Mercedes 280se W108 1968. A Walkaround My Daily Driver
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- My Mercedes 280se is a car I use as a Daily Driver during 8 to 9 months of the year. In the Winter months it stays in the Garage. I really enjoy driving it and putting it to use as much as I can. Being a straight 6 m130 engine with the original Differential gearing it can be a little revvy compared to the 4.5 v8, but it certainly has its own charm and driving characteristics. When I first purchased the car 7 years ago it had only 59k documented miles!!
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My neighbor, in San Jose, wasn't driving anymore. He insisted he wanted to sell this '68 280SE to me for $1500. By the time I came back with the cash, he had new tires installed. Benny took me on many fly-fishing trips up the Sierra's. Never had a problem, except adjusted band tensions on the auto transmission.
Did you buy it? I love the w108s. Cheers John 🍻
If i ever hit the lottery i would buy a older Mercedes not a sports car from Italy. This car would fit the Bill just fine . I like the 600s also . They are such quality and the looks are great.
Thanks for the video.
I love the doors on my w108, they need some lubrication but even still, I can pull the door almost to the first "stop" and just let go of it and it shuts itself. My friends are like "are they automatic doors?"
I know, the doors on these older Mercedes just feel and sound quality.
OEM door (& trunk) seals are costly. Aftermarket seals do not fit correctly. 3M Auto Advanced Stage 2 makes two products which can repair a cracked/broken seal- I have used with success:
3M Black Super Strength Molding Tape to fill gaps, and 3M Black Super Weatherstrip Adhesive to fill cracks or blend ends of 3M Tape to existing seal. Available at auto parts stores or online.
Applying these products is the same principle as welding in a patch panel- but much easier.
Thank you for the info Walt. I have not heard of that product. I will certainly look into it. The worse seal is on the drivers door, but possibly the other three could be saved. I agree after market seals are disappointing. Thanks again. Cheers John.
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339 The part# for the tape is 03614- it is for the 0.5 inch x 15 feet roll.
The adhesive part# is 03602 for the 1 oz size, but the 5 oz size is what you'll need by the time you finish with all 4 seals.
Build up in layers, not one big gob all at one time. Wear latex gloves- it is sticky!
Disconnect car battery, leave doors slightly ajar for about a week so adhesive doesn't stick to body. (how do I know this? lol.) The end results are pleasing.
John, thank you for posting this walk around video. I enjoyed your commentary of the highlights of your car. It is nice to see that it is being enjoyed as it should.
Thank you. I have a lot of fun with this car. Cheers John.
Beautiful car. Love the story of the car’s age related to the first moon landings. Theses cars are meant to be admired and driven. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Gary.
Another nice vid. Lucky man!
Thank you Owen.
Keep those bumper-bumpers. Its a daily driver. Maybe I can drive North and we can trade...I dont think my 1966 has them.
Tell you what Steve, let me know if you come this way and they're yours. I have a donor car that I can use to replace the rubber strips so I can remove the over riders.
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339 sounds good. I watched a few more of your videos today, and now I'm tempted to return to Facebook for those groups. Message boards and forums have always been dry.
@@stevesmythe8556 Come join us on the groups. Mercedes Maintenance and Mercedes Rescue. I started them a few years back. Combined over 40k members now. Cheers John
Hi John! I’m not sure you’ll see this, but I’m curious what Facebook group you are apart of? I’m from Oregon USA and am looking at purchases a 1970 280 SE to use as a daily! I’d love to connect with more people to learn and get tips from! This video was amazing and very informative! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Abigail. Thanks for your comments. The facebook groups I started are Mercedes Maintenance. This one is dedicated to help people like yourself keep up on all things maintenance related. We have over 25k members now. Friendly bunch of people and very willing to help.
Next one is Mercedes Rescue around 18k members now. This one is to save as many older forgotten Mercedes that could end up on the scrap heap. Its also a good place to find a reasonably priced vehicle. Then we have Mercedes maintenance and Rescue parts for sale. This one is self explanatory. We kept parts separate to help keep the other two groups focused and on topic. Come join us I think you will enjoy the groups.
