I just purchased a 1972 280 sel from a friend of the family, I was told the car ran great before it was garaged about a year ago but now the car will not turn over.
To give everybody and idea of what i have done so far to help with the situation.
This vehicle has the 2.8L fuel injected M130 engine.
About 2 weeks ago when i purchased the 280, the engine would turn over and attempt to start if it was being jumped, since the battery was very weak but still would not start.
Since then i've drained the old gas out and put fresh gas in, along with changing the plugs and wires and installing a new battery and cleaned the cables.
But now when i go to start the car i get nothing, the motor doesnt attempt to turn over and the starter doesnt make a sound.
All the dash lights work along with the radio, lights and all other accesory's
Which now arrives at my question.
Does the starter on this style of engine have a external starter solenoid or is it connect to the starter like most cars.
I still may have issue's with the engine's driveabillity but for right now i'm trying to figure out why the starter is not turning now.
I currently don't have a repair manual for this vehicle so i'm just trying to get some idea's of where to look. i.e relay, fuse or solenoid.
Any help would be very helpfully as i would love to get this vehicle out on the road when the weather clears.
Vehicle: '73 280SE 4.5, 73 280C (sold), 65 220SEb (stolen), 03 BMW Z4 (upcoming death trap/prison sentence)
Location: Hillcrest, CA
Posts: 289
Try this: with the headlights on, try starting the car. If they dim appreciably, perhaps you have a siezed starter. I'm guessing mostly, but I think you have a seperate solenoid (hope I'm not wrong). Do you have time to pull it and take it to the local Autozone for testing?
Thank you for the quick reply i was guessing the starter may be the where the problem was at, it just bothers me that 2 weeks ago it was turning but nothing now.
I will try sometime tomorrow to see if i can get the starter of the car and take it in to get it check out.
Just wondering would you know how hard it is to remove the starter from this vehicle, i have plenty of tools just no experience with vintage Mercedes's, i just want to make sure i do it right.
And also to add i wonder that maybe the original reason the car didn't start, was that even if the car was being jumped that maybe the starter just wasn't turning the engine fast enough to turn over.
Just trying to throw out some idea's to see what people think.
I have a 1971 280SEL parked it in 2001 in my garage. Charged battery and tried to start it, get one (1) 'click' and no start.
I replaced battery but not sure if it is fully charged, will take it back and make sure, but still get the click - no start. Lights do not dim when I try, even with high beams.
1972 280SE 4.5 Starter Go for Autozone to test it.
I had a 1972 that required a starter replacement, bad all the way around, if you sat for a long time, guessing it could be original part. Bad news for a car this old.
Frankly, I believe it's "like" normal cars, pull the starter, and test it at autozone, you're best bet, to save time. It's not expensive to replace, relatively, go for it.
First, make sure all the cables are tight, that means the positive and negative cables on the starter and the ground strap as well, from the chassis to the engine. Then, measure the voltages.
Next, while someone turns the key, check the small wire on the solenoid for voltage. I had a 220SEb that developed a broken starter wire from the switch. I had to replace the wire.
Get your voltmeter out.
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Near Manassas Va. '89 300SE, 2002 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor, 89 420SEL
Had '65 220SE, 67 230S, 72 280SE 4.5 Dad had '65 300SE LWB, '65 220SE
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive." C.S. Lewis
I was inspecting the cabling from the starter again, and I am trying to determine where the relay is that controls the starter solenoid.
Boy, these Germans sure love their relays! There are more relays than you can shake a stick at.
Where would be the relay for the starter? I am trying to trace wires back but have not got a chance to put the car on jacks and get under it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1972 280SE 4.5 Starter Go for Autozone to test it. 
Linear Mode
