My father had one of these (SWB). Purchased new, the first one imported into Canada. So I have driven one, quite a bit. I remember that shortly after taking delivery, my parents went for a road trip. Somewhere in Arizona, the A/C quit working, so Dad called Mercedes. They called back a few minutes later to say that a driver was on his way to pick them up and take them to the hotel that had been booked for them. Two technicians would be flown in overnight to effect repairs. Which they were, and the car was returned to them, fixed, by mid-morning. Those were the days. Kind of sad to see such an iconic piece of engineering so neglected.
@@iain_tyrrellwell, they still do that, just like then, to the customers that buy the top end cars and keep a top relationship with the brand for decades. It’s the service normal people with normal amounts of money do not know about, because those levels of services are not in their reach and therefore are never offered or talked about because the salesmen know they cannot sell it to those customers by selling a top end new car every 3 - 4 years including that level of service. And believe me, I know this from first hand. As a salesmen of new cars and knowing the customers in my area that buy a new one every cycle, I would organize that because you know it pays off every 4 year. The customers are there that have the money, and are willing to pay to be relieved of stress. So the other people end up just saying something they do not know about, below a youtube video, instead of investing time in how to get these amounts of money. 😂
I just spent 44min of my life without moving, carefully listinening, not touching my phone or anything else, fully captivated by this man and his endless knowledge.
I feel happy to own one - I restored the air suspension, did a full Service and I am thrilled every time I drive. Bought it „broken“ in january and passend german TUV end of may. Complicated, but doable car. Love it! And a big thank you for explaining the Technology so detailed!
@@smilingjack7622 I did exactly THIS! Right after passing German TUV I took a 500km Trip to a veteran mercedes meet. All in the rain! But I have to admit - a few weeks later I broke down because of an air valve. Difficult to load the car without the mercedes buffers. But I like those road stories, even if they happen to me...
@@iain_tyrrell Terrific Tyrell...a Class character + Master Mechanic! 6.3 300 sel was our beast of burden. NYC to MTL 5 hrs 15 minutes with border crossing! Faster than flying. Miss that Monster! Rock On Ty....
Man takes apart door to fix window switch. Probably the most mesmerising, tranquil, fascinating thing on You Tube, this is why I love this channel, just brilliant stuff 👍
Watching Iain fighting the urge to skip around the car with excitement when he finds no leaks with the hydrolics is the perfect start to a Saturday. I love the 600. Plenty of people on youtube talk about them and show them off. Not many who will dive into one and show a little bit of what it takes to keeps them running.
Only matched by his resisting the urge to eat that Brat, rather than using it to test the guillotine action of the window. Never has a man looked so longingly at an object and kept his nerve!
Hydraulics. From Hydr- (water) and Aulos (an ancient wind instrument, thence also pipe). FWIW the first production car with hydraulics was Duesenberg's 1920 Model "A" which literally used water running through pipes.
This was more than a fixing process was a bit more complex like a history lesson, excellent stuff indeed.. Mr. Tyrell is a very good teacher that is why we love him so much and for 100% need to make sure never to miss one of his lessons !!!
Absolutely brilliant! I watched a very sorry looking 600 come back from the dead over a number of years as I passed by a neighbour who was restoring it during the late 70s and early 80s in Eastcote, where I lived as a boy. I was totally fascinated by this amazing car and have adored them ever since. This was a real treat for us Iain, thank you for showing us the most mystical of systems on this unique and exquisitely made machine.
I was absolutely flabbergasted at how faultlessly, quiet, and smooth the engine ran when you first fired her up, I certainly wasn't expecting that. And instantaneously on the first turn too. What a minefield of interesting information. Thank you.
Recently my farther has passed away and has left me his 2 RHD 600’s. After many years watching the doors unlatch themselves and windows slide down due to hydraulic leaks when sitting for weeks these videos have give me confidence that these systems can be repaired and fixed with knowledge and a great attention to detail. I hope to see more videos dive in depth to these intricate system so it can help with my own restoration now of these beautiful machines. The knowledge you give is incredible as we forget how much is lost from generation to generation
As someone who has tinkered with anything mechanical since I was 5 (my bicycle taken apart and back together) and moved on to Mopeds, then cars (Alfas, Fiats, Fiats, Fords, VW's, etc...), and motorcycles (Yamaha, Triumph, Ducati) and even working in an Autobody shop for nearly a year, I found this video completely compelling. Your videos are always great to watch for their no nonsense and approachable nature and this one just knocked it out of the park!!! Keep them coming and please please please continue taking us on this journey to bring the 600 back to life! Cheers!
This episode was absolutely enlightening. The 600 is such an amazing machine and it is fascinating watching you talk about and work on it, Iain. Please, the more in-depth and nerdier the better. The insight you bring to each of these classic cars increases my appreciation for them, especially the 600, because it’s engineered so differently. I only wish the owner was going to allow you to bring it back to its former glory- that would be epic.
This was built to be the best in the world, at the time, with no regard to cost, only to quality and performance in operation. Still impressive, even 60 years later
I'm a flicker. One channel after another. I landed on this video by chance. I was mesmerised and found myself glued till the end. This really was educational. Quite the most charming way to explain this most complex system. Well done Mr Tyrrell. I appreciated your effort, thanks. I really learnt more in this 45 minute video than I thought possible, a fascinating car.
The speed, confidence and precision with which Iain stripped the door was a beauty to behold. I loved the longer video format. I appreciated the glimpse into the work involved.
@thegrimcreeper I was having kittens watching that wood trim coming off, but knowing you'd clearly dome it before helped. This was the escapism I needed to relax after a tough 12hr shift
Iain, this is just to offer you my sincere thanks for the best video you've ever made. Pure craftsmanship. Therapy. Balm. Please let us see more of this type of thing. As a serial owner of R230s, you've given me hope that Mercedes engineering isn't as scary as I sometime worry it might be. Please can you produce more content like this - it's great to see you bringing decades of experience to bear so beautifully on such complex, analogue machinery. Bravo. This is the type of content that makes me want to retrain. All power to you and very many thanks. Hywel
I owned an early SWB (Wooden Instrument cluster, Wool & Leather Interior). It could travel over 120 MPH…… When traveling on the Interstate to Florida’s in the 1960s many 600 were making a Snow Bird run. Great Autobahn machine. Miss that German Beauty.
