- Welcome to The Forum.
News:
The ORG - 100% FREE advice!
Recent posts
#1
Test Drive / Wierd cars FS on Facebook
Last post by raueda1 - Today at 04:04 PMThe W116's listed on for sale on FB are always a puzzlement to me. Sellers typically provide almost no details, rarely prices, often no location and on and on. Anywsay, THIS one showed up. I won't go into the various oddities, but engine looks like US version to me. No oil cooler but carbon canister (or whatever it is) by radiator. And no arm rest. ?!?!?
Anyway, my real question is, when did the Euro version get the anti-smog stuff, if ever? I can't recall ever seeing any on smog stuff in pix of Euro 6.9's. Enjoy and cheers,
Anyway, my real question is, when did the Euro version get the anti-smog stuff, if ever? I can't recall ever seeing any on smog stuff in pix of Euro 6.9's. Enjoy and cheers,
#2
Mechanicals / Re: Just secured a 450 SEL 6.9...
Last post by rumb - Today at 10:03 AMFan looks much better. Why did you choose Cerakote? Looks like an interesting product.
#3
Mechanicals / Re: Just secured a 450 SEL 6.9...
Last post by Jed - Yesterday at 10:41 PMOh Andrew,
I feel for you! That ball joint makes MY hands hurt!!
One trick that has not failed me yet is to use a pneumatic impact gun and hit the side of the connector (where you would hit it with the BFH). Works every time but can make the end link less than pretty when your done. Of course so does the BFH, but this is a lot less work.
I spent Saturday taking down the entire front suspension on a W108 and the mercedes gods smiled on me. Not a single rusted/broken or seized bolt. Must have been a first for me.
I feel for you! That ball joint makes MY hands hurt!!
One trick that has not failed me yet is to use a pneumatic impact gun and hit the side of the connector (where you would hit it with the BFH). Works every time but can make the end link less than pretty when your done. Of course so does the BFH, but this is a lot less work.
I spent Saturday taking down the entire front suspension on a W108 and the mercedes gods smiled on me. Not a single rusted/broken or seized bolt. Must have been a first for me.
#4
Mechanicals / Re: Just secured a 450 SEL 6.9...
Last post by daantjie - Yesterday at 06:31 PMOi, yes indeed, I think we've all been stuck in suspension work purgatory before, it's usually ugly with lots of colourful language involved 
always amazes me when I see shops do suspension work. It's almost always a dude with a BFH (Big effing hammer) giving the part in question a couple of smart wacks and out she comes. I guess it comes with experience as I have pretty much always had to resort to tons of heat and an inordinate amount of force on all the pullers and separators to get them to let go, usually with a loud bang and pop!
always amazes me when I see shops do suspension work. It's almost always a dude with a BFH (Big effing hammer) giving the part in question a couple of smart wacks and out she comes. I guess it comes with experience as I have pretty much always had to resort to tons of heat and an inordinate amount of force on all the pullers and separators to get them to let go, usually with a loud bang and pop! #5
Mechanicals / Re: Just secured a 450 SEL 6.9...
Last post by andrewk - Yesterday at 06:14 PMWell, this whole set of work has blown out of proportion with the intake replacement.
The process to separate the lower ball joint from the control arm/wishbone has been gruelling. They have obviously been installed with an excessive amount of torque, causing the spindle of the ball joints (TRW brand with 90s date code) to be stuck in the hole. I now have pain in both of my arms from the hammering.
So far I have separated one of the joints but I had to dismember it and hammer, drill and yell at it for three hours (after i'd already spend hours trying with ball joint tools and conventional methods, breaking a brand new Kukko tool in the process, one Chinesium ball joint tool turned to glitter as it was tightened).
Today i'll attempt to get the other side apart and then press out the ball joints from the steering knuckle, get those blasted and powder coated and install fresh genuine joints. Hopefully I won't have to do this job again any time soon.
I had the fan blasted and painted with Cerakote which has turned out really well. Small wins. Hopefully i'll have the car back together in a fortnight or so; I really am keen to just drive it for a while without leaks, creaks and annoyances.
The process to separate the lower ball joint from the control arm/wishbone has been gruelling. They have obviously been installed with an excessive amount of torque, causing the spindle of the ball joints (TRW brand with 90s date code) to be stuck in the hole. I now have pain in both of my arms from the hammering.
