Just bought a Merc 1973 280ce

miceal

Hey all

Sorry typo on the heading car is 1978 not 73


Right so on a wim i just bought a classic car... The car needs some work and i need some help...

Where do i start looking for parts?

Here is what i need

New front and rear bumpers the chrome ones....
New rubber for around all the windows.
White walled tyres
New motor for sunroof.
maybe new locks for the car...


What is the best option of sorting out the rust? Panel beater best option...

I bought the car as i love it and don't want it to fall into a major state of disrepair and am willing to put the cash into it to bring it back to it's former glory...

Go easy on me this is my first classic car

unkel

Very nice! I can't help you with any of your questions, but I wish you well wear! Is the car an auto?

Bigus

Good luck with it and enjoy but first off that's not 1973 ??

miceal

sorry typo 1978!

miceal

unkel wrote: »

Very nice! I can't help you with any of your questions, but I wish you well wear! Is the car an auto?

Yeah it is auto...

unkel

Class Mercedes and imho you picked the right engine. Do you mind me asking how much the car set you back? And how much it will be worth after you do the work?

miceal

Got the car from a friend who was leaving the country so it was really mates rates...

No idea how much the car will be worth after i am finished with it, not sure if i would even sell it.. We would need some classic car people to answer the how much it would be worth when the work is done..

Bigus

I think you need to get the car on a ramp first before you go buying bits for it.

Is it an original Irish or a UK import ?

If its an import get it on the ramp and check out the chassis and sills for rot, start here and leave your bumpers until you know you have a sound car. Its a bit like getting and old house and starting with the roof before you do up the inside, except with the car start from the chassis up.

Sunroof motor can prob be coaxed into life or could be switch, fuses relay or cables seized.

miceal

Bigus wrote: »

I think you need to get the car on a ramp first before you go buying bits for it.

Is it an original Irish or a UK import ?

If its an import get it on the ramp and check out the chassis and sills for rot, start here and leave your bumpers until you know you have a sound car. Its a bit like getting and old house and starting with the roof before you do up the inside, except with the car start from the chassis up.

Sunroof motor can prob be coaxed into life or could be switch, fuses relay or cables seized.

Not 100% sure of the history i know there is rust on the left sill and that will cost money but the car is defiantly worth it..

unkel

miceal wrote: »

Got the car from a friend who was leaving the country so it was really mates rates...

No idea how much the car will be worth after i am finished with it, not sure if i would even sell it.. We would need some classic car people to answer the how much it would be worth when the work is done..

Don't sell it if you don't have to

There's even less consensus about what classic cars are worth these days than at any point before. Asking any classic car experts won't help

miceal

unkel wrote: »

Don't sell it if you don't have to

There's even less consensus about what classic cars are worth these days than at any point before. Asking any classic car experts won't help

I say it will take a year to do the work on it and I will be a little older to appreciate it. So i think i will be keeping the car for a long time!!

Moses7

awesome! good luck with it.

kasper

best of luck well wear and enjoy

shawnee

Hi, best of luck with your new motor and hope you enjoy it. I bought this model two years ago and have really enjoyed having it. It is an absolute beaut to drive and from day one I have had lots of fun with it. Mine needed new rear arches a new door and a total respray. However I drove it as it was for six months before deciding to restore it. This is a good decision because classic cars are not for everybody. You need to have time and a place to store them in the winter. The restoration work , I am very pleased with. Most parts are available for these cars, however the job of restoring them is generally not a diy job and requires a specialist.
Enjoy it , and I am available to share any information on the model.:D:D

245

Give Benjamin Lichtenberg a shout - he's got an excellent reputation in the areas that you need help with. He'll be worth talking to for advice alone.

http://www.lichtenberg-classics.ie/

hi5

Most trim and panel parts should still be available from Mercedes Benz.

Have the bodywork done properly,replacement steel panels welded in,it'll cost more but worth it,there are people out there that can do this quality of work but its not cheap,I cant recommend any one because I do my own:)

Whitewall tyres are available from Northants Tyres in the UK,they will change the look of the car completely,are you sure its the look you want??

http://www.northhantstyres.com/main%20tyre%20pages/Hercules/2057014hermriv.htm

SilverBell

ebay.de

Get familiar with stossstanges, know your kofferdeckel from your abdeckung.
Everything is there, from lenkgetriebes to autogetriebes, fur ihren w123ce. brush up on your German!! Loads of fun!
I get bits for my 124 and 116 there.
make sure they post to Ireland before you bid.
Enjoy...they are lovely cars.

8~)

Before spending cash on bumpers etc. check it for rust regardless of what you paid. Check everywhere, bulkhead, inner wings, sills, behind battery tray, rear inner and outer arches, etc, etc.

Then decide.

If it's pretty solid then I'd recommend Benjamin (already mentioned) for parts and service, MB of Poole for parts like seals, etc. and for service items... local motor factor. MB local dealers have reduced prices too recently. Might be worth a call.

miceal

8~) wrote: »

Before spending cash on bumpers etc. check it for rust regardless of what you paid. Check everywhere, bulkhead, inner wings, sills, behind battery tray, rear inner and outer arches, etc, etc.

Then decide.

If it's pretty solid then I'd recommend Benjamin (already mentioned) for parts and service, MB of Poole for parts like seals, etc. and for service items... local motor factor. MB local dealers have reduced prices too recently. Might be worth a call.

There is rust and a small hole in the floor.. I know it is repairable.

So do you think bring it to Bray and let them loose on it. Would that be thousands?

