The single most repeated buying lesson is that a garaged low-mileage W126 still needs money spent because rubber components, gaskets and vacuum lines degrade with time regardless of use; hardened intake-V gaskets and cracked vacuum lines are blamed for high idle. A car that has sat for years is treated as needing as much recommissioning as a high-mile driver.
Service by age, not mileage: rubber, vacuum lines and sitting
Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W126) · ownership