1975 450 SL looking for Comments and Help

Just got a 1975 450 SL and need some pointers on where to start.
These are the things I've noticed after driving it home (1200 mi). Some of these are obviously of greater concern than others.
I've seen reference to a repair manual CD. Does anybody have one they'd like to sell?

1) Power skip at highway speed. Car gives short "jerk" or hesitation. Strength of this "jerk" varies from very mild to fairly strong. I think electrical problem but have no experience with this. I initially thought fuel problem but power loss is intermittent and momentary.

2) Center console needs replaced. Any idea where to buy and how much?

3) Odometer doesn't work...Speedometer works but jumpy. How much to replace or repair and how easy to do?

4) Acceleration is good except "merging". Is this normal or is there something to be done?

5) Power antenna stuck up...motor not working.

6) Switch for radiator cooling fan has been located inside car and is manual. How hard is it to make it automatic again and move it back to under hood. I assume this is a thermocouple design but haven't looked yet.

7) (This one might be silly)...The cruise control doesn't seem to engage at all...were they reliable in 1975 and is it normal for them to be non-functional? This is just for information...I would probably not spend money on this right now.

8) Interior Door panels are shot...any idea where to find them?

9) Door locks are inoperable or intermittent...how hard to find replacement? (My wife will insist on being able to lock it up...knowing her, even with the top down).

Any other hints, tips, or help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Doug

[ericdee]

Geez Doug, that's a big list. Here are some prices on some of your questions:

3) Odometer, $150-200 to repair at a VDO shop

8) Interior Door panels, $200-300 for new skins at a upholstery shop.

9) Door locks are inoperable or intermittent, You may have a vacuum leak.

Hope this helps.

[michael rybikowsky]

used parts potomac in frederick Md.

Hey Doug,

I'm in the process of restoring a 1980 model 450SL and I send my Odometer to a place in GA. and paid $ 65.00 to have it repaired For a new Center console you'll have to pay about $ 400.00.

If you like to have the address to send your Odometer to, e-mail me and I check my Invoice to send you the address.

Gunter

Questions 1 and 9, with 9 already being answered, are probably one and the same. A vacuum leak will often show itself at speed. When it does this, it may seem to be running fine, then gives just a split second drop.

What you described is more than likely a vacuum leak. Unfortunately, there are a lot of vacuum lines under that hood. It seems to me I used to track them down with carb and choke cleaner. Spray lines and connections while the car is idling and listen for the engine rpms to change.

First place to look is probably behind the door panels where the vacuum actuated locks are. Look at it this way, you are planning to replace the door panels anyway. You can kill two birds with one stone.

Good luck,

Steve

[maheath]

2) Center console needs replaced. Any idea where to buy and how much?

$446.00 K&K Mfg
$762.00 World Upholstry & Trim

I would probably try a Salvage yard that specializes in Mercedes first. Any large city (>200k) is bound to have at least one.

5) Power antenna stuck up...motor not working.

Most likely it's the mast. When you turn the car off, can you hear the power antenna motor? Very easy fix either way. The mast is about $15-$20, the motor is about $40. Look on eBay, there's a guy from San Diego selling them all the time. Mine was stuck midway, got a new mast, now it works great.

7) (This one might be silly)...The cruise control doesn't seem to engage at all...were they reliable in 1975 and is it normal for them to be non-functional? This is just for information...I would probably not spend money on this right now.

Look here Troubleshooting the Cruise Control

8) Interior Door panels are shot...any idea where to find them?

Do you need both the door skins and boards? or just the skins?

$ 96.00 Vinyl Door Panel Skin
$330.00 Leather Door Panel Skin
$158.40 Door Panel Board

All from World Upholstry & Trim

I bought my 1975 450 SL also in need of some TLC.
Some of your troubles are very similiar to my own.
I have had very good luck with mechanical and trim parts through the ADSIT Company www.adsitco.com or 800-521-7656.
They can help with a console, door panels, repalcment antenna and all other parts you have mentioned.

I have suffered the spedo problem you describe. I found the cable to be vey easy to detach behind the dash and patiently filled it with good quality spray lube. It's still a bit jerky below 20 MPH but above that it is steady and the noise is gone.

As far as performance, you may need a tune up. But remenber you bought a 2 seat touring car (it's not a sports car). it weighs in at 3800 pounds. It only has a 3 speed transmission. It shifts into high gear quickly and it rearly will down shift on it's own.

My cruise control still works. But then so do my door locks. So I don't know what you are going to be in for there.

As far as reautomating your electric fan, I don't nkow that I would bother (unless you can't trust your wife to watch the gages). The electric fan on these cars is imberrasingly loud. I replaced a properly working fan on mine just because it was so noisly I couldn't beleive it could be right. Unfortunalty these cars tend to run hot. I don't know if you have a California car with catalytic converters but that just makes it worse. Just make sure that your cooling system is all up to par.