I have serious trouble sleeping, and the medication I take for it is very addictive. Ians voice is so soothing and comforting, so listening to old videos, already watched of course, is helping me to get better rest to an extent where I can almost skip medication. I'm so grateful 🙏. Don't change anything, Ian! You're not at all boring listening to, quite the opposite, but your voice touches something in me, that makes me relax. Thank you so much ❤️
I worked at a Benz dealership in California in 1988 and a 600 Limo as they called it came in for service. I was 20 at the time and I was trusted to drive it from the lot and into the shop. I still remember the silence of those hydraulic window mechanisms as compared to the (new at the time) 300 E’s and 560 SEL’s. Very cool demonstration, thank you Ian.
My goodness you must one of only a few in world that can work on these amazing cars. Ian please ensue you're passong your precious knowledge onwards its of generational importance
I rallied a SWB 600 in Targa Tasmania 1993. A formidable machine that easily kept up with various sportscars and at times would pass them in Targa stages.
If only this video had been around 50 years ago.... My friend's dad had one for a short while - he swapped a farm for it (I kid you not). Its fiendish complexity and running expenses, plus a brood of feral kids meant it was soon replaced with a brand new Marina 1800TC automatic, which the family never forgave him for. Never forgave himself as he spent most of his spare time for the next couple of years rebuilding the thing. Realised the error of his ways and got rid of what was left of it for a BMW 2002Tii. And peace was restored to the family meal table! Love the way you break down what was the most technically advanced vehicle of the time into easily understandable pieces. As an ex-teacher, I have to say you're brilliant. The whole system is there to see, unlike modern cars and their software-driven systems, some of which are driven by some extremely shonky coding, according to a friend who works in auto electronics over here in Germany. He also says the 'Grosser' tag is a commonly used nickname over here, 'Gross' being 'big' in German. Judging by the fact there was some light surface rust on the inside of the doors, and you remounted the door card, I would say this job is a recommission rather than an outright restoration. Have to say, the engine sounded pretty good on tickover! Keep up the brilliant work!
@@danpatterson8009 They actually refer to them with an English expression - 'Old Timers'. This means you get the coveted 'H' plate, meaning your vehicle has historical value. Very strict conditions - the car has to be largely original or restored to factory specs. My mate had a struggle to get one for his Rover P6 3500S, as the original manual plus overdrive gearbox was toasted and he replaced it with an auto as a stopgap (the S was manual only). Luckily for him, the inspector at the TUV centre fell in love with it & did some research. He found out that Rover supplied a few to Liverpool police equipped with the SD1 5 speed box (bit of cheap R&D). So he told my mate to install said gearbox & he would get his 'H' plate on the basis of it being a works test vehicle replica. Smiles all round. Not only do TUV test vehicles over here, they are also an excellent database of original factory specs for old stuff.They have every bit of tech info for the P6, something the inheritors of the Rover name don't have. The TUV database covers every product that's ever been sold here and is one of the best things Germany has ever done. An incredible resource.
Wow, nearly 45 intricate minutes about the 600 and its most complicated hydraulics. Indeed a YT first I should say. Didn't make M B just make such astoundingly distinctive, alluring and solidly contrived cars. All very over-engineered perhaps but so well thought out and through. Thank you so much for this most pleasing upload 💓
thank you Ian, I look forward to you driving this beauty. I was astonished to see a new one of these, circa 1972, travelling past the Bedfordview (JOHANNESBURG ) centre heading up the road towards our house , the first architect built mansion in Bedford view.. I never saw it again. We had a 280SEL 3.5V8 from Stuttgart. THE 3.5 not badged. I used to leave all the Jaguars behind,so it was faster than our DaimlerXJ6 and all else. Several years later I had the distinction, as Ben said of doing in a Ferrari400i GT awheelie in 2nd, leaving Chewton Glen Manor Hotel. Even though I got the squirrels bit under control, quickly with everyone holding onto the leather grabs saying ‘“Hey, hey hey!”Ben asked to take over, remarking that it was a £35k car,so I missed driving back to The Ritz London (where we always stayed for weeks on end)remembered by Michael Da Costa the top top doorman who still remembers usaand would take the Ferrari and garage it for us. Nevertheless Ben did take it up past 165 on the speedoI. t was all fabulous fun! Again I look forward to seeing you take out the 600 for a drive!
This car has always screamed "royalty", "power" and "influence" on a grand scale on the world stage. It seems as though every potentate on the planet favor these marvelous machines. Thank you for your usual terrific and informative video Iain. Big fan!!!
Lovely episode once more! Iain, it's such a pleasure to watch you work on the 600 "Großer Mercedes". It's really almost as if I'm there peeking over your shoulder. You're not taking interns, are you? 😉 I'm amazed, how almost adventurous Daimler-Benz were at the time, trying out technical solutions for the sake of best possible quality and customer experience, and not taking shortcuts. Working in that industry as an engineer, I often wish we would go back to at least a good dose of this spirit. Instead, it often seems that the motto is "as cheap as we can get away with", then bolt on some colorful LEDs and a touch screen, done. What a travesty...
As a Benz man for 2 decades I have had the "pleasure" of working on a few 600s. That summer flap is prone to leak as is the boot. That its all working is amazing. Seeing Iaian running around like a younger man was also a pleasure.
That concludes another Tyrell’s Classic Workshop. I hope you enjoyed it, says the man. Are you kidding? I LOVED every second of it!! Please keep them coming!!!
I hope we get to watch the restoration of this classic. I owned and maintained myself a W140 S-class so am familiar with the joy and heartache of working on these types of engineering marvels.
great video! I like to describe these as "Like a Mercedes-Benz, only more so". As a 600 owner myself, it's great to see you get involved with the car with a technical deep dive. I've found that the KH "switch" levers sometimes wear around the pivot pin area. I've been replacing mine with stronger steel versions. The 600 is an absolute analog experience in every way. I'm looking forward to your next one!
