$400 Mercedes 600SEL w 6.0L V12 on Cincinnati Craiglist!

I noticed this 600SEL on craigslist in cincinnati. Pretty amazing deal for $400. I talked with the owner's grandfather who answered the phone and it does sound like it might be real. Non-runner - wiring and some sensors are fried (I suspect this is the result of owner replacing the battery and maybe reversing the polarity?)
http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2170616622.html

Am I the only one who thinks a $400 6.0L V-12 would be really fun to play with? 389 stock hp in a 5000 lb yacht - nothing a little powered downforce can't solve!

Anyway my wife reminded me I have way too many other projects right now. Could be a really interesting donor for a Challenge car or a really interesting Lemons tank? Might look great with some diplomatic flags from an out of favor country. I hope this is useful for someone!

I have no relation to the seller and have not inspected the car in person. Proceed at your own risk!

cincicliff wrote: Non-runner - wiring and some sensors are fried (I suspect this is the result of owner replacing the battery and maybe reversing the polarity?) http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2170616622.html

Nope, I don't think it is anything the owner did. As he stated in the ad, these have wiring that is insulated with biodegradable material. It may have been a well-intentioned idea for the time, but it has been a nightmare for owners. Many 90s era Mercedes get junked because of this. It is just more expense and trouble than the car is worth, for most people. A megasquirted MB V-12 in a challenge car would be sweet, though.

Here's a link to a thread he (I'm assuming) started on BenzWorld: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1565802-ripping-my-hair-out-13-000-a.html

hmmmm....does painless make a kit for this car?

I'm thinking a Megasquirt or two? (can they run V12s yet?)

And then two turbos.

universal harness + ? = big car cheap? probably not, i'd like to dump a v12 into something though.

Put a carburetor on it?

Guy sounds like a real penis however.

carzan wrote:

cincicliff wrote: Non-runner - wiring and some sensors are fried (I suspect this is the result of owner replacing the battery and maybe reversing the polarity?) http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/2170616622.html

Nope, I don't think it is anything the owner did. As he stated in the ad, these have wiring that is insulated with biodegradable material. It may have been a well-intentioned idea for the time, but it has been a nightmare for owners. Many 90s era Mercedes get junked because of this. It is just more expense and trouble than the car is worth, for most people. A megasquirted MB V-12 in a challenge car would be sweet, though.

My dad's '95 S420 had ZERO problems in the years that he owned it, until he bought the replacement, a '00 S500. I drove it to work to put it on our lot after he got the S500, and it died on me on the way to work. It wasn't getting a cam signal, then I noticed that there was no insulation on the wires going to the cam sensor. Pretty much the entire engine harness was cracked and VERY brittle. Other than that, it had 230k trouble free miles on it, and still looked new.

pinchvalve wrote: Guy sounds like a real penis however.

Nah, just cranky.

Is he really selling it for $2 or is that a come on? He didn't say in the body of the ad. If he's cranky AND selling it for more than the advertised $2, I'd happily flag the penis.

Dan

SBC & Ron Frances wiring.

Geez. I'd never heard of this problem. $4,000 for a new wiring harness? Hum. I'm sure it would take some time, but really, couldn't you make or adapt a wiring harness for just a few hundred bucks? In the immortal words of Jeremy Clarkson "how hard can it be?"

I'll get my hammer.

Okay, google found this thread on another forum:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1490475-1995-s600-main-wiring-harness.html

If that info is accurate, you need two wiring harnesses and can get them for about $3,500. Which is still a lot, but, you know.

fast_eddie_72 wrote: Okay, google found this thread on another forum: http://www.benzworld.org/forums/w140-s-class/1490475-1995-s600-main-wiring-harness.html If that info is accurate, you need two wiring harnesses and can get them for about $3,500. Which is still a lot, but, you know.

Funk that. I'd get a roll of wire and wire the whole car WITH THE SAME COLOR WIRE FOR EVERYTHING.

SOLD! Will delete in the next day or so.

You took the time to mark it sold, why not delete it right now?

mndsm wrote: SOLD! Will delete in the next day or so. You took the time to mark it sold, why not delete it right now?

Because he's a penis?