Glad you like the video. Cheers John
I’ve wondered what that steering wheel is made out of. Specifically the outer portion.
Plastic wrapped around steel I believe. I don't think it's bakerlite. Cheers John 🍻
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339 yeah, it certainly does look like Bakelite. But you’ve got waaay more experience than me. 😆 I own an SLK320 from 04. With a 6 speed too! But I really want an ooold Benz like this.
Great video, thanks.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers John 🍻
Hi John, I’m a new subscriber to your channel I really enjoy your videos… I am looking to purchase a 1969 or 1970 Mercedes 280 SE or sel I live in Arizona. There’s a couple locals here that are selling them hoping you can give me some information on buying help on What should I look for and what should I stay away from… Finally the cars I’m looking at obviously not running as They’ve been sitting for a while. If you don’t mind, I would love to talk to you and get your input
I would be happy to have a chat. you can reach me on my email . jwright89@sbcglobal.net if you send me a message we can exchange phone numbers. Its always best to talk.
Also you could reach me on the facebook group that I started Mercedes maintenance. Lots of friendly people that have tons of knowledge and are willing to help.
Cheers John.
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339
Thank you very much for the reply . I did find you on Facebook I sent you dm thanks agin
Wish mine were that nice! I have 2, a '67 250S, with a load of miles and rust, and a '72 4.5 that has only 42,000 miles on it(unfortunately not running). Loved seeing yours! Cheers.
Whats up with the 4.5? Cheers John🍻
In storage up in Maryland. Too bad I'm in Florida, eh? Some spots of rust, cream color paint is seriously compromised/oxidized due to long term exposure to sun and pine needles. Green interior in good shape, motor turns over, but no start, probably the ignition unit, planning on a pertronix or something, only 42,000 miles, bottom is clean!
@@1967250s Probably needs the fuel system gone through and cleaned.
great car man
ive been looking for one as a first car
They are wonderful cars. I think the w108 is one of the best values for a classic Mercedes. But prices are starting to climb. I'm going to do a walkaround video of my 108 4.5 soon for comparison. Cheers John.
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339 Hey John,
How is the maintenance costs for a car liek this? I've been looking for a decent condition 4.5 w108 for a while and I am concerned about the upkeep of a 50 year old mercedes.
@@davidpark761 I've owned 5 108's and have1 w109. 3 of them were 4.5's. As far as cost and overall upkeep. Once you have it properly sorted, meaning all rubber parts checked and replaced, hose's fuel system, cooling system, brakes etc, etc I have found them to be rock solid reliable and not overly costly to run. Ignore the exaggerated running costs that you hear. With a sensible practical approach to buying a good one you won't be disappointed. With the 4.5 the Achilles heel is the timing chain, guides and tensioner. Make sure they have been done. If not , it's not a horrendous job and there's plenty of info out there to do it yourself. Also the cam oiler tubes have small clips on them that need replacing, often over looked. The fuel injection hoses going to the injectors HAVE to be checked. This is also an area that gets neglected and has led to fires. As is said I am going to do a walkaround video and go into some detail about the various aspects of the 4.5. Personally I would not hesitate getting one. They are absolute gems. The story goes that the workers at Mercedes were asked what they thought was the best Mercedes ever built. It was the steel sprung W108.
Good Luck David and please come join us on Mercedes maintenance and Mercedes Rescue on Facebook. Lots of great people and lots of useful info about these great cars. Cheers John.
When Mercedes were well built
Absolutely!!
My '67 is a manual with 4sp floor change. I must say however my '66 with the auto is nicer to drive (& I do row through the gears on hills rather than kickdown). The manual has to be worked hard and the shift is rather average. Perhaps it's a function of the age of the vehicle; I'd be interested to hear what others have to say.
Beautiful car; great video! Not sure if I have written to you before but I have owned a 1969 M130 engined 280se floor shift manual (very, very rare!) for forty years (it was my daily driver till ten years ago) and though not in as good a condition as yours it is still a lovely looking car and a great pleasure to drive. You're right; the manual is the one to have! Keep the videos coming, they are a source of inspiration and knowledge for us DIY guys!
