Owners praise the W126 as one of the few modern-usable classics you can maintain at home with simple tools on a modest budget, and several describe getting real satisfaction from the upkeep. The caveat is parts obsolescence for some components: the mechanical fuel distributor is called out as effectively no-longer-available, with rebuilds that reportedly do not hold up.
DIY-friendly ownership and parts availability
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W126) · ownership