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W109 3.5L questions

Started by oscar, 14 November 2007, 09:57 AM

oscar

He must have had $500 as a reserve and it's still at a $510 about $450USD.  I think the fact the photos are old and the suspension revelation has spooked a few.  Like me.

I shortened my above post before posting but I was going to say how the Americana lights are worth more here if in good nic than that whole car price.  But what would I replace them with.  Best looking headlights MB ever made IMO, I'd buy them back again.  They're a must on a 108/9 for me.  I was also going to say that a quality conversion to conventional springs shouldn't be a problem if done properly.  Even a couple of 6.9's that have popped up in Aus that usually get a screwed up face reaction by me shouldn't be a major deterrant if done properly but like most people, I'd preferrably like to have hydro in a 6.9 or air sus in a w109. 

I've got approval from oscarette so long as my other two wrecks dissappear.  No probs there.  But I really want to get my 280S on the road before taking on a bigger project like this.
1973 350SE, my first & fave

Andrew280SEL

So your not getting the 109...but I did notice a change in your sig.

I don't remember any 'canary yellow' car being mentioned before. 8) ;)
'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9

oscar

canary yellow was possibly the cheapest w116 ever at $36.25 off ebay.  I felt so bad I paid the guy $100.  But it's motorless so it doesn't count and I never added it to the list until today.  Just wanted to make sure that when I mentioned two wrecks above, the red 280S wasn't included.  Only the two 280se's.  I bought the car from the Victorian alps back in August here

I was only after the replica penta wheels but also scored a Becker Mexico, spotless windscreen for the 350, good window trim and a bunch of little extras.  I had to drive the 280S to my shed to make room but before I did, I tried to align all four cars in the back yard of the place we're renting for a once off photo.  A beautiful photo  ;D ;D to us.  I emailed it to my landlord who's a former workmate but still current friend :D  Still haven't been evicted.  Over the next week or so everything will be at our new house, but turd 280 and canary 280 are doomed for shed decoration like "Billy Bass" and to house a BBQ.  Red 280 looks awsome though.  Bought a bunch of gear a couple of days ago for the 350.  Almost bought the headgasket for red280 but I thought I better wait till we settle in.

1973 350SE, my first & fave

Andrew280SEL

A nice little collection of w116's your getting there Oscar. 8)

Oscarette must really be nice and laid back about the whole thing, whereas a lot of wives would be screaming. ;)
'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9

oscar

Oh hell no.  She figures if I got rid of two w116's to get a w108 there'll be 3 not four.  When she saw what I was doing in the backyard all sorts of profanities were hurled towards me.  I started throwing empty beer bottles at the back door till the nagging went away.   :D

Seriously, we started moving today and I had to get the 280S out of the shed to start removing all the gear we had in storage for the past year.  I parked the 280S in the backyard "temporarily" but not before my 8yr old son and me did burnouts ;D ;D.  There's no lawn yet, it's just a dust bowl.  We had a chuckle.  The Mrs and her sister stood at the back door shaking their heads. :D  I've only got room for two w116's under cover plus the Mrs Ford.  Whatever happens there'll be turd and canary parked in a distant corner.  You know who aint happy. 
1973 350SE, my first & fave

116Benz

Quote from: oscar on 16 November 2007, 11:53 PM
Oh hell no.  She figures if I got rid of two w116's to get a w108 there'll be 3 not four.  When she saw what I was doing in the backyard all sorts of profanities were hurled towards me.  I started throwing empty beer bottles at the back door till the nagging went away.   :D


Sounds like one of the tenants we manage a property for  ;D. I got the verbal from the parents "get at least one of them running so if need be it can be moved, then discuss buying more cars" Thing is, the SEL runs....Thinking about it Oscar, you're right, another 450 would be nice  ;)

Andrew280SEL

Quote from: 116Benz on 17 November 2007, 12:51 AM

Thinking about it Oscar, you're right, another 450 would be nice  ;)

It certainly can't hurt to have both the six and eight cylinder variety of the models. 8)

Now I've got my 350 as well as my 280, I've pretty well got the best of both worlds, except for the flagship 6.9 obviously.

