Good morning! Today we’re going all the way up to the very top of our usual price range, five thousand dollars. It’s a sum that seemed like a lot once upon a time, especially if you were a cable-access TV host, but really isn’t much to spend on a car, especially these days. But I’ve found two old German sedans for that price that actually sort of seem like… good deals?
Yesterday we were in the bargain basement, looking at two title-less, non-running projects for only a grand each. And it seems like most of us are of the same mind: the Simca is interesting and kinda cool, but the chance at a Rampside for that price is just too hard to pass up. And that seller seems like they’d be a lot more interesting to talk with, too.
And by the way, yes, I know the Corvair is a six-cylinder. I had a bit of a brain fart, and I actually did spot it while I was previewing the post, but then I forgot to go back to the editor and fix it. I do regret the error, and I apologize, but hey: The world is an imperfect place.
Now then: Cheap German cars get a bad rap, but I often wonder if there aren’t some of them out there that are worth the money. I mean, the Germans manage to keep them on the road, so why shouldn’t we? All it should take is a caring owner, and lots of preventive maintenance. Right? These two look pretty good; let’s see if either of them meet with your approval.
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560 SEL – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 5.5 liter overhead cam V8, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Tacoma, WA
Odometer reading: 195,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Superlatives are dangerous things. Declaring something the biggest, or the fastest, or the best only invites challenges; whatever you come up with, someone is always going to try to top it. But what happens when you set your sights not on making something the best that has ever been, but the best you can possibly make it? You get something like this, the Mercedes-Benz W126 S-Class. Designed by engineers unencumbered by marketing balderdash, and built to a standard rather than a price, the W126 may not be the best car ever, but it is very, very good.
The W126 was available with a variety of engines, both gasoline and diesel, but this one has the biggest one available: a big honkin’ V8, just like a proper luxury sedan should have. It displaces 5,547 cubic centimeters, or 338.5 cubic inches, a nice decadent size befitting this car’s standing. This one has nearly 200,000 miles, but has been well cared for, and has a stack of receipts to prove it. Everything works, and the air conditioning has been upgraded to R134a. Its only fault is in the self-leveling suspension; one side has an air leak in the rear. The seller has been driving it as-is. It’s an expensive fix, but the system can also just be deleted and replaced by normal shock absorbers.
Inside, it’s just about perfect. Looking at this interior compared to more recent luxury models really shows how the definition of “luxury” has changed when it comes to automobiles. Instead of being flashy and gadget-laden, this car’s interior is understated, refined, and comfortable. They literally don’t make them like this anymore–at least not in Germany.
It’s beautiful outside as well, finished in a nice shade of blue. The seller does say it has some failing clearcoat, but it must be minor; I sure don’t see it in the photos. I’ve always really liked the looks of these cars. It’s such a timeless style. Fitting, for a car that lasts so long.
1998 BMW 740i – $5,000
Engine/drivetrain: 4.4-liter dual overhead cam V8, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Fairfield, CA
Odometer reading: 200,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives great
Meanwhile in Munich, BMW was placing its faith in inline six-cylinder engines, after a brief dalliance with V8s during the 1950s and ’60s. Eventually, BMW realized the sixes just weren’t cutting it, and brought back the V8. But the crazy part was that, in this E38-chassis 7-Series, the V8–with four cams, variable valve timing, and 268 horsepower–wasn’t even the top option. You could get a V12, too, just another sign that the days of BMW sedans of being simple, sturdy, driver-focused machines were coming to an end.
This E38 has covered 200,000 miles, and has been carefully cared-for in that time, it sounds like. The timing chain and guides, a known issue on this engine, were replaced recently, along with the water pump, so that’s at least two things that won’t go wrong on you. The transmission was recently serviced, and shifts smoothly. In fact, the only mechanical work this car needs are some new lower control arms; they are worn, and cause a little shimmy in the front end. The parts are cheap, and while front-end work is messy and physically difficult, it isn’t particularly invasive or complex. You could easily do it yourself, if you’re handy.
It has been well taken care of inside as well. There is a little wear, and the seller says the plastic trim on the driver’s seat is broken, but generally it looks good. Dead pixels in the gauge cluster are a common problem with these cars, but the seller says this one’s display has been repaired and none are missing. And as a high-end car, it has every option you could think of at the time – well, all right, not every option. I don’t think it has a remote control.
It’s a sharp-looking car outside, too. You don’t see this dark blue too often; too many 7 Series BMWs are afflicted with earth-tone syndrome. The seller says the paint is original, and still shiny; it must have lived in a garage.
