Pagoda SL Group
W113 Pagoda SL Group => Photo Gallery => Topic started by: kampala on June 25, 2013, 20:33:49
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I was in California for the last couple of weeks and hence was united with the Pagoda. My 12-year-old son and I took her up to the local mountains for some boating and fishing … a very enjoyable few days. Since I am in France and the car stays in California, I don’t get these opportunities often.
We have owned this car for about 9 months and this was our first long run.
In fact, according to the vehicle's document history, the 350 miles (560km) we put on the odometer during this short trip was more than the car has done in the last decade. The original owners drove the car about 90,000 miles in the first 20 years and then about 8,000 miles in the last 25 years.
Our drive started in Hermosa Beach California, at an elevation of a few feet, and we drove to Big Bear Lake to an elevation of about 7,600 feet (2300 meters). Unfortunately the drive requires a significant amount of Los Angeles highway driving prior to reaching the smaller and enjoyable mountain roads. We drove mostly with the top down and this was great except when we were surrounded by 18-wheelers barreling down the 5-lane highways --- a bit intimidating when you are next to one in a topless car and are able to see the underside of their trailers bouncing. On the highways we were running at 60 - 70 MPH (about 110 KPH). The car has a 4-speed manual gearbox and the RPM at these speeds ranged from 3,200 - 3,800 in 4th gear. Wish I had that 5th gear! I was impressed how well the car drove at these highway speeds and how stable it felt. At these high revs you clearly have power at your toes even at these speeds.
The TOM TOM GPS was showing the speed within about 1 MPH of the speedometer (running on correct size185 tires). I did notice that occasionally the speedometer needle would bounce quite a bit before settling down. Not sure if this is a symptom of something about to fail as it only occurred occasionally.
It was a hot June day and when we reached the base of the climb, I checked the temperature gauge on the car and the outside temperature. Engine temperature was normal at just above 180F on the dash gauge and outside temperature was at 83F. I expected the engine to heat up quite a bit during the upcoming climb based on remembering the common sight in the old days of cars on the side of the road cooling off with their hoods/ bonnets up. Also I’ve read on this forum much about these cars overheating. To my surprise, by the time we reached 7500 feet the temperature only went up very slightly.
The power felt decent up the climb and I didn't notice any change due to the slight altitude. I kept the RPM’s pretty high during most of the climb, as it just felt right.
The car seemed to handle decent around the tight bends ... not like a tight sports car, but not bad. It’s running on relatively new Coker Phoenix tires and new Bilstein shocks. Since I don’t know the car well enough, I was extra careful around the corners, slowing as I felt a sway. I am sure I could have pushed it … but took it easy around the curves.
Fuel consumption averaged at 18 miles to the USA gallon – I believe the Imperial gallon is 20% larger so this would equate to about 22 miles per Imperial /UK Gallon. To confuse or clarify, this is about 13 liters per 100km. This consumption was a mix of highway, city and mountain driving using premium unleaded fuel available in California.
We did some night driving in the mountains and I expected weak headlights but was pleasantly surprised with the low and high beams. In city driving I have not been able to judge the headlights so this was nice to see.
It was great to stretch her legs and get to know some of the nuances … never knowing if a new noise is normal or not.
Oh yeah …. we did catch some trout … but my son is a vegi, so we released them all. A very fun time.
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Congrats on your sucessful drive. Love the paddlewheeler in the background. Car looks great as well.
When I started reading about going fishing and boating I was expecting to see your car pulling a boat and trailer. That I'd love to see.
There was a recent post about bouncing speedo needles and there is a nut somewhere under the tranny - check the recent posts, it didn't sound that huge of a deal for a mechanically minded enthusiast.
I know what you mean about handling - then I pushed my car around some curves and chickened out before I found the limit.
Catch and release is the best type of fishing in my mind - makes the fisherman not only think about the catch but preserving life....
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Hello Oz,
Great story and that sure was a good way for you and your son to take a "test drive" in your recently acquired 250 SL. Back in '68 I took delivery of my 280 SL at a MB dealer in Hermosa Beach (long gone now) and lived close by in Torrance. Made that drive up to the San Bernardino Mountains many times and there were a few less cars on the roads then. Never noticed the high RPMs in those days but now after loping along at 2+K RPM at 70mph in 6 or 7 speed equipped cars, it seems pretty buzzy and I keep reaching for that "invisible" 5th gear :) Also my needle started bouncing after the car was 5 or 6 years old and still does occasionally now.
Thanks for the story and pictures of your beautiful 250.
John
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Great story. Being separated from your car for long periods must be difficult. We feel your pain! Any plans to ship the car to France?
