Introduction

[W116-M117]

Hi gents,

I follow this forum since 2008, but I decided only now to register myself: this is a very good forum and it was time for me to launch my self in your world!

Let me introduce myself: I live in Italy, in Turin (and in Rome just during Summer vacation) my job is in the automotive, safety restraint system sector in a worldwide company, engineering department. Since 1999, I'm the owner of a 450SE, beige metallic paint with green velour seating, model year 1973.

My car can be defined as a good condition one: paint is original, but a bit scratched. Velour is worn in the usual point (driver seat, on the left side), no rust in the body, with exception of the tank cap box (because dust due to a period when the car was stopped by the previous owner). It has 155k km on the clock, and really it cannot have more, because the previous owner that in 1979 (last official service in Mercedes-Benz, then generic workshop) had a service on 39k km only... I bought it when it has only 125k km.

The most expensive work on that car is concerning the tyres: four Michelin XWX 205/70 VR 14 cost, more or less, 1500 Euro, by the way, they are very long life (the quality is a top one), after 10 years and 30k km seem still good.

D-Jet injection gave me some little problems, but I was able to fix them, by a period of experience with the D-Jet in other car (I bought a tester Bosch EFAW 228 to be able to get any check like in a official service workshop in the seventies  ).

As soon as I'll be able to enter pictures here, I'll post them.

Thanks for your attention and talk you soon.

Luca

[Tony66_au]

Welcome to The Org Luca!

I was the same in using W116.org for a while before joining and I have enjoyed every moment here.

Looking forward to seeing your car.

Tony

[W116-M117]

Thanks, Tony.

Really, the 450SE was my first Mercedes-Benz: before, no experience, neither driving nor travelling like a passanger. My family preferred always national cars, or French brands. My satisfaction was so good that less than three years ago another Mercedes-Benz arrived to my garage: a W124, 300E, having a lot of extras. The 300E is more or less the daily car (even if I need only to walk to go to the office from home  ), while 450SE is used in particular events only (any time my old car club organizes something...).

To be honest, my target is to improve the condition of my 450SE: as told, paint is schratched and old, velour is worn in a point (and it appears old, without the particular "gloss" of the velour). I bought the new velour (original, even if not in a dealer Mercedes-Benz, as far as this kind of supplies are out of production since several years), and I got an agreement with my usual workshop for painting, but 2013 is not the target, so I'll wait for the next years.

Luca

[oversize]

Welcome!  Looking forward to the pix!

[W116-M117]

Hi gents,

front and rear view:

[oversize]

Nice try but it didn't work!!!   

[W116-M117]

I'm really sorry... I tried twice: first, just writing picture file name between '', then through ImageShack, i.e. writing the picture IS code between '', the result seems to be the same.

I tried to search a guide on how to insert a pictures in this forum, but it seems I'm not able to do it... would you like to help a monkey  ?

Thanks in advance,

Luca

[W116-M117]

At least, monkey Luca  was able to find the way to insert pictures... good!

Looking at the car, one other issue is present: wheels are not correct, here Fuchs Barock are 6" rims instead of 6.5" rims (you should check the large distance of the wheel form the arch, also without a caliper  ); nevertheless, I've already correct 6.5" rims in my hands.

Some little misalignment from the bumpers, but I'll leave them untouched until I'll paint new the car (tunisbeige 462).

Engine and transmission work correctly, fuel consumption is 5.5-7 km/l (the better one only when no traffic and travelling no more than 80-90 km/h speed... most common, I can say average, fuel economy is 6-6.5 km/l).

[WrightSounds]

Great looking car and welcome to the forum!

[adrockj]

I found this car last month broken down with a blown transmission. It was so beautiful that couldn't help buy it! I just had the transmission rebuilt for $1,600.00 and it runs great! I now need a new power steering pump and fuel pump to perfect it. I ordered a power steering pump online that was supposed to fit a W116. When it arrived, it did not fit. The seller said that it should fit all W116. I did some research online and when I punch in images of a W116, most pics don't look like mine. What is the best way to confirm? My title says 1973 280SEL 4.5.  Also does anyone out there have these pumps for sale? Thanks!! - Adam

[oversize]

Yay the pix work!  I thought the tyres looked a little small....  Great car!  What' the interior like?

Check your chassis number under the bonnet adrockj.  If yours looks like your avatar she's not a W116

[Tony66_au]

Adam welcome mate.

To me it looks like a W108 or W109 and im not aware of them having a 4.5 lt M117 engine, more likely to have the M116 3.5lt or the M100 6.3lt  .

Easy to get mixed up between the W116 chassis code and the M116 Engine code so its worth checking OR post a pic of your Pump in the forum (Start a new thread) and we can help with the ID.

Welcome to The Org mate.

Tony

[Kjhall65]

From memory some of the very late W108 delivered in the US came with the 4.5 as an option....
Ken