Just bought a 450 SLC. Love it. Needs major TLC. Body clean. Paid $2300. Immediately sunk $3000 into it at my trusted MB shop. Looking to do the rest of the work myself. The needed items are as follows:

lower control arm bushings
idler arm brushing kit
sub frame mount
gear shift selector bushings
drive shaft center support front flex disc
power steering pump reseal

Everything else is cosmetic. Seals all around the vehicle (windows, doors, sunroof.) New seats - front and back. Will probably go with good salvaged items and use leatherique.

Anyone else been in the same situation. I'm new to the MB family. My girlfriend convinced me to go MB. She has an 83' 300TD. We LOVE our mechanic in LA but I'm tired of paying $70/hr for labor!! Can probably do the work myself. College educated in chemistry - so problem solving is second nature.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a car club - grease monkey style? My uncle is a mechanic so tips abound but he's not exclusively MB.

Okay, I'm sure this is too much for anyone to digest. But help and support is welcomed as I've fallen in love with this '75 450 SLC.

Oh, also, front windows are slow, rear windows inoperable, and sunroof VERRRRRRY slow.

To be honest, I'd leave the rest of the suspension/steering issues for the shop to handle, and of course have them align it after it's done! Don't use used weatherstripping. Buy a new ones from MB. You'll be glad you did. As for the sunroof, the first measure is to get yourself a can of the Mercedes "Gleitpaste" (others will tell you I swear by this stuff), and clean and lube the sunroof tracks really well. Don't put the lube on the wide strip that is right on top, but underneath it. The motor may also be wearing down. But try the lube first.

__________________
Regards,
Aaron

You can DIY anything you set your mind and time to. There is a learing curve, like anything else. Some things are straight forward and some things require a few tries, but by then you are an expert. (if only on that model) I advise buying the shop manuals or CDs. They are a great help but they assume you know something about mechanics. Aaron had good advice on leaving the heavier more complicated items to a mechanic, with shop, tools and experience.
I got my first MB diesel in April and am 85% to total restoration. Here are some rules of thumb:

1) Metric tools. Unless you are a pro you don't have to buy top notch.
2) Rubber is better replaced than repaired, especially vacuum stuff.
3) A lot of things just need to be cleaned and lubed as there is probably 20+ years of crud, ie window drves, sunroof.
4) This site has A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION

Just for laughs, I would replace the rubber fuel lines and brake hoses, which have probably petrified with age. Don't stint on quality on these items. Ditto vacuum hoses underhood. If it's rubber and 26 years-old, it's probably crap. How old are the tires? More than four years? If so, maybe it's time.

450SLC's are nice cars, not yet as appreciated as their W111 forebearers.