Hi All,
I have been a 'lurker' on this forum (as well as a few others) for years but have never posted anything. Not sure why, but here goes.
I found this thread on the 116s one of the most entertaining on the site. I used to own one. It was a 1980 SD, rusted out to the point where I had to either throw it away or sell it for next to nothing. I chose the latter and went in search of a fresher MB. A 1990 300SE for sale caught my eye one afternoon while making my way home and I ended up buying it shortly thereafter. It been a great car and now has 231,000 miles on it.
Here is my dilema. As nice as the 126 car is, I still long for a 116 car. They drive better, have a sportier feel (as most owners here would agree) and i think they are the best looking car ever to come out of the MB design house. The 126 cars are a bit ugly in my eyes (whose eyes?) although they do have better rust protection and are 'nicer.' Anyways, 116s are cooler and feel better to me- like i was meant to be in one. I want to buy another one but refuse to own a U.S. model.
I will be moving to Austria in a few weeks and would like to buy one over there to bring back with me. I will be looking only at 450sel's as they are my fav. Most of these cars are now more than 25 years old so they would be exempt from inspections and regulations (I think- from reading the .gov sites).
So, what I am asking is- am I crazy? Has anyone else "side-graded" to an earlier model?
Check out www.mobile.de and do a search for 116's. They are dirt cheap and very nice compared with most of the garbage I see for sale in this area.
Any thoughts? 116 conversation is more than welcome!
- mike

Rust, rust, rust, rust,
Rust, rust, rust, rust!

The reason you don't see many is that they rusted away, here and in Europe. Lovely cars, drive like a dream, but rust, rust, rust. I've not seen any around here, even in junkyards lately. More 108s than 116s!

On the subject of "trading back" , I am going to take the intake off the '72 280 SE tonight to see if I can JB Weld the block and get it going by this weekend.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

Buy yourself a '73 (small bumpers) from California or Arizona when you get back. Avoid the heartache of federalization and cost of shipping a car that has been flogged by euro drivers for a quarter century!

Consider finding a euro motor and shipping it for your California cream puff.

Viel Glueck!

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Hello,
Yes, I know they rust. I notice that the cars which rust the most are from years '76 till '79. This leads me to believe that the steel used during this time period was of lesseer quality. Even 60's cars rust less.
A california car would be a possiblilty (I have a lot of family out there) BUT, I would have to deal with either 'sun rot,' the lovely type one ACC, or the early EFI. Does anyone know how hard it would be to transfer a manual Climate Control into a type one ACC eqp'd car? Also, the early cars had problems with the cats baking everything around them and robbing at least 30 horsepower. Hell, the 1980's have 160hp (switch to wimpy cam profile), from 4.5 liters! That's 65 down on a euro car!
As for federalizing the car: As I stated in my initial post, I dont think it would be required as long as the vehicle is 25 years or older.
Well, thanks for the responses. maybe ill just pick up a U.S. spec car and be happy with it...
- mike ...in search of that perfect 450sel - Midnight blue, palamino velour int. manual climate control, heated seats, euro spec, and magicaly rust-resistant.

So bring home a euro engine and get a euro exhaust from Timevalve, put them in your rust free CA '73 and blast off.

What's the problem?

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Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe

Well, I think that's a good idea in theory, but wouldn't I be bringing home a motor that was flogged by euro drivers? And as I stated earlier, I don't want one of the earlier cars because of the EFI and the headaches it can cause. I have seen the problems these early cars can cause first hand...and besides, bolting in a motor and exhaust (which would have to be compatible) would cost MUCH more than importing a full car.
My questions still remains: Is it feasible for me to import a rust free German (yes, they DO exist- check out some of the german 116 sites) model and bypass inspection if the car is 25 years or older?
Has anyone on the list imported an older (than 25 years) model?
I am not sure why I have not seen more interest regarding this, as there are really nice examples to be had in europe and shipping is less than 1,000. They are not all rusted out (although some are of course) and many of them are very nice- I used to live outside of Stuttgart and witnessed many pristine examples cruising around- and at gatherings. It is a fact that Germans actually much better care of their automobiles than do must other countries.
Any thoughts/comments? - Mike

Howdy.

I live in Holland.

Holland is pretty much below sea level, and the roads are salted a lot due to the ice in winter, i.e. rust.

Oldtimers here are very popular due to their exemption from road tax, we import them from the south of France, Germany and the States, Californian models being the most popular, i.e. less rust.

Seems to me that if we are importing models from the US alongside German models it would be well worth your while to check out what is available stateside before shelling out for shipping costs from Europe.

Ebay for starters maybe?

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306D 1975 (camper) - rusting away
W116 450 SEL 1975 - sold
W114 long wheelbase ambulance, 3 litre diesel 1974

VW Golf 1 convertable - midlife crisis item
VW T4 van - support vehicle

How about : THIS ONE

THIS on the other hand, would be my dream car if someone hadn't put the steering wheel on the wrong side!!!:
this one...

$800 to ship either of them across the pond- almost the same price as shipping from CA.
- Mike

I am currently in a 93 BMW (my only one- have had only Merc's in the past) but needless to say, I am thinking of selling it in order to "down-size" (read: no car payment) and get a 116. Have you come upon any 450SE's for sale? I like the shorter wheelbase, and want either pre-emmisions or euro spec. (I assume that is why you say you don't want a US car?) Have you had luck finding anything? -Justin

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94 E320
71 350SL

A member here tried selling his black 450SEL on E-Bay. It was a CA car I believe.... I couldn't believe the Buy it Now price.. $2.5k

I would've jumped on it if I didn't have my car already... there was also an Anthracite Gray 300SD for sale in MA... rust free, low miles, FSH, etc.... I think it went for $7k!!

That I would've bought if I was still looking for a car! oops... a car.. I mean a Mercedes-Benz.. I mean.. an old Benz

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Happy to hear someone who appreciates the ride and feel of a W116. Have a '76 280S which rides like a dream. Have been bugged about the long extending bumpers on it although. But to me, they are more a nice seat to socialize one while admiring its bueaty.

Well...
I started this thread when I was contemplating a 116, but I have changed my mind and decided that I will keep my 126 300se. To sell it would be tough- expecially since it burns and uses a lot of oil AND has 230k- orig. motor and trans. So I am going to have the head done and just keep it. I would rather have a 450sel but i just dont think it is a rational decision for me.
Maybe I will try and put a 5 spd in the car i have now. That would maek it a much more acceptable car off the line. I think MB transmissions prior to 1997 were crap. They shift rougher than anything out there and prior to 1993(?), started in second gear, making off the line performance a joke.. I really do belive that transmission performance is more important in many ways than engine performance...old MB trannys just plain suck. NOW, a 116 350SEL with a 4 spd manny tranny; that would be a ride- 230 hp (with the right compression) from a V8 that will rev to 6000rpm. Don't forget that velour interior, manual climate controls and heated front and rear seats. Could it get any better? No, it couldn't...someday...
-Mike

Here is my mislead post....

Hmm. Driving a W 116 in Europe is a pricy delight.

Just get used to spent around $ 100 when you end up here:

Kind regards
Eberhard

Lets see if the picture works this time:

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