Looking for service or teardown manual for W108

[rutger kohler]

Hi, i am looking for a service manual or tear down manual for a 1972 280SE 3.5.  i have looked on the Haynes website and the closest one they have is one that includes the W113 280SL, I already have this andf it is not suitable for the above model.  Any suggestions plse?

[dpreston Virginia]

I have a dealers parts book for the 108. It's over 750 pages and shows parts, assembly diagrams and has the complete mercedes parts number that only the dealer had.
Email me if interested
David Preston

Dpreston00@gmail.com

[scoot]

Is this the type of manual you are looking for?  There was one for sale in Oz recently, I posted a link on OZBENZ.
http://www.sl113.org/wiki/Documents/BBB

[rutger kohler]

Hi Guys, thanks for that, yesterday, I went over to see Andy Burns and he has loaned me two volumes of the BBB so I am very happy abd these will cover anything I want at the moment. 

Just one thing though, when looking at the different 280SE's referenced in the BBB, the first in the list is the 280SE/8 which appears to relate to the 6 cylinder model with the M130 engine, whist my 280SE 3.5 seems to be covered by the 280SE 9/3.5, is this correct? 

[scoot]

Just one thing though, when looking at the different 280SE's referenced in the BBB, the first in the list is the 280SE/8 which appears to relate to the 6 cylinder model with the M130 engine, whist my 280SE 3.5 seems to be covered by the 280SE 9/3.5, is this correct? 

This is confusing.  I just looked at one of my BBBs and don't have a great answer for you.  It appears to be a yes and no answer.   In the context of the BBB the 280SE 9/3.5 is referring to the coupe/cabriolet. 

So it depends on what you are working on.  If it is the car in general, look at the stuff for the 280 SE with the M130 engine.  If it engine-specific then I would say look at the 9/3.5 areas.  Anything that is specific to a 300 SE* is referring to a car with air suspension, which yours does not have.

There is probably a separate manual on M116 engines (3.5) but I don't have specifics on that.

Perhaps someone has a better answer as to how the BBB handles the V-8 W108 cars...

[wwheeler]

I would call or email one of the many book stores that have car manuals. The one I have used and is knowledgeable is books for cars. They would know if there is a separate manual for the V-8 W111/W108 cars.

http://www.books4cars.com/

[scoot]

Well I'm stumped.  I had never noticed that the 1968 - BBB didn't address the 4.5 engine, and that it only addresses the 3.5 engine in terms of the coupes.   I have another manual from Mercedes - Maintenance Manual Passenger Cars through 1977.  It includes models 10, 108, 109, 111 coupes/convertibles, 107 roadster, 113, 114, 115, 116, 123 through 1977, looks like it starts around 1968.   It's about 12" x 10" x 1", lots of info such as adjusting valves, tensioning belts, things that would be considered general maintenance.   If you want it I'll shop CONUS $50.  Pics attached.

I still think you are way better off with the BBB 1968 - for everything except engine stuff.

[scoot]

Ooops.  That doesn't help you since you are Australia and the post office is too expensive...

[rutger kohler]

Hi, thanks for all your comments. Wallace I have emailed your bookstore site thanks.  Scoot I agree with you that the info is probably buried in the BBB's, however when it comes to suspension, steering, tyres and enginemounts there is still some confusion.

[scoot]

Hi, thanks for all your comments. Wallace I have emailed your bookstore site thanks.  Scoot I agree with you that the info is probably buried in the BBB's, however when it comes to suspension, steering, tyres and enginemounts there is still some confusion.

Suspension will be 98% the same - it's more of a parts question at that point rather than a procedure question.  steering, brakes, doors, windows, differential, all that stuff is the same.  The missing info is tear down of the M117 engine. My best guess is that when the M116/117 engines came along they were to be put in the W108/W109 and continued use basically until 1991.  I'm guessing they are covered in an engine manual rather than a car model manual.   Not unlike the M110 engine which I think is also covered in its own manual.  But I'm not sure.

[rutger kohler]

Have since heard from the bookstore that WW recommded, that they do not have a 280SE 3.8 specific tear down manual.. Thanks anyway.

[scoot]

OK, I have a better answer.

1) You want the BBB for things other than the engine.
2) For the engine you want the Mercedes manual "Service Manual Engine M116 - 117 (V-8)"

A slightly later publication of the manual will have the title "Service Manual V-8 Engines M116 (3.5 ltr.), M117 (4.5 ltr.)"

The engine manual is available on ebay
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xmercedes+M116+manual.TRS0&_nkw=mercedes+M116+manual&_sacat=0

I _think_ this completes the answer to your question.
:-)
Scott

[rutger kohler]

Hi Scoot, thanks for that. Good idea

[rutger kohler]

I have belatedly found the answer to how my car matches with the BBB.  I never looked at the actual car MB vin details  plate because I had the original data card, and the factory build card, however I got some panel and paint work done and the painter took the vin plate off.  I was about to refix and in doing so looked at the car model it is 280SE/9 3.5.

What is the best way to clean the vin plate without damaging it plse?