That was fasinating Iain. I once rewired a 1950 Cadillac convertible, That had hydraulically operated windows (2 door) and and pwer hood. That was a 6volt car and had a large pump under the rhf wing driven by a huge electric motor.. It was not quite the same as the MB here as it used electric switches that operated solenoid attached to the hyraulic rams in the doors and each side on the folding roof. When lowering the windows the solenoids iopened and in conjunction with a stong spring fixed to the window channel allowed the fluid to return to the system, but they were painfully slow to lower. If you selected "up" the underwing pump fired up pressurising the system, the valve opened again and the window shot up very fast indeed. The power hood had double acting rams that used the same idea! All this 1950! I wonder if the DB engineers cribbed the idea from Cadillac? The other example I recall was the Maserati Bora which used the Citroen type hydraulic system fitted for the brakes to move the drivers seat, steering column and raise/lower the pop up headlamps. The one I worked one had drips inside and had soaked the drivers footwell carpet in LHM fluid, yuck. 70's Renaults used fluid filled tubes as cotrols for the driver operated headlamp height adjusters for the headlights. Was good fun changing that assy if it sprung a leak as it came from Renault parts as a complete unit for both sides! Thw 16 was like that and I think the 20/30 as well.
Today I visited the Technikmuseum Sinsheim (Technical Museum) and I've seen a Grosse there (wouldn't especially recommend, the cars are nice but the rest is more for kids) and I was quite a bit disappointed about the very superficial technical information there. Now I'm here, with Iain in his shop & diving deep into the details - so much better. I could've spared me some time. Great channel, one of the best! Thank you Iain & Team!
This has been one of your most interesting videos, Iain. And you've got quite the track record so that's saying something. Many thanks for regaling us with your amazing content.
Absolutely the best episode ever! Thank you Iain, I always look forward to Sunday knowing a new post from your shop is in the offing. 3000psi is insane, but I love the ingenuity and application throughout the car - brilliant!
In effect, you are a walking talking service manual/instructor . . The mark of a truly knowledgeable person is how you make it all seem so simple . . Maximum Respect Sir
Iain, this was absolutely mesmerising from start to finish! What a marvellous old machine, and might I just say your knowledge, wisdom and style of presenting the information is quite extraordinary! Thankyou from Australia!
You could create a 100 videos on the intricacies of this car. Amazing how adjustable and repairable it looks (practically no electronics!). I hope the owner decides to fully restore it.
Disassembling that door card assembly to access the switch takes me back. I had a BMW Bavaria (E3 series for the nerds) and the window would dislodge from the manual window winder assembly and fall into the door. I had to remove the door card to put it back in the mechanism and it happened so frequently that my time dropped from over an hour the first time I did it, locating all the hidden screws, clips and whatnot to about 10 minutes. I tried everything to stop it from reoccurring, shims, adhesives, but then a friend who had a 2800 E3 who had the same problem told me the cure. Glass drill bit through the glass where it sat in the mechanism and holes drilled in the mechanism to match, bolt it in with some red Loctite, and never happened again.
Wonderful job on the car so far. It runs beautifully, and it was fantastic to see the hydraulic system come back to life. Your less-is-more approach is refreshing, and exactly the kind of skill that's needed when working on complex vintage iron. Such an amazing car and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress with it. I'm a huge fan of this era of Mercedes Benz cars, and have owned a '66 W111 250SE Coupe with 4-on-the-floor and electric sunroof, since early '92. In '94ish, I was working in a local German independent shop and we had a 600 come in with a suspension failure. The owners were on a little vacation/road trip from Los Angeles in it, and coming up through coastal California (we're about 200mi north). The car was simply amazing and in as-new condition. I was lucky enough to get to work on it, replacing the failed rubber "half donuts" that cover the bottoms of the big suspension cylinders. It pumped itself back up, and away they went.
I was lucky enough to grow up in the family with a 1971 6.3l 280 SEL, they where called here in Australia, so ahead of it's time, four speed automatic, rare for the time, amazing two stage Hydraulic suspension, and power everything, freezing cold Air Con, fantastic long distance car, for Australia's outback.
Watching a highly skilled person applying their knowledge and years of experience to a simple but for most other people highly challenging issue - perfect, thank you Iain, one of your best videos yet
Aside from its wonderful tech, just want to say what a handsome car this is in its "regular" wheelbase form. Not a bad angle on it. And thanks Iain for a fascinating insight.
I fully agree. It's beautifully proportioned for such a big car without making it look like a high roof line car. I really like 60's to 80's Mercedes but they usually have a somewhat questionable line or shape somewhere on the car, not this one.
Perfect timing! I’ve literally just had my meagre Sunday evening crust….time to settle down to a nice episode of Tyrell’s Classic Workshop and dream of what might have been if my life had turned out a little differently. 🙂
I once had a 1951 Buick convertible. The windows, power seat, and (if I recall correctly) top all worked off a hydraulic system with a reservoir and pump under the hood and plumbing for it running everywhere. Unfortunately, in time, the plumbing developed various leaks and if it leaked in a place where the hydraulic fluid could find its way to the body work it took off the paint. The windows worked just as you described, sinking down by gravity when the switch opened a valve and with fluid being pumped in (with a great whirring noise under the hood) to raise them.
you have to admire a man who wears and uses his watch as designed - just dive into that engine compartment! What an amazing system on this car; very interesting.
Dear Iain, your videos are superb and I watch frequently. Thank you for taking the time to make these. This one is particularly interesting to me for two reasons, firstly the 600 is a masterpiece and the information you provide is fascinating and delivered in an eloquent and almost Attenboroughesk style; secondly, the silver shadow featured at 1:38, NXG1G is the actual one I owned for a few years and I miss it! Thanks again.
What an incredible and amazing video Iain, thank you for c 45 mins of complete, immersive escapism with your usual dash of humour! Just brilliant. David
Your absolutely correct about the use of „Grosser“ in German. It was never called that here in Germany. People rather called it the Pullman, even when referring to non-Pullman versions. Or simply the 600
Always a pleasure see a professional at work.The attention to detail in the work you do is out of this world.Not every Mercedes garage will work on these.
I asked and you delivered! Fantastic video. Amazing that the system appears to be in such good order. My claim to fame with the 600 was seeing one in the parking field during the Festival of Speed at Goodwood. A person was trying to close the bootlid by trying to force it closed. I knew enough to run over shouting for him to stop and show them the correct way before they caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the system. He was very grateful as it was a friend's car. Wish I had asked to have closer look around it at the time.....😪
Unbelievable piece of engineering work far beyond the needs of a "normal" driver/owner. A perfectly understandable explanation of functionalities by a real expert! I love these videos - thanks a million times and please carry on!
