Looking for info on 1972 300SE sedan - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

unkl300d · #1 12-06-2005, 10:39 PM

Hello, I did a search and found mostly infos on the 280se of various years.

I am looking for specs on this v-8 engine (3.5 ?) 4 door automobile with automatic trans.
EDIT, evidently the 300se was in production until 1965, so the car I am inquiring about must be the 280SE 3.5 1972.....

Info like:
engine specs, opinions
ignition specs, opinions

trans, specs, opinions

Generally I am looking for the pros and cons of such vintage car.

Are they reliable as a daily driver assuming the general mechanical is in very good condition?

How about gas milage.?

What is the chassis style WXXX ??

Thanks

Denis

Arthur Dalton · #2 12-06-2005, 11:44 PM

Get the chassis #
The car could be a 300sel

billrei · #3 12-06-2005, 11:54 PM

I assume you are referring to a 300SEL? As far as I know there was no 4 door 300SE available in 1972. If it is a 300SEL then the chassis would be a W109. This car could have 3 different V8 engines, either a 6.3, 4.5 or 3.5. Most popular engine in the US for that year is 4.5 while the 3.5 was limited to the Euro market. I can't help beyond this until you confirm what you are looking for.

Q45Denver · #4 12-06-2005, 11:58 PM

I've never seen a 280SE 3.5 for sale in the USA. There were a few 300SEL 3.5's (w109) . Great cars, but the air suspension has some issues if not maintained. Could use as a daily driver-no reason you couldn't-expect about 18 MPG if tuned. More prone to rust than modern cars. Less rare and body and interior parts more readily available i.e cheaper than 280SE 3.5 W111. 4 Spd AT, electronic ignition, electronic/mechanical FI has some issues (trigger points etc.)

BradleyP · #5 12-07-2005, 01:09 AM

I've got a '72 W108 4.5, up here in Winters (outside Fairfield/Vacaville) that you're more than welcome to come for a spin in if you're interested in getting involved. Heck, if you like it enough, might be thinking of selling it soon.

Gas mileage on a Benz V-8 though, well, take your diesel's mileage and divide it by 2 or 3 and you'll get the corresponding Gas Burn Rate.

But, then again, it's really nice to blow by that idiot in a Honda Civic who just passed you doing 85 like he's standing still.

unkl300d · #6 12-07-2005, 03:02 PM

Hello, I just confirmed that the automobile I looked at yesterday is indeed a 1972 280SE 3.5 with v-8 engine and auto trans.

Has about 47K kilometers on it. Looked like a euro model because of fabric interior but speedo was in MPH (max 140 mph) dang, at least I recall it as MPH!!.

Please continue the opinions and facts about the general mechanics etc.

Thanks

Denis

meltedpanda · #7 12-07-2005, 03:10 PM

Is it a W114?
I have a 73 280 W114, parts car if I can help

billrei · #8 12-07-2005, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkl300d

Hello, I just confirmed that the automobile I looked at yesterday is indeed a 1972 280SE 3.5 with v-8 engine and auto trans.

Has about 47K kilometers on it. Looked like a euro model because of fabric interior but speedo was in MPH (max 140 mph) dang, at least I recall it as MPH!!.

Please continue the opinions and facts about the general mechanics etc.

Thanks

Denis

Then if it is a 4 door it is a W108. A W111 is a coupe with 2 doors (worth more than an equivalent W108) For general mechanics do a search on the list using key words such as W108, W111, 280SE, 3.5.

dieseldiehard · #9 12-07-2005, 06:33 PM

there was a 280SE W114/115 chassis! It used the 6 cyl DOHC engine w/ early FI.
Besides knowing someone that owned one, heres a model fs on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6992132204

kpb · #10 12-07-2005, 06:43 PM

you weren't kidding when you said "model"

BTW, I had one of those in green, all the paint flaked off but it never rusted. Wuz it really a M-B?

Arthur Dalton · #11 12-07-2005, 09:44 PM

<>

That would be a 280E or CE , not 280SE ....
280SE are 108 chassis.
280CE /114.072 and 280E/114.062 were in fact 114 chassis with DOHC 110.981 engine with D-Jetronic FI [ Manifold injection/electronic]

dieseldiehard · #12 12-07-2005, 11:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arthur Dalton

<>

That would be a 280E or CE , not 280SE ....
280SE are 108 chassis.
280CE /114.072 and 280E/114.062 were in fact 114 chassis with DOHC 110.981 engine with D-Jetronic FI [ Manifold injection/electronic]

I stand corrected, a W114 280CE.
Anyhow it was a car that my good friend and shop owner has seen and driven, in total he's only seen ONE of them in 20 some odd years so it must have been a Euro somebody imported and obviously very scarce. He said it ran like no 114/115 he's ever driven.

Arthur Dalton · #13 12-08-2005, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dieseldiehard

I stand corrected, a W114 280CE.
Anyhow it was a car that my good friend and shop owner has seen and driven, in total he's only seen ONE of them in 20 some odd years so it must have been a Euro somebody imported and obviously very scarce. He said it ran like no 114/115 he's ever driven.

Yes , cool car .. Euro 4/72-7/74 , 11,531 produced. Only problem they seemed to suffer was head gasket problems if over-heated at all..
Becoming collectable.

cth350 · #14 12-08-2005, 05:04 PM

I believe the 280se 3.5 you saw has been for sale on auto trader on & off for a while. It' the euro version of our 280se 4.5. The principle difference will be that engine/drive train, which are identical to our 300sel 3.5, and the little body details that are euro-centric, like the license plate light on the bumper, the preveleance of cloth interiors and instruments in metric.

If you're in the market for a 108 chassis car, that one should be "just fine". -CTH

unkl300d · #15 12-08-2005, 08:46 PM

Thanks all so far for tips.

I had considerd it but I get squeamish with expensive exotic stuff like air leveler suspensions, engine part$ and high maintance.

I don't know whether this one in particular was in autotrader.
The one I looked at is white with blue upholstery and black dash.

Very new looking car and attractive for that reason but after looking at pics etc. I think it is too retro for my driving taste. If it were a coupe, that might add more attraction. This one belongs in a museum

It probably hauls pretty good butt.
That is attractive.

Anyway, at somepoint in time I shall go back to give it a spin.

Denis