, I'm happy. My husband told me to have someone come pickup the car today. WHAT?! Pick her up? I feel horrible that he wants me to just burry her. There are not enough cars like this, and in the right hands, she could be in her prime all over again. I need to have her out this week, but with everything that I love about this car, I couldn't let someone tow her away for a couple hundred bucks... if I'm lucky.
Any suggestions???
E mail me @ ShawntelBoucher@aol.com.
My dad bought this car a few years back and I remember when I first saw her (the car), I let everyone know that it would be mine when I started driving... and sure enough, my dad gave it to me. And I was so happy. I call her my tank. Extremely reliable car (she has been known to hit 110mph without that MB 'shake'), but recently she has been having what I believe is transmission trouble. I hit the gas, and the rpm shoots up, but the mph stays the same. Am I right in thinking she has transmission trouble? I think so, but I told my dad and he had the mechanic 'fix it' but the problem has resurfaced after only a few days and I am afraid that driving her in this condition can only further damage the car. Out of all the cars my family has had, I think my 86 MB 420SEL is the most luxurious, safe and beautiful car to have been parked in our driveway.
Does anybody have any recommendations on what to do to get this car running smoothly again?
It is a great car. Still running after 175K miles. Other few minor annoying things, it is very reliable car.
I went to take a look at an 86 420SEL yesterday. I'll be buying it today, even though it does not work. It has 175,000 miles on it. The car is solid, the interior isn't bad. Problem right now is starting the car and seeing it work. When the ignition is turned on, one device in the engine starts making a cranking noise. Even when jumped, the fan belt would roll slightly and then stop. Would anyone know what the problem might be? Camshaft problem?
We have owned our 420 for 21/2 years and it is a good solid care. I will say that after we purchased it at fire temperature below 30F we lost the heat. Very miserable. I surfed on line and found the term "monovalve" on many boards. I researched how the climate control worked and decided that the monovalve was thce culprate. It is in the firewall bay near the battery. Looked like a nightmare to get to with several water hoses converging form each side. Call a dealer and discovered it cost 300 plus dollars. Shock. Found a new aftermaket and it was about 170 dollars. Decided to check ebay. Typed in monovalve over serveral days in a row. Finaly bingo! One came up in the original box with opening bid of 2.00!!. I waited to near closing and bid 10.00. Got it for six and with shipping just over 10.00
When it arrived, I found it was just a 12v old multi-valve with plunger action. Decided that to remove the old one would be takeing a chance on breaking someting else. Just removed that screws holding down the solenild top plate and pull out the internal mechanism. it was gummed up with salts and old looking antifreeze. Could have probably cleaned it up, but decide to just remove the internals from the new unit and drop it in. Worked immediately and still working fine.
Regarding drivability, operating on low octaine fuel in this big beast of an engine can lead to some problems with idling and cranking issues. We fill up about every 5th tank with Pemimum and alos use injector cleaner regularly and most of the issues have cleared up.
The vehicle is pushing 180,000 and is still very nice on road trips with this exception. The interior is brown fabric horse hair style. The lower lumbar is very lacking and on long trips ones back becomes pretty tired even with being able to re adjust the positions.
We have a little play in the steering box which I intend to check out to see if I can take out the play. We had an instrument alignment done on the front end and it appears that the rear right suspension is a little out of rig too.
I though we had the slight pull to the left solved, but it is still there. I expect that we will need to take it back to the shop and have them readjust the towin again.
I do all my own service, and would not be able to afford to have a Mercedes shop or dealer work on the vehicle.
My wife was driving a Ford Explorer and narrowly survived a rollover accident and the 420 was my way of saying I Love You, because of its road holding ability.
If you want to shop around for used parts or search ebay for new/old parts this car can be owned and operated for less that some domestic vehicles.