Author Topic: Worthwhile Book or Not? (Read 10970 times)

Amanda · « **on:** August 27, 2006, 12:42:45 »

I'm trying to collect some reference materials to get a bit more up to speed on restoration and maintenance. I've got "Original Mercedes SL" by Meredith and I've ordered a copy of Chilton's Repair Guide.

I came across "Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion: Insights on Service, Repair, Maintenance and Procedures" (http://www.themotorbookstore.com/mercedes-benz-service.html) and I noticed it is not on the list uder publications. Has anyone got a copy of this - is it not much use for the W113?

Thanks.

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #1 on:** August 27, 2006, 15:17:06 »

Amanda,

quote:
Has anyone got a copy of this - is it not much use for the W113?

There are the odd useful bits in it, but you'd be better off investing in the Haynes Manual or the reprint of the Autobooks manual on the 230SL and the BBB (Big Blue Book) if you can find the right one for the 230SL

68 280SL

mdsalemi · « **Reply #2 on:** August 27, 2006, 18:04:13 »

Hello Amanda,

I have the book in question; it isn't much use for 113 owners I'm afraid. You might consider:

Mercedes Benz Illustrated Buyer's Guide by Frank Barrett; Chapter 10 covers the 113's and is very useful.

Mercedes Benz Gold Portfolio 230/250/280SL(Brooklands Books)which is a compilation of original test reports etc.--dozens upon dozens of them.

Mercedes Benz SL & SLC by LJK Setright.

There are others of course. Don't forget Total Restore--the Video, which shows some stuff in progress.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #3 on:** August 28, 2006, 09:53:52 »

I think that your car comes with a BBB, if you get everything that was shown in the pictures. This alone tells me that the previous owner was a sympathetic custodian of the car.

quote:
Originally posted by naj

Amanda,
There are the odd useful bits in it, but you'd be better off investing in the Haynes Manual or the reprint of the Autobooks manual on the 230SL and the BBB (Big Blue Book) if you can find the right one for the 230SL

68 280SL

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

joelj · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2006, 10:17:50 »

Hi Mike,

Who sells Total restore the video and what are the contents of the video.

Thanks

Joel

quote:
Originally posted by mdsalemi

Hello Amanda,

I have the book in question; it isn't much use for 113 owners I'm afraid. You might consider:

Mercedes Benz Illustrated Buyer's Guide by Frank Barrett; Chapter 10 covers the 113's and is very useful.

Mercedes Benz Gold Portfolio 230/250/280SL(Brooklands Books)which is a compilation of original test reports etc.--dozens upon dozens of them.

Mercedes Benz SL & SLC by LJK Setright.

There are others of course. Don't forget Total Restore--the Video, which shows some stuff in progress.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

1969 280sl auto
White exterior
Blue interior

Jonny B · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2006, 10:27:36 »

There are several different places, but a quick search, turned up www.totalrestore.com where you can buy it directly, $29.95 in the US plus shipping. I believe there is a thread on the site about this video, which chronicles from hulk to show for a 230SL. Lots and lots of good tips.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

Amanda · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2006, 11:16:57 »

Thanks for all the input. The car is actually arriving today!!! Super fast shipping, I did not expect it for at least a week. I believe it should have a copy of the BBB with it, and I am going to order a copy of the video.

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #7 on:** August 28, 2006, 18:44:15 »

Well? Is it as nice as it looked in the pictures? How does it drive?

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda

Thanks for all the input. The car is actually arriving today!!! Super fast shipping, I did not expect it for at least a week. I believe it should have a copy of the BBB with it, and I am going to order a copy of the video.

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

Bob G · « **Reply #8 on:** August 28, 2006, 18:58:56 »

Excellant book added to my library plus the 300-E owners bible since I own a W124 sportline.
I cannot wait till we come out with our own book on the W113. waiting!!!!

Bob Geco

Amanda · « **Reply #9 on:** August 28, 2006, 22:55:19 »

My car is here!!

It definitely has some issues (it is clearly not as "original" as represented), but it looks pretty, is comfortable and is very fun to drive. It seems to run relatively well, although it has a bit of a misfire?/backfire? problem as you slow down to a stop from accelleration/driving. I hoping to get it into the mechanic asap.

Thanks for all the info and support. I'm so glad I found this site.

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

France · « **Reply #10 on:** August 29, 2006, 01:20:23 »

Amanda,

Oh joy, a new toy for us all to play with! Carling makes a wonderful deceleration sound--a gentle poh-poh-poh, a kind of burble--which sounds wonderful with the top down.

I use Haynes and find it suitable for all my repairs and adjustments. Meredith is interesting for colours, etc. Happy Pagoda to you!

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
The fastest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

rwmastel · « **Reply #11 on:** August 29, 2006, 11:09:19 »

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda

I came across "Mercedes-Benz Technical Companion: Insights on Service, Repair, Maintenance and Procedures" (http://www.themotorbookstore.com/mercedes-benz-service.html) and I noticed it is not on the list uder publications. Has anyone got a copy of this - is it not much use for the W113?

