My new aquisition - 280SE Coupe W111

MercMad

This is my latest toy, a body shape I always wanted. I had toyed with buying a W123 this year and one of these next year...............but that all went out the window when it fell into my lap !

Drives very well indeed, auto, PAS, but it needs a wter pump and I've also ordered a seat belt kit to give me inertia reels front and rear plus a centre lap belt.

Other than that is solid, save for a bit of dodgy paintwork which I'll get sorted soon ! :cool:

alfarocks

Very nice. Hopefully get to see it in the flesh in 2 weeks time at Spawell

ta2kev

Lovely motor MercMad, looks to be in mint condition. I love those old mercs, classic styling that will never go out of fashion.

cormee

Nice motor! Very nice indeed

Did you buy it locally or in the UK?

MercMad

Thanks guys !

Its pretty good but it needs paint on the passenger side and here and there but it'll do for now. I already have one car in the bodyshop for the year so I'm just gonna enjoy the summer in this one !

I picked it up here in Dublin from a guy who brought it in last year, so that saved me a lot of trouble and time !

1275gt

WOW :eek: thats beautiful man.

mike65

More pix when you're ready!

Mike.

qazz

Really nice machine. Congratulations

unkel

Very nice indeed. Silver is the best colour too

.atomic.

Nice one, MercMad. She's lovely. And RHD too - that's very rare. I settled on a LHD import from the States. Well done, fella!

beanderb4

Snap, MercMad. I picked up one of these beauties last bank holiday weekend from London. Hopefully we can get together at one of the spins to compare notes (next spin is on 2nd July from the Spawell).

I'm going to try and upload some photos for the first time so bear with me....

beanderb4

Now that worked...some more photos of my new toy....

mike65

Wow! Oh dear......its a manual shift!

Mike.

ds20prefecture

Both beautiful cars - congratulations folks.

Amazing how something so big and heavy can be so graceful and elegant at the same time.

Daxklynsmith

I have just turned green with envy!!
Much as I love my BM,those are just soo desirable!!

mike65

Amazing how something so big and heavy can be so graceful and elegant at the same time.

Sounds like you're descibing an Opera diva!

Mike.

8~)

Both very nice - looking forward to seeing them at some event in the future.

MercMad

BeanderB4 that white one looks great ! Seems in really good shape ! We'll have a good chat soon !

Good luck with it !

Re: the shape, I have loved these cars all my life, this is it for me as far as looks go, never wanted anything else ! It needs bits and pieces but I'll get to it over the years ...........no hurry !

franksm

Nice !

I have seen one other recently, in Dundrum. I think it was light metallic blue in colour.

phoenix_nights

MercMan. Lovely car. Think i may have seen you driving down Camden street last week. Used to own a w123 coupe and the old merc coupes are great. Silver is perfect.

If you see a cyclist giving you the thumbs up you'll know its me.

MercMad

I've seen the light blue one before, theres actually a few around in the Merc Club.

No it wasn't me at Camden street !

I actually met my twin today, driving down to get some parts in Artane, saw a silver W111, LHD going the other way, I have heard there is one around my area, the guy's neck nearly came off as he looked around !

Therte was a 3.5V8 for sale in Wicklow, asking €30k for a mint car. Lovely motor that but I prefer the mechanical fuel injection on the straight sixes. Also Frank Fennel the rally driver is selling his 300SE Convertible for a similar price, I've seen it recently and its a stunner !!

phoenix_nights

Do you add an additive to unleaded petrol ? Always wondered about that one as do they even sell leaded any more ?

Yeah may have been a LHD that i saw.

MercMad

No need for additives on these engines, or modification. The factory used hardened valve seats when manufacturing these cars, back through the '50's.

There is no harder seats avaialable today. I drove 50,000 miles on one of these engines and when I overhauled it the seat were unworn and merely required cleaning up and lapping !

You may have to retardc the ignition 2 degrees if it pings, though I never had to !

PaulK_CCI

Wel done MercMad! Fair play to you. I have a soft spot for these 111's and it seems more people do.
It's the car that I have sold, (and am still selling!!) most to Ireland.

About 5 years ago, my wife and I drove TWO (!) W111's in tandem (one black 280SE, now owned by 'Oldmerc', and one near concours silver metallic red leather interior 280SE) all the way from Holland to Ireland.... with our 2 year old in a child's seat as well!! They raised quite a few smiles and enthusiast reactions along the way.

Those were the days...!

Alfasudcrazy

Lovely Mercs there Mercmad and Beanderb4 - always liked them too but was always afraid of how much they would cost to run. Is it easy to get parts for them these days?

Like Mike said id love more pics of yours Mercmad.