Coldwarmotors went through the hydraulic window system on a 1953 Oldsmobile Holiday Hardtop. I'm pretty sure it worked exactly how Mr Tyrell said, with the hydraulic cylinder pushing the windows up and a big spring (with help from gravity) pulling them open. Very smooth and quiet when working properly.
Thank you so much for this video. I learned so much about the hydraulic system in the 600. Now I know it has a hydraulic system, but I learned a lot from you how it works in the 600 Mercedes thank you cannot wait for the next video.
I am utterly impressed by Mr Ian Tyrell’s patience. Never a bad word, always patient and passionate about what he is doing. He lives and aspires genuine passion and deserves the best of mandates. Getting clients from all over the world. Such a true gentleman 😊. God bless him and we are so happy to share his true passion. I love the way he says he is coming up with something new very soon. I hope that at some point he will make a 1967-1968 Mustang Fastback S Code with a 390 engine. May the good forces be with you in year 2025 Mr Tyrell. Happy Healthy Successful New Year 🎊🎈🎉🎼🙏🏻🤗🧨🎆🥂🍾
Another blooming brilliant presentation by the Maestro, that was, as usual, fascinating, educational and entertaining. Well Iain, I reckon that the Maybach brand was around far earlier than the 1960s AND far from being invented as a car brand by Daimler Benz. Founded in 1909, Maybach were involved in the engine manufacture for various vehicles, most notably, Zeppelins, Railcars and so on. Their first pro type car appeared in 1919 and they made expensive and luxurious automobiles from 1921 up to 1940. Their involvement with military vehicles spanned both World Wars with airship and aircraft example in WW1 and tank engines in WW2. The 600 Grosser is something else, I was gobsmacked see see in the garage of the brother of a friend of my sister’s in a quaint Rhein side village, a concours black example together with a pristine Pagoda and one or two other unvleiveable cars. I asked whether Peter regularly drives any of them, “Oh no he maintains them but hardly takes them far, he sticks to his daily drivers, they are far too precious”. Green with envy, moi?
Always adored the 600. Hugely complex but so satisfying when all the gizmos work Iain, your depth of knowledge is out of this world! All the best from Greece!
Elvis Presley had 3 Mercedes 600's and all 3 still exist. Two are still in the possession of the Presley estate and one is on permanent display in Memphis. Elvis loved them and one of them featured in the 1972 "On Tour" documentary.
"What's the wurst that can happen?" Incredibly, fascinating stuff. More please.
He did his “wurst” and the sausage lost 😂
Definitely the wurst case scenario
@@timdeknegt Wurst thing I’ve seen today
But why would tennis players from New York be harmed making them ?
Maybe try all 5 sausages at the same time, Extra-Wurst 😅
My father had one of these (SWB). Purchased new, the first one imported into Canada. So I have driven one, quite a bit. I remember that shortly after taking delivery, my parents went for a road trip. Somewhere in Arizona, the A/C quit working, so Dad called Mercedes. They called back a few minutes later to say that a driver was on his way to pick them up and take them to the hotel that had been booked for them. Two technicians would be flown in overnight to effect repairs. Which they were, and the car was returned to them, fixed, by mid-morning. Those were the days. Kind of sad to see such an iconic piece of engineering so neglected.
Can one imagine a car manufacturer doing that now?
Interesting
When you’re father is a dictator, it is not so strange that they did this. They probably have families and children which they want to keep safe. 😝
@@martinkundih9782 😁
Now thats service !
@@iain_tyrrellwell, they still do that, just like then, to the customers that buy the top end cars and keep a top relationship with the brand for decades.
It’s the service normal people with normal amounts of money do not know about, because those levels of services are not in their reach and therefore are never offered or talked about because the salesmen know they cannot sell it to those customers by selling a top end new car every 3 - 4 years including that level of service. And believe me, I know this from first hand.
As a salesmen of new cars and knowing the customers in my area that buy a new one every cycle, I would organize that because you know it pays off every 4 year. The customers are there that have the money, and are willing to pay to be relieved of stress.
So the other people end up just saying something they do not know about, below a youtube video, instead of investing time in how to get these amounts of money. 😂
I just spent 44min of my life without moving, carefully listinening, not touching my phone or anything else, fully captivated by this man and his endless knowledge.
Thank you!
So did I! That was meditative...
@@iain_tyrrell Did Citroen copy/evolve this Mercedes hydraulic oil powered idea? Which car company was first using hydraulics in their cars?
Me too😅
I feel happy to own one - I restored the air suspension, did a full Service and I am thrilled every time I drive. Bought it „broken“ in january and passend german TUV end of may. Complicated, but doable car. Love it!
And a big thank you for explaining the Technology so detailed!
You're most welcome Konrad. I wish you many happy kilometres in your 600. Thank you for watching.
Can the windows chop off a finger? Asking the important questions here
take it for a 8 hour drive.
bwahahahahahahahahaa
make sure your followed by a tow truck.
then go but a lexus ls600.
@@smilingjack7622 I did exactly THIS! Right after passing German TUV I took a 500km Trip to a veteran mercedes meet. All in the rain! But I have to admit - a few weeks later I broke down because of an air valve. Difficult to load the car without the mercedes buffers. But I like those road stories, even if they happen to me...
@@BikeThrottleOfficial I think the system was designed to chop the lens off a paparazzi's camera.
Iain! We were JUST as excited to see that the hydraulics were working!
NOBODY has EVER shown this before! Absolutely awesome!BR from Germany, Tobias
Man does something new on internet 🤣
Bravo ! Reaching New Heights…Nerdom Summited
@@iain_tyrrell Terrific Tyrell...a Class character + Master Mechanic! 6.3 300 sel was our beast of burden. NYC to MTL 5 hrs 15 minutes with border crossing! Faster than flying. Miss that Monster! Rock On Ty....
Man takes apart door to fix window switch.
Probably the most mesmerising, tranquil, fascinating thing on You Tube, this is why I love this channel, just brilliant stuff 👍
Thank you!
Please don't ever stop with the nerdy content. What a fantastic episode!
Thanks!
Watching Iain fighting the urge to skip around the car with excitement when he finds no leaks with the hydrolics is the perfect start to a Saturday. I love the 600. Plenty of people on youtube talk about them and show them off. Not many who will dive into one and show a little bit of what it takes to keeps them running.
Only matched by his resisting the urge to eat that Brat, rather than using it to test the guillotine action of the window. Never has a man looked so longingly at an object and kept his nerve!