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John -- amazing that you picked up your Pagoda in 1968 in hermosa beach!! The town has changed dramatically in the last few years. It's lost it's hippie feel, and gone are landmarks such as bijoux theater and backburner cafe. Still nice, but not as nice as it was just 10 years ago. I wonder if you ever serviced your pagoda at Folded Wings in Hermosa? It's now a tanning salon .. A tanning salon at one of the best beaches around here ... Go figure.
Ian, I will look up the speedo needle topic. Appreciated.
71beige - I have considered shipping the Pagoda to France ... But I have been thinking about getting a second one to bring to France. Kind of crazy ... But if I find the right one ... It will be hard to resist.
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John -- amazing that you picked up your Pagoda in 1968 in hermosa beach!! The town has changed dramatically in the last few years. It's lost it's hippie feel, and gone are landmarks such as bijoux theater and backburner cafe. Still nice, but not as nice as it was just 10 years ago. I wonder if you ever serviced your pagoda at Folded Wings in Hermosa? It's now a tanning salon .. A tanning salon at one of the best beaches around here ... Go figure.
Yes, lots of changes all over So Cal for sure. My brother lived right off of Pier Ave over looking the pier and I had friends over on 31st Ave. The good old days for sure:-) We moved away from the South Bay in the late 70s so no, never went to Folded Wings. The Mercedes Dealer (Carwell Mercedes) is now a Holiday Inn. It was a couple of blocks south of Vasek Polak Porsche on PCH and it too, is long gone.
John
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Sounds great
Our friend stickandrudderman told me that one of the things he most loved about the car was the barometric pressure valve, a legacy of MB making engines for Messerschmits etc. Sounds like you used yours to good effect.
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Come on, it's not a valve, it's a compensator!
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Dear Oz,
What a great story and tour.
Really enjoyed it.
Hope to see you soon again.
All the best,
Achim
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Great story Oz, thanks for sharing.
Like yourself I only have my car for a little while (found her in March of this year and purchased her in May). Like your car it was driven very little in the past 20 years. The lady that owned the car only drove her about 4,300 miles in the past 20 years. The car has a few tiny oil leaks (I think it has to do with gaskets having dried up due to lack of operation). I decided to drive the car for a spell and keep my eyes on the oil leaks.
Believe it or not since May I've put over 1000 miles on this fine automobile ... as they say the car is meant to be driven not hidden away in a garage :)
My odometer was replaced in 1992 during a light restoration (I assume it must have also had bouncing needle issues ~ I will find out later this year when I meet the people that made the restoration. I do have the original odometer).
Temperature wise I have issues that I need to address, as you know the engine on the 280 is the same as on your 250. The cylinder bores are larger so this makes the wall sections between cylinders and the water passages thinner leading to higher temperatures. Benz Dr. recommended to add water wet to the radiator and perhaps a oil cooler and a larger cooling fan. I will properly have to have that done since temperature on highway driving does approach the red danger area (200 F) and I have to make sure not to go there.
Like you I undertook 2 long test drives and know what you mean by them trucks ;D quite frightening when they overtake you at 120 KM/HR while I go around 100 KM/HR. I have to plan country roads on my Tom Tom in future :)
Thanks again for a great story and the photos !
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Rolf-Dieter: usually, it's not the highway driving that forces temperatures up into the danger zone, but stop-and-go traffic in high ambient summer temperatures. So if yours tends to overheat on the highway, I'd definitely take care of that before you're caught in more demanding circumstances.
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The temperature of my car is perfect on highway but going up dramatically in very slow traffic.
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The temperature of my car is perfect on highway but going up dramatically in very slow traffic.
Artur went recently through the whole chain of possible causes changing most of the suspected culprits on his Pagoda. Eventually it turned out that his radiator was half filled with rust. After fixing that problem the temperature in his car is always just below the 180 mark, slightly going above in traffic jams.
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I had the same thoughts Stan, thanks. Will check the radiator soon.
Greetings: Ger.
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Thanks Everyone on the Temperature heads up ... a radiator flush is on the To Do List :) My car hade very low milage in the past 4 years and been locked up in a heated / air conditioned collectors garage for about 4 years. So the radiator may well be the source of my temperature issues.
I know when took the 400 mile round trip on the fathers day weekend she came close to the 200 mark on the way there (ambient temperature was around 80 F) then on the way home it was better with lower ambient temperature. In any case I will keep a sharp eye on the temperature gauge in the meantime.
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The temperature of my car is perfect on highway but going up dramatically in very slow traffic.
Could be that your fan is not working. Check the viscous coupling.
Peter
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The issue of overheating has been discussed quite a bit on the forum, use the search function and you should be able to find more information. The fan clutch should be tight when stopped and cool (you should be able to just turn it by hand). There should not be any wobble either. Although that could also come from the water pump - it should not wobble either. Another point to check.