As you've been told, this book has little on W113. It probably has little on every chassis because it covers virtually everything. It is a summary of articles out of The Star magazine, the very nice MBCA magazine. They did make a complilation of reprints on the W113. I've looked at their site and can't find a link to it. I will look in my latest copy of The Star.

Rodd
Powell, Ohio, USA
1966 230SL, Euro, Auto, Leather, both tops
1994 E420

norton · « **Reply #12 on:** August 29, 2006, 13:14:23 »

Here's a link to a few SL books http://www.toadhallbook.com/book.cfm?GI=1&CI=5

Mike Halleck
Chesterfield Mi
71 280SL
68 250SL (parts car)
94 E320 Coupe

Amanda · « **Reply #13 on:** August 29, 2006, 13:43:06 »

Thanks Mike, that was a good link. Several books were listed that have not come up on other sites I've searched - including the compilation of W113 reprints I believe Rodd was referencing.

Amanda
1966 230SL
Manual
Red/Tan
Los Angeles

mdsalemi · « **Reply #14 on:** August 29, 2006, 15:19:23 »

FYI Amanda, Toad Hall is Frank Barrett; Frank Barrett was publisher of the MBCA's award winning STAR Magazine (will leave in 2007)and is also the author of one of the books I mentioned.

Michael Salemi
1969 280SL
Signal Red w/Black Leather
Restored

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #15 on:** August 29, 2006, 18:54:33 »

quote:
Originally posted by Amanda

My car is here!!

...It seems to run relatively well, although it has a bit of a misfire?/backfire? problem as you slow down to a stop from accelleration/driving...

Your exhaust popping probably occurs as you decelerate through around 2500 down to about 1800 RPM, right? This seems to be a characteristic of many, but not all, Pagodas. I shouldn't worry about it too much, it the car is running well otherwise.

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

France · « **Reply #16 on:** August 30, 2006, 01:02:17 »

Mike,

Not only Pagodas. You should hear our 70s Detomaso Longchamp (6-ltr American engine--actually the same one used in the Boss Mustang)--and our Ford GT-40 decelerating down a hill. POH-POH-POH!
It's the beautiful sound of many of the 70s car engines, perfectly tuned and running... the fun thing is that the Longchamp looks so elegant but sounds like a demon. Carling sounds like a lady politely burping.

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.

Mike Hughes · « **Reply #17 on:** August 30, 2006, 14:53:47 »

Seems like we've unintentionally hijacked this thread, which was originally about Pagoda books! Mea Culpa!

- Mike Hughes -ô¿ô-
1966 230SL Auto P/S
Havanna Brown (408)
Light Beige (181)
Cream M-B Tex (121)

France · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2006, 00:49:23 »

So it's only right we put it back on track...Amanda, I seem to remember notations in this forum about errata in the Meredith book--you might want to check these out before relying on him for restoration data...

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France
The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.

Peter van Es · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2006, 02:53:32 »

You may also want to have a look here http://www.sl113.org/publications.asp. It will show you all titles on one easy page.

Peter

Check out http://bali.esweb.nl for photographs of classic car events and my 1970 280 SL

66andBlue · « **Reply #20 on:** December 29, 2006, 16:56:50 »

Here is a worthwhile book.

While browsing the shelves at our local Science, Engineering & Technology Library [Linda Hall Library, probably one of the top 5 SE&T libraries in the world: http://www.lhl.lib.mo.us/] I came across the book Mercedes-Benz: The first hundred years by Richard. M. Langworth and the auto editors of Consumer Guide. It has quite a collection of nice b&w and color pictures and very interesting chapters on Pioneering the Supercharger, Pioneering the Diesel Automobile, M-B in Competition etc, etc.

To my pleasant surprise it can be bought at Amazon.com for less than $1! But not under its title or author – there the price goes up to $10 – but under the ISBN code: 0517381990. If you search using only the ISBN it will show up as Mercedes (Hardcover) by RH Value Publishing and the cheapest one is currently listed for $0.60.
Nice book and at that price you can't loose much.

Download Attachment:

100years.jpg
76.77 KB

Alfred
1966 blue 230SL automatic

cth350 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 01, 2007, 08:32:19 »

I was given "The SL Experience" for Christmas. I can't praise the book enough as being the right mix of technical, estetics, economics, and history. I know the author from another benz club, and he's as interesting as the book.

The book covers all the SL models from the creation of the concept (the 1952 gullwing race car) to the present day SLK and SLR with lots of stops along the way for each generation of the family.

John (the author) also published a monthly "SL Newsletter". If you are looking to buy an SL or to sell one, this publication is important. If you're interested in what other people are doing in terms of buying and selling, the newsletter is worth reading.
It is more than just adverts, there are solid and researched opinions and clear insight from a seasoned researcher.

-CTH

Bob G · « **Reply #22 on:** January 02, 2007, 16:38:41 »

Well I am parchel to liking this book because of the detailing article that Dennis Adler and my self did using a friends Red 280SL. but then I did fine some interesting articles like setting the fuel injection. There are a lot of technical articles collected from the Star publication in this book. If you are intrested tn this then for $30.00 this book should be added to your library.
Bob Geco

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Author Topic: Worthwhile Book or Not? (Read 10970 times)

Amanda

joelj

Amanda

Bob G

Amanda

norton

Amanda

Bob G