My favourite TV show was/is Columbo and nearly always the murderer drove lovely mercs in it - some of those type models featured in them a few times - not that I am saying only murderers drive nice mercs or anything or implying that you may be a murderer you understand just that .... ahem ... well you get my drift.

alfarocks

Alfasudcrazy wrote:

My favourite TV show was/is Columbo and nearly always the murderer drove lovely mercs in it

Columbo's Peugot (403??) was'nt too bad either, well maybe need a bit of tlc...

MercMad

About 5 years ago, my wife and I drove TWO (!) W111's in tandem (one black 280SE, now owned by 'Oldmerc', and one near concours silver metallic red leather interior 280SE) all the way from Holland to Ireland.... with our 2 year old in a child's seat as well!! They raised quite a few smiles and enthusiast reactions along the way.

Thanks Paul, this one is better in the photos than in the flesh but I love it more every time I drive it !! That silver one with the red leather, I wonder is that the one I see around here, same combo anyway, ZV 86-- or 68-- something like that ?

Is it easy to get parts for them these days?

Anything you need is a phonecall away. Mercedes still make and keep every part (practically) for every car they ever made !!

I ordered a complete seatbelt set on Friday and a water pump, and they arrived yesterday, belts fitted already, just bolted into the factory mounting pionts front and rear. Pump will go in on Saturday !

I'll get some piccies up over the next couple of days.

PaulK_CCI

MercMad wrote:

Thanks Paul, this one is better in the photos than in the flesh but I love it more every time I drive it !! That silver one with the red leather, I wonder is that the one I see around here, same combo anyway, ZV 86-- or 68-- something like that ?

Well, very much like your SL then, so no doubt you've been able to pick it up for a very good price .... but at least you have the knowledge and resources/contacts to know where to draw the line, and get it back in good shape over time, but meanwhile enjoy it without getting overly worried about picking up a bit of wear and tear...

Regarding the silver one I brougt in 5 years ago, can't remember the exact reg number, but it was a four digit ZV number. The car is silver metallic, 69 high radiator, european cowled headlights like yours, chrome wheel arch strips, white steering wheel, electric sunroof, electric hirshman aerial in rhd side front wing, becker radio, red leather interior, no headrests, no tinted windows, original hubcaps.

This was the car how it looked when I went over to pick it up...
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969
Mercedes 280SE Coupe 1969


Regarding parts, there are only a couple of items that are pretty expensive so you'd want to watch out for those: injection pump (!!!), fuel pump and electric window motors... (at 488 quid a piece, you'd wish you had one of them old door winders :rolleyes:

beanderb4

MercMad,

Who do you use for parts? Are you purchasing online or through a supplier over here? I called into MSL the other day and they were not that helpful.

Cheers,

Beanderb4.

Alfasudcrazy

What about this little baby - was it any wonder Hitler thought his Reich would last for a 1,000 years riding around in one of them.

Amazing price but I suppose its worth it. :cool:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1937-Mercedes-Benz-540-K-Cabrio_W0QQitemZ4651051335QQihZ002QQcategoryZ31360QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

MercMad

Regarding parts, there are only a couple of items that are pretty expensive so you'd want to watch out for those: injection pump (!!!), fuel pump and electric window motors... (at 488 quid a piece, you'd wish you had one of them old door winders

Yeah but nobody will ever need to buy a brand new pump. They can be overhauled, still expensive, but most rarely need anything except some expert fettling and proper set up ! Again parts can be bought second hand too !

Mine doesn't have electric windows !!

Beanderb4 PM sent !!

galwaytt

I know this will sound like another brag, but, I kid you not...........at home, in my relative's garage - up on concrete blocks since 1979 is a......

1964 W111 Mercedes 220Seb. He's the second owner from new, and the first owner was the Papal Nunciature in the Phoenix Park - the original tax book still has the 'exempt' tax class crossed out when it was sold on....the Papal Nuncio being a diplomat, doesn't pay any tax..............

It's got 128,000 miles on it, and was pulled up for a head gasket. Shortly thereafter the exhaust gave up, and then he pulled it off the road to 'do it up right'............it's still in the same spot. Bumpers, etc all coated in grease, and he turns the engine over by hand every now and then to keep it from seizing....There was less than 0.003" on the bores when I last looked.........in 1979...

I have the original keys (2 sets), and the receipt from the Ever Ready Garage (in Donnybrook??) for it, where it was sold for............£800, in 1969.

I know, I know, pics, pics, ....I'll see what I can do, but I've been trying to get my hands on it for years, but no luck so far...........

Curiously, it has some 'odd' features: has a pair of cone shaped indicators in the front panel between the headlight nacelle and the grille. It has double stacked beams each side, with clear marker lights instead of the indicator lens. Entire rear light lens' are red - no orange. Looks class, in the dark blue w/chrome.