Yes, I know; just because these cars are running well now is no guarantee that they’ll be reliable in the future. But is worry over what might go wrong really enough to stop you from enjoying something really nice? As the saying goes, life is too short to drive boring cars. Get yourself a big German luxury car, and live a little. Which one will it be?
(Image credits: sellers)
That Mercedes is an excellent car, but following my heart to the “sporty shorty” BMW, because look at it
Both of these cars are excellent candidates for a “Thelma and Louise”-style grand finale.
I like the E38, they’re good looking cars that I’ve always appreciated. But having driven two 560 SELs as daily drivers when I was younger, there’s no way I’d pass up another one. In fact, if I had any cash around I’d be looking up flights to Tacoma.
That’s peak Mercedes right there. And everyone knows a proper BMW has a straight six. w126 for me.
I’m choosing the 7 series only because I already own a w126. The better w126. The 300SDL, diesel baby!
But yeah, the w126 is a killer platform. Easy to work on, parts are affordable, the electronics are all through-hole soldering and can be repaired. Mine is an ’86 with 317,000miles and everything works from the cruise control to the automatic climate control.
I’d love to park a 7 next to it, though.
The electrical systems on the Benz will be sooooo much more easily replaced or repaired than those of the BMW. By 1998, the Germans were putting triple digit numbers of semiconductor chips in their cars. I worked for Motorola Semiconductor at this time and after the phone business, automotive was our biggest customer. Marketing liked to brag that this era of 7 series had over 70 of our chips alone (there were more included from our competitors) in each car.
An ’88 Benz will have far fewer semiconductors. And what they do have should be easier to replace with the most basic of Arduinos and a basic understanding of what the original chip did. Add in that the mechanical systems of the ’80s Benzs were built to last through the implosion of the sun and you have a car that will be easier to keep on the road far longer than the BMW.
Mercedes all the way. The ad for the BMW lists all the things that have been fixed, from the dash to the transmission. If it’s like other BMWs I’ve owned, it’ll soon need more things fixed and BMW is never cheap.
Ordinary people read the ad as “wow, look at all the work that’s recently been done, they must have really gone through this thing and it’s well sorted. And at a great price too, this feels like a bargain!”
When anyone who has experience with cheap German cars reads it as
“well, this owner has thrown probably the asking price into parts and repairs in just the last 6 months, is now fed up with throwing cash at it, and hoping to recoup some of the losses quickly before something else goes wrong”
Huge pang of nostalgia seeing the beautiful interior of the 560. Had a couple earlier 126 diesels, and would like to experience the petrol version
I’ve owned a couple of w123s and a w124 – all great cars. Moving up to a w126 seems like the way to go. Bring on the Benz!
One of the most automotive small pleasures I ever had was closing a door on a Merc of this era. Its like a bank vault, nice heavy and solid. Those engines were built from 1972 so they had their teething issues fixed.
He made it clear in the ad why its going cheap. I was expecting something horrible, but yeah that’s a common problem with a semi-cheap fix. Stack of maintenance records just makes the rest seem better.
Bet there is another 200K in it. Benz all the way.
The BMW is gorgeous and the Merc just screams “Taxi.”
Benz, with caveats, Drive it, maintain it, enjoy it and the first repair thing over a grand that I cannot do myself sell it.
Hard choice today. I went BMW simply because I like the look a little better.
Mercedes.
That old Merc looks classy.
Benz for me. The BMW is very nice, but that era of Benz is just… Chef’s kiss…
200k miles is a lot of miles. Either would be great, but the 740i needs re-upholstered seats. The Benz looks phenomenal for its age.
They’re both pretty sweet, but man that Benz is beautiful inside and out.
I’ll take the “last-forever” german engineering over power.
I went BMW because I know the motor fairly well, and have always loved those 7s.
That said, it was a toss-up with the Benz. That’s when Benz still had the build quality of a Bundesbank vault.
Either one should be a pure pleasure to drive until it breaks.
Man, that 7-series looks great, but a LWB S-class? Oooo baby, gimme that Benz.
Want the E38, would buy the W126.
Wow, the 7er is really nice, and one of the last good-looking BMWs imho … but I can’t say no to Bruno Sacco. We’ll take the Benz.
Benz all day. Wish it weren’t so far away.
It’s going to have to be the Mercedes, they are still dining out on the reputation they built with cars like that. The 7-Series is from the era when BMWs were starting to become questionable choices outside of warranty
Remember when BMW actually knew how to style an attractive front end on a car?
Pepperidge Farm remembers.