Brought my 280SE home today!
 

Well, I got my 280SE home and it ran beautifully all the way! I bought it from a friend of mine down in Lexington, Kentucky and went down there Friday morning so we could do some work on it before it's shakedown cruise home. We put a new water pump on it (beaing began making all kinds of noises!), changed all fluids and filters, put points in it and put a set of plugs in it. It's a beautiful example, Hunter Green (268H, I think) over Tan MB-Tex. No sunroof or vacuum locking, has column shift automatic and bundt cake alloys. Oh, we also mounted up a new set of my favorite Yokohama Avid H4s on it and put on four new BOGE shocks (see my earlier post about them). Since I don't have an alignment rack in my workshop, I'm dropping it off to the MB dealership on Monday for a front end alignment. I also have to replace the heater levers (I pulled a good set out of a 108 parts car) and put on a new high side manifold A/C hose. Going to send the instrument cluster to VDO this week to have the odometer fixed (it stopped on my way home) and have the speedo head recalibrated. Of course the Becker Europa in it doesn't work, but never fear! I have a spare Mexico unit with tape deck, which will go in after I put the new heater levers in. Tomorrow, I'm going to rub it out real good and put a fresh coat of wax on it. Should be ready to handle daily driver status! By the way, NO rust at all to be found. Will make a perfect, fun driver car!

how can i contact vdo

thanks

Call 800 directory and they will have their toll-free number. They are located in Virginia. It cost be about $300 for everything to be rebuilt/tested.

You're making me feel bad about pulling a perfectly working Europa. Is it that hard getting a working one? Have fun with the new wheels, sounds like fun.

Mark

Aaron I am thinking of buying a 1972 280se v8.It has 70k on it.Can you give me a web source of info on these cars our some advice. Thanks Michael

Michael,

I happen to know of a '72 280SE for sale in Lexington, Kentucky. It's deep red with Parchment leather. NO RUST, California car and it's in gorgeous condition. The owner is asking $5,500. If you are interested, let me know and I will forward his information to you. There is a W108 message board somewhere on the web, I don't know the URL offhand, but try a search on Yahoo and it should come up.

Mark,

You can have your radio reconditioned by Becker of North America for about $125 plus shipping. If you search on eBay, you might also find one already in good working order for less money.

Good luck!

BTW, I've had the 280SE since last August, and it's been a blast since!
Check the date when I originally posted the message. :)

Hey Aaron..

Is that what you'll be driving when you come to PA to help me this summer?? ;)

~Christy

Christy,

Either the 280SE or the 6.9 will make the trip, and I'd put my money on the 6.9. 76 East is a good fast road and not highly travelled.

Of course, if the price of gasoline goes to over $2 a gallon this summer, I'll be in the diesel wagon! ;)

Aaron!!

Sounds like a PLAN!!!! :D

~Christy

Although, maybe we could DITCH the car repair and just ride around in one of your cool-ass Benzes!!!!! Yeah! :p