Official Post a picture of your 107 thread - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Strife · #16 06-12-2004, 09:17 PM

Other Pic...

BobK · #17 06-12-2004, 10:09 PM

Our '88 560SL after doing a few laps at Kentucky Speedway with youngest son who served as passenger/photographer as we did laps.

KirkVining · #18 06-12-2004, 10:26 PM

Strife, that car is killer Where did you get the console wood redone? I have a zebrano center piece that is warping on my 83 280SL. None of the domestic resto guys carry my particular cut, and to have one imported from Europe costs 300 bucks.

The paint looks fantastic. Is it original?

daveedin · #19 06-13-2004, 06:40 AM

Hi Guys

Do all the USA versions have the bigger bumpers then?

Cheers
Dave

cbdo · #20 06-13-2004, 09:01 AM

Here's the Baron, last Fall. Has had, in the year and a half I've been in charge:
brake pads and rotors x4
radiator
major service--all fluids and filters
new Bilsteins
rebuilt parking brake linkage
new ball joint and control arm on left, new steering shock
new timing chain, tensioner, upper rails
new soft top
rust repair on rocker panels
windscreen
first gear module
Blaupunkt Honolulu head unit, new front speakers; we wired for the rear but haven't done anything back there yet

Still pending:
paint refresh--chip and nick repair, professional
recondition leather and replace seat pads
E-code lights vs. Euro lights--still can't decide!

I'm lucky enough to have the original manuals, tool kit, first aid kit, etc.

Like Strife, I plan to keep him until they have to take my keys away.

Dave, the US 107s all have bigger bumpers from 1974 on.

Strife · #21 06-13-2004, 09:17 AM

I got it done at Heritage Woodworking in NC, took about 3 weeks. I had to send them the ashtray also for matching. Although they did a fantastic job, it doesn't quite match everything else (it looks better!). The paint on the car is original although I think the passenger door was repainted from a (minor) accident long ago.

I forgot to mention that I also did the copper tube in the raidiator neck modification.

KirkVining · #22 06-13-2004, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by daveedin
Hi Guys

Do all the USA versions have the bigger bumpers then?

Cheers
Dave

It depends on the state they were initially registered in. They came over by either individuals who could buy them in Europe importing them in themselves, or by independent dealers in the US arranging for the purchase and shipment of the cars outside MB dealership channels. If this dealership was located in CA, or the individual was attempting to register a self-import in CA, the state would require them to retrofit the cars with bumpers and lights and smog equipment for example, and this would be true of a lot of other heavy red-tape and beaurucrat states like NY and NJ as well. If, on the other hand, they were brought into AZ or TX or any other state which had no regulations, they went on the road the way they came off the boat. My 83 280 SL was owned by a pilot who brought it over himself to AZ, so its real "Euro".

daveedin · #23 06-13-2004, 02:08 PM

Okay!

Well I actually quite like the obvious difference in the US version, after all it makes it a little more interesting.

I love the older 107's as they have less to go wrong ie electric windows, though I have to admit A/C would have been nice but I guess I cannot have everything!!

Also by the looks of it I have been lucky with just the exhaust needing a change everything else just ticks along without any problems

Dave

cbdo · #24 06-13-2004, 05:10 PM

Just to clarify Kirk's response--All the "USA version" 107s, those produced by MB for the US market to US regs, had big bumpers from 1974 on. Non-US spec cars imported privately ("gray market" cars) had small bumpers which may or may not have been changed to meet US specs. The 280SL and 500SL were never produced for US import by MB, but can be found in the US as gray market cars--sometimes without the infernal automatic climate control!

KirkVining · #25 06-13-2004, 07:30 PM

Actually, thats why I love mine. It doesn't have the infernal climate contol, it doesn't have electric windows, etc. The last Benz I owned, a 77 280E was a heck of a car but in owning it I found all those luxury items cost a bundle to fix when they fail. I decided if I bought another old MB to make a hobby out of I'd get one as option free as possible. It also cuts back on the weight of the car, which improves performance and mpg. Its worked out well so far.

The 280SL was meant to be a business man's Autobahn car, not the fastest of the lot, but pretty darn fast anyway and economical to operate, and with its very mature 2.8 liter design, very reliable. Its been all those things to me. I'd recommend one to anybody.

BobK · #26 06-13-2004, 11:11 PM

CBDO,
How many miles on your car when it needed the new shocks? Our '88 bounces around pretty bad , so I'm thinking about shocks and maybe some other suspension parts in the rear. Also, I have one rocker with some rust i want ot get fixed. Is it a particularly difficult job in terms of replacing the bad panel, cost and time to do it?