2120cc (iirc..), 6-cylinder, manual column change, dipswitch on the floor, and little (for nowadays) 13" rims......

It was the car we were all reared in, as kids, and if I get my hands on it, to me, it will be 'priceless'..............ah well, we live in hope.

Reg is CZH...... no no avail, guy is a hermit, doesn't want to be found.........

btw....if you ever see the film the Mackintosh Man, starring Paul Newman, it was filmed in Connemara, and features a good car chase featuring an RIM registered (Galway) W111 and a........Ford Transit........it was repeated on telly only recently in the wee small hours........

mike65

Good car, good chase. Watch the walls!

Mike.

MercMad

Curiously, it has some 'odd' features: has a pair of cone shaped indicators in the front panel between the headlight nacelle and the grille. It has double stacked beams each side, with clear marker lights instead of the indicator lens. Entire rear light lens' are red - no orange. Looks class, in the dark blue w/chrome.

.............sounds like American spec. The RHD 220SEb's always had the bubble headlamps fitted as standard. US and some continentals had the four circles, but the indicator in the front panel is deffo US !

The all red rear lenses are correct for Europe and USA and were changed in about '67.

Givemebackmyv8!

Hi MercMad

I am new to boards.ie and new to classic merc ownership - i recently bought a W109 300SEL. I am keen to know about events, rallyes, days out etc - where should I start.

Additionalay and most importantly, I am curerently having tech problems with my motor, despite the first three weeks of ownership being trouble free. Any suggestions of a good mechanic?

Regards
GivemebackmyV8!

MercMad

PM sent !!

Oshbosh

stunning ! one of the coolest coupes there is

MercMad

You should see it now !!

I'll get a current photo and post it later !

tc20

uh-oh, i've a feeling this ain't gonna be pretty

Fantastic car Ben, totally agree with Oshbosh, very cool coupe

MercMad

See for yourself !!







...........photos taken last Saturday !

I knew when I bought it there was filler in one of the rear wheel arches, however there was also alot of paint blistering up the passenger side. The PO told me it was a reaction in the paint which happened shortly after he got the sides painted, which i took with a grain of salt. I expected to find rust but there was none, he was right !

The rusty colour you can see is merely surface rust but the wheel arch flanges are perfect, I've never seen them that good before !

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the filler was used rather crudely to shape the arche after it was damaged, there was no rust there either.

The guy who is painting is told me he was surprised at the fact there was little or no rust anywhere. There was a pinhole over one headlamp and the start of something on the other, then a small buit where it was damaged behind the bumper !

Thats it !

Sills and floorpan all perfect. We stripped the paint off back to the metal to get a good luck and that was it. So some welds and small patches and proper Mercedes Benz wheel arches and its ready for paint !!

tc20

Looking good Ben, she's gonna be a beauty when fully done :cool:

MercMad

Yeah should have it back next week, then I have to re-assemble all the trim I took off.

Also I will add extra soundproofing and Waxoyl it again. I've already done the wood that surrounds the screen and recoloured the door cards. After that the rest of the dash wood and the seats can wait for a while................I miss driving it too much !

Dades

I hope you sorted out that little dent in the rear wing!

Now all you need now is:

MercMad

You mean this one ?



.......yeah its done, and with no filler either !!

Dades

Shiny!

Looking forward to seeing the refurbed car.

Hifive

The Atheist wrote:

Shiny!

Looking forward to seeing the refurbed car.

Me too, I actually took pictures of that car in Malahide Castle in April,
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It was absolutely gorgeous even then, before the refurb. It started me thinking about getting one (the missus also loved it) but my eyes were bigger than my pockets! There is a gold coloured one for sale in Wexford for smallish money, but it's been for sale for ever, Hmmm.

Oldmerc

Looks well in silver. I have the black one Pauk K was referring to above. It was off the road for a few months as I had to get a new head, wasn't funny and had to dig up a contact in the classic centre in Irvine CA to find it. Safer to buy new but it was expensive but at least the $ help.

Could you send me one of you PM's for clubs etc.

I have been through both the fuel pump and electric windows. Fuel pump perfect but windows are a constant battle!

MercMad

Small world isn't it !

I had the car there in April as I was babysitting the kids all weekend. We spent the day in the Castle, in fact I did the same last weekend as the wife was away and I remembered that day in April, the weather was so nice lately I was dying to have my car back !!

The gold one I have seen detailed pictures, it belongs to a Club member, I actually thought he was selling it too cheap, apparantly it has had a lot of work done. I dont think the colour suits it .He should really change the pictures and the add to do it justice, or bring it out to a show/sale !

Oldmers, I have seen pictures of yours before, black looks great !

PM sent BTW !