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Garage => Test Drive => Topic started by: jd-6.9 on 18 October 2020, 07:28 PM

Title: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 18 October 2020, 07:28 PM
Hi Everyone,

I thought i would share my 450SEL 6.9 i acquired recently.

I was lucky enough to find this car locally. It came with all the service books and from what i can tell it was originally from Queensland but has been in SA for at least the last 10-15 years.

While it has a good service history, it is certainly showing its age. Faded paint and a few small rust areas but nothing too bad compared to what I've heard/seen with these. It also drives very smoothly and suspension works well.

Im currently torn with what to do with the car. Its at the point where it needs some time and $ spent on it to be really nice for future years. Do i put in said time and money to make body and paint nice along with some mechanical tidying up. I know it would be much more valuable doing that. My other option would be to leave as is and continue to use or sell as is. I have a race car that needs some $$ spent on it which the sale of the Benz could help with.

Here are some images of the car  :)

Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: daantjie on 18 October 2020, 08:57 PM
Looks tidy!  If you plan to keep it then of course make sure safety is taken care of so I would spend on brakes first and foremost.
These cars were made to eat highway miles so I would think this should do nicely as an Outback cruiser :)
You can easily drop big money on these in making them "perfect" but i think getting it to safe and reliable driver status is a better goal.
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Pete49 on 18 October 2020, 09:41 PM
To get an idea of worth  (repair/sell) check out Ozbenz forum or Topklasse both Australian and Topklasse has a big 6.9 following.
Pete
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 18 October 2020, 11:30 PM
Quote from: daantjie on 18 October 2020, 08:57 PM
Looks tidy!  If you plan to keep it then of course make sure safety is taken care of so I would spend on brakes first and foremost.
These cars were made to eat highway miles so I would think this should do nicely as an Outback cruiser :)
You can easily drop big money on these in making them "perfect" but i think getting it to safe and reliable driver status is a better goal.

Thanks mate, the brakes are actually in great working order, nice pedal pressure and no steering wobble under hard braking which is good. Definitely agree on making the car safe as a priority.

Quote from: Pete49 on 18 October 2020, 09:41 PM
To get an idea of worth  (repair/sell) check out Ozbenz forum or Topklasse both Australian and Topklasse has a big 6.9 following.
Pete

Thanks Pete49, Ill have a look on both them sites  :)
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: nathan on 19 October 2020, 06:26 PM
Welcome JD,
ill check the logbooks and see what history I have on the car as I have records on a few hundred in australia going back 20 years.
Looks decent. unmolested ones that are reasonable dont pop up too often. 
aside from the usual oils, one of the first things to do unique to your car are the 5 accumulators which provide the soft hydropneumatic ride.  They need replacing every 7 years or so and are often neglected, so your car will be very bouncy if you leave or push on the rear corners.

Pete, wash your mouth.  the org is a far superior forum for info on w116 and 6.9s, this forum was founded and built by Australians and has a significant amount of info the others could only aspire to.

regards from the west
Nathan

Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Pete49 on 19 October 2020, 09:33 PM
Nathan I'm well aware of that fact, however both sites have benefits and the more you can learn the better I reckon.
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 20 October 2020, 03:33 PM
Quote from: nathan on 19 October 2020, 06:26 PM
Welcome JD,
ill check the logbooks and see what history I have on the car as I have records on a few hundred in australia going back 20 years.
Looks decent. unmolested ones that are reasonable dont pop up too often. 
aside from the usual oils, one of the first things to do unique to your car are the 5 accumulators which provide the soft hydropneumatic ride.  They need replacing every 7 years or so and are often neglected, so your car will be very bouncy if you leave or push on the rear corners.

Pete, wash your mouth.  the org is a far superior forum for info on w116 and 6.9s, this forum was founded and built by Australians and has a significant amount of info the others could only aspire to.

regards from the west
Nathan

Thanks Nathan, it would be great to find out more info on the car if its available. do you need the Vin number??

Yes i i would like to replace the accumulators. I recently saw an add on Gumtree for new, non genuine accumulators for around $200 each. I cant find the add anymore unfortunately. Any suggested place i should purchase them from? I would prefer to support someone local or any members from here if possible.

