One thing leads to another!

[Green74280se]

As you guys would probably already be aware Neverr tell your friendly W116 mechanic .. Just do whatever needs to be done!

I'll back track for a moment.................. after taking it to a specialist classic merc workshop here in Sydney ( He had 9 pagoda's and late 60's coupes in there for anything from a general service to a motor rebuild) to get my central locking and steering coupling done, he called me to say I need a new muffler also... Ok, No problem.

Then the inevitable words... While I've got it up on the hoist let me see what needs doing.... and my reply.. No problem , Just do whatever needs to be done as my wife will be driving it!

I got the phone call yesterday afternoon that my green beauty will be ready at lunchtime today and so I arrived to find her in the driveway, glistening and ready with all four hubcaps and sitting higher and more level than when I dropped her off.

The mechanic came out and gave her a clean bill of mechanical health and said body wise she's one of the best he's seen with absolutely no rust.. Mechanically though the years had taken their toll and she obviously hadn't enjoyed a strict maintenance schedule.... so, without any further ado, this is what needed to be done:-

Complete oil, fluid and filter change.
Diff Mount
2 x sway bar links
2 air cells
3 litres of Hydro Oil
Pinion seal
2 x front shocks
2 x Upper wishbones
Tailshaft coupling
Transmission service (vapours of oil left in tranny!!!)
Rear Brake pads
LHR caliper kit
Steering coupling
4 x brand new tyres (Off a parts car .. $350 for 4)
Stainless Muffler


A lengthy list but after seeing the parts that were taken out obviously very necessary.

But the proof of the pudding was in the drive back to the office... What a massive difference... quiet, smooth, responsive and it felt as though we were gliding at the obligatory 110kph freeway speed.... Such an awesome 37yo car!

Now to tackle the interior before taking it home for the Minister of Finance to drive... and no, she won't be seeing the bill as it was roughly 3 x the purchase price of the car!

But as i look at it, what other classic can you buy for under $5000 that looks so cool and drives so nice... Not much!

The bug has definitely bitten this time!;D

[s class]

I'm afraid that's how it always goes.....

I'm busy with a client's W123 300D at the moment :

purchase price of car : ZAR25k ~ $2800

mechanical repairs : ZAR20k ~ $2300 (full brake work, suspension work, steering box rebuild, new clutch, propshaft rebuild, all water hoses, full service, all fluids etc etc)

cosmetics : ZAR10k ~ $1150 (new dash, seat repairs, correct becker radio etc etc)

aircon rebuild : ZAR10k  ~ $1150

Now, car is booked for body repairs, including fitment of a new rear valance : ZAR30k ~ $3400.

and I'm sure this is not the end of it...

[gf]

the cost of spare parts usually means the purchase cost is the cheap bit. Its a shame cause many people think "Its not worth it". Many dont appreciate that these cars were enormously expensive when new- you can tell where the money was when driving a sorted one. Easily outdrives my mums newish camry!

[oversize]

I've always said, you can't buy (any) decent car for less than $15K.  So if you'd paid less in total you're doing well!  If you get a classic for less it's a huge bonus!!

[gf]

Id agree on that

[Casey]

As you guys would probably already be aware Neverr tell your friendly W116 mechanic .. Just do whatever needs to be done!

On the contrary, if they're a genuinely knowledgeable person who won't rip you off, and you're not inclined to do the work yourself or have financial limitations, that's exactly what you should tell them!

As you express, it really doesn't cost *that* much to bring these cars to an incredible state of feeling.  I just got my 450SEL back from getting an alignment, and driving it again after a couple months of exclusively driving the 450SE during our poor weather conditions here, it's like a dream come true all over again...SUCH a different ride.  The only thing I don't like as much is how quiet the K-jet is compared to the D-jet or a diesel, but on the other hand it's a much more refined ride - I gave a new friend a lift home last night and it was nice to have a car that feels like new rather than having to explain the various faults and discomforts and random noises and vibrations of a car in more disrepair.

