Looking for a 280 SL

[jaymanek]

Hi Guys,

Well ive just joined after reading some threads on here..

im after a decent 280SL.

I wondered if anyone on here has experience of this car against a 500SL R107? This is what I have at the moment and wonder if the 280 SL W113 will live up to expectations?

Ive always wanted the pagoda for its looks but wonder if ill ever be happy using the car for trips like I have my 500 SL.

Ive seen a few so far and have another to see soon.. my budget doesnt stretch to the specialist dealers.. I am looking to buy one directly from someone who has known the car.

I looked at over 15 R107's before I found the right one for me...

If anyone knows of any id be grateful to see them.

p.s. my other cars are:

2 X W126 560 SEC AMG's (one is a widebody)
W124 500E
R107 500SL
W123 280 CE
W123 200

Thanks in advance.

[Benz Dr.]

You have two very fast cars in your stable. The 500SL and the 560SEC. Both are great cars by my reconing.

  The 280SL is a different car. Quick enough but nothing compared to either of the two yuo have. Figure on 3 or 4 seconds slower 0 to 100 KMPH. The 280SL will have great looks and retain more value over the years. It's an appreciating model while the other two are not as collectable.

[jaymanek]

Hi,

Thanks for that..

From the figures it seems that it should compare with my 280 CE... The W123 is heavier and the engine output is not much different... I guess ill have to drive one and see!

Thanks

Jay

[JamesL]

Jay,

You're welcome to pop over to Suffolk and take mine out for a spin. It's older again than your 123 so it revs high/feels undergeared to later cars so a real change to the 500/560 and the effortless waft. A few hours at 70+ in a Pagoda and you know about it - noise, revs, sound-proofing etc. Not to mention the seats not being as comfy/supportive as the later models.

I love mine to death and management won't part with it. Although people do, as I'm sure you know from the Gazette.

[jaymanek]

Hi Tosh,

I hadnt realised you had one.. thats a very kind offer and one I may take you up on as I do have the necessary insurance and really would like to drive one just for 10-15 minutes to get a feel.

I will get in touch when I have some time to spare.

Many Thanks

Jay

[jaymanek]

Hi All,

Well went to have a look at a lovely blue 280 SL yesterday.

The car is a USA import but has both soft and hard top.

Overall the body was very very good although annoyingly the chrome grille and bumper had dents in them.

The interior is what let the car down.. The dash and wood needed doing and of course drivers seat was so saggy that i felt like i was almoust touching the floor!

Price of the car is good at around 20K.

Issues for me were that its a 4 speed manual and gear changes were not easy - the gear lever seemed very short and so my right hand was aching after..

Also no power steering also meant hard work...

The engine bay was nicely detailed and the power was nice and smooth.. although there was the odd pop now and then.

Definately enough grunt for me, especially with that manual... but of course it really felt like it could do with another gear..

So are the auto's better ratio'd? Do all autos have power steering?

Thanks

Jay

[JamesL]

Jay

Have a nose on here about different ways of getting that "extra" gear - change the diff or get a 5 speed (or both).

I seem to recall that all the Autos are PAS on the 280 and that's effectively only a 3 speed as the 1st is so low it's for hauling tree stumps out of moutainsdes

If your body is sound, that's a good start - there's enough decent trimmers around who can rebuild seats and leather interiors really well.

[jaymanek]

Thanks Tosh,

Yes I have a fantastic trimmer who has done my other cars... it probably would cost me next to nothing to get the whole car done.. however my main concern is the lack of PAS and the gear change... it was hard work!

[bas]

Jay,

I do not know if you want it to be right hand drive but I have a very nice 230 SL (=lighter) with 280 engine (manual) left hand drive for sale in Holland. It is grey metalic with both tops and looks and is technically absolutely in great condition.

Bas

[Douglas]

A US-spec 280SL without power steering? That's very odd. Never seen that.

[tel76]

Hello Jay,
I read with interest that you have a trimmer that will re-trim a car for next to nothing,i want two seats recovering perhaps you can put me in touch with him.
When you mention the word Mercedes Pagoda in the UK the prices treble.

[jaymanek]

Hi All,

Bas - Can you send me more info or pics? sales@mercland.com.