I have a friend that has a Manual w108 which he is restoring. I think that is going to be a blast. You're right they are a great pleasure to drive. I've owned both mine for 10 years now and still get a lot of enjoyment out of them. Don't worry the videos will keep coming, the 6.3 project is so much fun and chatting with fellow enthusiasts like you is a big part of it. All the best.
Cheers John.
Awesome car, and I enjoy the fact you use it. Pros and cons with the sunroof. I like the mechanical sunroofs. The dash is perfect. You do know that if you change the rear end for one from a 4.5 it will drive so much better. I personally love the sound at 4th gear and when you are going through the gears, however the 4.5 gear ration calms it down and basically "saves" the mechanical effort of the higher revs. I guess operating at lower rpms will help the engine last longer. it definitely deserves a hirschmann. My 68 has the bumper impact pieces as well. I am getting used to them. LOve the fact your engine still has the decal from factory on the engine cover. Just one comment, watch out for the dirty, leaves and crap inside the air inlet. That usually clogs up and lets water accumulate and obviously rusts. Dont forget to check the drain holes under the wiper.s shaft. Thanks for the video! BTW it is in perfect condition. LMAO the slamming the door...huge family fights about that. Ah...you need to get yourself a nice right side mirror, it will look awesome and is a nice option.
Thanks Frank. Yes I know about the rear end swap but I like to keep it original as possible. I do regularly clean out debris such as leaves and pine needles to prevent rust etc. Thanks for your comments. Its always nice to hear from fellow Mercedes fans. Cheers John.
Thanks for the video John! I get the same thing about the seat belts from anyone who hasn't been in my car before. My 18 year old son loves my '70 280S. I've had mine for right around 20 years and it's always a pleasure to drive it. Thanks again for the video!
Thanks Alan. They are wonderful cars. Cheers John🍻
That is a beautiful car and you are doing a good job of bringing them to standard. Love the M 130 engine as all the other MB engines of the era. The manual, column change is nice and so the automatic, my choice is also manual. The clutch pedal and gear shift is so smooth, almost natural and gives a feel of one on one with the car and road.
Thats sounds wonderful.
What a nice video. I like the man as much as I like the car. Both would make a nice neighbor.
Thank you Bob:)
How much did buy this beautiful for which is the state to get this kind of car
I purchased this in 2014 for $7500. It was a very good deal. Only 59k miles on the clock. I really love this car. Cheers John.
My dad was in the armed forces and was posted to Cyprus in 1967. He nearly purchased a new one of these, but couldn't quite afford it. He ended up buying a Toyota Crown. It was a well engineered car and he never regretted his purchase. Mercedes-Benz cars of this period were very well engineered unlike mercedes of today. On the other hand Lexus and Toyota are still well engineered.
Love the inside and the front end is so classic love the stacked glass
Thank you. Took it for a good drive this past weekend. Always a fun car to drive. Cheers John.
Nice car. Car were made to be driven, no doubt about it
Absolutely!!
Beautiful car, thank you for sharing.
Thank you Mark.
Thanks. Great video
Thank you Andrew. Cheers John.
Hi Mate. There are covers you can buy for the sub-fame mounts. They say it's compatible with W108 and 109 too, not just for the W113 Pagodas. Here's the link: www.authenticclassics.com/Mercedes-230SL-250SL-Subframe-Shock-opening-Cover-p/auth-003125.htm
Thanks Gavin. Much appreciated. I want to get those for the 6.3 when its done. Cheers John🍻
You have renewed my "interest to get up and get something done on my 4.5 ... Thank you. Mine has about 65,000 miles on it, have had it since 2001 and I got it from my recently deceased best friend. Once again ... Thank you!
