David, It's no doubt a beautiful car. But some sanity checks since you asked - you will get 12 or 12 mpg when it;s tuned *perfectly*. The slop in the steering may be the steering donut (they get tired) or the box is bad - more $$'s the V8 takes up most of the engine compartment making working on it time consuming, the AC may be very expensive to work on depending on how the conversin was done. Look for rust around the headlight buckets, rockers (expensive) fenders, bottom of doors, front bumper support. Basically anything below the waist line.
Mechanical parts are expensive - browse the buymbparts catalogue to see prices - and finding someone who knows what they're doing when working on it can take a while. There's lots of parts replacers - you will need a *mechanic*. I've owned a couple of these cars and you *will* fall in love with it - Good luck - Larry T (67 MGB, 74 911, 78 240D, 91 300D) www.youroil.net for Oil Analysis and Weber Parts Test Results http://members.rennlist.com/oil PORSCHE POSTERS! youroil.net Weber Carb Info http://members.rennlist.com/webercarbs . ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Bruckmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Mercedes List" <mercedes@okiebenz.com> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 2:37 AM Subject: [MBZ] W108 4.5 - save me from myself > OK everyone, this is your last chance to save me. I'm about to take the > plunge on a beautiful 72 280SEL 4.5 (as a consolation, I also bought a 79 > 300D beater today). > > Here are the details on the 4.5: > > POSITIVES: > > 93,000 original California miles, confirmed with service docs and the > condition of the car, which is absolutely positively rust free even in the > nastiest places. Dealer maintenance stamps for at least the first 65,000 > miles. The car was in storage from 1994 to earlier this year. Original > robin's egg blue paint! Blue leather interior. Oddly, the wood, dash and > door panels are all pristine, but the leather seats look like someone went > at them with a ginsu knife. Selling price is below $4000. > > NEGATIVES: > > No sunroof. Heater controls inop. A/C fan works but does not blow cold > (was converted to 134a). Steering box needs adjusting; also, pump groans > and probably needs to be replaced. Driver's window skips on the way up and > needs help. Headliner coming loose where it always does, above the rear > window. Car was in storage for 12 years. > > QUESTIONS: > > -am I insane? > > -should I be worried about kingpins, and how long do they usually last > > -I was surprised to find a GM/Harrison R4 compressor for the A/C. Am I > correct in thinking that this car would originally have come with a York > and that the R4 is a result of the R134a retrofit? > > -how the hell does that "hydropneumatic compensator" in the rear axle > work? Is there a pressure circuit from the engine? > > -I presume that 100k miles is nothing for the 4.5, but I'm a little > worried about the automatic. The friction coupling instead of torque > converter makes me a little nervous. Are there warning signs of failure? > It seems to take a bit long to get into D or R from P or N, and I have > vague memories that this is some sort of an indicator of impending doom. > Has anyone here ever swapped in a later 4spd automatic from a W116 or > W107? I'm thinking that extra gear might lower fuel consumption (not that > I'd replace the transmission unnecessarily, but if it goes...) > > -are the rear diffs or any other part of the drivetrain failure-prone? > There seemed to be a bit of roughness that increases with speed and load; > perhaps a centre bearing or something? > > -is the driver's electric window a total nightmare? I assume there are > teeth missing on the drive gear and that it will all have to come out. > > -I understand that the heater controls are a standing issue with these > cars, but presume that this, too, can be overcome. > > > Forgive me dieselers, but I have lusted after a W108 since childhood! > > D. > > -- > David Bruckmann, Palo Alto, CA > Current Reality: > 1970 Citroen DS21 Pallas (170,000 km) "Goettin" > 1976 Citroen 2CV6 (145,000 km) "Piaf" http://dolly.bruckmann.com/ > 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300D (390,000 km) > Shady Past: > 1971 Citroen DS21 Pallas (137,000km), 1972 Citroen DS21 Pallas (502,000km) > 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D (1,200,000 km or thereabouts) "Sieglinde" > 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD non-turbo (260,000 km) "Diva" > 1981 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston (120,000km), 1988 Merkur XR4Ti (209,000km) > 1981 Peugeot 505 GRD (350,000km), 1984 MB 300TD (385,000 km) "Gertraud" > 1985 Toyota Camry "The Slamry" (330,000km) 1986 Renault 9 1.7L (155,000 > km) > 2002 VW Golf GLS TDI (74,000 km) > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ > For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.488 / Virus Database: 269.13.28/1023 - Release Date: > 9/22/2007 1:27 PM > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
