Removing wiring harness 280SE

[Tony H]

At some point in my project I will be installing some form of aftermarket fuel injection and relays for the headlights/ignition so the headlight current does not pass through the switch. Rather than trying to adapt my original wiring I was thinking about removing/preserving the original harness and building a new one. Has anyone removed their engine bay harness intact?

[Idle]

I'm doing that now on a 250se. All it takes is going slow and taking care to not crack the wires. They have been in one place for about 45 years and they don't like to be flexed.

I am also checking for rubbed through spots in the wiring as I remove it. And I am finding quite a few; each of them a blown fuse waiting to happen.

It is also wise to tape a description of that the plug went to as you go along. Otherwise you will just a a lot of wire with a bunch of four hole plugs and eyelets on the ends of them.

[Tony H]

I am taking a lot of pictures. Also I would cut up some harnesses at the Pick N Pull for the contacts on the ends so I don't have to take them off mine.

[TZ_280SEL]

I removed my entire harness when I Mega Squirted my 280SEL last year. My harness was in terrible shape due to a PO engine fire and 45 years of heat, but it comes out pretty easy.

I built an entire new harness for the MS. Started at the new ECU and left extra at all the connectors, then installed, trimmed all wires to length, crimped new connectors. Everything is in new loom with new connectors and heat shrink.

[Tony H]

Thanks for the input-that's what I was hoping to hear