Buying the wrong Mercedes-Benz W116 could cost you $$$.... 

The W116 is such a gorgeous car in non-US trim. Here in the states it looks glaringly clunky with US bumpers. When the W126 came around, they did a much better job at integrating US bumpers.

I've been looking to buy a 280SE or maybe a 450 W116. Great content mate, not enough of it coming from Australia so much appreciated.

Thank you very much for your time investing in this very good video in order to help people not doing the wrong decision. I did what you said last year. With an absolute W116 6.9 expert we looked very in depth in possible candidates. 20 ones we could exclude just by communication and looking at the pictures. 3 we inspected in person and the last one I took. Such an expense makes sense to avoid bad surprises. Now I am very happy with a 1979 6.9 first hand piece of art with the seldom ABS and electrical rear seat. The K-Jettronic is easier to maintain than the later KE-Jettronic from the W126. The older electric D-Jettronic from the fist W116 built till 1976/77is hard to maintain and less reliable but delivers better fuel economy than the more reliable K-Jettronic. Corrosion is the biggest problem with cars that age. The technique from the W116 is very robust and can be fixed even in 50 years. I think the W116 will slightly increase in value because they are the last real "Chrome-Mercedes" and the drive feeling is s much fun and you enjoy every Kilometer distance (just the 6.9 with its hydro pneumatic suspension). Best Regards from Germany .....PS: European V8 engines have more power than the US- Versions but need higher octane fuel.

It doesn’t matter what shape it’s in. You need to encourage people to buy and save these cars. You realize there aren’t many left! Even if it’s in bad shape, buy and restore it! They all want to live man

Thanks for the great video! Really enjoyed watching this. 🍷🍷

Gorgeos car and good work man. But I have to tell you that "ehm...and that sound" is annoying if said 20 times per minute😂

Have been thinking lately of pulling out my 1974 450 SEL and giving it a once over. It ended up parked after the cold start fuel enrichment decided not to shut off. At 74,000 miles it is still in excellent shape having lived in the desert area of Eastern Oregon. Strangely the only part I ever replaced was the intermediate prop shaft bearing! Pastel blue with white leather! Sits next to the 1965 Jaguar Mark 10.

I've owned a '77 280SE for almost ten years now - I'd always admired the W116 and would have preferred a 450 but I had a complete parts 280 so I figured it'd be the better choice. I bought mine in California, the best example I could find - rust free original with 92,000 miles on the clock and one owner for almost all its life, and the interim owner who had considerable W116 experience had had the whole car gone through. I then drove it 5000km to my Canadian home with no problems at all. The 280 doesn't have a lot of power down low, in fact it is a bit of a pig around town - but get it out on the highway at 4000rpm or more and it hums along beautifully, a real cruiser. I haven't had many problems with it although I do worry about the automatic climate control that came in the American cars - mine doesn't get driven much and sits through our long winters and I really should pass it on to a new owner, but it's such a lovely car - even with the ugly US bumpers - and is built to a standard that you'll never see again, and for most smaller repairs it is not too difficult to work on. My fuel system works perfectly and the only thing I have done to it is replace the under-tank fuel lines and accumulator, as well as new injectors which were surprisingly cheap. I must say your warm up regulator is certainly more accessible than mine, which is buried down on the side of the block in an awkward spot.

I just bought one myself a 78 280se, cracked dark, dried and cracked wood trim around the shifter, the electric window switches look like they're sitting on rotted cork. The exterior has rust patches (all shallow and just spits of rust) few dings, few dents, peeling top clear, ding on corner of rear bumper, missing a chrome cover on the left rear arch. Has 274,xxxkms, engine has slight miss, needs wheel alignment and new tyres. Front doors don't lock (that's one thing I'll definitely fix) but I didn't buy it expecting a show car, I bought it because I want to daily a "classic" car without having to worry about other road users and car parks etc. My plan is to only fix it if it gets broken, and to drive it for as long as I can. I'll try keep it on the road unless it gets crashed or stolen. If it gets rust holes I'll practice welding and do it all myself, might end up looking like the hull of a fighter jet eventually but that doesn't bother me. I'll preserve the patina and just enjoy it, should I not find parts I'll retro fit and Frankenstein (in a proper way) I paid $4k for this car (I'm in australia) and honestly I'm happy with that, cars around where I am are expensive and what else can you get with that money? A 2000s corolla is about all... I'm happy with it and I hope to preserve it as tastefully as I can. My old man had many w126s growing up so I feel like it's honouring him, he used to tell stories of their reliability and safety and now that I know bits about cars, I'm not afraid to work on it myself, everything's fairly simple and well built. It's a bit of a head turner too! Thank you for the video! Very informative, these things are getting more valuable by the year, carsales had some for a pretty penny! But this thing is alright, gearbox has no whines or clunks and is smooth, engine is smooth despite the small miss, everything works fairly well, tinted windows and the old owner replaced all the suspension and brakes so it's a win really...

The paint will never be as good as factory if you repaint it. Looks like it just needs some PDR and a polish. So many people repaint cars unnecessarily and destroy the original factory paint which is hands down the best for durability.

Gorgeous car❤

I had 77 just like this one same color my favorite car ive ever owned .

Love the vid on the w116. My 280SEL is my happy place. The KJet on mine seems fine, 4th owner with 400000kms. SLS is what I am currently working on to rebuild. Can sympathise when dealing with unnecessary spending with a mechanic that should have known better or at least fessed up that he was out of his depth. Current mechanic is great and will always tell me when something is not in his area of expertise. Happy owner for the last 2 years and for the rest of my time

Wow what a beautiful car! I am also owner of a w116 and i even have a model with steering wheel mounted on the correct position :)

It appears this series of Mercedes had an unusual mounting position for the windscreen wipers, they are too close together.

Good video... I have a W140. I notice you're in NSW... know any good knowledgeable mechanics in Sydney you can recommend?

I'm in Sydney and have the same car in 350SE guise - looks like it's twin.

Saw a W116 in perth yesterday :D I almost got a 280 SE in 2018 BUT sadlyshe had some rust

Mine has the inline 6

The W116 350 SE was less powerful, but a somewhat livelier car to drive. Similar situation with the W126... the 500 SE was a nicer car to drive than the 560 SEL.

Got the 74 d jetronic on lpg, no probkems, 1.300.000 km Just rust..

There are no videos for BMW

I think that.pount that you are misding is thatnit was s durable wrll designed car..there were many that were more expensive.

*buying the wrong 450SE could cost you $$$ yep so by a diesel 116 lol or 115 for that matter. or a 114.. OR a 123! basically any diesel mercedes.. only advantage that gas mercedes has is more model and chasis diversity

Do you have an instagram or anything i just bought one would love to be in touch with someone who knows what there talking about please get back to me 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