[Green74280se]

I guess you're right Casey.

As my new mechanic put it... Lets get her working right then you can pretty her up.

With some of the items replaced it was more of a safety issue than anything else and I definitely do trust he knows what he's doing with these classics.

Its pouring rain here at the moment so a perfect day to go to the warehouse and see if i can't remove 37 years of grime from the cream MB tex!

[oversize]

It depends if you're on a budget.  Obviously the safety items are paramount, followed by roadworthy issues.  Then comes reliability followed by comfort and cosmetic.

I once serviced a 6.9 that I hadn't seen before and despite listing all the items by priority so there was some sort of order, he ended up doing very little and sadly sold the car!  Sometimes I wonder if I'd been better NOT telling him everything.....  Maybe he'd have been happier being blissfully unaware?  And if I'd just replaced everything that was required I would've ended up owning the car, because I'm sure he couldn't pay.  With stuff like this you have to get to know the owner first, before entering into a "just do what it needs" agreement.  There's a significant level of trust required on both sides

[Tony66_au]

Honestly?

If you are on a budget then you shouldn't be owning an old Mercedes if you cant fix the old girls yourself.

I've lost count of the sheer amount of posts in various forums where people complain about the cost of driving a 116.

Its like LPG which causes more hassles than it saves.

Time too is a factor and if you have got it then the resto will take longer or cost you more.

I have time although limited but I also take time to do things properly with emphasis on the mechanical over the cosmetic.

This however makes Green74280se  the perfect Mercedes enthusiast in so much as he recognises what needs to be done and gets it done properly and for a price and by his description id guess his Mechanic is Barry.

Classic Mercedes ownership is fraught with peril and not for the faint hearted.


Welcome to The Org Green74280se!

[Green74280se]

Thanks Tony,

Actually the mechanic's name is John but he seems to be a go to guy for 116's. 107's, 108's etc... in the NSW merc club

My car was probably the most "boring" one in his workshop last week (And I think she looks glamorous!!! LOL)... Pagodas, 60' and 70's coupes and a couple of mint 126's were all in there for various jobs.. most having engine rebuilds.

I think the thing that makes me want to keep her long term is that she is very structurally sound... and now mechanically sound.

A few years back I owned a beautiful looking 500SEC.. Champagne gold, black leather, slightly lowered with AMG rims and went and sounded great.. BUT, at the first main service the mechanics raised her on the hoist and showed me the amount of "hidden" rust up under the car and in some pretty main structural areas.. even the jack points were all but useless.... They advised not to spend too much money the car so I only kept it for another year before offloading to someone who wanted to (and capable of) tackling the rust issue.

I'll be doing basic services from now on but am really happy to spend the money on a trusted professional to deal with "complex" stuff to keep my new baby running as she was designed.

I will add that I already got a blue slip for this car before getting all these items done and could have simply registered it without knowing / worrying how she drove but at the end of the day, after everything was done the whole feel of the car is transformed and I can now think what an amazing car these must have been back in 1976 compared to all other offerings in the market... I think about the previous owner of my car and thought, even for a truck company owner, the purchase price would have been substantial. In saying that,  the car you got would have simply outclassed most, if not everything in that category.

My wife saw her for the first time today and has also fallen in love with her charms!... I'm in the good books for a change! LOL

[Tony66_au]

Well im glad you are happy with the old girl and being a D jet car she will have a bit more performance.

A good one is hard to find and yours sounds like a ripper!

My 280S impressed me and its just a carbied version although the 4 speed auto makes a difference and I find it not far behind the 450SEL in performance although being in the 450 is a far nicer ride due to the SLS.

I recently bought my Wife a 350SLC and its nice to see others with Partners that appreciate an older toy to play with.