I'm happy to hear that Bruce! Cheers John
Lovely car. Thanks for the walkaround. I may have mantioned in other comments on your other vids my first Benz when living in South Africa was a 71 108, 280S. Fantastic car. Deep Burgundy with tan leather interior. Truly gorgeous. Regarding yours. I agree on the overriders on the bumpers. Hideous. I'd remove them immediatly if I had them on mine. Totally wrecks the lines of the car. As for the revvy nature. I believe the US spec cars had a different ratio rear end from other countries. Don't recall mine being overly high reving and it flew on the highway. Might be an idea to look into the feasibility of sourcing a different ratio rear end to bring it more in line with it's siblings in the Fatherland. Also regarding the interior. Mine was a 71 which had done away with the black plastic strip laterally bisecting the dash. I prefer that look to having the strip in there but it doesn't worry me as much as the overriders. And mine had the later teardrop shaped gear shift handle which I actually retrofitted with your types as I also preferred both the look and feel of it to the later one. Fantastic that you are keeping these going. I completely agree with you regarding the feel of these classics compared to more modern cars. The only thing that would prevent me from dailiy driving one of these, assuming I could find one in that sort of shape is I live in Phoenix, so excellent air conditioning is a must. Otherwise no matter how nice a car is in all other respects its just a paperweight without ac.
Hi Peter. Thank you for the comment. Yes, I can't wait to out the over riders. It's long overdue. I know some people have fitted a 4.5 rear end to lower the revs at higher speeds, but I'm kind of use to it now. I don't tend to drive it on the freeway to much, usually I'm in my 4.5. Phoenix is much hotter than here for sure. I do know there is an aftermarket company that specializes in improving older classic cars ac systems. I think it's called classic air or something like that. Thanks again. Cheers John.
Beautiful car John !
Thanks Lars.
Beautiful car. Was nice to see it up close inside and out. Thanks for posting this! It will last many more years thanks to your stewardship!
Thanks David. It's sure to last many more years. Cheers John.
Thanks for the detailed walkaround. Beautiful driver and, yes, to be enjoyed.... My great uncle had a '72 280 SE, if I recall correctly. He and my aunt lived near Bradford Leeds, U.K. When we visited in 1973. He took some time from the office and took us on tour around northern England, going as far north as Scarborough where we got to see the North Sea. That MB was a beautiful car, in a silver blue, white wall tyres, and sun roof. He drove it hard.....lots of fun...
Thank you for the comment. Sounds like your uncle enjoyed his MB:)
@@mercedesmaintenance.6339 He did. He was a barrister and had the money to enjoy the finer things in life. I got a kick out of how fast he drove and went about doing things, but come 4 PM when we were on the road, he knew where to stop for tea and krimpets and went from a type A personality to a type B personality for that half hour or so.....
Just found you and really enjoyed the video, looks a nice car. I live on the Costa Blanca here in Spain and am fortunate to own a 1972 W108 280SE. Mine is a manual 4speed on the column and as you say is terrific fun to drive, especially on the lovely Spanish mountain roads in this area. Unfortunately I cannot use it as a daily driver as I am restricted to 5000 klms a year by my insurance but I use it as much as possible. One thing, you say your car came from Europe but it appears to be USA spec with side indicators and those not very nice overriders, did it start life in America? I've seen a number of classic cars in Spain with American spec that have obviously been imported.
Hi John. I'm jealous, a manual 108 would be amazing!! If you watch Mercedessource on you tube Kent has a manual 108. Not many around. The guy I bought it from told me his Uncle had bought it from Germany. From my understanding the side markers were added because it was destined for the US. The guy apparently treasured the car, I'm so happy that I found it. I get lots of compliments from all ages of people. So your not interested in the over riders? LOL! Thanks again Cheers John.
i guess Im asking randomly but does someone know of a method to get back into an Instagram account??
I was dumb lost my account password. I love any tricks you can offer me
@Draven London Instablaster ;)
@Holden Jacob thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and I'm in the hacking process now.
Takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Holden Jacob It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thank you so much, you saved my ass!
Just bought a 68 280SEL and came to learn more about it and you helped a lot man thank you💯
That's great! SEL. Having that extra room is really nice.Glad you enjoyed the video. Come join us on our Mercedes Maintenance group on Facebook. Lots of great people and help.
All the best John.