Classic Jalopy Blog

Planning Becker radio installs 7

Planning Becker radio installs

In the two years of owning my 560SEL, one of the things I have appreciated is the original Becker CD player.   I’ve owned many classic Mercedes-Benz models over the years, but until the 560SEL none of them had their original Becker intact.   The Becker radios just look and feel right in the dash of the car.  I had never really understood that before.  That...

The Mercedes W116 in Australia 0

The Mercedes W116 in Australia

The W116 Mercedes is no longer a common sight on the roads of Australia.   Yet, at one time, it was quite prevalent.   With a 450SEL costing more than 8 times an equivalent Holden it was a very expensive car.   Despite that, it was a strong seller with little real competition.    The closest competition was probably from Jaguar – but they were much cheaper,...

MBCNSW June 2022 Night Drive – Berowra Ferry 2

MBCNSW June 2022 Night Drive – Berowra Ferry

This evening was the monthly MBCNSW night drive.   We finally completed a route we have wanted to do since March of 2021, on the third attempt.  It was worth those attempts as it was a great drive. We actually planned the route back in February 2021.  To test out the route, we did an informal dry run with a few club members.    We...

Rebuilt Mercedes brake calipers 2

Rebuilt Mercedes brake calipers

I attempted to attend the MBCNSW May night drive with two separate cars.   Coincidently, I had the same brake issue with both cars.   On both cases I experienced a soft brake pedal, and on further investigation a very hot drivers side rear wheel.    The rear caliper was not releasing properly causing it to drag and boil the brake fluid. I knew the hoses...

Eastern Suburbs Cars and Coffee June 2022 1

Eastern Suburbs Cars and Coffee June 2022

It’s a lovely winter weekend here in Sydney.  Cool in the morning and evening, but pleasant during the day.    With a break in the weather, it felt like a good opportunity to take my 250SE to the show with its newly rebuilt brakes and recent tune up.    It was also an opportunity to take a drive with the top down.   I don’t...

The Mercedes W116 in Australia 1

50 Years of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class

The S-Class is probably the signature model for Mercedes-Benz.   Personally it’s what I think of when I think of the brand.   When I think Porsche, I think rear engined sports cars.   When I think of BMW its sports saloons with an inline six.   For Mercedes-Benz, it’s the S-Class.    Throughout the years the company has seen other halo models come and go, such as...

Preparing my 280SE for the MBCNSW S-Class display 1

Preparing my 280SE for the MBCNSW S-Class display

2022 is 50 years since the introduction of the W116 S-Class in 1972.   The W116 S-Class was the first one that Mercedes-Benz actually referred to as the S-Class.   Previous models had filled the same slot in the line-up and even had S in the model designation, but it was the W116 where the S-Class name started.    To commemorate this, the Mercedes Benz Club...

USA Junkyard visit 2022 4

USA Junkyard visit 2022

I’m currently in the USA for work.   I arrived the day before the event I am attending, so had a couple of hours to spare before work started.   I’m in Las Vegas, so most people would have hit the casinos or shopped at the outlet malls.  Instead, I headed to a self service junkyard to grab Mercedes Parts.    I’ve been to Las Vegas...

Auto Brunch St Ives June 2022 1

Auto Brunch St Ives June 2022

Due to COVID, bad weather and other commitments, it had been a while since I attend the Auto Brunch event at St. Ives showground.   March 2021 to be exact.   I finally made it back today and as usual it was a great event.   Of all the cars and coffee events in Sydney, I think this is by far the best.   There is always incredible...

250SE refusing to start and the importance of not jumping to conclusions 0

250SE refusing to start and the importance of not jumping to conclusions

The other day I had to move the 250SE out of the way to access the 280SE.   The 280SE was parked in a fairly inaccessible spot until I had sorted out the fuel injection.   With that looking promising on the test gauges, it was time to take it for a proper test drive.   I had not been driving the 250SE of late, as the...

Eastern Suburbs cars and coffee May 2022 0

Eastern Suburbs cars and coffee May 2022

I attended the Eastern Suburbs cars and coffee event for the 2nd time today.   The event has moved to a new location since my last visit.   Instead of being located inside Centennial Park, they now meet near the Sydney Cricket Ground – on Driver avenue near the Horden Pavilion.     While its less picturesque than Centennial Park, it’s probably a better location as there...

MBCNSW May 2022 Night Drive – Palm Beach 1

MBCNSW May 2022 Night Drive – Palm Beach

After a month of relentless rain, we finally had a sunny day for the May 2022 Night Drive.   This drive was a shorter one, The Spit to Palm Beach.   We had previously done a Palm Beach drive in October 2020, so we took a different route.   On the previous drive, we started at Manly and hugged the coast until we reached Palm Beach.   This...

K-Jet fuel pressure test part 4 3

K-Jet fuel pressure test part 4

I’ve been trying to narrow down poor running on my 79 280SE when cold.   Previously, I had two issues I was trying to narrow down, high control pressure when cold, and after a while both system and control pressure dropping and fluctuating.     I had replaced the fuel pump, which made no difference to the fluctuation issue.   I had also sent off my warm...

MBCNSW Cars and Coffee – May 2022 2

MBCNSW Cars and Coffee – May 2022

Last year the MBCNSW was planning a Paul Bracq day.   That event had to be cancelled due to COVID.   I had heard it was supposed to happen this year, so I put the date in my calendar as I was every keen on attending this event.  I am a big fan of the cars of Paul Bracq.  In the end, the event turned into...

Identifying W126 Brake calipers 1

Identifying W126 Brake calipers

I recently attempted to take my 560SEL on a Mercedes Club night drive.   On the way there, I experienced a soft brake pedal and a very hot drivers side rear wheel.    I had an issue with a soft brake pedal on a mountain road back in 2020.   At the time I thought I had solved it as I removed the aftermarket brake dust...

Jensen Club National Rally Display 2022 3

Jensen Club National Rally Display 2022

Today was the public display for the Jensen Club National Rally.    Not being a Jensen owner, I’m obviously not a member of the club, so I attended as a spectator.    The Jensen club is a national club, with sub groups in each state, so the annual national rally is also their opportunity to get together as a club.    This year it...

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