Value a W126?

1988 MB 560SEL, never left southern California. Not sure the mileage, I believe between 120-160k. What's a good way to value cars of this vintage?

Southern California? 1988?

I'd be willing to bet that is has a set of those chrome wheel arches.

Quite possible! Not sure if it's the LWB model, but pretty sure it looks like a Ugandan dictator's ride.

Got a link? Could be from $800 to $15000

SEL is the lwb model, I am pretty sure they didn't even sell them in the SWB version with the V8 in 988 here. I would say if it runs and is registered somewhere between $1500-$3500 is pretty average for one of those, as far as value checking craigslist would give an idea of what people seem to ask for them.

How well sorted is it? Maintenance up to date? Records of this?

1500 - 4000 is kinda the window. Nicest one I've seen in awhile went for $5500with 70,000 miles an dealer records.

No link. I've never seen it, I only know of it. This is why I've posted in off-topic (because family stories always seem to have a "but....")

My brother bought it and wants to give it to me or my mother or father. We have cars. He is a starving actor that never harmed anyone but has helped many, but he makes turrrible financial decisions. Like buying cars for sentimental reasons - then usually spending 3x the purchase amout sorting them [can you say Cadillac STS - that's another, or Porsche 928] and then realizing the deal wasn't very good after all. His neighbor is a pretty good mechanic, I'm told. So they fix em up. That's the kinda stuff he does - generous heart/mind but not practical. The beneficiaries don't really want it... at all.. but he could use the funds. He hasn't made 20k per year in a decade, living in LA and doing piece work in the acting biz, but still survives somehow.

The real hitch is this. He bought it from a guy who swindled him basically. It was plated, but the plates did not belong on this car. It hasn't been registered in few years. In Cali, if a vehicle isn't registered, it won't be registered until you catch the taxes up for all the years in between.

He has exercised it but can't really drive it around. It's supposedly a good runner with a near perfect body and interior.

So if it's worth something, I'm considering buying it, paying the $2K in reg fees so it can be titled, then selling it so I can raise him some money.

You can't pick your family, you just have to support and love em the best you can.

Unfortunately, whenever I see one of these cars now I think one of two things.

It's either, "Wow, that guy used to have a lot of money", or "Wow, that guy will never have any money".

Woody wrote: Unfortunately, whenever I see one of these cars now I think one of two things. It's either, "Wow, that guy used to have a lot of money", or "Wow, that guy will never have any money".

it's not the first one!

Keep in mind the back fees only apply if the car is registered in Cali. You could sell it out of state and title/register it there without any issues.

Done that before here in NV, no hassle.

It probably can't pass smog in CA hence why it hasn't been registered. You came find very nice well sorted w126's in the junkyards here. They're really not worth much here. And if it's a non-runner then ehhh, could be problematic. Where in LA is it? I can't try to check it out for you.

BoxheadTim wrote: Keep in mind the back fees only apply if the car is registered in Cali. You could sell it out of state and title/register it there without any issues. Done that before here in NV, no hassle.

pops tried to register it in OH, no dice unless registered in same name in CA. Since is still in former owners name, it's stuck in no man's land.

yupididit wrote: It probably can't pass smog in CA hence why it hasn't been registered. You came find very nice well sorted w126's in the junkyards here. They're really not worth much here. And if it's a non-runner then ehhh, could be problematic. Where in LA is it? I can't try to check it out for you.

I think it's in Pasadena - he just moved this week. Thanks for offering. Let me ask my bro. This may take a while..

It's cool. Pasadena is never a bad trip for me. Just let me know

OHSCrifle wrote:

BoxheadTim wrote: Keep in mind the back fees only apply if the car is registered in Cali. You could sell it out of state and title/register it there without any issues. Done that before here in NV, no hassle.

pops tried to register it in OH, no dice unless registered in same name in CA. Since is still in former owners name, it's stuck in no man's land.

He'll have to title it in OH first - I assume your brother does have the title?

Here in NV I just show up at the DMV with the signed over CA title and title and register it here. To do that, you do have to have possession of the car so it can go through the VIN inspection.

Apparently a title is in hand, signed over from the last owner... but not titled in his name, because of the CA registration/tax thing. I've not invested in learning all the nuances of the situation, because the more I do that, the thicker the doodoo (typically).

I was just curious if they're potentially worth anything, before I step in it.

Asking prices on CL out here (which is far from LA, where there may be a bigger market for them) seem to range from $450 to about $8k max. Those at the upper end of the price range seem to be legit one with no back fees, smog certs in hand and no title shenanigans and good paint and interior with good mechanicals. Sundamaged interior or paint drops the price massively.

The ones that are worth real money in good condition are the Diesels, especially the 350SDL. TBH I was surprised to find a 560 SEL for $8k, gut feeling said they're more like $4k-$6k cars.

I'm posting this just in case anybody else has eyes on an old unregistered California car, and is being told they have to pay all the back registration fees to register it.

Not entirely true! If you leave the state.

Despite the California DMV playing dumb and refusing to act until he pulled out a printout of this State statute .... Suddenly the DMV manager remembered this option.

My brother managed to get something called a "one trip permit" from the state and then drove his W126 from Los Angeles to Wooster, OH.

It is now registered in Wayne County, Ohio with a historic tag. And parked in a barn next to my parents' fifth wheel trailer (and my brother's old 928). Thankfully it'll never see salt.

Now I NEED to see pictures. I too make poor financial decisions regarding Mercedes.

Yeah I'd love to see pics too. I love that platform.

Back when that car was new I used to joke that SEL stood for so extremely long.

Is he going to sell it?