Thank you
Hydraulics. From Hydr- (water) and Aulos (an ancient wind instrument, thence also pipe).
FWIW the first production car with hydraulics was Duesenberg's 1920 Model "A" which literally used water running through pipes.
This is exactly why I come to your channel for.
Your contents should be digitally preserved for their historical value.
This was more than a fixing process was a bit more complex like a history lesson, excellent stuff indeed..
Mr. Tyrell is a very good teacher that is why we love him so much and for 100% need to make sure never to miss one of his lessons !!!
Absolutely brilliant! I watched a very sorry looking 600 come back from the dead over a number of years as I passed by a neighbour who was restoring it during the late 70s and early 80s in Eastcote, where I lived as a boy. I was totally fascinated by this amazing car and have adored them ever since.
This was a real treat for us Iain, thank you for showing us the most mystical of systems on this unique and exquisitely made machine.
Thank you too, and congratulations on joining up as a member on the channel
@@iain_tyrrell Thanks Iain
You are a Master , it is a joy watching you working on these complicating machines. Top video !!!
I was absolutely flabbergasted at how faultlessly, quiet, and smooth the engine ran when you first fired her up, I certainly wasn't expecting that. And instantaneously on the first turn too.
What a minefield of interesting information.
Thank you.
Thank you too
I would love to see more videos dedicated to the other systems on this car. It's an absolute rarity to see a car like this being brought back to life.
Recently my farther has passed away and has left me his 2 RHD 600’s. After many years watching the doors unlatch themselves and windows slide down due to hydraulic leaks when sitting for weeks these videos have give me confidence that these systems can be repaired and fixed with knowledge and a great attention to detail. I hope to see more videos dive in depth to these intricate system so it can help with my own restoration now of these beautiful machines. The knowledge you give is incredible as we forget how much is lost from generation to generation
Hope you can do that! Maybe there are other videos on repairing 600s as well. (?)
Thank you. Glad this has proved an inspiration!
As someone who has tinkered with anything mechanical since I was 5 (my bicycle taken apart and back together) and moved on to Mopeds, then cars (Alfas, Fiats, Fiats, Fords, VW's, etc...), and motorcycles (Yamaha, Triumph, Ducati) and even working in an Autobody shop for nearly a year, I found this video completely compelling. Your videos are always great to watch for their no nonsense and approachable nature and this one just knocked it out of the park!!! Keep them coming and please please please continue taking us on this journey to bring the 600 back to life! Cheers!
Thank you very much!
This episode was absolutely enlightening. The 600 is such an amazing machine and it is fascinating watching you talk about and work on it, Iain. Please, the more in-depth and nerdier the better. The insight you bring to each of these classic cars increases my appreciation for them, especially the 600, because it’s engineered so differently. I only wish the owner was going to allow you to bring it back to its former glory- that would be epic.
Thank you very much. Delighted to share this with you.
Thanks for your comments. Not entirely sure of this car’s fate
Watching all the little details that Iain points out shows that he truly knows the deep magic of car repair.
Also very good to have the manufacturers books around in shop as well otherwise it would be a bit like "finding the needle" thing..
This was built to be the best in the world, at the time, with no regard to cost, only to quality and performance in operation. Still impressive, even 60 years later
I'm a flicker. One channel after another. I landed on this video by chance. I was mesmerised and found myself glued till the end. This really was educational. Quite the most charming way to explain this most complex system. Well done Mr Tyrrell. I appreciated your effort, thanks. I really learnt more in this 45 minute video than I thought possible, a fascinating car.
Thank you for sharing this with me, it was really nice to read. I'm delighted you found and enjoyed the video.
The speed, confidence and precision with which Iain stripped the door was a beauty to behold. I loved the longer video format. I appreciated the glimpse into the work involved.
Thank you!
@thegrimcreeper I was having kittens watching that wood trim coming off, but knowing you'd clearly dome it before helped. This was the escapism I needed to relax after a tough 12hr shift
The door trim procedure is exactly the same for my W126, built twenty years later. I wouldn't want to deal with hydraulics though 😬
Iain, this is just to offer you my sincere thanks for the best video you've ever made. Pure craftsmanship. Therapy. Balm. Please let us see more of this type of thing. As a serial owner of R230s, you've given me hope that Mercedes engineering isn't as scary as I sometime worry it might be. Please can you produce more content like this - it's great to see you bringing decades of experience to bear so beautifully on such complex, analogue machinery. Bravo. This is the type of content that makes me want to retrain. All power to you and very many thanks. Hywel
Thank you Hywel,
So glad you enjoyed it. That is great to hear
I owned an early SWB (Wooden Instrument cluster, Wool & Leather Interior). It could travel over 120 MPH…… When traveling on the Interstate to Florida’s in the 1960s many 600 were making a Snow Bird run. Great Autobahn machine. Miss that German Beauty.
I have serious trouble sleeping, and the medication I take for it is very addictive. Ians voice is so soothing and comforting, so listening to old videos, already watched of course, is helping me to get better rest to an extent where I can almost skip medication. I'm so grateful 🙏. Don't change anything, Ian! You're not at all boring listening to, quite the opposite, but your voice touches something in me, that makes me relax. Thank you so much ❤️
Thank you for that. I take it as a compliment in the spirit it was intended
Maybe you should buy his album ?
Have you done one yet Iain?
All together now.. “On days like these..” 🎵
I worked at a Benz dealership in California in 1988 and a 600 Limo as they called it came in for service. I was 20 at the time and I was trusted to drive it from the lot and into the shop. I still remember the silence of those hydraulic window mechanisms as compared to the (new at the time) 300 E’s and 560 SEL’s.
Very cool demonstration, thank you Ian.
Sunday night 7pm. Just finished a 60 hour week in my taxi. This is my therapy .thank you so much .what a Alchamist you are.😀😍🥳
Thank you very much Graham. Delighted to provide your end of week relaxation. So glad you enjoyed it.
Glad to hear we can help you chill. Thanks
Assume your taxi is not a Mercedes 600 (yet) Graham.
As I, a young man, apprenticed with MB in 1968, I had little experience with the 600. Thoroughly enjoyed this presentation. Thank you!
Pleasure- thank you!
My goodness you must one of only a few in world that can work on these amazing cars. Ian please ensue you're passong your precious knowledge onwards its of generational importance
I rallied a SWB 600 in Targa Tasmania 1993.