So far I have separated one of the joints but I had to dismember it and hammer, drill and yell at it for three hours (after i'd already spend hours trying with ball joint tools and conventional methods, breaking a brand new Kukko tool in the process, one Chinesium ball joint tool turned to glitter as it was tightened).
Today i'll attempt to get the other side apart and then press out the ball joints from the steering knuckle, get those blasted and powder coated and install fresh genuine joints. Hopefully I won't have to do this job again any time soon.
I had the fan blasted and painted with Cerakote which has turned out really well. Small wins. Hopefully i'll have the car back together in a fortnight or so; I really am keen to just drive it for a while without leaks, creaks and annoyances.
#6
Interiors & Exteriors / Re: 450sel windshield part num...
Last post by harryb55 - Yesterday at 01:58 PMI finally found someone in Maryland to replace my windshield. He did great job, no dents in the trim and no leaks! However, on the way back to PA the climate control servo quit and the odometer stopped working!
The odometer was an easy fix and my trusty Mercedes only mechanic fixed it while it was in for the servo removal. The servo was sent to George Murphy in TN for a rebuild. It was returned a week later and installed.
All is good and the car is back to where it was plus a new logoed windshields from Mercedes which took two months to get from the fatherland.
Thanks for the help making sure it was the correct part number!!!
The odometer was an easy fix and my trusty Mercedes only mechanic fixed it while it was in for the servo removal. The servo was sent to George Murphy in TN for a rebuild. It was returned a week later and installed.
All is good and the car is back to where it was plus a new logoed windshields from Mercedes which took two months to get from the fatherland.
Thanks for the help making sure it was the correct part number!!!
#7
Shop / Re: The day has come: Goldie i...
Last post by ptashek - Yesterday at 03:39 AMThank you, every little helps to find a deserving home.
At the end of the day, it's worth what others will be willing to pay for it. For now in have the privilege of dictating a price I consider fair.
At the end of the day, it's worth what others will be willing to pay for it. For now in have the privilege of dictating a price I consider fair.
#8
Mechanicals / Re: 1973 M/B 450se one owner
Last post by Seth Harmon - Yesterday at 02:12 AMQuote from: daantjie on 21 November 2023, 10:29 PMNot 100% sure but I think the LHS and RHS mounts might have different hardness due to engine movement under load. Honestly I think this is much of a muchness and using either or or both of 1 is fine.Do you have information about reputable parts sales addresses in the UK?
Try and source from Mercedes directly as aftermarket quality has really taken a dive especially rubber products. Even Lemforder is now considered iffy quality sadly.
I really want to buy an LHS for my car but I'm quite concerned about the product quality.
#9
Shop / Re: The day has come: Goldie i...
Last post by mrkozzy - 26 November 2023, 02:40 PMMust congratulate you on the superb work you have done on the vehicle.
It's probably the 1st truly "Concourse" vehicle I've seen here in Ireland since I arrived here early this year.
I have managed to drop by 8-10 Vintage car shows these past few months, and without doubt yours would have won some significant prizes if it were shown. I'll pass on your info, in my small but newly acquired circle of vintage car buffs and see if we can't help to find it a deserving home.
As for the price, I have no idea what they are worth in this part of the world, suffice to say some of the vintage car owners asking prices for what I consider "pretty ordinary cars" have astounded me these past few months.
Personally, I don't think your asking price is unreasonable for a vehicle of this caliber, but I'm not the one buying so I wish you good luck my friend.
It's probably the 1st truly "Concourse" vehicle I've seen here in Ireland since I arrived here early this year.
I have managed to drop by 8-10 Vintage car shows these past few months, and without doubt yours would have won some significant prizes if it were shown. I'll pass on your info, in my small but newly acquired circle of vintage car buffs and see if we can't help to find it a deserving home.
As for the price, I have no idea what they are worth in this part of the world, suffice to say some of the vintage car owners asking prices for what I consider "pretty ordinary cars" have astounded me these past few months.
Personally, I don't think your asking price is unreasonable for a vehicle of this caliber, but I'm not the one buying so I wish you good luck my friend.
#10
Shop / Re: FS: Alternator Cable 6.9
Last post by raueda1 - 25 November 2023, 03:51 PMBeautiful. Doing all the 'little' stuff like this keeps adding up and makes a huge difference in the end. Hope you used period-appropriate lead based solder lol. Cheers