FINALLY got my 3.5 coupe!
 

Just got it off the truck last night.
As you'll recall, this car had sat unused for probably 20-25 years.
Mechanic cleaned the fuel tank and replaced a bunch of fuel & brake lines. Rodded the radiator, replaced the water pump, couple of injectors, battery, and about a million clamps and wires. Bottom line is that it runs very well. Very strong engine, with no smoke at all. It badly needs shocks, tires and alignment, then maybe some bushings and other suspension pieces renewed. The exhaust is corroded, so the motor is pretty loud right now. But man oh man what a car! It's everything I hoped for, and more than I ever dreamed.

I'll have a million questions (and some more pictures of her cleaned up) in the future.

I was referred to Timevalve for a complete stainless exhaust, and they quoted me $850. Am I going to be able to do better elsewhere?

http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/5719/mb21xz.th.jpg

Loving it.

-Will

timevalve is an execellent source for stainless steel exhaust, though they ocassionally make a mistake. The two times I've heard of them doing so, they made it right w/o fuss.

The factory parts will work just fine too. Not sure if it will save you more than 300$ to do that. Not sure that any other option will save you more than 100$.

-CTH

Very nice
 

Great looking car. I have 69 280SE coupe in restoration (6 though) and this will be done in two weeks for a show.

Wish you the best!

You got a real classic there and a nice one at that. If I had been studying this site a year before I purchased my 109 I would approach my "restroation" project differetly. Just a little advice. As soon as you can replace all rubber parts, I assure you they are worn out. Motor mounts, subframe bushing, break lines and transmissions lines come to mind first. Check your rubber hoses to the injectors these things are a fire hazzard if they are worn. If it is rubber I wuld replace it!

WOOOHOOOO!!!!

Nice ride! Feels good dosen't it? :vbac47679

regards, opossum

I think that was supposed to be my 'find' rather than yours. Looks like it's in nice shape - a little work and $ it will be top notch.

Just what the mechanic said; "If I had known she was selling it I would own it now and not you." It was voicemail, but I could hear him talking waaaay down the ladder to me. Clearly I am not worthy of this car, was the impression that I had from him from the very start. Oh well.

Yes, a great ride, and something very special. There is certainly nothing else like it in this area, not that I have ever seen, anyways.

- Will

I finally bit the bullet and gave up on replacing my motor mounts and took mine in yesterday. As I was leaving the mechanics lot I see the tech driving off in my 111...Not a sight I've seen but once in all my years and was damn pleased. Very cool. I've seen em parked, at shows, in pics, but never cruising down the road. I think all of us 111 owners have something very special with little if anything in our areas...but you my friend have the fatty engine.. :thumbsup:

Well I finally got tome to wash it this evening. What a thrill... all that chrome, the beautifull angles; I could look at this car forever!

In my original 'Resurrection' thread, I posted some technical questions about bushings, springs, etc., if anyone gets a minute. Any help appreciated.

Enjoy. I know I am!!

http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1591/at4012wq.th.jpg

Lights On!

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/3431/litup9vv.th.jpg

The wood knocks people dead.

http://img324.imageshack.us/img324/5...ior19lr.th.jpg

What a magnificent car. You are very lucky to find it.

Sub frame
Sway bar
Trailing arm
Transmission mount
Engine mount (pair?)

Assuming you didn't get any service records with this car illustrating recent replacement, all these are due to be replaced. They are not particularly difficult to do yourself, and I believe all installs are in the archives here. 111 is more or less a 108 coupe, so many systems are identical between the two models.

Bilsteins are the standard for shocks.

If the compensator is blown, MB produced a spring-based replacement which should work just as well. Not familiar with anybody rehab-ing these units, although rebuilt compensators pop up on ebay from time to time at about $200.

I'd tackle this compensator issue first if this were my vehicle - and it's fun to pretend that it is.

Wow!
 

I am so jealous. THAT is a Mercedes Benz! Nice ride

Very sweet indeed, Dont forget to have a look at the oft forgotten differential mount. A quick assessment can be had by looking in the far reaches of the trunk. As I understand it, what you don't want to see is that plate mashed all the way down to the car body when the car is lifted..there should be some rubber there acting as a bushing. Of course, look at your flex discs and the drive shaft center bearing as well as make sure the u joints are nice and greased and spin freely.

Thanks opossum! I will be replacing the compensator with a spring unit and begin working through the bushings as I can.

The flex disc looks solid, but the vibration is still there. Between the motor and trans mounts, and all the other bushings I have to replace anyways, I'll wait to see if that takes care or the problem. Meanwhile, I'll just be driving sedately :) . Since the flex disc isn't too expensive, I may go ahead and replace that anyways; it is old, after all.

When the car is parked in the driveway, no vibration whatsoever. Rev to 5k and it wouldn't ripple a glass of water on the hood. Only under accelleration, and it's severe enough that it feels like a tire out of balance or a bent wheel. I know it isn't because it vanished when I stop accelerating and maintain speed.

When I run into any more issues, be sure to ask; you guys really know your stuff.

Here's some of my best shots yet. It's beautiful from any angle, but sometimes the light catches it just right...

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/2...14041bh.th.jpg

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/6...14038hw.th.jpg
:sun_smile
- Will

Unreal!!! That is beautiful!

I wonder if your vibration under load only could be your u-joints on the driveline. Does it change if you just hold the car in one gear and don't let it shift?

By the way, quit washing it (getting it wet!) Go to www.prolong.com and for $19 buy their big bottle of "Waterless Wash and Shine." When it comes, pour some off into a spray bottle. Mist it on the car in small areas at a time and then towel in and buff off with a towel. No need to get off the dust, or bird poop or whatever. Do the glass, chrome, paint.....it'll come out so shiny and slippery, you'll think you just waxed it. Awesome stuff. Haven't "washed" my car in years.

To keep the fuel injection happy, us "BG 44K" fuel injection cleaner. It's the best fuel injection system cleaner made. Pour a can in the tank and it cleans while you drive. The stuff is incredible.