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Back in a W116 again...'78 450SEL arrived!

Started by Zaxxon, 12 March 2016, 09:54 PM

Zaxxon

Quote from: floyd111 on 05 April 2016, 07:51 PM
Without passing judgement on the windshield seal pricing at any location, but, did it arrive in an MB-Box?

I'll tell you Thursday when it's supposed to be here!
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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

Zaxxon

Also, I got to actually drive the car today after hanging out at the lovely DMV forever, as always, and I have to say that I am very positively surprised. Transmission works wonderfully well, tight shifts, shift points feel pretty damn spot on, and all that without adjusting anything so far. Have to take some notes of RPMs when shifting to be sure. Also quite surprised about the nice pick up the old lady has - quite respectable for an almost 40 years old car of that size.
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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

daantjie

Quote from: Zaxxon on 05 April 2016, 08:07 PM
Also, I got to actually drive the car today after hanging out at the lovely DMV forever, as always, and I have to say that I am very positively surprised. Transmission works wonderfully well, tight shifts, shift points feel pretty damn spot on, and all that without adjusting anything so far. Have to take some notes of RPMs when shifting to be sure. Also quite surprised about the nice pick up the old lady has - quite respectable for an almost 40 years old car of that size.

Yes the 450 sel is very smooth. I always say the 450 sel is an iron fist inside a velvet glove. With the 6.9 there is no glove  ;D
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

ptashek

Quote from: Zaxxon on 05 April 2016, 08:07 PM
Also quite surprised about the nice pick up the old lady has - quite respectable for an almost 40 years old car of that size.

I did a respectable 9.6s 0-100km/h in mine (euro 450) on a wet road, with a slight uphill gradient.
They can haul ass properly if taken care of :)
1993 "Pearl Blue" W124 280TE
1988 "Arctic White" W124 200T
1979 "Icon Gold" W116 450SE

Zaxxon

The windshield seal came in today - at least I can't find any other manufacturers markings on it. Not even a ÜRO stamp...hahahaha:

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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

rumb

When the time comes, I'm considering getting this. 15+ years ago I purchased the set for my W108. It still looks fabulous. 

http://shop.millermbz.com/rubber-kits/116-450sel-6.9-chassis-rubber-kit/99-0014

I  priced it all out separately, that  is @ 1/2 of list.

I do not know who makes them, but the previous ones are high quality.
'68 250S
'77 6.9 Euro
'91 300SE,
'98 SL500
'14 CLS550,
'16 AMG GTS
'21 E450 Cabrio

Zaxxon

That's a great link to keep in mind...even though I'd end up with a windshield seal for sale eventually, it's still a great price if they are decent quality, and I'll have to do all the seals anyways at some point.
---
Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

Zaxxon

Got to work a little bit on the 450 today - coolant system flush and refill with the right coolant, new thermostat and cap.

Also tinkered around with the stereo a little. I decided for now to leave the Becker in place, but adding a little amp, a bluetooth module and new speakers. The rear speakers didn't come in yet, but the fronts work perfect in the stock locations, aside from the mounting holes that need to be slightly modified. They sound great too! Maybe not to an audiophile, but to me quite amazing, compared to the stock speakers. I need to adjust input levels to the amp a bit, but it's nice that it has high and low level inputs, however, they are both always active, so you can actually play the Becker while something else plays via Bluetooth :P But it's all nice and hidden and not much to give it away...unless you open the glove box...

These are the front speakers:


They fit nicely!


And the cover fits perfect with them in there:


That little $30 or so amp fits nicely in the glove box. Not too shabby. Since the bluetooth module was USB powered, I added a USB charging cable to the glove box as well. Always good to have.



Another thing that bugged the hell out of me were those black wipers. I didn't think it would be that hard to find brushed/matte stainless wipers that don't totally look like rice. These work out pretty well - I am not too much about the spoilers attached to them, but it's not terrible. For now it's waaaaay better than those black wipers on silver arms.