A formidable machine that easily kept up with various sportscars and at times would pass them in Targa stages.
Great comment- thanks
Do you have any photos of this beast in Tasmania? I have fond memories of the Targa in a turbo Mini. A great event.
@@raoulheinrichvonmerten4851l have photos but cannot upload them here
If only this video had been around 50 years ago.... My friend's dad had one for a short while - he swapped a farm for it (I kid you not). Its fiendish complexity and running expenses, plus a brood of feral kids meant it was soon replaced with a brand new Marina 1800TC automatic, which the family never forgave him for. Never forgave himself as he spent most of his spare time for the next couple of years rebuilding the thing. Realised the error of his ways and got rid of what was left of it for a BMW 2002Tii. And peace was restored to the family meal table! Love the way you break down what was the most technically advanced vehicle of the time into easily understandable pieces. As an ex-teacher, I have to say you're brilliant. The whole system is there to see, unlike modern cars and their software-driven systems, some of which are driven by some extremely shonky coding, according to a friend who works in auto electronics over here in Germany. He also says the 'Grosser' tag is a commonly used nickname over here, 'Gross' being 'big' in German. Judging by the fact there was some light surface rust on the inside of the doors, and you remounted the door card, I would say this job is a recommission rather than an outright restoration. Have to say, the engine sounded pretty good on tickover! Keep up the brilliant work!
Thank you for your appreciative comments
Actually,it's Grosse as in Grand ,hence the Grand Mercedes
And they call classic cars "Alters"...
@@danpatterson8009 They actually refer to them with an English expression - 'Old Timers'. This means you get the coveted 'H' plate, meaning your vehicle has historical value. Very strict conditions - the car has to be largely original or restored to factory specs. My mate had a struggle to get one for his Rover P6 3500S, as the original manual plus overdrive gearbox was toasted and he replaced it with an auto as a stopgap (the S was manual only). Luckily for him, the inspector at the TUV centre fell in love with it & did some research. He found out that Rover supplied a few to Liverpool police equipped with the SD1 5 speed box (bit of cheap R&D). So he told my mate to install said gearbox & he would get his 'H' plate on the basis of it being a works test vehicle replica. Smiles all round. Not only do TUV test vehicles over here, they are also an excellent database of original factory specs for old stuff.They have every bit of tech info for the P6, something the inheritors of the Rover name don't have. The TUV database covers every product that's ever been sold here and is one of the best things Germany has ever done. An incredible resource.
45 minutes of pure joy, watching the mysteries of a massively complex hydraulic system. Just great.
Thank you! Delighted to know you enjoyed it.
Thanks!
Wow, nearly 45 intricate minutes about the 600 and its most complicated hydraulics. Indeed a YT first I should say. Didn't make M B just make such astoundingly distinctive, alluring and solidly contrived cars. All very over-engineered perhaps but so well thought out and through. Thank you so much for this most pleasing upload 💓
Thank you Linda! Delighted to know you enjoyed it. The engineering in this car is on another level and to think it was the early 1960's!
Thank you too.
I have heard nothing but legends of how complicated and difficult the hydraulic systems are on these, you make it look easy.
It can be more complex than that!
thank you Ian, I look forward to you driving this beauty. I was astonished to see a new one of these, circa 1972, travelling past the Bedfordview (JOHANNESBURG ) centre heading up the road towards our house , the first architect built mansion in Bedford view.. I never saw it again. We had a 280SEL 3.5V8 from Stuttgart. THE 3.5 not badged. I used to leave all the Jaguars behind,so it was faster than our DaimlerXJ6 and all else. Several years later I had the distinction, as Ben said of doing in a Ferrari400i GT awheelie in 2nd, leaving Chewton Glen Manor Hotel. Even though I got the squirrels bit under control, quickly with everyone holding onto the leather grabs saying ‘“Hey, hey hey!”Ben asked to take over, remarking that it was a £35k car,so I missed driving back to The Ritz London (where we always stayed for weeks on end)remembered by Michael Da Costa the top top doorman who still remembers usaand would take the Ferrari and garage it for us. Nevertheless Ben did take it up past 165 on the speedoI. t was all fabulous fun! Again I look forward to seeing you take out the 600 for a drive!
This car has always screamed "royalty", "power" and "influence" on a grand scale on the world stage. It seems as though every potentate on the planet favor these marvelous machines. Thank you for your usual terrific and informative video Iain. Big fan!!!
Thank you!
Lovely episode once more! Iain, it's such a pleasure to watch you work on the 600 "Großer Mercedes". It's really almost as if I'm there peeking over your shoulder. You're not taking interns, are you? 😉 I'm amazed, how almost adventurous Daimler-Benz were at the time, trying out technical solutions for the sake of best possible quality and customer experience, and not taking shortcuts. Working in that industry as an engineer, I often wish we would go back to at least a good dose of this spirit. Instead, it often seems that the motto is "as cheap as we can get away with", then bolt on some colorful LEDs and a touch screen, done. What a travesty...
Probably never repeated. Thanks
As a Benz man for 2 decades I have had the "pleasure" of working on a few 600s. That summer flap is prone to leak as is the boot. That its all working is amazing. Seeing Iaian running around like a younger man was also a pleasure.
Really enjoy the long format of these ones. Fascinating!
That concludes another Tyrell’s Classic Workshop. I hope you enjoyed it, says the man. Are you kidding? I LOVED every second of it!!
Please keep them coming!!!
Thank you!
An incredibly in depth and well put together video, an absolute treat to watch. Thank you very much!
Pleasure- thank you!
I hope we get to watch the restoration of this classic. I owned and maintained myself a W140 S-class so am familiar with the joy and heartache of working on these types of engineering marvels.
I did 160 happy kms today - last week I visited the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart. Back to the roots ❤
great video! I like to describe these as "Like a Mercedes-Benz, only more so". As a 600 owner myself, it's great to see you get involved with the car with a technical deep dive. I've found that the KH "switch" levers sometimes wear around the pivot pin area. I've been replacing mine with stronger steel versions. The 600 is an absolute analog experience in every way. I'm looking forward to your next one!
Thank you!
That was fasinating Iain.
