Soon to be first time owner 1971 280se

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by Nik_the_barber

Sorry like I said I'm no car person.

If your not a car person and have no mechanical skils, money or tools, don't buy a 30+ year old Mercedes. You'll be broke and walking within a month or two.

[Nik_the_barber]

Originally Posted by 280EZRider

You're right; I have just moved to Cincy (Westwood) into an old English Tudor (house). Similar to old cars, they demand a lot of maintenance, so take to heart what the other guys have talked about. That being said, I might have a bash with your wrenching. I am confused though: you mention changing the warm-up-regulator and I had talked about CIS fuel injection. Which one do you want to change?

I looked at the Stick provided on this forum about the CIS and it mentioned that it replaces the wu.r but after looking more I think there are 2 units and one that makes the car fuel injection? Like I said I'm pretty clueless. If at all possilbe if someone could make me a list of thing's I should get and how much they are that would be sweet, and not to be mean. But I can not be talked out of buying the car. It was marked at 2,900 and after acting like I was not really interested he automatically dropped of $900. So I think I would be able to haggle him down to atleast $1500 hopefully out the door. I can't wait to get it, like I said it should be this week, and I will post some pictures and you can all give me a little more in site on the first steps I should take with maybe some more detailed information. I can't wait. Thanks everyone.

[mbgingerbread]

Hi Nik
I was about your age when I bought my first MB. A cream white 220sb with a clean interior. I had to pick it up in an adjacent town from where I lived and ended up staying the night with the couple who sold it. Off I went towards my hometown feeling as important as any one human could feel. This joy of commanding the likes of a Mercedes is hard to describe. Maybe you will win the lottery and do a total restoration of the car you are about to enjoy..and remember, you will always have that feeling to fall back on when judging other vehicles as time goes by. I know, I have which is why I get the bug to own one every few years or so.
Happy motoring

[cth350]

Nick,

I'll say it again, "don't do it".

Now, having said that (and being a guy that owns about 30 too many mercedes), work out a plan, including what you're going to do when the car is down for a week, and how you're going to pay for about 800$ worth of repairs in the first three months (if you're lucky).

The top of the expenditures will be 45$ for an MBCA membership, about 100$ worth of basic tools and 30$ for the service CD, which you're going to read pretty much from cover to cover and ask lots of questions about.

You realize that once you crack the hood on your car, you've become a car person and will remain one until you either douse it with gasoline and light it on fire, sell it, never to be seen with dirt under your fingernails ever again, or until you've reached a ripe old age and can smile if somehow these posts ever survive that long (internet 5.7?)

BTW, if you can afford it, spend 1,000$ on this car and another 500$ on a car to be a daily driver. That way, you can drive the mercedes when it works and you can rely on the other car to be there when you need it.

-CTH

[Nik_the_barber]

It's a done deal. I got it for 2,00 OTD. I put 500 down today and will be picking the car up in the next 10 days. (I got to wait for the 1,500 dollars i'm getting.) I'll keep you guys posted and will post pictures the day I bring it home.

[Nik_the_barber]

One quick question what kind of gas should I use to fill this baby up when I bring it home? Do you need a lead additive?

[todds]

Uhh, maybe I'm missing something, but as far as I can tell, there's no way your 71 280se has either CIS or an m110 motor. Different chassis, different engine, different fuel system entirely.

You have the wonderful old-school w108 chassis and the m130 engine with bosch engine-driven mechanical pump fuel injection. Your warm up device is a different beast than the later CIS version. There are plenty of experts here that can help you diagnose your type of fuel injection. I believe the device you have just allows extra air into the engine when cold.

Tomguy's post is spot on, heed his words. Congrats on your new car, a good w108 is a beautiful thing. You don't need lead, no older benzes do. For gas, buy the lowest you can without causing the engine to ping. I believe your 71 has a slightly higher compression ratio which means you might need premium unfortunately. My older model runs great on 87 though.

[280EZRider]

I was guessing the m130 & m110 were basically the same engine (at least the block) but with a different head obviously and its attachments. No?

