German Car Zone

I know someone who is selling a 1974 w116 450SEL, maybe a 6.9, not sure yet.
He said, MB says it's a 6.9, but the 6.9 appeared in 1975. I'll check tomorrow, the 6.9 has a hydro-pneumatic suspension and a speedo to 260km/h.
Car has 160.000kms on the clock. I'll see it tomorrow and will post some pics.

The car was in good conditions 2 years ago, but spent the last 2 years under a cover and did not move. Now the brakes are stuck and the motor stops after running a few minutes.

He says the car is not rusty, some points of rust here and there. Chromes are very good, interior too, and he changed quite a lot of pieces in the motor.
An engineer said there is 2.000€ work maximum to make it run perfectly, and I could touch the car for around 1.000€ I think, so it would make 3.000€ for a nice 450SEL.

What do you think of a w116, what do I need to check, is the car worth for 3.000 or 4.000€? Can I make it work with unloaded petrol?

If it's a 6.9, is the hydro-pneumatic suspension reliable?

As I don't drive much, I think I'll sell the Golf IV and drive the Benz...or will I have problems with it? Knowing that I know nothing in mechanics (but would love and will try to learn a bit)

Any info on this model would be helpful, any advice... Christian, especially...

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

I'm happy for you. Wow! it'd be a huge shift from a golf to a 450SEL ... in size especially. Can't wait to see pics...

Wimmer hates the W116 so I think he would say no!!!

If it is good condition and only needs a few K in repairs cool, but do keep in mind it wont get cheaper to drive. If you can get it for a good price and it doesn't take too much to keep going, in a few years you could make back most of what you put into it.

About the quality - back in the seventies, my parents had no problemt with it . It's a great car ... but right now, the W116 is a dinosaur and (IMHO) nothing for daily use (but great as a second car). I think you won't be able to drive it with less than 16 liters per 100 kilometers. Keep in mind that the gas prices are rising and rising. Just my two cents.

Nope. I hate the W140, I love the W116 S-Class. The hottest S-Class ever!

Raoul, I have a number of publications on the W116 in both English and German (which I believe you can read). The German publication is from Mercedes Classic and they do mention the pros and cons of ownership. The English sources are from Mercedes Enthusiast. I just searched GCZ for them because I posted them here before but the search function on these forums is so worthless if I may say so!

Will need to scan them again.


One of the salesman at MB used to drive a 450SEL 6.9 during the late 1970s. I once asked him about his car when were driving home together when I worked for the local dealership a few summers ago. He said the car is generally ok but the fuel consumption is extremely poor, even if the car is driven in a normal fashion. Also, there is so much torque available that driving the car in rainy weather takes skill, especially since there was no ESP available (ABS was standard on the W116 though) back then. The pneumatic suspension was inspired by Citroen I believe and is of a similar design. It should work just fine if the car is driven often. If the car is not moved for long periods that's where the problems with the suspension begin.

Like I said, will scan the reviews. Can you read German?

Thanks a lot Christian! I can read German, no problem for that.

I'm not sure it's a 6.9, it may be "just" a 450. Will see it tomorrow.

My concern is rust, I know these cars get quite rusty...
I know for the consumption, I think I'll do around 15 or 16l/100, I drive slowly. Can I put unloaded fuel in it (it's a 1974 model)?

I played with the idea of an old Merc since a long time, here is an occasion, so I'll see if the car is in a good condition. I hope so!

It's a pity I won't be able to testdrive it because of the brakes and motor troubles...

I know

Excellent car Amaury, obviously petrol prices are not concerning you

Will look for them and scan them ASAP.

By the way, the official fuel economy figures from Mercedes about the 450SEL 6.9 were "16 L / 100 km". According to my friend who used to work at the dealership (and older man who was driving MBs in the 1960s and 1970s already), his 450SEL 6.9 could never reach this figure. The usual consumption was around 19-22 L / 100 km. That's the reason this car has a 100 liter fuel tank!

I saw the car. First thing, it's no 6.9, but a 450SEL. Not a 450 SEL 6.9.

The car is blue with beige interior, and is quite rusty. I don't know what it could cost to cure it and protect it (Hohlraumversiegelung)...

Looks splendid, really. No leak, motor runs quite good, but then it stops. However, it's a 2 years old petrol, surely water too in it, so it could come from that.

Here some pics of the beast!