Oh, and lastly, it's time for a new antenna. Somehow there was a lot of junk in there that blocked the drain tube and it's so badly rusted that no matter what I touched fell apart...
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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

daantjie

Yup every Hirschman antenna I've ever opened looked exactly like that. Good ol' lack of lube and frankly a not too stellar design.
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

floyd111

Good thing is they pop up a lot these days on eBay. Where they sold for 75-150usd last year, these weeks I see them 25-75usd.

Zaxxon

Guess I'll have to add another search to eBay ;) Good to know!
---
Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

Zaxxon

A few more bits and pieces done last weekend...

- Illumination rheostat was toast. For some reason the windings all came undone inside of the thing. For now jumpered, will eventually be replaced. Cleaned cluster and did some contact maintenance and such. Replaced the illumination bulbs with some newer style COB LEDs that are really not producing any hot spots, even though it looks like it in the picture. Very happy with the result, just wish they had them in warm white. Until then I'll be replacing all the bulbs with this color. Also did interior lights and license plate bulbs with LEDs while cleaning and preserving all the lenses. Haven't found the right bulb for the rear reading lights.




Also worked on the Becker Radio. Started disassembly and also finally found the internal fuse hiding on the bottom of the fold-up board. Identified the low level inputs into the pre-amp part of the radio from the tape deck. This should allow me to add a hidden jack and a semi hidden switch to activate the bluetooth module input while keeping the stereo largely original and functional with all it's components, being able to use volume, sound, etc. through the stereo for playing BT music and such. Also doing a complete maintenance on all mechanicals inside as well as a restoration of optics, replacing bulbs and questionable components if available.

I am not someone that needs to keep a car 100% original. My cars aren't trailer queens - they are here to be driven, and I don't see an issue with making them better in ways it makes sense by the use of modern technology. Doesn't mean I want to drop a brand new modern engine into it, but if there are better components that have advantages I don't see a problem with it. I am not a concourse kind of guy - I just enjoy my cars.

By the way - has anyone ever tried a carpet set from this company? Seriously considering it... http://www.automobilia.nl/en/mercedes-benz/w116-1972-1980/interior-carpets/

OH! I also replaced the original antenna for now with a Hirschmann Hit Auta 2050 - perfect fit, looks great and works wonderful aside from the switch in the dash losing some functionality. Minor rewiring required.
Also swapped my flasher relay that had most likely dried out caps and was flashing 100 times too fast with an el-cheapo electronic flasher for now. Made a few adapter cables from some of the pins of the old antenna that plug perfectly fine into the stock socket. Flasher is working perfect and will have no issue with a possible future LED upgrade. I will refurbish the original flasher just because.

--Zax
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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ

daantjie

That's the spirit! Adapt and improvise is the way ;D
Daniel
1977 450 SEL 6.9 - Astralsilber

Harv

1980 300SD
1983 240D
2000 E55 AMG
2002 G500

Zaxxon

Quote from: Harv on 19 April 2016, 10:37 AM
They sell on eBay and have pretty decent reviews.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/PREM-DARK-BROWN-LOOP-MAT-SET-FOR-Mercedes-W-116-350-450-SE-1972-1980-/121957976519?hash=item1c654309c7:m:mKMwZLt0tHSNoDCYmpUsmbQ&vxp=mtr

Hi Harv!

Yes, that's where I saw them originally, then contacted them to get some more info! I am probably getting a set from them, just not quite sure what color yet. The only velours they have seems to be the tan, but that might actually work really well.
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Mercedes: '99 CL500, '86 500SEC, '96 SL500, '06 R500, '02 ML320, '78 450SEL
Porsche: '80 928S 5-Speed, '86.5 928S RogerBox '86.5 928S 5-Speed, '83 944
Others: '84 Callaway Alfa Romeo GTV6, '83 Tiara, '87 FZ