5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

KEEP ON TOP OF 1

SERVICING

Mercedes of this era were terrifically well-engineered, and examples that have been properly maintained should still drive beautifully. The best way to make one better is to follow its maintenance schedule to the letter. The owners’ club and various specialists revealed that these cars are best left as original as possible if you want to benefit from the many Deutschmarks that Mercedes-Benz poured into the car’s development.

KEEP IT PROTECTED 2

If you find a rust-free car, keep it that way to avoid wallet-wilting body repairs by treating the panels and box sections to thorough and regular professional rust-proofing.

OUT WITH THE OLD 3

It’s neither the easiest nor the most pleasant of jobs, but removing old underseal and replacing it with fresh stuff is worth the hassle for peace of mind alone, especially on a car you’ve just bought. Better that than rot festering unseen.

STAY ORIGINAL 4

Using quality OEM parts will make a big difference to the way these cars steer, stop and ride. So if you suspect that a car may have been repaired or maintained using cheaper non-original components, then a thorough overhaul of the brakes and suspension will pay dividends – just don’t expect it to be cheap.

MERCEDES KNOWS 5

BEST

Braking power on W114s and W115s was good straight out of the box, so don’t be tempted by expensive upgraded pads and the like – just stick to the correct MB bits. And renewing the bushes, joints, and dampers with original parts will transform the ride quality and handling of any model, not to mention overall refinement.