Tell me about the W108...

[280SE Guy]

Thanks for the nice comments guys, I appreciate it when someone else sees her for what she is. This car has never seen salt and hasn't seen a water hose since 1990, might have seen 2 rain showers in her lifetime! She started her life (always garaged) in Minnesota then on to New Jersey for 2 years, now resides in her garage here in Pennsylvania. She gets a sponge bath when needed and lots of hand rubbed Zymol, love the smell. The 6.3 weighs almost 700 pounds more than the 2.8 liter 6 cylinder car because of the engine and air suspension. Redline on the 6 is 6,500 RPM's, they love to rev. The Bosch mechanical fuel injection pump is a mechanical wonder in itself. The 108's were way ahead of their time with 4 wheel disc brakes, 4 speed automatic trans, 4 wheel independant suspension, fully reclining front seats, and 3 point seat belts, Anyway here are some more glamor shots for your viewing pleasure.

[JiveTurkey]

I'd have sex with your 280's engine bay... It's that clean. You give me hope for mankind 280SE Guy. Your car is worthy of....

Congrats sir!

[lee polowczuk]

perhaps the best 108 i have ever seen

[Pooka]

I used to own a 6.3. VERY quick and comfortable but VERY expensive to repair.

The air suspension is really not that tough to work on. The only really weird thing is that the air intake/filter system has an alcholal filled dryer on it to remove mosture from the air before it is pumped into the system. If this has been neglected then there may be rusted out spots in the air lines which are not only costly but really tough to get to.

The rear ends on 108's are expensive to repair and a special set of tools is needed to do so.

The 4.5 cars used an early Bosch electronic FI system that relies on a pick-up coil on the outside of the distributor and a new set of these is eye-ball popping in price. The mechanical fuel injection pumps of the even earlier system cost a great deal to rebuild but then will last like an injection pump on a diesel, which is to say a great long time.

Air suspension was an option on all 108's but few people opted for it. I have seen it on 3.5's. I have never seen a 109 without it but I know some people have had their cars converted from it.

The air suspension is expensive to service, maybe $1500, but then it will likely not need anymore service for about 20 years. The air suspension ride is superior to anything I have ever driven, by the way.

If the heater fan goes out you have to remove everything in the dash area to replace it. The A/C fan is located in the passenger footwell and is easy to get to.

Go to www.M-100.cc for more information on the 6.3.

[TheDon]

have you won any concourse trophies for your ca.. Its the cleanest car I have seen on the forum.. major respect

[JeffreyNMemphis]

280SE Guy,

Your car is the Pamela Anderson of beautiful W108 models. I thought my car was clean, but I would be embarrassed to compete with you on the Concours d' Elegance.

To the Original Poster: If you find a car like that for sale, buy it on the spot for whatever the asking price. If you pay less than $25,000 you can feel like you stole it.

You can NEVER restore a car into that condition for any amount of money. The Mercedes Benz Classic Center charges $23,000.00 to paint a car like that; which would be excellent, but second best to original.

Can you tell my eyes are glazed over and I got a woody?

[JeffreyNMemphis]

Dude,

Your 1971 is UNREAL. I had to go look at the pictures again. The Mercedes Benz Museum in Stuttgart does not have a W108 that is THAT clean. Those photographs are 100% automotive porn.

Do you ever drive it? I imagine you trailering the car to shows where it must surely win against any Mercedes except equally clean Gullwing or Adenauer.

[Hatterasguy]

Holy crap that car is nice! You should put all your pictures of it in a dedicated thread!

Thanks guys I have some info to go on. It sounds like I just need to be very patient and wait for a good example to come up for fair money. I'm not really serious yet or I would buy that nice red 280 out west thats for sale in the cars section, but maybe later this year. I don't mind a little bit of a project, I just don't want to be doing a full resto. Recovering seats and rebuilding the suspension or a transmission isn't to bad, I just don't want to be redoing chrome, paint or wood. Stuff that adds up to big $$$$ fast.


I actualy would want the air suspension for the better ride, to me thats worth a couple grand to set it right.

[TheDon]

hence, all original costs big money. You can restore something but its just not the same as original. Hell its probably cheaper to buy an all original car in mint concourse condition.

[Equitas]

Here is a link to an Ebay listing which shows a car of similar quality to yours (although without the provenance yours has). You get a sense of the pricing. Yours is beautiful.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190372323153&ih=009&category=6336

[JiveTurkey]

Originally Posted by JeffreyNMemphis

280SE Guy,

Your car is the Pamela Anderson of beautiful W108 models.

Might want to work on that analogy. I doubt his car has as many STD's and I would argue the point that Pammy's been "rebuilt" many more times than his W108.

[compu_85]

Wow... original right down to the non-halogen headlamps Hats off man....

-Jason

[JeffreyNMemphis]

I don't think that 22,224 miles car on Ebay is as nice... but I would agree with similar.

[280SE Guy]

Hey Guys, your making me blush.

Jive Turkey, does Wilma (or your mother) know what you want to do with my engine?

Jeffery, hope you have gained your composure, had a cigarette since? Yes I do drive it but the temperature, humidity, and lack of drivers on the road is a requirement. She drives great

Here are a couple of more shots for your viewing pleasure. I'll take some more pics and post them when the darn snow clears up some time this spring.

[Skid Row Joe]

Very pretty machine. Are those original equipment wheels?

If they had come with turbodiesel engines, I'd probably enjoy owning one.

Originally Posted by 280SE Guy

The W108 is a stately timeless classic. I knew that when I bought mine in 1974 and wanted to keep her.