Thanks.

From the looks of your dash, you have a late 4.5 like my 1973 which came new with a Becker Europa II Stereo. From Becker I bought an auxiliary cable which runs to the center console to connect to my iPhone to listen to music.

Thanks for sharing your good work!

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1973 280SEL 4.5
2021 E450S4 AT/Wagon

I found them online at an MB dealer. Thanks, again.

You are welcome and thanks for the radio info. I haven't decided whether to install a period correct vintage radio or to install a unit from Retrosound that has a front that is meant to simulate a vintage radio. The advantage is that I would have Bluetooth, Ipod, and XM radio capabilities with the new unit. There are some vintage Becker radios on eBay that I have looked at as well. Have to think about that issue some more.

The veteran members will have probably already seen the road test below. I came across it earlier this evening. Check out the 0-60 time and the fuel mileage figure.

You mentioned your existing radio. Your electric antenna is also not original.

The correct antenna would be from Hirschmann which powers up and down via the Becker. Off the top of my head, I don't recall which model, Becker in NJ would know.

Attached is a distant photo of mine. Let me know if you'd like a close-up.

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1973 280SEL 4.5
2021 E450S4 AT/Wagon

Your mention of the Hirschmann antenna jogged my memory of seeing something in the manual packets that came with the car. The current antenna does go up when I turn on the radio but, as you say, is not a Hirschmann. What I remembered seeing was a key for the antenna. I had only made a cursory inspection of the manuals. I went through them all this evening and this is what I found for the radio. If I had looked at these closely I would have seen what radio originally came in the car.

These are some of the other items I found in the manual packets. The original data card was there.








There were seat belt instructions.








The selling dealer's promise.






Owner's and service manuals.















Where to receive service including maps.









Bill of sale showing that it was sold to the second owner on July 1, 1991 at 4:27PM.

Your engine bay gives me something to shoot for. Beautiful car!!!

I, for one, have never seen the R&T Road test before. Perhaps you would be kind enough to rephotograph those pages so the degree of resolution would be as fine as those of your document pictures. Thanks

Here's the link to the PDF file I found. I printed this file and then used photoshop to prepare the images. It's the best I could do.

http://alabbasi.com/backup/RandT280SEL.pdf

The suspension part you asked about is not a leaf spring. It positions the front subframe. The subframe attaches to the car via mounts at the top. They provide the vertical positioning of the subframe. These two "leaf spring" looking things position the subframe front to back. They are held in place at the front by two bolts. One is a plain bolt, but the other is an eccentric in a slotted hole. By turning this eccentric, you move that side of the subframe front to back. This is used for the "course" adjustment for the caster settings for the front end. The fine adjust for caster is in an eccentric in the kingpin.

Thanks. What do I need to support to replace that bushing?

I'll start by saying, I have not replaced those bushings in my car. I have replaced the subframe mounts however. I would support the car via jack stands under the frame so the subframe is free to move....then remove the bushings and re-install. Best to not let the subframe hang that way longer than necessary.

How are your subframe mounts? They usually collapse and degrade.

Keep in mind, you will need an alignment after messing with these bushings as they affect caster. Also keep in mind, almost nobody in business knows how to align these front ends. Also, the fine adjust for caster in the king pins and those eccentrics are typically frozen even if properly greased.

You really have me looking forward to this job now!!! It pulls very slightly to the right now and the steering wheel is not centered so it needs an alignment anyway. I haven't checked the subframe mounts yet. For the alignment I was planning on contacting the local MB club to get a recommendation.