Wow, glad to see some enthusiasm regarding the 116 chassis!

Tomguy- The 450SE you looked at in the junkyeard must have been a '73, as later years were definitly endowed with emiisions equiptment.

Peter, handling is similar, but not identical. This may have been a result of several changes. First, the 116 has a wider track. The 116 car is also shorter. I am not sure if spring rates were the same. What changes might result in a smaller turing radius, as the 116 turns on a dime, whereas the 126 car requires more space?

Mr. Dog, Interesting comments! Yes the 124 car trunk design is copied on every other car out there it seems. Never heard the bikini stroy before.



I think that's what alot of people do when they cross the threshold of understanding what these automobiles are about - they suddenly dont care if the car they drive is old enough to vote as they sellect their automobile of choice from whichever classic body style they prefer.... 111, 108, 114, 116 - knowing it's an all around better vehicle than *anything* that has been built in the last two or three decades.

I agree with this- anyone can find a car that fits their needs perfectly in a vintage MB.

Please keep the 116 comments coming!

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

A 280sel on ebay.de a few months back.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Have two 116 450 SEL restorations under my belt: 76 Euro 6.9 and my beloved rock solid reliable 2 owner 76 450 SEL. Done everything (body, interior, suspension, top engine; fuel injection systems; brakes, etc. etc.) but full engine rebuilt; they are a lot of fun to work on; parts are cheap IF NOT bought a MB dealer; lots of resellers at great prices. Sadly my 76 450 SEL is now fo sale to pay for who else but wife's new car; if you want THE BEST RELIABLE 450 SEL this is it!; a dry Texas car all its life beautiful body; interior; etc; has a couple of parking lot bumps to attend to but nothing makor; all for $2,500 firm and will drive anywhere in the U.S. many times over.
Carlo(s)

Hello Carlos,

Is this the same car you had for sale some time back? Any pictures you can post? Emissions items still in place?

Mike

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Unlike some here I regard the 116 as one of the best Mercedes ever. I think that much of the car's questionable aesthetic appeal results from the disgusting Federal Bumpers that were required from early in their production run. I owned a 1979 116 280S in South Africa for several years and it was a phenomenal high speed performer. I'd love to get another one and there is a beautiful 1975 450SEL for sale in Phoenix right now which unfortunately appears to be a non-us spec car. This means that it has the correct bumpers that Mercedes intended it to have, but insurance and emissions could be a problem.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

I'll vouch for the 116's. My grandfather bought new a 1974 450SE that my uncle has today. It is all original with 200,000 on the clock, deep sea green, an awesome color.
Very little rust, if any. Haven't really checked. California car, garaged all its life though.
I really hope he doesn't sell it as he as been considering, but will offer it up to this great board if that day comes.

__________________
63 220S W111
76 300D W115
2013 VW JSW TDI M6

previously-
73 280 SEL 4.5
86 300E 5 speed
2010 VW Jetta TDI M6

PJ- re the '75 car for sale you mention...I doubt emissions would be a problem on a car that old as it can most likely be registered "historic." Lots of members here running grey market cars.

280 S..don't think we got many of those in the U.S. Remeber seeing one about 8 years ago. Apparently the 300SD outdragged the US spec carbuerrated car handily.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

In Phoenix it doesn't matter if a car has historic plates or not. Every vehicle later than 1966 has to undergo an emissions test at least every two years. This is the most anal place in the country in that regard. Cost me a damm fortune to get my 82 buick thru. I had to have the gas tank removed and re-sealed, and a whole bunch of other fuel related stuff done to the tune of almost 800 bucks. This on an 800 buck car. Like I said MAJOR PITA. So I'm apprehensive of having to do anything like that on a Mercedes, especially one that may not be US spec to begin with. Pity. Because the NON - US spec car is a very much better one.

As for the 280S. It wasn't a very powerfull car even without all the US emissions crap on it. But once you got it up to about 90 to 100 mph it just flew along all day like you were floating on a cloud. It's biggest problem was the carbureattor though. As a matter of choice I'd get a fuel injected one instead.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Nothing at all wrong with a W116 except RUST!!! Most of them have long ago rotted away. The worst is when the front sway bar mount/upper control arm mount comes off the firewall -- driving gets pretty interesting.

My friend Hans said that the German ones were just as bad.

Otherwise, some people swear they drive better than the W126 (same suspension and size), although I really like the W116 styling better, too. Not so slick.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Yes I am familiar with the rust issue. Watched my '80 300SD rust before my eyes. Once the rear wheel arches and jack points start to go, watch out.

My next 116 car is coming straight from CA or the southland. $600.00 shipping fee is well worth it. Just had my '80 300D shipped out about 6 months ago, and man what a difference climate makes.

Rust isn't much of an issue where I live now- only snows maybe once a year and they do not salt the roads.

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Mike:
It is the same car; all emissions (EGR,CATS, PUMP, etc) still in place; passed Texas emission testing without problems and has valid safety inspection sticker. Now has a couple of bumps, scratches on a door and some clear coat flaking on roof. Want to find a good home for it thus priced so cheap. If you want more details e-mail me so I can send you actual details & photos.
Carlo(s)

Mike:
My 2 cents worth of experience on 76 450 SEL with manifold cats: they are much maligned as causing fuel vapor lock, frying leads, etc. etc. Yes they get hot as any cat converter does; do they fry wiring spark plug leads: no; the problem is most older Mercedes run around with 10-15-20-25 year old spark plug leads which by being old and brittle do not have anything to do with the cats. Do they cause fuel vapor lock in hot weather: no; any 450 Mercedes with hot start problems is caused by two critical components: fuel accumulator by the gas tank and fuel pressure damper by the fuel distributor; both elements have internal rubber diaphrams which get hard and brittle with age and since most often are also 20-30 years old they loose efficiency. Only caveat is that in a 6.9 I did also find a small rubber o-ring in the fuel distributor plunger (rear) that caused some hot start problems. So; put a good Bosch set of spark plug leads; rear accumulator and fuel pressure damper and voila perfect starting in all weather at all times plus smooth running engine. Mercedes also recommends changing Distributor caps (rarely go bad) and injector seals which also harden and leak at 100K. Pictures of my 450 SEL posted.

Attached Thumbnails

     

Nice looking car Carlos. How straight are the body panels? ? Interior condition and color?

A thought- can the convertors be removed and replaced with straight pipe?

Mike

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E

Thanks. Interior is matching dark blue velour totally redone during restoration and in perfect condition; car was especially ordered with velour by first owner; U.S. cars had MB tex; leahter; or velour options. Body panels are beautifully straight; there has never been an ounce of bondo anywhere keeping in mind that it now has two parking lot dents one at front right fenderl one at rear fender. I have a set of two original straight Mercedes cast iron manifolds that came in later 79-80 450 SEL's to replace the manifold cats and they go with the car.

Hi Carlos,

Does the dash have any cracks? Any pictures of the interior? What size dents are we talking about? Central locking system functional? Glass condition?

What other differences between the '76 cars and the '77-70 cars are there? I think the speakers were below the dash in the earlier cars?

Any more pics would be great.

Thanks Mike

__________________
'90 300SE 298k
-300K and it gets put into retirement.
'80 300D 255k Purchased new by family in 1980.

Had a:
1973 220 (gas)
1980 300SD
1992 400E