otherwise titled.....Welcome to the 108 world.

I bought it in SoCal last week and had it shipped to Tucson. It was running when I bought it but not when I picked it up......turned over OK but not even a hint that it wanted to run. Narurally, I was trying to impress my wife with the "wonderful car". Crap, now I have two problems.

Called AAA and had it hauled to the local mech and he found that the fuel pump relay wasn't making good contact so at least I could drive it home and glean some small measure of self respect. Oh how I hate those "I told you so" looks.

Now to go over it in great detail. I did find one interesting thing. The spare is an original tire. 6 ply nylon 185/14, thin white wall in excellant condition. Got a kick out of that. Now where does one find thin whitewall now-a-days.

Great start to the 108 ownership.

Prorites:
Fix exhaust manifold leak
Find new grille
Fix rear brakes
Wash

__________________
Litton
'90 420 SEL (sold)
'72 280 SEL 4.5
'98 ML320 (for sale)
'86 560SL
'05 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd (offroad in style)
'87 Chevy Blazer (AZ Pin Strips)

Thin whitewalls? I get stuck with black only these days. I like the black better anyway.

Under NO circumstaces attempt to use that tire! Buy a spare rim and get a decent tire in there as a spare, that old one will fly to bits in minutes if you put it on the road! Keep it on the rim for curiosity's sake if you like, but DON'T attempt to use it!

Rear brakes on mine were blown rear brake lines, I replaced them all to be safe.

Make sure the "exhaust leak" on the left manifold isn't a cracked manifold rather than leaking gaskets -- poor running (usually dirty points) or over rich conditions will make that manifold run red hot, and a splash of water splits it. Mine is cracked something terrible, but I've not gotten around to replacing it yet.

I have a grille with only a slight dent I can send you if you want it. I believer you can also straighten them with a rubber mallet and some patience, they are an aluminum casting.

Peter

__________________
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!

These folks got me factory shoes for a 63 Lincoln.

http://www.coker.com/default2.asp

__________________
Happy Benzing
Darryl, Hill
2005 SL55 AMG Kleemanized
1984 500 SEC
1967 W113 California Coupe
[SIGPIC]
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/myphotos

Just got my first 280 4.5 a couple of days ago. Congrats. My car is running on new Michelins and they look and handle great, although Coker does have a good selection of white walls. If they don't have it, try diamond back classics.

http://www.widewhitewalltires.com

All of my British stuff have odd sizes and white walls, and those have been my sources. There are also several places that will build a white wall of your specs to a blackwall tire. I have done this with very satisfactory results.

__________________
Nathan York
72 MB 280SE 4.5
73 Mini Cooper
60 AH Bugeye
61 Morris Minor Conv.
http://www.santiagosc.com/Personal%20Page.htm
www.santiagosc.com

Hit the local salvage yard today and found an '73 280 SEL 4.5 almost completly intact. Scored a bunch of small stuff including 4 injectors that were laying in the trunk. Guy told me to just put them in my pocket cause there is no way of knowing if they are good. Even say a coupe in the yard.....no idea of the model but is looked similiar to the 280.

I got a bunch of brake stuff so I will change the rear disk tomorrow and try to fix the one bad injector.

__________________
Litton
'90 420 SEL (sold)
'72 280 SEL 4.5
'98 ML320 (for sale)
'86 560SL
'05 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd (offroad in style)
'87 Chevy Blazer (AZ Pin Strips)