They're both very enjoyable cars in their own right. Although, interestingly enough, my 350 seems to be one of the most fuel efficient cars we've got here. It's easily close, if not the same, as my six cylinder manual ute.

Pretty happy with that, I must say. :)
'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9

John Hubertz

Why not chopsaw the side off one of them (or the nose, or the tail) and make a nice deco for the fence there?



John Hubertz
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
(Hunter S. Thompson) 

1977 450SEL (Max Headroom)
[img width=68 height=73][url="http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg"]http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f248/fullhappyfish/max.jpg[/url][/img]

bahnstormer109

Hey Andrew,
thanks for saying gday,
no i havent got a 4 speed in the 109 yet, i havent done anything to it for almost 2 years. not even service it! its got about 300 miles left until a service is due. i just dont drive it enough. it only does about 1000 miles a year.

after a service im getting the interior leather dyed and then ill get the new gearbox in it.

the 109 is a long term project for me, ive been working on it for 5 years now and almost dont want to finish it because then i wont have anything to do when im bored! it doesnt bother if it takes another 5 years.

i really want to get into this interior though, so when i do ill put up some pics.

chers,
Paolo.
Paolo,
Brisbane, Australia.

72 300SEL 3.5
84 280CE
86 560SEL
86 230TE

Andrew280SEL

Hey Paolo,

Oh well, it sounds like you've got a nice long project to keep you going at a non-stressful rate, which is good.

And yes, when you do the interior, we will all look forward to pics!  ;D

:)

'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9

13B

Here's what I don't get about the W108/9 naming conventions... if the 108 is supposed to be the shorty and the 109 the longy, what does that make this thing:

280SEL4.5

The boot badge says 280SEL
looking at the rear doors I would say they are long
but the Vin says 108?

Appears to me that even MB were confusing themselves by 1972 and for subsequent s-class cars just stuck with the one W name...

I'd buy this californian one just because its a column auto, but it get it packs some serious punch with a D-jet M117 in a car which weighs heaps less than a 450SEL.

I.
450SEL 6.9 #5440 = V MB 690 , 450SE # 43094 = 02010 H , 190E/turbo # 31548 = AOH 68K

alabbasi

Quote from: 13B on 19 November 2007, 12:23 AM
Here's what I don't get about the W108/9 naming conventions... if the 108 is supposed to be the shorty and the 109 the longy,
The boot badge says 280SEL
looking at the rear doors I would say they are long
but the Vin says 108?

That's not it. The W108 has conventional coil springs, the W109 has air suspension. W108 models came in long and short wheel form. They also came in six (carb and injection) and 3.5 and 4.5 liter v8's with D-Jetronic (the 4.5 was a North American only model).

The W109 had air suspension and came with six cylinder injected engines or 3.5, 4.5 or 6.3 liter V8's and only long wheelbase.

The 280SEL 4.5 is a great all rounder.

With best regards

Al
Dallas, TX USA.

Andrew280SEL

What *I* don't get, is why the 4.5 car is called a 280SEL?  ???

It doesn't make sense to me...
'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9

alabbasi

Quote from: Andrew280SEL on 19 November 2007, 12:54 AM
What *I* don't get, is why the 4.5 car is called a 280SEL?  ???

It doesn't make sense to me...

Maybe because if it was called a 450SEL then it would be bigger then the 300SEL 6.3 and the 300SEL 6.3 (which couldn't be called the 630SEL because it would then be bigger then the 600?)
With best regards

Al
Dallas, TX USA.

Andrew280SEL

Quote from: alabbasi on 19 November 2007, 12:58 AM
Quote from: Andrew280SEL on 19 November 2007, 12:54 AM
What *I* don't get, is why the 4.5 car is called a 280SEL?  ???

It doesn't make sense to me...

Maybe because if it was called a 450SEL then it would be bigger then the 300SEL 6.3 and the 300SEL 6.3 (which couldn't be called the 630SEL because it would then be bigger then the 600?)

It's a good point. ;)

A little odd, but it makes sense. 8)
'79 280SEL- 560,000 Kms
'73 350SE- getting an AMG facelift
'79 450SEL 6.9