Expensive Shifter

[ctaylor738]

I've become Comfortably Numb to the costs of my 280SL project, but what I had to spend to refurbish the shifter amazed me.

I thought it would be a piece of cake.  Pop the clip off the pin, remove the pin with the bushings, remove the snap ring on the side, remove the big shaft, install new bushings, clean and lube everything and re-assemble in reverse order.

Well, at least removing the clip and the snap ring went OK.

Problem is, the shifter has been sitting around unused since 1996 and the pins, bushings, big shaft had corrosion-fused themselves together.  Despite a couple of days' application of Blaster, and heat, the pin would not budge.  I used vise grips to loosen the bushings and was able to get the top one off.  But I finally had to drill a hole in the housing so I could drive the pin out with a punch.

So I decided to replace the pin and the two bushings.  I should have known better - they are 112 part numbers.  To add insult to injury, as I was putting the pin assembly back together, the clip broke.

Anyway, it's now back together, and semi-installed, and actually shifts the transmission.  The tab:

Side bushings for big shaft - $42
Pin and bushings - $152
Retaining clip - $2
Connecting linkage bushings - $12
Good used rubber boot - $125 (new lists for $260)
Shift gate insert - $58
New knob - $75
Light and wiring - $100

[TR]

Hi Chuck.  It's nice to "E-meet" you.

I guess the only good news here is we're not paying 300 SL prices for parts ... or at least not yet, eh?

I hope I've got the right Chuck here (please pardon me if I don't).  And I say that because you might have driven my 280 SL since I have.  That would be the red one from Idaho with the new engine, which Gernold drove down to Tom Sargeant's event maybe 6 or 7 weeks ago.  Maybe you met our kids, who were also there at Tom's place?  BTW, our kids really, really enjoyed meeting everyone there.

[ctaylor738]

That's me.  Gernold stayed with us while he was here, so we had your car in the driveway for a few days.  Gernold did let me drive it on a Starbucks run.  Very nice - good acceleration even with the tall rear end, to say nothing of the power windows and heat/massage seats.

I did enjoy meeting your kids, and hope they will join us at future events.

Cheers,

[TR]

Good morning Chuck.  I was pretty sure that was you.

Our mutual and good friend, Gernold, had told me about visiting with you and your having driven the car.  I'm glad you did and really appreciate your feedback regarding the acceleration.  A little extra oomph, coupled with the ability to comfortably cruise via the 3.27 real axle, is just what we were shooting for.  Between all the excellent & continuing efforts by Gernold, supported by Mike at Metric Motors (engine), plus the good folks with Paul Russell (real axle setup) we might have achieved something reasonably worthwhile.  As you may be aware between Mike (at Metric) and myself the new engine was nicknamed "the Pixie Dust project".  But because of some of the fun additions, such as the seat heaters / coolers / massagers, modern rearview mirror, power windows, etc., Gernold came to refer to it as the "Area 51 car".  I rather like that.  But, as you probably know, all those things can be easily undone and returned to original configuration if & when the mood ever strikes.

BTW, we're pretty much down to the point now of trying to select the best option for new white wall tires, and making some minor improvements to the hardtop.

Since our kids are now living in the D.C. area I suspect they would want to attend any such future events.  I believe their interaction with everyone at Tom' Sargeant's event convinced them that not everyone who loves the W113 has to be a geezer (as they probably, and naturally, would view their old man!).  And Tom, if you happen to read this, thanks!

[Flyair]

Chuck
just as a spare time activity, I wanted to see what it would take to have the same parts purchased in Europe. If you assume that - if everything you bought  - would be sourced new, you would have spent about 800$ if my count is correct.
It may not improve your feeling of being ripped of by suppliers of those parts, but, just running three major suppliers' websites in Germany I came to a hefty 1350$ without shipping, which would add around 200-250$.
We are not yet at the 300SL prices, but not that far either

Hope at least that you got it right and everything works fine…. 

[ctaylor738]

Like I said in the original post, I don't feel ripped off, just numb to cost at this point.  I do wish I understood better how Mercedes prices parts like the small pin and bushings, though.  It can't be cost-based.  Maybe it's scarcity.  But some stuff is very reasonable.  About a week later I bought the front exhaust pipes, which is a substantial part, for about $250. Go figure.

[Benz Dr.]

It depends on how many cars share the same part. Front ipes for a 113 are also the same on 111, 108 and 109 if they use the same engine. A rear brake disc is the same way except they cover even more cars such as 111, 113, 112, 108, 109, 114, 115, 116, 107, 126, 123 and mayby a few more. There are also a lot of different suppliers for these parts.

The parts used in a 300SL shifter are the same parts used in a 113 standard so they're not that much. Changing those bushings on a 300SL can be quite a challenge though because you have to remove the tunnel cover which isn't that easy to do.

 The pricing structure that MB uses often makes no sense at all. Several years ago, a lot of the things we bought for our old cars were purchased from specialty dealers such as Bud's or K&K. Once MB saw a really good market they expaned into it and many prices rose dramaticly shorty thereafter. The Classic Center operations are said to be the most profitable divison they now have. I wonder why.......

[66andBlue]

... But some stuff is very reasonable.  About a week later I bought the front exhaust pipes, which is a substantial part, for about $250. ....

Hi Chuck,
hope you are not going to be disappointed a second time. Just learned from a shop owner that on the set he bought from MB one pipe was about 1-2 cm too short! No way he could install them.

[ctaylor738]

Looks like I dodged that particular bullet. I didn't have too much difficulty installing the pipe assembly once I got the car high enough with some wooden blocks in addition to the jack stands.  It took some pushing and shoving to get it into place and then supporting the lower part so I could get the nuts started.  Because I was working alone it took some creativity to hold the nuts while tightening the screws.  Not having the intake manifold in place was a huge help.