We are getting our MB towed home this AM. We talked to the local MB Club of America guy and there are detailed instructions on adjusting the valves on a M110 on their website. Cool.. :) He said his daughter did hers on her own last year...

So we are going to give a try..

Wish us luck

EricD in TN

HEY HEY HEY IT MIGHT BE WORTH IT !!
 

Well I am proud to say that I got my 79 280CE home and did a valve adjustment on it. It did improve the idle some and it definately sounds better than it did. The throttle however is still unresponsive. It's like it bogs down when you give it gas. There seems to a "bushing" against the firewall that the "rod" for lack of correct terminology comes out of but there is a lot of play there. Does this need to be replaced? Also would the cold start valve have anything to do with this??

There is an exhaust manifold leak that we are going to fix. Funny, it's near the back where #6 is.

Oh and ONE MORE THING - - - - The fuel lines from the side of the block (right & left) are REVERSED!!!??? Could this also cause my wild idle problem. Can you believe those &*^%*($@*(%^&%)@ dingdongs but this in backwards...

Hey, this almost getting to be fun and funny. Thanks for all the advice and please keep it coming. I'll either emerge victorius OR be taken away by those really nice men in those pretty white coats... hahahehe

Question: Did you pay for the faulty engine from those crooks with a credit card? If so, complain to the card company and they will intervene for you, and they have leverage! There is a time limit to do this, so don't delay and when you speak to the card company, follow it up in writing!!

Ron is correct. Especially if you used an American Express card. Many credit card companies are good with this sort of thing, but I have heard some great stories about the people at American Express. Good luck!

Unfortunately we paid with a business check and they cashed that the very next day...oh well

BUT ON THE GOOD SIDE.... We straightened out the fuel lines and actually DROVE it around the block and thru town. Tickled to death with that.

It still smells rich and the idle is rough but we have the following left to do and maybe it will help some:

1) Exhaust manifold gaskets (may even have the manifold shaved down)
2) Intake manifold gaskets
3) Cold start valve

After that I am sure I'll find something else. This is probably just the beginning. But we have learned this... It's not that hard and if you take your time these Mercedes motors aren't that hard to figure out.

EricD in TN

Hang in there! It seems like things are beginning to sort out on your favor.

Back to the people at Loew's, did they sell you the car and engine? Do you have a contract? What soes it say? "we have sold you a car that won't run".

I still think you should have an attorney, the BBB and the Attorney General at least write these guys a letter. It can't hurt and I think you'd feel better.

Hey, its good to know things are slowly sorting out with desirable results. Pleasant journeys! :)

My $.02.

The 280CE was the lowest production of all of the 123's, and what you have described sounds like a really clean car. Therefore, I would not think that you would do too badly on the bucks. I have seen really clean ones in the 5-7K range and certainly 4K is not unreasonable in the right market. Check out the classifieds in The Star.

Though I know it is frustrating, the amount of money you have spent is not out of line with the value of the car. I hope that you will find your compression problem without major surgery, but you may need to face up to a rebuilt head. If you can do the work yourself, you can probably get away for a grand or so. If that gets you a car you really like that you can drive for 2-3 years, it's not such a bad deal by MB standards.

By way of consolation, I spent just about what you have in your car on my 300E's air conditioning last summer.

Found this in the Good Shop Forum

Star Motors
901-452-5334
Memphis, TN
Ask for Joe Campel

Good Mercedes mechanic in KNOXVILLE, TN. Check with Jarek, I know a freind who's mother always uses Jarek. In fact knowing a good Mercedes mechanic in Knoxville other than using the Dealer is what helped me make the decision to buy a Mercedes. So far he has replaced my radiator and my brake rotors. His number is 690-5421 and all he works on is Mercedes Benz. However, don't call him today he is working on my check engine light which came on last Friday.