280 SE questions - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

280SE · #1 08-29-2002, 05:09 PM

Hello everyone, i'm purchasing a 79 280se for 600 bucks. What are the specs for this thing? would it be worth it to try and mod the thing? For now I'm just gonna work on the looks and soud system because this is gonna be my show car, but after awhile I wanna be able to make it faster. Any help is welcome.

psfred · #2 09-02-2002, 02:07 PM

280SE: (ignore this post, I have W108's on the brain!) You have a W116 -- see later post.

You have purchased at lovely (I hope!) classic MB sedan. It has a 2.8 L (170 ci) straight six, mechanical fuel injection. 180 hp, 193 ft/lbs torque right off the showroom floor.

0-60 in about 11 sec or so, top end 112 mph give or take a bit.

It has four-wheel disk brakes, with separate parking brake in a drum on each rear rotor.

If automatic, has a four speed box with fluid coupling (NOT a torque converter!) -- will be slow off the line. If you are REALLY lucky, has a fourspeed manual (best).

You also have a kingpin front end (grease those babies!) and a swingaxle independent rear end (like a Corvair, only this one won't "jack" and roll over). Pretty spiff for 1966, when this was introduced.

You also, for $600, probably have a serious restoration project on hand.

DO NOT monkey about with the fuel injection -- if you attempt to set the mixture while the engine is running, you will be out at least $1200 to get the pump fixed. If, that is, you can find someone to do it. Leave it alone, if there is something wrong, you will need to find a mechanic. Sorry, but even taking the linkage off can screw it up. You have all the power that baby is going to give you. Want more, switch engines, but this will be a HUGE pain. Best choice would be a 6.3L M100, if you can find one, but only Ford or Chrylser V8s will fit, GMs all have the sump in the back instead of the front, and the crossmember is in the way.

For a sound system, you should have a four speaker set up, with fader on the dash. You can use it, or replace with your own. Use speakers that fit in the holes, DO NOT let some idiot with a power tool cut holes back there, there is a ventilation duct under the rear shelf, and if you cut it, cold air blows in. ***** to fix, too.

You will need, at least, the following to get it to run and drive well:

Sway bar kit -- unless replaced, the rubber is all gone. Makes it wallow horribly, and can cause the rear end to slide off the road.

New shocks -- for sure, they are gone unless replaced. Get Bilsteins or Boges, don't buy the cheap Gabriels you may find at the local autoparts store, they ride like you welded the springs up.

Engine and tranny mounts. These also have died, dropping the engine about an inch an a half. Makes lots of noise, with the engine rattling on the frame like that.

Check the condition of the master cylinder, brake lines, calipers, pads, and rotors. Most likely, the seals in the master cylinder are going if not gone, easy fix, but hell to pay if it fails on you in a panic stop.....! Brake hoses are certainly iffy, and the rubber parts in the calipers are ancient, probably need to be replaced. Rotors, if not replaced properly, are probably shot, and if someone put pads in without replacing rotors when they need it, the pads will contact the antirattle spring, causing the pistons to cock in the calipers, big trouble.

Front subframe mounts. These are shot too, give a nice "lowrider" look to the front end, since it is at least an inch low on the frame. Not too bad to do yourself.

Probably needs a tune up, use genuine MB parts, or Bosch aftermarket, not some cheap stuff, and it won't work properly. No one every seems to make MB replacement parts anywhere near as good as the need to be, for some reason.

Front and rear windsheild gaskets are shot, need to be replaced to prevent the car filling up with water when it rains. Ditto for cleaning out the cowl drains under the "scoop" -- water will sit there, rust through the firewall, and fill the floors. They go next, alas.

Peter

leathermang · #3 09-02-2002, 03:09 PM

Wow Peter, it was the guy's first post..... I'll bet you knocked the wind out of him with that information... LOL

Larry Delor · #4 09-02-2002, 04:18 PM

Uh, Peter...

I think you think that he bought a W108, when infact he has a W116.
The sound system is comparable to a $10 handheld radio. 4" speakers in the rear and front. The fader is on the console between the window switches ( unless they are manual windows ).
Odds are the engine and trans mounts are getting tired even if it is newer. I bet the ball joints are tired too.
As far as performance mods... fix this one, sell it, and buy one with a V-8. I think that in 78 they used the K-Jetronic... pretty simple compared to the D-jetronic. If you are going for another W116 with a V-8, find one with K-Jetronic unless you have a good friend who knows them very well.

my two cents

-Larry

PS: Upon considering the two precious posts, I would have decided to go with a W108 too... totally different looks... the 108's have a certain presence that cannot be easily ignored.