Tony

[Green74280se]

My wife has always loved her Mercedes but she's really taken with this green beauty... I've had a string of "interesting" older cars over the years but we're both smitten with this one!.. Maybe it's the colour and / or honesty of the car but we can't wait to take it for a cruise down the coast and show her off.

A couple of things I'd like to know with regard to the gearbox in my car.

On my gear lever it has PRNDSL....... does this mean it's a 3 speed auto?... The reason I ask it seems to rev quite high on the freeway.. close to 3500rpm at 120-130kph.

Also, when I take off from the traffic lights i can only feel it going through three gears but i've had cars in past which take off in second gear unless given a mighty shove on the loud pedal (Such as a Porsche 928S2 i once had).

Clarification of this would be appreciated as by all accounts It seems I should have a 4 speed auto.

Cheers,

Al

[Tony66_au]

Al you are correct in your assumption mate, 2nd gear takeoff unless mightily booted in the 6 cylinder cars.

The V8's were 3 speed autos and this had something to do with the 4 speed not coping with the torque of the V8 engines.

[Casey]

On my gear lever it has PRNDSL....... does this mean it's a 3 speed auto?... The reason I ask it seems to rev quite high on the freeway.. close to 3500rpm at 120-130kph.

Also, when I take off from the traffic lights i can only feel it going through three gears but i've had cars in past which take off in second gear unless given a mighty shove on the loud pedal (Such as a Porsche 928S2 i once had).

Clarification of this would be appreciated as by all accounts It seems I should have a 4 speed auto.

You should have a 3-speed auto.  It works thusly:

* If the pedal is depressed all the way, it can then be depressed further to press a kickdown switch which should force the car into a higher gear provided your speed is not near/above the indication on the speedometer of the approximate maximum speed for each gear.

* D (drive) shifts on the side of economy through 1, 2, and 3.

* S (slope) shifts on the side of power and will not go into 3; only gears 1 and 2, not shifting into 2 until the speed is at the threshold of 1's tolerance.

* L (low) is gear 1 only.

For *most* acceleration from a stop, shift into L, floor pedal all the way.  Without ever lifting pedal, when speed reaches threshold for first gear per the speedometer, shift into S, when speed reaches threshold for second gear, shift into D.

You probably want to replace the shifter bushings and have the linkages checked.  Also change the transmission fluid and replace seals.

[Beastie]

On my gear lever it has PRNDSL....... does this mean it's a 3 speed auto?... The reason I ask it seems to rev quite high on the freeway.. close to 3500rpm at 120-130kph.

Also, when I take off from the traffic lights i can only feel it going through three gears but i've had cars in past which take off in second gear unless given a mighty shove on the loud pedal (Such as a Porsche 928S2 i once had).

Clarification of this would be appreciated as by all accounts It seems I should have a 4 speed auto.

You should have a 3-speed auto.  It works thusly:

* If the pedal is depressed all the way, it can then be depressed further to press a kickdown switch which should force the car into a higher gear provided your speed is not near/above the indication on the speedometer of the approximate maximum speed for each gear.

* D (drive) shifts on the side of economy through 1, 2, and 3.

* S (slope) shifts on the side of power and will not go into 3; only gears 1 and 2, not shifting into 2 until the speed is at the threshold of 1's tolerance.

* L (low) is gear 1 only.

For *most* acceleration from a stop, shift into L, floor pedal all the way.  Without ever lifting pedal, when speed reaches threshold for first gear per the speedometer, shift into S, when speed reaches threshold for second gear, shift into D.

You probably want to replace the shifter bushings and have the linkages checked.  Also change the transmission fluid and replace seals.

Nah, the six cylinder cars have 4 speeds. Also, if I'm not mistaken, L gear will allow you to take off from first gear but it will shift into 2nd eventually and S gear will take off from 2nd unless from kickdown and will shift into but not beyond 3rd. I recently had mine up near 140kp/h in S. It goes from 90 to 140 like a scalded cock in S and it's good for overtaking.