I once rewired a 1950 Cadillac convertible, That had hydraulically operated windows (2 door) and and pwer hood. That was a 6volt car and had a large pump under the rhf wing driven by a huge electric motor.. It was not quite the same as the MB here as it used electric switches that operated solenoid attached to the hyraulic rams in the doors and each side on the folding roof. When lowering the windows the solenoids iopened and in conjunction with a stong spring fixed to the window channel allowed the fluid to return to the system, but they were painfully slow to lower. If you selected "up" the underwing pump fired up pressurising the system, the valve opened again and the window shot up very fast indeed.
The power hood had double acting rams that used the same idea! All this 1950! I wonder if the DB engineers cribbed the idea from Cadillac?
The other example I recall was the Maserati Bora which used the Citroen type hydraulic system fitted for the brakes to move the drivers seat, steering column and raise/lower the pop up headlamps. The one I worked one had drips inside and had soaked the drivers footwell carpet in LHM fluid, yuck.
70's Renaults used fluid filled tubes as cotrols for the driver operated headlamp height adjusters for the headlights. Was good fun changing that assy if it sprung a leak as it came from Renault parts as a complete unit for both sides! Thw 16 was like that and I think the 20/30 as well.
Thanks for that great information
Amazing 😮 🇬🇧
The Benz 600 is the ultimate status/ power symbol. Truly. An unmistakable presence even today.
Today I visited the Technikmuseum Sinsheim (Technical Museum) and I've seen a Grosse there (wouldn't especially recommend, the cars are nice but the rest is more for kids) and I was quite a bit disappointed about the very superficial technical information there. Now I'm here, with Iain in his shop & diving deep into the details - so much better. I could've spared me some time. Great channel, one of the best! Thank you Iain & Team!
Thank you too!
I visited there sometime ago, both sites, sinsheim und Speyer. I found the place Fascinating .
This is the first episode we have watched Ian work, wonderful! ❤❤
That’s a bit harsh, I’ve watched him tune in a few cars!
Loved the boot lid opening. Now I understand all the tape all over the place. Amazing.
This has been one of your most interesting videos, Iain. And you've got quite the track record so that's saying something. Many thanks for regaling us with your amazing content.
Thank you indeed!
Well thank you so much for saying so Frans. 👏
Absolutely the best episode ever! Thank you Iain, I always look forward to Sunday knowing a new post from your shop is in the offing. 3000psi is insane, but I love the ingenuity and application throughout the car - brilliant!
Thank you!
Lovely nerdy content. 100% approved. Loving every single second of the video. Looks like we are the same year, Iain, 600 and me... Cheers, Christian
A great vintage. 😉 I'm delighted to know you enjoyed it.
In effect, you are a walking talking service manual/instructor . .
The mark of a truly knowledgeable person is how you make it all seem so simple . . Maximum Respect Sir
What a Car!!!. I have a 68 W113 and amazed at its build quality and this one is even more AMAZING
Iain, this was absolutely mesmerising from start to finish!
What a marvellous old machine, and might I just say your knowledge, wisdom and style of presenting the information is quite extraordinary!
Thankyou from Australia!
You could create a 100 videos on the intricacies of this car. Amazing how adjustable and repairable it looks (practically no electronics!). I hope the owner decides to fully restore it.
Proper treat this evening between this and the E500 on Harry’s
@@BikeThrottleOfficial two of the best channels to watch
The Professor at work!
Disassembling that door card assembly to access the switch takes me back. I had a BMW Bavaria (E3 series for the nerds) and the window would dislodge from the manual window winder assembly and fall into the door. I had to remove the door card to put it back in the mechanism and it happened so frequently that my time dropped from over an hour the first time I did it, locating all the hidden screws, clips and whatnot to about 10 minutes. I tried everything to stop it from reoccurring, shims, adhesives, but then a friend who had a 2800 E3 who had the same problem told me the cure. Glass drill bit through the glass where it sat in the mechanism and holes drilled in the mechanism to match, bolt it in with some red Loctite, and never happened again.
Wonderful job on the car so far. It runs beautifully, and it was fantastic to see the hydraulic system come back to life. Your less-is-more approach is refreshing, and exactly the kind of skill that's needed when working on complex vintage iron. Such an amazing car and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress with it.
I'm a huge fan of this era of Mercedes Benz cars, and have owned a '66 W111 250SE Coupe with 4-on-the-floor and electric sunroof, since early '92. In '94ish, I was working in a local German independent shop and we had a 600 come in with a suspension failure. The owners were on a little vacation/road trip from Los Angeles in it, and coming up through coastal California (we're about 200mi north). The car was simply amazing and in as-new condition. I was lucky enough to get to work on it, replacing the failed rubber "half donuts" that cover the bottoms of the big suspension cylinders. It pumped itself back up, and away they went.
Thank you very much. And that's a great story! 👏
I was lucky enough to grow up in the family with a 1971 6.3l 280 SEL, they where called here in Australia, so ahead of it's time, four speed automatic, rare for the time, amazing two stage Hydraulic suspension, and power everything, freezing cold Air Con, fantastic long distance car, for Australia's outback.
Watching a highly skilled person applying their knowledge and years of experience to a simple but for most other people highly challenging issue - perfect, thank you Iain, one of your best videos yet
Thank you too!
Aside from its wonderful tech, just want to say what a handsome car this is in its "regular" wheelbase form. Not a bad angle on it.
And thanks Iain for a fascinating insight.
I fully agree. It's beautifully proportioned for such a big car without making it look like a high roof line car. I really like 60's to 80's Mercedes but they usually have a somewhat questionable line or shape somewhere on the car, not this one.
It has considerable presence too. It is a big car, but it doesn't always look like it.
I can't believe how completely immersed I got in this! Fascinating stuff and well put together! 👏
Perfect timing! I’ve literally just had my meagre Sunday evening crust….time to settle down to a nice episode of Tyrell’s Classic Workshop and dream of what might have been if my life had turned out a little differently. 🙂
Dream away... hope you enjoy it.
I once had a 1951 Buick convertible. The windows, power seat, and (if I recall correctly) top all worked off a hydraulic system with a reservoir and pump under the hood and plumbing for it running everywhere. Unfortunately, in time, the plumbing developed various leaks and if it leaked in a place where the hydraulic fluid could find its way to the body work it took off the paint. The windows worked just as you described, sinking down by gravity when the switch opened a valve and with fluid being pumped in (with a great whirring noise under the hood) to raise them.
Wow, just wow. I'm literally speechless having watched this video. Thank you.
