Question: Electronic Ignition...

[stjohnwg]

I have driven my 1969 280SL for a dozen years now.  It sees about 2,000 miles a year and still has under 100K.  It has a gentle charm, but it not a show car.

I am facing a problem many of you must have solved a decade or more ago.  My shop, Import Motors in Oakland says they no longer have a good supply for condensers for tune-ups.  I have already had one set of points burn out, and the rework has held well for 1,200 miles.  What Import is suggesting is moving to electronic ignition, but my car is a laggard - this is work they did for a number of customers a while ago and they don't have a specific source for the electronic ignition.

My question: what did people in the club do when they were faced with this decision?  Do you have a reliable source for conventional tune-up parts?  If a goodly number of you went to electronic iginition, what unit(s) did you find performed well, and where might I get one?

I'll take responsibility for my decision on this, I just need some knowledgeable and experienced advice...

Thank you,

  Wayne

[merrill]

wayne,
try autohauz arizona

http://www.autohausaz.com/search/product.aspx?sid=uzazcluzaag1in2pawb13h55&makeid=800016@Mercedes&modelid=1193486@280SL&year=1969&cid=25@Ignition%20Parts&gid=7092@Condenser

  Bosch
Condenser
For models with chassis serial number through 10-004596 (M/T) and 12-007229 (A/T). 1 per car  

they have this item listed at just under $4.

I have had good service from them.

matt

Matt
66 230 sl - "white"
78 300 D - Blue
98 C230

[rogerh113]

I would highly recommend Pertronics as a replacement for points and condenser.  I initially wanted to stay original when I got my '66 230SL, but found myself replacing points more often than I would like, and suffering associate performance issues when they started to fail.  The Pertronix has performed flawlessly for me for the last 6 years or so, and I cannot imagine going back to the old points and condenser.  Install is easy, with no electronic boxes or additional wiring required.  I am not associated with Pertronix in any way whatsoever, but am sold on their product.  One of the best 'upgrades' I have ever done on the car.

Roger

[J. Huber]

Hey Wayne. Do a search on ignition and you will find lots of info. Many folks have converted to electronic ignition and swear by it. Others have switched and became disillusioned (and some switched back). Still others, like myself, have stuck with points. I have had very good luck with points -- they wear out, of course, but not unduly fast. To answer your question about availability -- all the traditional tune-up parts are out there -- and not expensive at all.

James
63 230SL

[ja17]

Hello Wayne,

If you have the factory electronic ignition, the condensor has the long green wire that attaches to the electronic box. These condensors are a little pricey compared to the earlier short wire condensor for standard ignitions.

If you are having durability problems with the ignition parts, most likely your ignition parts are no longer matched up with each other. Check your distributor number, coil number, ignition ballast resistor number and the condensor number. Find out which parts work together.

Joe Alexander
Blacklick, Ohio

[paulr]

I think electronic ignition is the best thing that I have done to my car. Do a search and see my earlier posts. My £500 was for everything, complete distributor, condensor, fitting and tune up. The idle is 750 steady all the time, not even a flicker and it all works smoothly. Before this, my car was like a spluttering pig. Original is fine but if it's not working then why not change, it's not the worse modification you can make.

paulr

[Raymond]

You know, with as many sources for points and condensors as there are out there, I would suspect your shop's interest in working on your car.  How can they be in the repair business and not know where to get after-market ignitions?  You might want to find someone who really knows old Benz's. If you aren't going to do the install yourself, you might want a specialist to do it.

I know a few people who use the Crane X700 and are very happy years in.  One of them endured several problems with a Pertronics before giving up and having a flawless experience with the Crane.

I am planning a Crane for my car this spring.

I saw Naj's 280SL with a Crane, and he carries a point set, condensor, in the engine compartment, under the cover of the little seam well over the wheel.  That way if he ever did have a problem, he could effect a roadside reversion to points and get home.  Clever, I thought.

Ray
'68 280SL 4-spd Coupe

[TheEngineer]

Wayne: The points work well if the distributor is not worn out. The shaft wears and then wobbles as it turns. So you get erratic timing and perhaps more wear of the points. The condenser should really not wear out. I tried Pertronix, they have two versions and I tried them both. I just get better results with points. It's true that points must be checked and adjusted but I don't mind. I also modified my distributor to obtain about 33° advance and use regular gas. Timing is set to the book, i.e. 3° after TDC at idle. Idle is about 600-650. It works so well now that I recommend it to everyone who will listen. My pistons are Mahle flat top and that forms a squish area to further compress part of the fuel-air mixture to promote smooth combustion. (not my description, it comes from Honda)

'69 280SL,Signal Red,Automatic,retired engineer, West-Seattle,WA