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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: BMA on 10 April 2022, 02:01 PM

Title: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: BMA on 10 April 2022, 02:01 PM
Hi Guys,
I am Björn from Germany, 53 years old and W 116 addicted. My Father had such a 350 SE when I was a young boy and it never ever left my mind. In the 90ties I had one (280 S) and now it's time for realising my dream again. I am looking for the mighty 6.9!

I am already looking for 3 month and investigating the market. The price range is huge when looking for a 6.9. Driveable cars start from 20.000,- € til 110.000,- € in outstanding condition with documented history. I am not a collector, I want a true and nice car in good till very good condition and I wanne drive it annually around 5.000 to max 10.000 km next to my daily car,.... only in summer of course! :-)

I have currently two in my hot favourite list. One in beautiful Milan brown (404), the other one in beautiful Champagne met. (473).

one has ABS one not.

The one with ABS is much much more expensive. Do you think ABS is worth paying a lot more money?

I know that only 200 of 7380 6.9 had ABS.

Many Thanks in advance for your comments,

Best Regards from Germany,

Björn
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: UTn_boy on 10 April 2022, 05:14 PM
Considering how many other cars of the era (W123, other W116 models, R107) also had ABS, The car shouldn't be priced higher because it has ABS.  Plus, if something breaks on the ABS system it's pretty much dead weight since no parts are available any longer for the system. 

I could be very wrong, but I don't think Champagne Metallic was available on the W116.  At least, none of my books show that color to be available.  If that is true, then someone has changed the color on that car. 
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: ptashek on 10 April 2022, 05:19 PM
Welcome Björn! Great story!

ABS is one of those things I'd prefer to have given the choice, but I haven't missed it in my 450SE either. It just naturally forces one to drive a bit smarter in certain conditions.

If price is no object, go for the car with ABS if you can also accept the risk of limited parts supply as raised by UTn_boy...

Although it should be less of a problem in Germany, where the second hand classic parts market is thriving.
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: rumb on 10 April 2022, 07:11 PM
Here is a nice article about W116 ABS.

https://www.ockhuisencollectie.nl/w116/abs-system-40-years-old/

ebay.de did turn up many ABS parts including a manual and a testing machine.

https://www.ebay.de/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=w116+abs&_sacat=0

Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: BMA on 11 April 2022, 12:37 AM
Quote from: UTn_boy on 10 April 2022, 05:14 PM...
I could be very wrong, but I don't think Champagne Metallic was available on the W116.  At least, none of my books show that color to be available.  If that is true, then someone has changed the color on that car. 

Thanks for your ABS comment. Yes, Champagne met. 473 was available, but only in 1980, see here:
https://www.w116.org/tech/colors/
The champagne one with ABS is from 1980, Fin 7317
Regards, Björn
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: johnnyw116 on 11 April 2022, 07:38 AM
i owned an 280S in the early 90's in 473 champagne met. with dark brown pullman interior , the car was new delivererd at 21-12-1979 to be exact , it was an all original first paint first owner car
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: BMA on 11 April 2022, 02:22 PM
unfortunately the champagne one with ABS looks stunning, outside and inside, as you may agree.
the car had initially also Dark Brown Velour Pullman interior. The Data Card says that. The Preowner, who had the car 30 years in his huge collection, changed it likely to tobacco brown leather. But unfortunately he did not take an original rear seat from the 6.9er, which has smooth leather at the top. This perl is a true collector car in outstanding condition. As if it survived 30 years in a time capsule!
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: gurrier on 12 April 2022, 01:10 AM
First time I have seen this body colour. Would make me reconsider personal preference for originality of keeping my 350SE in the original 606 Maple Yellow.  16" Bundts would look very nice on this.  Best wishes if you decide to pull the trigger.
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: s class on 19 May 2022, 11:42 AM
My red '78 euro 6.9 has ABS, and honestly you are better off without it.  Mine has on a few occasions locked up in such a manner that it prevented fluid flow to the calipers, there was no pedal travel, and zero brake operation.  The worst kind of experience.   I've disabled the ABS system by removing the two relays from the pump unit to make the car usable.
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: Randys01 on 19 May 2022, 11:57 PM
If it came with it, so be it. At this time of life, another gadget to go wrong!
6.9's are damn hard to lock the brakes........mine must be the last car not to have ABS and I don't miss it.
Title: Re: Is ABS a major and special feature when looking for a nice 6.9?
Post by: UTn_boy on 20 May 2022, 10:06 PM
Quote from: BMA on 11 April 2022, 02:22 PMunfortunately the champagne one with ABS looks stunning, outside and inside, as you may agree.
the car had initially also Dark Brown Velour Pullman interior. The Data Card says that. The Preowner, who had the car 30 years in his huge collection, changed it likely to tobacco brown leather. But unfortunately he did not take an original rear seat from the 6.9er, which has smooth leather at the top. This perl is a true collector car in outstanding condition. As if it survived 30 years in a time capsule!

6.9 cars with leather interior did not have smooth tops on the top of the rear seat backrest.  They were like any other W116 with MB-Tex or leather in that the perforated pleats ran the whole height of the seat cover.