250SE W111 Production Figures – Update

In a previous post, I was looking at the changeover of production of the 220SEb Coupe/Cabriolet to the 250SE Coupe/Cabriolet. Mercedes used the same number series for the 220SE Sedan, 220SE Coupe, Cabriolet and the 250SE Coupe and Cabriolet.

According to a Mercedes Factory Manual I have, the last 220SEb was #82991 (and the first 250SE #82992). At the start of 250SE production in 8/65, the Coupes and Cabriolets received a slightly different engine to the Sedans (M129.981, M129 II), whereas as of #85398 in 4/66, the M129.980 (M129 I) engine from the sedan was standardized on both models and […]

Final DS door card installed

The fourth and final door card for the DS is now installed. The reason for the long delay was that the rear drivers side door would not lock. If the door was unlocked, the mechanism would not hold the door closed, if locked, it would behave as if it were unlocked.

Therefore, before I fitted the door card, I wanted to fix the door. The mechanism is actually quite simple, just hard to see and get to.

Essentially what happens is that the rod (12) gets somehow misaligned, which stops the little star in mechanism (2) to hold the […]

Flashback: Sunday, April 20, 1972. Mercedes M110 Engine Launch

EMBARGO: Please do not publish before Sunday April 30, 1972

SUPERB NEW TWIN OVERHEAD CAMSHAFT ENGINE FROM MERCEDES-BENZ

Confounding the criticism that today’s automobile engineers are too heavily engaged in meeting safety and pollution requirements to produce better vehicles, Mercedes-Benz has just unveiled a superb new twin overhead camshaft engine.

As well as meeting the conflicting requirements of performance with economy, the new engine also makes a positive contribution towards active safety by producing plenty of “overtaking power.” A s befits an engine produced to meet the needs of the 1970’s, it is also as “clean” as possible.

Technically sophisticated, […]

280CE Tie rod replacement

The 280CE was making a knocking sound while steering and it had failed its rego due to a bad tie rod, necessitating a replacement. The job is not that difficult, especially if you have the right tools. There are a few good resources on the Internet, but a few things I found:

I couldn’t remove the ball joints with a pickle fork, but it was straightforward with the specialty tool. Raising the car off its wheels put more stress on the joints making the job harder, ramps were easier The joints will break free suddenly, so be careful

Ideally […]

280CE no longer a colander

Not a perfect match, but a good repair for $300 cash.

280CE, Runing, registered and sold!

The 280CE is finished. New muffler, passed blue slip and sold. My brother has purchased the car as he wrote off the BMW that we ‘dismantled’ earlier. That means that it will still be featured on this website from time to time even though I no longer own it.

There are still a few things needed to do on the car, but otherwise it is good to see it on the road again. Those with eagle eyes will notice that the muffler has one pipe, rather than two as is correct for the 280CE. Even an aftermarket muffler for […]

Small rust hole causes the CE to fail its blue slip

After replacing the water pump and test driving the 280CE, it was time to get it registered.

Unfortunately it failed due to a small rust hole in the body work. This is not structural, but NSW is very strict in this regard. There was also a minor leak from the power steering and minor leak from the rear muffler. All will need to be addressed.

W123 Mercedes rust here when leaves and other debris are left to sit around the bonnet hinges – they break up and fall through and you end up with wet mud that lets this […]

The 280CE runs again

The 280CE finally has a new water pump and no longer leaves an embarrassing puddle where it sleeps.

After fighting with the bolts on the visco fan, it was finally able to be removed with a combination of drilling and vice grips. After that, the rest of the disassembly was not nearly as bad. In total, to get to the water pump on the M110 engine you need to:

Remove radiator – remove top and bottom hoses, transmission oil cooler hoses and securing clips Remove fan shroud – Clipped to radiator Remove fan from viscous fan assembly – four […]