For proper diagnosis and tuning of D jet you need these items: the factory manual, a good multi meter, time, money. You really need to take your time to diagnose every circuit to ensure its within spec, there are no wiring issues, connector issues (common), etc. And of course, to understand how it all works together. When you actually need to replace parts (likely), injectors, trigger points, MPS sensors, and ECUs are all expensive. You need to take the time to repin and replace connectors that are damaged or corroded.
I've been doing a lot of this lately. I just finished a 3.5 that was a real disaster - lots of incorrect parts and tuning by mechanics who had no business working on these cars. It would have been much easier to work with a car not running but in original condition. Ended up taking me about 25 hours of working for a total bill for the customer of around $8000. That was just to get the car running properly, there is still much more to do. On the flip side, my 280SE 4.5 has about 3000 miles on the engine I rebuilt this spring. On the last tank of fuel I averaged 14.5 mpg, which is pretty damn good! Took some time to get it really dialed in, especially the MPS. I've been measuring them and making adjustments on used units to bring them back to new and it's really successful. Overall, the 380SL is a better car in lots of ways. The 450SL has more power, but power isn't everything. But I'd probably buy the one in better condition cosmetically. On Sat, Sep 24, 2022 at 9:44 AM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > I have not messed with d jet too much, > At least it’s been a while. What sort of special tools do you need? > > I had a 86 560SL once many years ago. Picked it up for $2500. It was green > with tan leather. Really nice car and I don’t recall it having anything > wrong with it. At the moment it’s a mystery to me why I sold that car but > sold it on eBay for something like $4500 to somebody in Germany. I really > wish I would have kept that car. > > As far as 450s go I would rather have a 78-80 I think but it seems like > some years were detuned with less power. These do have the servo ACC from > hell though. The 73 450 in question does have manual climate control, the > short bumpers, that steering wheel that only the early ones had, and > hubcaps. > > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Sep 24, 2022, at 5:38 AM, dan penoff.com via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > > > > Don has some good questions, but I agree about the points for a 380 > over a 450. 560 is a bat out of hell car, but they’re tough to find in good > shape for decent prices. > > > > If you don’t have the tools and skill for Djet I would avoid it. > > > > Later is always better. > > > > -D > > > >> On Sep 24, 2022, at 12:16 AM, OK Don via Mercedes < > mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >> > >> Desirable for what? For driving - either the very early 350/450 or the > 560. > >> The early ones don't have ACC to fight with. The 560 is the most refined > >> and has enough power. The 380 felt sluggish to me - didn't like it. > >> I'd want a hard top - had enough of soft tops with the MGA and '58 > Chevy to > >> last the rest of my life. THe pagoda hardtop is the best looking as > well. > >> That's my NSHO. > >> > >>> On Fri, Sep 23, 2022 at 10:44 PM Kaleb Striplin via Mercedes < > >>> mercedes@okiebenz.com> wrote: > >>> > >>> I have been offered a 73? SL, its been sitting in garage for 8 or so > >>> years. Will need fuel tank pulled and cleaned out. Pump replaced. > Zero > >>> rust, very nice paint, interior supposedly OK, converted to electronic > >>> ignition, has about 200k on it, supposedly new injectors at 190, new > >>> exhaust at 180, new shocks and springs at 170. Its red, no hard top. > >>> Been looking at a 85 which is white, you can read about it here > >>> > >>> https://www.ebay.com/itm/125520279598 > >>> > >>> Doubt I buy either one of them but it just got me to thinking about the > >>> differences between the early and later cars and if one is more > >>> desirable that the other, aside from the 560. > >>> > >>>> On 9/23/2022 10:37 PM, Jim Cathey wrote: > >>>>>> General question about 107s. What would be more desirable, an early > >>> 107, a 72 450 with D Jet, mechanical lifters but converted to > electronic > >>> ignition, or a later 85 380? Is the hard tip missing a huge deal on > these > >>> or are they easy to find? > >>>> For my money, the late 380 is a sweet deal. Hard tops are easy to > find, > >>> or at least > >>>> used to be. They all came with one, but many cars were wrecked when > the > >>> top was > >>>> off. They used to have a bunch hanging in Aurora (in Seattle) when I > >>> was last there, > >>>> years ago. _I_ even have an extra top, I bought it for the defroster > >>> glass. I think I paid > >>>> about $350 for the top, off Craigslist. > >>>> > >>>> 'Officially', the 380 is the bottom of the list, the 450 the middle, > and > >>> the 560 the top. > >>>> But the 380 is a trouble-free, evolved specimen, and unless you want a > >>> race car it's > >>>> plenty fast enough. > >>>> > >>>> -- Jim > >>>> > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________ > >>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>> > >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>> > >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>> > >>> > >> > >> -- > >> OK Don > >> > >> "Quality of life is inversely proportional to the amount of clothing you > >> are wearing." > >> > >> "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to > >> pause and reflect." Mark Twain > >> > >> “Basic research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” > Wernher > >> Von Braun > >> 2013 F150, 18 mpg > >> 2017 Subaru Legacy, 30 mpg > >> 1957 C182A, 12 mpg - but at 150 mph! > >> _______________________________________ > >> http://www.okiebenz.com > >> > >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >> > >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >> > > _______________________________________ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > -- Jaime Kopchinski http://www.jaimekop.com/ _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
