Hi all,
just an update on how im getting on with my W114.
Ive had the old gal for practically a year now, and she justs gets better and better.. I gave her to Steve, my mech, last week to fit two new rear bilstein shocks (i had the front done last year) and some rear brake lines. O wow, the ride is beautiful. Whereas before she would creak and groan from the rear when i went over a speed hump or some imperfection in the road, now it feels like im gliding over the tarmac.
One cautionary tale tho (and a rather fortuituous one at that)- i got a call from Steve the day after i left the car up with him. While underneath he had knocked off the feeder pipe (?) of the fuel tank, which split and covered him in fuel. Quite worrying im sure. Excuse my lack of technical know-how, but its a piece of compounded material (rubber?) about 3inches long, tapering from about OD 3/4" to about 3/8". Just snapped in two, perished i guess. Got the part and also the rubber hose that comes from the tank, and Steve replaced 'em both. Might be worthwhile to check yours out next time your underneath.

Tony

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'82 W123 280E

I've had people ask me "why Mercedes?"

I take them for a ride and the reaction is "man, this rides great. Not at all like an American boat!".

There are maybe two or three more fabric covered fuel hoses for Steve to look at. From the hard pipe to the fuel pump and from the fuel pump to the carb and maybe a return line if the 230 has one. Those old hoses have lead to many a VW burning to the ground.

Michael

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Usta haves '69 250/8, '76 280C, 1971 250C 114.023, 1976 450SEL 116.033
Current have, 1983 300SD 126.120

Thanks for that tip Michael, i'll certainly get Steve to have a look. He's busy now for a while-bare shell resto of a couple of 2CVs and a Saab 96, which
gives me time (and another paycheck ) to get the next few bits
and pieces, which will be at least the front windshield rubber, a couple of
door seals ,and probably something else.

There's a few testing roads near me, so i'll give the car a more thorough
workout at the weekend hopefully.

Cheers,
tony

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'82 W123 280E

Cool, i see there are Bilstein regular and HD, which did you go for? Mine will probably need some soon. Also did you get new springs or keep your old ones, I have no idea where to find new ones ('74 W114)

Hi JMURiz, i went with the regular, didnt see the need for heavy duty versions (tho they are same price) as i rarely carry heavy loads, nor do i intend rallying the old gal. She rides like a dream now. I sourced mine from http://dbdepot.de in Germany, tho im sure you will be able to get them more locally. Paid about EUR70 each (US$ 90).
The springs were fine, i thought id have to get them replaced too, but my mech tells me they're cool.

Tony

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'82 W123 280E

there is nothing that transforms a car like new bilsteins and new michelins.

when i get a new old benz i can never wait til i get that done!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Tom, i have mine running on Dunlops 185/60 R14. That used to be a very common size round here til the manufacturers kept putting even their small city cars on ever increasing wheels. I had a bunch of VW Golfs in the past,
and most ran on the size i mention above. Im not 100% certain, but i think the OE for my car was 175/60 R14.
When i first got my car, the first thing i did was to get a set of 5 new tyres, then the front shocks and front brake calipers. I dallied awhile back with the idea of swapping for a W114 coupe (just love the lines), but have decided to hold onto what i have and rebuild her over time. Then start again . . .

Tony

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'82 W123 280E

Hello everyone, i am a new mercedes owner. She is a 1975 240D. The car tends to wallow over bumps and such and was looking into bilsteins yesterday, and was wondering if anyone had heard of the luxury ride (something like that) version. Also, what is your source for bilsteins?

Hi Rudolph, welcome to MB ownership!
You'll find, as i have, a wealth of very informed, and very interesting
characters here, who are glad to help with any queries.
I haven't heard of 'luxury ride' bilsteins, only regular or heavy duty types.
The ride on my car is just sweet now with all new shocks, simply floats over
the tarmac. I dont have power steering, which to be honest i actually prefer-
i think theres a more direct feel between the steering and whats happening beneath the rubber. (granted you gotta work a bit into tight parking spaces)
Over the time ive been driving (20+yrs) ive had a mix of cars with and without
power steering, and i think given the choice, and for fear of being called a Luddite, i'd go without. What do you guys think?

Cheers,
Tony

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'82 W123 280E

As far as the W114/W115 goes, even the 4-cylinder versions are pretty heavy. My experience is such that I prefer them with power steering. Many years ago, I had a 72 W115 220 with manual steering that was a beast to parallel park and the car also tended to wander at highway speeds.
Swapping in a power steering unit from a parts W114 made my 220 much nicer to park and drive, with quicker steering response and no more scary highway behavior.

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Rudolphrocks:
I'll copy a few of the parts houses. Just put some Monroe shocks in a cherry 83' 380 SEL and now has a very nice ride. All four for $185 + install. Normaly I'd install them but there are other issues. (MB dealer wanted $1450 for four Blistins installed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) I keep a list of part $ and source and I recall both types of blistins going for $57 + S&H.
http://www.mbeugene.com/ou/eugene-mercedesbenz/console.do?page=s_parts_order_parts
Never done business with them.
http://www.***************/ as in ebay talk: good seller.
https://www.***************/search/modelx.aspx?sid=1dkref451i0pqzicth5brh45&makeid=800016&year=1979
Good seller
There are many more, just do a search!

oh they arent all that heavy. about the same as a vega i think. less than a fiero.

the original size was prob 165r14 which is actually a 165/85 i think. the 175/60 will be too short and your speedo will be off.

185/70 r 14 will be a close match or 195/65 r 14 i think. for a long time in there all the benz tires were the same diameter. really maybe as long as 20 years.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yeah that kinda surprises me too, hearing the 114/115 described as heavy. 280/8 of mine with PS was nimble as a polo pony, but the kingpin fintail 220Sb with manual steering felt like driving a freight train on the highway or parralel parking a steam roller on the street. Nevertheless I would not be suprised to learn the 114 outweighs the 111 by a few hundred pounds partly on account of having a more elaborate uni-body construction and fewer cast aluminum/alloy parts. But take a look at the 116 - probly one of the lightest feeling Heavy cars that have ever been built.

i always thought that benzes were heavy feeling light cars. except the 107s which are truly heavy. for what they are.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Perhaps I should have said "heavy for a contemporary four-cylinder import". Regardless, without power steering, my '72 220 was not much fun. Converting to power-assist transformed that car.

According to my reference, until the mid '70s, most of the W114/W115 range weighed in at or near 3000 pounds. By '74, with the addition of 5 mph bumpers and more options, typical US curb weights for these cars were in excess of 3200.
As for some other models, I have a curb weight of 2959 for the 220S Fintail, while the W116 280S weighed in at 3542 for the Euro version and 3890 for the US.

Of course everything's relative. While curb weights below 2000 pounds were common for many late '60s - early '70s subcompact-imports, todays Civic Si weighs in at 2877, while the current Golf GTI tips the scale at a hefty 3308!

Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW