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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: Brook on 11 March 2022, 01:53 PM

Title: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 11 March 2022, 01:53 PM
IMG_20220310_070442 copy.pdfIMG_20220310_070442 copy.jpg

A week ago I became, as far as I can see, the fourth owner of a 1975 450SE. It is my first Mercedes and now that I am here I wonder why it took so long. From the moment I pulled the door handle I was sold on the engineering.

Many hours poring over this forum helped me to make the choice and I look forward to many more hours here. It is by far the best classic car forum that I have come across so hats off to this community.
Nice to see some other Irish owners here and I hope we get to cross paths some time. 
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: daantjie on 11 March 2022, 02:10 PM
Welcome ;D   Please update your profile so members can see where you are, this helps with local support.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 11 March 2022, 03:34 PM
Apologies - I had done it earlier but it didn't stick.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: hamidagha on 11 March 2022, 04:31 PM
My dad (who incidentally is why I bought my W116) always used to say: you know it's a Mercedes when you shut the door! Those in the know are well aware of the sound. Welcome and enjoy.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: rumb on 11 March 2022, 04:42 PM
What color is it?  Looks great.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: gurrier on 11 March 2022, 05:14 PM
Hi Brook,

The forum is indeed a huge asset to have for anyone interested in the W116 S Class.  It is literally a goldmine of information on all aspects of ownership.

I have been doing some research and believe that there may be, surprisingly, up to about forty W116s - at least at some stage over the least ten years - registered in Ireland. 

Welcome.

Bill
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Jed on 11 March 2022, 09:19 PM
Welcome.  Car looks great! Look forward to hearing about it.

Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: goldacre on 11 March 2022, 09:28 PM
Think colour is Milan Brown, very 1970s  ;D my first W116 a 280SEL 1979 with nearly 480,000klm was same colour.

Gave that car to nephew who did a deal with a bloke in August Western Australia for a ute, last I heard he cleaned up a Kangaroo near Karridale south of Margaret River...  he lived, car and roo died  :'(

G
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 12 March 2022, 03:16 AM
I believe the colour is Anthracite Grey - it definitely has a brown tinge in some lights. About to give it a first proper wash.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: rumb on 12 March 2022, 10:32 AM
What does the data plate on radiator say color is?

I thought it might be anthracite but photo give it some brown look.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 12 March 2022, 02:55 PM
Thanks Rumb. The code is 172G, so Anthracite Grey Metallic.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 12 March 2022, 03:42 PM
IMG_20220312_093850 copy.pdfIMG_20220312_093939 copy.pdf

Exterior colour is Anthracite Grey Metallic and the interior is cream MB Tex and a pale striped fabric.

The car was first bought by a doctor in Kent in England in August 1975 and he seems to have kept it until 2008 when it was sold with 98,000 miles to Bagenalstown in Ireland. In 2016 it went to its third owner in Dublin who sold it due to the loss of his storage.Each of the last two owners did about 1,000 miles a year and the car reads 114,500.

There is an incomplete service history but enough to support this chronology.  To my inexpert eye the condition of the car also suggests that it has been stored undercover for most of its life. I have an invoice for a 2005 repair to corrosion on a front anti-roll bar mount and this looks to have been neatly done. I have seen no other welding.

The paintwork looks pretty original and has plenty of touched-up chips but overall is very presentable. I was not looking for a show pony and am very happy with the condition. The interior is remarkably clean and intact. It has both a sunroof and aircon, which I imagine was an unusual combination, and electric windows. Otherwise there is a refreshing lack of gizmos.

I have fitted 5 new Semperit tyres to the steel wheels as there was a mix of brands and ages on the car when I got it. The last owner fitted a bluetooth Blaupunkt head unit, new speakers all around and a small Pioneer subwoofer. Not very vintage looking but not hideous and the sound is excellent.

It is my first time to drive a V8 and I am enjoying it very much while hoping that fuel will only get cheaper in the long run. I thought that I would miss cruise control but it seems to get up to speed and just hold it - a characteristic of that big old engine I guess.

The springy seats felt like an old mattress the first time I sat in but their partnership with the suspension is very seductive on the road.

Roadholding is very assured although there is more play in the steering than I am used to and I don't know if this is normal. The headlights are surprisingly good for a car of this age.

I am 11 years older than this car but my childhood was spent in much more modest cars and I find the quality of its engineering really striking and am looking forward to many happy miles.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 12 March 2022, 03:50 PM
Thanks for the welcome Bill. I know of two W116's in County Carlow but they are a rare enough sight generally. Like buying a red car, I will probably see lots of them now.

The forum has been an enormous help to me in choosing my car.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Nabstud on 13 March 2022, 02:28 AM
Quote from: Brook on 12 March 2022, 03:42 PMThe springy seats felt like an old mattress the first time I sat in but their partnership with the suspension is very seductive on the road.

Roadholding is very assured although there is more play in the steering than I am used to and I don't know if this is normal. The headlights are surprisingly good for a car of this age.

Agree with all this, they just sit on the road so well, seats are soft but seem to hold you well.
The lights are almost as good as a modern car, high beams are fantastic!!!
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: johnnyw116 on 13 March 2022, 06:32 AM
Welcome ! cool W116 you have with an good interior/exterior color combo 
and for an first W116 you made an good start with an 450SE
i began with an 280S and the time flies that first W116 was 32 years ago , but the W116's i owned from 280S up to 450SEL never bored me in all these years 
   
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Jan S on 13 March 2022, 04:37 PM
Welcome - and congratulation with your new car!

Looking great, and even rear seat headrests (was that introduced in 1975?)

I have the same 1975 450 SE (with no rear seat headrests), but US-version and a previous owner has put in a 6.9.
Title: Re: First Merecedes
Post by: Brook on 14 March 2022, 04:48 AM
I suspect that the rear headrests are not original. They look like a very good reproduction but are in MB Tex only, while the front ones are MB Tex and fabric.