Douglas - My suspicion is that it was imported from europe to USA and then here.

tel - My trimmer is very very good but will take time... you will need to leave the seats with him and he will do them for you. Quality is amazing though, they re trim private trains, lear jets etc etc.
If you want to get in touch just give me a buzz. my details are on my website www.mercland.com

[jaymanek]

Hi All,

Well i got one... its the first one i looked at... went back for another look and the deal was done.. im very pleased with it..

Although i dont have much skin left on my arms after trying to wrestle to get clusters out!

[Danesgate]

Nice looking car there Jay! 

Where did you buy it from? Dealer or private?

I think you are going to enjoy a long summer this year!

Nice one.

[jaymanek]

Thanks bought it private from ebay...  I will be back on here as im doing small jobs..

I really struggled to get the instruments out last night, the retaining nuts were seized and my arms are cut up!

Hope I can get the rest of the dash out more easily tonight.

[Khurram Darugar]

Jay make sure you dont rip out you're orignal firewall pad like i did! 
Youre firewall pad is original and very sort after.
Good Luck
Kay 

[Jonny B]

I would most whole heartedly concur with the comment about the firewall pad. There are a number of things you can do to preserve/protect that pad. There are even some hidden areas in the interior to get some patch pieces. Keep us all posted if you are going in the direction of tidying things up in the engine bay. Don't lose the pad!

[Iconic]

A quick hijack of this post:
Jonny,
I am very interested in the preservation, protection, and patching of the firewall pad.
I looked in the Tech Manual and I found the pad, but not the PP and P of the pad.
Is there a previous post you can suggest?
Thanks 

[JamesL]

I thought 280s all came with head restraints?

Nice looking car Jay - fancy a panel swap as I have some db906 panels that are a tad rusty.....?!

[jaymanek]

Hi Guys,

The engine is very tidy, I have no plans of touching anything here!

Actually the only thing I need to sort is the car cuts out at junctions once hot.

For now, all I want to do is get the cracks in the dash sorted and sort out some wiring.. Whoever wired in the radio needs to be shot.

Last night I fixed the interior dash lights by bridging the rheostat... now looks lovely in there at night.

After that I need to rebuild the seat bases as at the moment i can barely see over the steering wheel!

The MB Tex is remarkably good so wont be touching that.

[Dahlknudsen]

Congratulations Jay, the car looks very nice. And with a price under 20K it might be a bargian, if you can have the clutch and servo fixed.

I might be a eurocar you have, what year is it? The dataplate is in the firewall, and you have no headrest is suggest 68?

I got mine back from the shop, and they fixed some poping a you describe in yours for me.  And has never driven any better, dont think they can drive any better... anyway thanks for interest in mine. I understand why you didnt want to go through the import thing...

Best of luck...

[jaymanek]

thanks guys, yes mine is a 1969.. order was placed in 1969 anyway judging from the data card.

And my country code is 543 so italy!!! so yes a euro car..

ive gotten used to the gear change now and all is well..

ive also now had my valve stem seals changed as a preventative measure.. i have a good mechanic who did the same job on my 560 SEC so this was a doddle for him with the correct tools.

[Naj ✝︎]

ive gotten used to the gear change now and all is well..

Gear changing  can be significantly improved by renewing all the shifter bushes.

Full details in the wiki.

naj

[jaymanek]

thanks, yes i did this on my W123 and it made a world of difference.. ill order the parts...

[jaymanek]

Hi All,

I just wanted to update...

In 3 months I have gone from a distant admirer of Pagodas to having bought one, taken it apart and put it back together again..

I can truly say im a 100% convert!

As many of you will know I started by getting the interior right... or as some of you may say to standards of a "good driver"... mine had green stuff over most of the chrome... I have replaced with new parts where feasible and good second hand where not. Vents, Radio, Steering Wheel, New Wood, Dash Top Recovered, All Chrome Trims around Instruments etc etc... Also New Petrol Cap, New Aerial, 2 New sets of mats and many other little bits and pieces.. 

Then i started reading on here about the 5 speed Getrag conversion... so that was done and dusted.

Now im slowly perfecting the car... I have a complete set of iginition parts on order and I think I have found some Euro Headlamps, after that I plan to replace the carpets and just get a small dent seen to in the bumper... by that time im sure it will be approaching winter so a service, change of all fluids, waxoyl underside and that will be it until next summer!

I love this car and although it lacks the power of some of my other cars, it makes up for it in pure charm..