Big Nasty

245 wrote: »

Give Benjamin Lichtenberg a shout - he's got an excellent reputation in the areas that you need help with. He'll be worth talking to for advice alone.

http://www.lichtenberg-classics.ie/

That's odd - looks like the same location of this guy: http://www.prestigeclassiccarsales.ie/

MercMad

MCMLXXV wrote: »

That's odd - looks like the same location of this guy: http://www.prestigeclassiccarsales.ie/

.....it is. They work together very succesfully, though one is sales and the other repair.

superfly35

Hi Miceal,

Very nice one !! I really like the model and which to have one one day but I need to finish my other project so will talk about this in 2 years!!

About your car, you can be sure there is rust a bit everywhere it is a Mercedes of 32 years of age so it rust quite a bit. :pac:
But it is not the end of the world.

So I would say as this other said forget the bumper and other parts for the moment.

I think you need to decide a couple of things first.
1. Do you want to fix the car for a temporary job (maybe a couple of year) or do you want to fix it more in deep and how much deep you want to go?

I take a example you have a outer sill rust, you can either change it (the part is cheap enough) or just patch it.
The patch is easier as less removal required.
All of this is a matter of time and money, and to me there is no shame to patch if it is what has been decide.

2. Do you want to do most of the job yourself to keep the cost low?
To answer the question I think you can bring your car to a panel beater who does some restoration job, he will give you a price idea.

Before start my restoration, I had a chat with a mate of mind which is panel beater. At this end of the chat, I say to myself that I need to learn :-)

3. I think when do you want to start is important?
Because when you are going to put the car on stand you might drive her only in a year time :-)
My personal opinion, I will drive the car as long as you can and plan organise your restoration before getting the stand out :-)

Basically I have not driving my car yet and I have it since November but it was a project so it was not driveable.
But if your is driveable, I will say enjoy it before start.

For the floor pan and all sill inner/outer, wings and all you will find everything for cheap enough.

In restoration the killer is the time not really the parts in my opinion.

All of this is my personal experience, I am only learning the classic car restoration job.
I have already made a couple of big mistake.... Don't ask how many project I have at the same time

Important piece of advice, relax and breath before working!!!

Bigus

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1195387

Parts

miceal

Hey all i really appreciate all the replies.

The car is drivable (I drove it home and to be honest fell in love on the way home) I am not 100% on repairs so i think i may just pay someone to do it for me.

The car does stall at low speed however i just think i good service would sort this out.

I think my POA is below

1 - Engine
2 - Body work
3 - Rubber around windows replace all.
4 - Chrome work on bumpers - I might buy that one in the add there though :-)
5 - figure out anything in the interior - There is really nothing wrong here :-)

As this was an impulse buy does anyone know how i put the car in my name i have a big brown piece of paper and no idea what to do with it.

SilverBell

whats another gear.......!!!

Bigus wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1195387

Parts

spooky donkey

dam only reason i look at this threat cause it said 1973. year i was born.

Anyway search car the web for placed selling old car parts you would be suprised what you would find around. you might have to go as far as the UK but you should be able to get parts for your car no bother.

superfly35

For your bumper, I would say you should keep the original chrome as I think it is a better qualite that what you will find as a replacement.

For the look book I have the same problem as you with one of my car but I did not really look for anything at the moment.
I should probably :rolleyes:

Could you give us some more picture of it, to show the problem we might be able to help more?

78 is my dream year, it is the year I am born!!!

miceal

Ahh the car is 8 years older then me :D

Looking at the bumpers they are not in bad nick i think i might be over reacting buying new ones.

sumo12

Hi there buddy,
Where are you based? I'd have no problem looking at the car for you - I have a 79 450SL and an 95 S320 so have a reasonable idea where to rummage for terminal rot...
I have access to a ramp too to hoist it up in the air and see what the underneath is like.
I'm not in a position to do the work for you, but I'm full of helpful opinions!

Cheers

superfly35

Well it is a very nice offer, which should be taking up

miceal

sumo12 wrote: »

Hi there buddy,
Where are you based? I'd have no problem looking at the car for you - I have a 79 450SL and an 95 S320 so have a reasonable idea where to rummage for terminal rot...
I have access to a ramp too to hoist it up in the air and see what the underneath is like.
I'm not in a position to do the work for you, but I'm full of helpful opinions!

Cheers

Thanks for the offer.

I am in North Louth... Is this close to you?

univer

Benjamin Lichtenberg is definitely the way to go. His contact details, i.e. mobile number and business are on his website

best

Miklos

I'm going out to Lichtenberg on Friday with my 76 200/8, he seems like a nice fellow.

miceal

me again.

So the car is running and moving i took it for a spin there is one issue with the car engine though when i am in drive and slow down the car stalls.

Any ideas?

superfly35

Is this car got carburtor?
They probably need to be tune, but it is nothing major I would say.
Cheers

123 man

NickWray wrote: »

I'm going out to Lichtenberg on Friday with my 76 200/8, he seems like a nice fellow.

ben is a lovely lad and he nos his /8s most of the merc lads are going there now;)

allana13

Nice, i take it its a Petrol ??

miceal

yep it is petrol and has a carborator

allana13

Cool will wait to see it rebilt

Miklos

123 man wrote: »

ben is a lovely lad and he nos his /8s most of the merc lads are going there now;)

I was out there today.. still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

Nicest collection of cars I've seen anywhere.

He's an absolute gent as well, I'll definitely be bringing my car to him in the future.

allana13

Where is he located folks ???? I know he is not in the UK unless i am wrong

Miklos

He's in Enniskerry, check out his website for a map.

http://www.lichtenberg-classics.ie/

univer

I hope I'm not breaking any rules here but I have a question. What kind of glue should I use to fit under-bonnet insulation pad (it's foam) to 1976 350sl?