[todds]

Nah, the m110 is a very different, next gen six with either a single 4-barrel solex carb on 280S, Bosch D-jet EFI on early SE's and Bosch K-jet CIS on later SE's. It's also got DOHC to the older engine's SOHC and a crossflow head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M110_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M130_engine

[280EZRider]

Originally Posted by todds

Nah, the m110 is a very different, next gen six with either a single 4-barrel solex carb on 280S, Bosch D-jet EFI on early SE's and Bosch K-jet CIS on later SE's. It's also got DOHC to the older engine's SOHC and a crossflow head.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M110_engine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_M130_engine

You're absolutely correct. oops!

[Nik_the_barber]

Yeah, thanks for the info. I will only be putting in the Premo gas, I' having trouble finding a 71 280se Repair/Service manual. Do you guys have a recommendation? Oh and I can't sleep at night because all I can think about is pulling this car up in my garage, and poping the hood and being a man working on my classic Benz, Then taking my sweet ride on a sweet cruise. Like I said before I would like list of things I should start off doing/ getting and how much each part or service would cost. Thanks!

[Mike D]

First thing you need to do is to get yourself prepped for working on your first Benz.

Get yourself a ten foot long vacuum cleaner hose. Tie it in a knot, no make that several knots. Drop 6 different colored marbles into the end and wiggle it around. Now, kneel down. Wrap one arm behind your back and with the other one support yourself in the air. Close your right eye and while not using your left eye, reach into the opposite end of the hose with the arm behind your back and select the ; red, green and brown marbles in that order.

Next, kneel under a cabinet drawer and pull it open. Now stand up and impale yourself on the drawer pull. Do this repeatedly. This is to prepare you for that verplunkt grill which we are all so proud of.

Nahhh, they're not bad. You will learn to curse the grill and hood latch though.

The key thing to ALL European cars is they require maintenance! American cars need repairs but if you maintain your Benz it will outlive you.

[todds]

LMAO, The back of my head is definitely bumpier these days.

[Nik_the_barber]

[ja17]

Hello Nik,

I believe that I saw this car last week. It caught my attention as I passed-by (down there on business). I own several W108 sedans myself and the 280SE 6cyl with the M130 engine was one of my favorites.

Here are some things to consider; Never assume the mileage on a supposidly low mileage car is actual unless it is documented by service records! The odometers on these cars roll over and start from zero after 99,999 miles. If you are paying for a low mileage car demand documentation. In most cases these cars have no history and all the documentation is mysteriously missing. These orphans are usually on their second or third odometer time around. If you just take the salesman's word for it, you will most likely be dis-appointed when the facts become clear.

The M130 engine in this car has is a six cylinder with a mechanical injection system. The same power plant was used in the W113 280SL sport model. There are a fair amount of people who understand and know these engines. You will have to seek one of them out.

There are two interior fans in the car. One is for the heating system and the other is for the AC system. Make sure both function. It will cost you over 1K to replace the heater fan if it is bad. You will need heat and defrost this winter if you use it at all. The upper left heater control (blue) on the dash controls the heater fan speeds.

This car has early complicated king pin type front suspension with 15 separate grease points. If it has not been serviced over the years you may need expensive front end work.

I did not thoroughly inspect this car because the chassis rust turned me away. It is not a rust bucket but will continue to deteriorate until all the uni-body channels are repaired and sealed from further exposure. Uni-body cars have thin sheetmetal chassis construction. It does not take long for rust damage areas to get worse in these northern winters with all the salt on the roads.
I believe the floors are intact, but there is some rocker panel rust damage and the front and rear bumper supports are rusted through and weakened.

Without actual mileage documentation, you may be taking a chance on the mechanicals. These engines are strong but may be in need of cylinder head work or a timing chain after 100,000 miles.

It is not original paint, so be concerned that it could have even more covered body rust.

Could still be good buy. Most W108 owners love there cars and these were great cars. I hope I have given you some insight so you do not find too many surprises.