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10 things that have gone wrong. Problems........ problems!!!
Hi Ike and Ears and everyone out there!
I have a few problems with my recently imported Californian grey market 1979 107 280SL.
1. There's an AC option on the heating controls. I assume the servo for this has gone kaput as there is no airflow into the passenger cabin and the motor is non operational.
2. There's a short somewhere. If I flash my headlights (they are the US spec twin lucas and not square sealed unit) the radio cuts out!
3. There's a whistle from behind the instrument cluster which comes on and goes away for no apparent reason.
4. The odometer has gone kaput, there's no increasing mileage registering, the dashboard clock is non functional, the gauges work, although gas tank gauge has a mind of its own.
5. I don't know if the fan is operational as the oil temp doesn't go over 90......
6. The oil pressure goes below 2 bar when the car is in Neutral - auto trans - and when the engine is warmed up.
This may be sorted out when the engine is retuned...
7. The car stalls in Reverse when the engine is warmed up.
8. Cruise control doesn't work.
9. It takes approx twice as long to brake as in my 300 SL. Is this a 70s thing or just buggered brakes?
10. Gas mileage is approx 12 mpg......
Apart from the peeling shitty paint job (non MB colour) and the damaged bumpers - 2 of the 5mph hydraulic pumps will have to be replaced - and the decidely tired interior, cracked dash, badly fitted new hood, sticking driver's side electric window motor etc. the car's fine!!!
Any suggestions?
Any help on offer?
Any DIY tips?
Some of the things I can do myself being reasonably handy, mechanics I can't as I'm no engineer.
Electrics, unless they're simple - like changing a part out and reinstalling it - I can't do.
My 300 SL is in the shop for an extreme makeover - new paint job and wings, wiremesh weld to rust spots and bare metal re-spray...... I miss it so much!
HELP!
cheers,
James
__________________
1986 300SL R107 Euro - Signal Red with Black & Anthracite cloth
1979 280SL R107 US - Lapiz Blue with Grey leather
1988 200T W124 - Silver with Cinamon cloth
2003 140 A class - who cares - horrible company car - YUK!
RE: 10 things that have gone wrong. Problems........ problems!!!
I would sugest buying a workshop manual. That way you can somewhat work backwards when taking eveything apart, which you may have to do. A DIY tip, label eveything, especially when taking apart the dash. Can't really be specific to any problems, but I would love to know how your 300 turns out. Oh what I would give for a bare metal respray.
RE: 10 things that have gone wrong. Problems........ problems!!!
Sounds like a big project fixing all that. As far as the brakes go I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your comparing the modern style large disc 4pot calipers. The same as the 560SL brakes. To a 70,s design 2pot with a smaller disc size.
RE: 10 things that have gone wrong. Problems........ problems!!!
Quote:
A&L'sSL300 - 3/22/2006 8:40 AM
Sounds like a big project fixing all that. As far as the brakes go I don't think you have anything to worry about. Your comparing the modern style large disc 4pot calipers. The same as the 560SL brakes. To a 70,s design 2pot with a smaller disc size.
Andrew
Gotta disagree. The '70s-era brakes may not be good as the '80s 4-pot units, but they should still be very effective. Something's wrong.
Start with a brake fluid flush.
BTW: Below 2 bar at idle is acceptable. Start worrying when it creeps down to 1 bar at idle...
RE: 10 things that have gone wrong. Problems........ problems!!!
Thanks noeljb, Andrew, bmcd & page,
well the car's going into the mechanic's next week for a service.........
I have asked for a diagnostic report as well.....
Not looking forward to that.
Will ask for brake fluid flush.
I think I may have problems with the steering column as well. this may be where the whine is coming from.
It worstens when I accelerate.
If I let go of the steering wheel when braking, there's a noticeable wobble.
Thankfully, I can't go over 35mph in London so it's ok.
I wouldn't like to dare driving it at 60. That might be tempting fate.
Anyways..... will update as I go.
I'm thinking I'm going to have to have a new instrument panel.
And the electrics are going to have to have a major overhaul. I'm going to have to teach myself how to do this one.
In the UK, instruction manuals are hard to come by for the 280SL. I may be able to source a US 350 & 450 SL manual from Haynes but not sure this is going to help as the engine spec is different therefore I would assume the residual electric circuits will not be the same.
It's quite exciting in a weird way.
A bit like excavating.
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