Thank you too
Ian. I find these videos so interesting. Your delivery is perfect. Editing very good. Details, details, details. Lovely.
Hope all is well. ❤
Thank you. Hopefully will improve on both counts soon
you have to admire a man who wears and uses his watch as designed - just dive into that engine compartment! What an amazing system on this car; very interesting.
Dear Iain, your videos are superb and I watch frequently. Thank you for taking the time to make these. This one is particularly interesting to me for two reasons, firstly the 600 is a masterpiece and the information you provide is fascinating and delivered in an eloquent and almost Attenboroughesk style; secondly, the silver shadow featured at 1:38, NXG1G is the actual one I owned for a few years and I miss it! Thanks again.
What an incredible and amazing video Iain, thank you for c 45 mins of complete, immersive escapism with your usual dash of humour! Just brilliant. David
Thank you also David
Mr Tyrrell if I may say your best video yet? Incredible to see you do your magic. Many thanks for the wonderful and fascinating material.
Thank you- much appreciated
Great to see the original colour for the door card behind the wood trim.
Mr. Tyrrrell, this is only the second video I have watched & I am hooked. Many thanks for sharing your expertise.
Here's a guy who knows that a couple of little tappets on a window switch on a 1963 German car requires a special glue! Incredible
Such a treasured TH-cam channel. Keep up the incredibly insightful and ENJOYABLE bits of filming and automobilia. ❤❤❤❤
Thank you
Your absolutely correct about the use of „Grosser“ in German. It was never called that here in Germany. People rather called it the Pullman, even when referring to non-Pullman versions. Or simply the 600
best video I have seen in a long time. I thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm and delight in seeing this system come alive!
Thanks!
I came for the best and stayed for the würst. Fascinating hydraulic system. Thanks Iain.
Thank you
NICE You have the Verst "NOT" humor yet..
I see what you did there 😄
This was a Masterclass in Explanation..............Mind Boggling.............
GREAT to see you Happy as Larry at the 3/4 stage!
Always a pleasure see a professional at work.The attention to detail in the work you do is out of this world.Not every Mercedes garage will work on these.
Thank you
Engineering on another level ,that door window mechanism still fit for purpose in 2024 thanks Iain.
I asked and you delivered! Fantastic video. Amazing that the system appears to be in such good order. My claim to fame with the 600 was seeing one in the parking field during the Festival of Speed at Goodwood. A person was trying to close the bootlid by trying to force it closed. I knew enough to run over shouting for him to stop and show them the correct way before they caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the system. He was very grateful as it was a friend's car. Wish I had asked to have closer look around it at the time.....😪
Thanks for that
Maybe Jay Leno should speak with you. He said that to replace those window switches were $10,000 each. He should have you look at them.
Great stuff! An unbelievable depth of knowledge about so many classic cars.
Thanks!
Thank you! :-)
Unbelievable piece of engineering work far beyond the needs of a "normal" driver/owner. A perfectly understandable explanation of functionalities by a real expert! I love these videos - thanks a million times and please carry on!
Coldwarmotors went through the hydraulic window system on a 1953 Oldsmobile Holiday Hardtop. I'm pretty sure it worked exactly how Mr Tyrell said, with the hydraulic cylinder pushing the windows up and a big spring (with help from gravity) pulling them open. Very smooth and quiet when working properly.
Perfect video. Relaxed. Incredibly informative. So much more interesting than the wash it and polish approach. Thank you.
What a pleasant surprise on this first day of September!
Hope you enjoy it
@@iain_tyrrell I've enjoyed all of your videos and I'm sure the streak will continue! Cheers!
Absolutely loved this episode - watching a legendary 600 hydraulic system get the masters touch from Iain.😊
Thank you so much for this video. I learned so much about the hydraulic system in the 600. Now I know it has a hydraulic system, but I learned a lot from you how it works in the 600 Mercedes thank you cannot wait for the next video.
Thank you
I am utterly impressed by Mr Ian Tyrell’s patience. Never a bad word, always patient and passionate about what he is doing. He lives and aspires genuine passion and deserves the best of mandates. Getting clients from all over the world. Such a true gentleman 😊. God bless him and we are so happy to share his true passion. I love the way he says he is coming up with something new very soon. I hope that at some point he will make a 1967-1968 Mustang Fastback S Code with a 390 engine. May the good forces be with you in year 2025 Mr Tyrell. Happy Healthy Successful New Year 🎊🎈🎉🎼🙏🏻🤗🧨🎆🥂🍾
One of your best videos of all time !!
Thank you very much! 👏👏
Another blooming brilliant presentation by the Maestro, that was, as usual, fascinating, educational and entertaining.
Well Iain, I reckon that the Maybach brand was around far earlier than the 1960s AND far from being invented as a car brand by Daimler Benz.
Founded in 1909, Maybach were involved in the engine manufacture for various vehicles, most notably, Zeppelins, Railcars and so on. Their first pro type car appeared in 1919 and they made expensive and luxurious automobiles from 1921 up to 1940. Their involvement with military vehicles spanned both World Wars with airship and aircraft example in WW1 and tank engines in WW2.
The 600 Grosser is something else, I was gobsmacked see see in the garage of the brother of a friend of my sister’s in a quaint Rhein side village, a concours black example together with a pristine Pagoda and one or two other unvleiveable cars. I asked whether Peter regularly drives any of them, “Oh no he maintains them but hardly takes them far, he sticks to his daily drivers, they are far too precious”. Green with envy, moi?
Thanks- I did know that but for some reason came out all wrong!
I LOVE the Grosser!
You are in good company here.
Always adored the 600. Hugely complex but so satisfying when all the gizmos work
Iain, your depth of knowledge is out of this world!
All the best from Greece!
Thanks Arthur! Very satisfying indeed when it all comes together.
I used to think comments about the chrome plated door jams was an exaggeration about the excesses of some M-B products - until I finally saw them.
Fantastic, as always. I have been curious about the 600 for a long time. Great Stuff!
Elvis Presley had 3 Mercedes 600's and all 3 still exist. Two are still in the possession of the Presley estate and one is on permanent display in Memphis. Elvis loved them and one of them featured in the 1972 "On Tour" documentary.
Thanks for the information
What a masterpiece. Thanks Ian for the deep dive on this incredible showcase of engineering.
Pleasure- thank you
Glad you enjoyed it