Cheers
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Pete49 on 20 October 2020, 09:35 PM
Yes the vin number is needed to get the data card.
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: nathan on 21 October 2020, 03:07 PM
Hi JD,
could you tell me the last 4 digits of the VIN 1160362200XXXX?
i have records on 4 blue 6.9s in SA but none with that number plate.
3 blue 6.9s i have plates for included UMU893, XEX401 (became 924 XLG) and SEL069.
it could be i have it down when it was in QLD on different plates?
regards
nathan
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: nathan on 21 October 2020, 03:11 PM
regarding the accumulators, historically they were lemforder brand but i think they no longer make so the are Corteco.  usually around 300 AUD ea.  In adelaide, im not sure, was it BEA motors that might help? we tyipcally get everything from the classic centre in irvine california and they post everything to us in WA.  there are 5 of these accumulators, the 3 fronts differ to the two rears in pressures but same dimensions.  they are also not the same as those on other models like cars with only self levelling rear suspensions (ie other non 116s, 123s)
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 21 October 2020, 04:28 PM
Hi Nathan, the last 4 digits are 5467. The car is on Historic Registration.

Thank you for the info regarding the accumulators  :)
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: nathan on 24 October 2020, 07:28 PM
Cheers JD

im surprised i dont have records on this one, nearest VINs I have for aussie 6.9s are 5455 and 5497!
I keep records on many things, not all do i get the VIN for so some are recorded by licence plate which changes so maybe its in there and im doubling up!
one of 21 6.9s I have records for that are in SA
keep us posted on progress and decisions with this car.
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 26 October 2020, 07:55 PM
Thanks Nathan, I will try find out the previous plate number. If i find it, i will let you know
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Randys01 on 27 November 2020, 08:31 PM
Hi JD

I must have been asleep at the proverbial wheel.!!!. I never saw this car come thru the market and I trawl them all!?
Very similar to my blue 6.9.
Not sure which Car Club ur affiliated with to be on Historics but there is plenty of local help if you need it I'm sure.
.and Hi Nathan.. did not know there are as many as 21 6.9's in SA.   I would have guessed no more than 10, of which 6 are dailys.

Send me a pm if you want to add my details.

Cheers
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 04 December 2020, 12:40 AM
Hi Randy,

This car didn't come up on the market it was bought by myself prior to being advertised. Ill have to check the paper work from the pervious owner to see which club it was with for historic rego.
Im currently unsure on what im going to do with the car.
The car suddenly started running a bit crappy a couple weeks ago and i noticed a leak coming from the trans so i would like to get the mechanicals gone over and replace anything that needs fixing to make it nice and reliable. I am aware this could be a costly exercise haha.
My other thought was to possibly put it on the market.
I dont have time to do much with it until after Xmas ect so i have plenty of time to think about it :)
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Randys01 on 04 December 2020, 02:30 AM
 There is only a handful of people in Adelaide I would let loose on this.  ...and they cost plenty!
I suspect the way forward for you is to get an assessment of what the ole girl is like........worn well and well worn I'd surmise.  BUT if you get an estimate of the top 5 items that need attention, you can then decide on whether you want to spend that kind of money or move on.  To work your way progressively thru the car to get it reliable and smooth is in the 1000's if you can do it yourself: or 10000's  if you have to pay someone to do it.!!
Of course we can all do the basic things ourselves but it's the thorny issues in a 40 year old car that  require specialist knowledge and tools.
You may or may not be au fait with  the W116...........if so great start..you will need to bring your A game however to the 6.9 aka "bottomless pit"!!! ::)
As a matter of interest how many KMs is she supposed to have done?



Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: raueda1 on 04 December 2020, 08:31 PM
Did you guys perchance find a source for rear accumulators?  I was looking about a year ago.  Several eBay sellers were offering the wrong ones.  I returned 2 sets.   I couldn't find them anyplace except maybe MB Classic Center as I recall.  But my recollection is they were exorbitant.  Thanks and cheers,
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: Randys01 on 05 December 2020, 03:09 AM
Accumulators front and rear.  Try Neimoller.
Title: Re: My Australian delivered 450SEL 6.9
Post by: jd-6.9 on 18 March 2021, 08:30 PM
Quote from: Randys01 on 04 December 2020, 02:30 AM
There is only a handful of people in Adelaide I would let loose on this.  ...and they cost plenty!
I suspect the way forward for you is to get an assessment of what the ole girl is like........worn well and well worn I'd surmise.  BUT if you get an estimate of the top 5 items that need attention, you can then decide on whether you want to spend that kind of money or move on.  To work your way progressively thru the car to get it reliable and smooth is in the 1000's if you can do it yourself: or 10000's  if you have to pay someone to do it.!!
Of course we can all do the basic things ourselves but it's the thorny issues in a 40 year old car that  require specialist knowledge and tools.
You may or may not be au fait with  the W116...........if so great start..you will need to bring your A game however to the 6.9 aka "bottomless pit"!!! ::)
As a matter of interest how many KMs is she supposed to have done?

Thanks for the info Randy,

Yeah im well aware how expensive the old Mercedes can be, im currently finishing off a full restoration on on a 280SL Pagoda and parts are crazy expensive! The car have done roughly 280xxx kms according to the odometer.