Arthur Dalton · #5 09-02-2002, 04:35 PM

Your car does not have swing axle, king pins , closed axle , or anything suspension wise like the 108 chassis with the same model #.
You have a 116 chassis - Ball joints , open axles , - completely different suspension.
108 and 116 are completely different cars.
The last 108 -280se rolled off the line at 9/72
Your 280se was from 8/72-7/80 with 150,593 units

psfred · #6 09-02-2002, 08:57 PM

Larry:

Thanks for catching that -- my brain is fried from sailing small boats all day yesterday and pretending I'm still a young college student (my legs are reminding me I ain't!).

280SE

The W116 has a zero offest ball joint front end with upper and lower control arms and a track rod. Rear suspension is semi-trailing arms and coil springs, large sway bar.

Handlings is great, performance in that car with that engine will be, well, sedate. No hopes of blowing the doors off anything but maybe a diesel or two. No way to improve it, either, and not fry the catalytic converters.

Factory stereo would suit me just fine -- I only listen to NPR. You will need to replace it. However, I don't think you can just stuff speakers in the back -- the gas tank is behind the rear seat, unless I'm mistaken, so no thumpers back there, no huge speakers cut into the back shelf, etc.

The only way to improve performance is to replace the engine, and this will be complicated. It can be done (any recent MB V8 will fit), but there are a number of changes to make, and some won't be cheap (like wiring harness). You may have to live with what you've got.

Watch out for rust -- the W116 chassis is probably the worst body MB ever made for rusting. My comments on the W108 and water leaks apply here, too -- the window gaskets will be going if not gone, and water inside on the floorpan is lethal to these cars. I gets into the trunk, too, and rusts that out as well.

Have fun, the 116s are great cars as long as they stick together!

Peter

280SE · #7 09-03-2002, 01:51 PM

All I can say is wow! Um the car runs great right now, and the only thing it really needs is a back seat because it's tore upand a good paint job. The car came from a donation place and my uncle(mechanic) fixes them up and sells them. He has like 6 different TD's in his back yard. It has enough power for me especially from 60 on. It's a 4-speed auto. Why can't I put some subwoofers in the back? Will the shaking cause the gas tank to blow up or something? Their are somethings in the car that don't work like the front passengers window, and the rear drivers side window. They are power windows. Any links to places with the swaybar kit and the shocks you were talking about. I bought this car because my corsica's tranny took a major crap and I needed a car. If I read correctly you said that the newer engines could fit in this car? Can you point me into the direction with the info on the swap? I'm just looking around and seeing what can be done. Thanx for all your help. by the way my name is Chris and I'll be here alot now.

MikeTangas · #8 09-03-2002, 01:56 PM

I'll bet your windows work, you just need to replace a fuse. The windows are fused in pairs, LF/RR and RF/LR, so soon as you stated which windows were inop, the answer was clear.

280SE · #9 09-03-2002, 01:58 PM

So why can't I put subs in the back?

Eberhard Weilke · #10 09-03-2002, 02:09 PM

Because right under the back shelf is the gas tank. There is now space.

Kind regards
Eberhard
(taking care of a W 116.020 with 156 hp carburator M 110 which is fast enough for german Autobahns)

leathermang · #11 09-03-2002, 02:28 PM

Where does you uncle live ? and by td's do you mean turbo diesel or stationwagons ?

280SE · #12 09-03-2002, 02:34 PM

We both are here in Sacramento California, and it's turbo diesels.

Mark DiSilvestro · #13 09-03-2002, 05:03 PM

If there's no room under the rear shelf, and you absolutely need to have subwoofers, perhaps there's room under the back seat.

Happy Motoring, Mark

Larry Delor · #14 09-03-2002, 07:06 PM

Chris, you may want to check out the radio forum. I have read some posts on putting subs in 123's and I think the 116 is similar back there. I believe some decided to port the sub through the first aid kit box. ( replacing the plastic lid, with a cloth covered lid)
I still think you should make the one you have look nice, and wait till you come across one that already has a V-8 in it...then you can sell the 280 and sink $$ into the 450.

-Larry

psfred · #15 09-03-2002, 09:57 PM

Chris:

No room under the seat, either -- suspension is down there. The reason you can't put them behind the seat is that the gas tank is there -- immediately behind the seat back is the tank, fills the whole space, top to bottom. What looks like the back of the seat in the trunk is the cover over the tank.

Don't try to lower it, either -- the rear suspension will get real funny because of the semitrailing arms.

Swaybar kit and shocks are available on FastLane here at MercedesShop, check it out. Can make a big difference.

If you're satisfied with the performance, leave well enough alone.

Interior parts are available from several places, Adsit is the one I know of, but hold your breath -- rear seat covers (in leather) will set you back a cool grand for new. Your best bet is to poke around the salvage yards for a seat in good condition, should be lots of them out there. The MB Tex (vinyl) holds up much better than the leather, and most people can't tell them apart.

The W116's are truely pretty cool cars!

Peter