Author Topic: Calling all W11X owners (Read 52888 times)

douglas dees · « **Reply #25 on:** January 20, 2011, 20:14:30 »

Quote from: hkollan on January 20, 2011, 07:20:42

Thanks for the kind words Garry. And Doug you are more than welcome come by for a ride.

Hans

Hans: Your front bumpers on the W111 are interesting. I have the rubber strips on the rear but the car was hit in Germany and the front bumpers were replaced by W108 bumpers with rubber strips but the strips go around the front bumper at the end as opposed to be tucked into the slot as you see on the 280 Se 3.5 coupes and cabriolets.

I have seen 1969's built in 1968 that only have chrome bumpers front and back with no rubber strips. Do you have rubber strips on the rear bumpers? I bought a used front bumper to replace the W108 but am looking for rubber strips for the front.
I used to work in Spain in the late 60's Built El Capistrano on the Costa Del Sol. It is still there www.elcapistrano.com . Have not been back since 1979. Your car is a beauty.
cheers
Doug

hkollan · « **Reply #26 on:** January 20, 2011, 23:52:33 »

Doug,

The original all-chrome front (and rear) bumpers are the same on all high grille w111 and w112 .
The low-grille bumpers all had the rubber strips, but are different from the w108 style bumpers.
I think it was around june in 1969 they introduced the low grille cars, and with that the bumpers with rubberstrip.
As a cheaper substitue the w108 bumpers was often used as replacements for the very expensive all-chrome w111/w112 bumpers.

Hans

wwheeler · « **Reply #27 on:** January 21, 2011, 05:14:02 »

That is a fantastic looking 111 Hans!

Just out of curiosity, what made the all chrome bumpers more expensive than the 108 rubber strip bumpers?

hkollan · « **Reply #28 on:** January 22, 2011, 00:14:01 »

My assumption is that W111.02x bumpers where more expensive due to the significantly lower production numbers of the w111 cars and therefore higher production costs. The fact that w108 bumpers where(and are) relatively easy to come by made many owners take the easy way out and switch to a w108 bumper when a replacement was needed. Last I checked the original chrome bumpers where NLA but there are various reproductions available or will be soon.

Hans

douglas dees · « **Reply #29 on:** January 23, 2011, 16:40:22 »

Quote from: hkollan on January 20, 2011, 23:52:33

Doug,

The original all-chrome front (and rear) bumpers are the same on all high grille w111 and w112 .
The low-grille bumpers all had the rubber strips, but are different from the w108 style bumpers.
I think it was around june in 1969 they introduced the low grille cars, and with that the bumpers with rubberstrip.
As a cheaper substitue the w108 bumpers was often used as replacements for the very expensive all-chrome w111/w112 bumpers.

Hans

Hans: My 1969 280SE high grille coupe has the later 280.SE 3.5 rear bumper with the rubber strip that inserts into the end of the bumper. The rear end was never in an accident but the front bumper has the W108 bumper and I know the car was in a front end accident. My coupe is a German car built on May 16th 1969 according to the letter from Stuttgart. I bought a used bumper for 3.5 coupe and I was told that it would fit the older cars. I need to get the bumper re chromed which is going to be expensive.
Very mysterious
Doug

hkollan · « **Reply #30 on:** January 23, 2011, 23:12:36 »

Doug,

Only the all-chrome bumpers would be correct for your car, that goes for both font and rear.
Accident or not, at some stage the rear bumper was replaced on your car assuming its a factory high grille coupe.
Quite often these cars where modified, but usually a high grille car was converted to the lowgrille version, and not the other way around.
The low grille bumpers will fit your car, it just would not be original for a HG-car.

Hans

m300cab · « **Reply #31 on:** February 19, 2011, 23:30:31 »

Thanks for lov'n my car
I put the original wheels back on w/ the beaut ring, and got the air ride back down to normal, I need to take more photos......

pj · « **Reply #32 on:** February 28, 2011, 05:45:36 »

this is an awesome thread, guys. As much variety as we have beauty! Keep the pictures coming. Now we just need to get everybody's cars together somewhere, sometime... so we can all have rides in these marvels.

perry113 · « **Reply #33 on:** February 28, 2011, 12:53:52 »

Quote from: hkollan on January 18, 2011, 12:10:00

Here's a my 1969 W111. 906 Blue-grey with parchment interior. Had it since 1985.

Your Cabriolet is stunning!

heckflosse · « **Reply #34 on:** April 28, 2011, 20:16:28 »

Here's my 1969 W111. 462 Tunis beige with black interior.

dtuttle123 · « **Reply #35 on:** April 28, 2011, 21:18:14 »

Jan - your W111 is totally awesome!!! Beautiful color!

Louis · « **Reply #36 on:** April 28, 2011, 22:01:37 »

I agree . Absolutely beautiful.....

wwheeler · « **Reply #37 on:** April 29, 2011, 02:34:41 »

Jan,

Thanks for sending in your picture. Your car IS beautiful. I really love the picture of the illuminated Euro headlight. I have always thought the 111s are best w/o the bullet turn signals, the US side markers and the chunky twin license plate lights. Your's looks very clean and much like a sculpture. The US add-ons detract from that.

wwheeler · « **Reply #38 on:** April 29, 2011, 15:53:55 »

I noticed the grille on Jan's car is the same as mine. They both have the larger openings in the grille. Most of the 111 grilles I see have the smaller opening. Did the early ones use the smaller opening?

Tom at the Classic Center had told me at one time that my grille was very rare.

Does anybody know when the different grilles were used?

I have attached a more current picture showing the grille and the new WW tires.

heckflosse · « **Reply #39 on:** April 29, 2011, 18:33:43 »

Hi you guys, thank`s for all the nice comments on my car..
And about the larger openings in the grille: These grilles where only
delivered on 280 cars. And they went out of production on an early
stage, so if you needed a new grille mask for some reason DB only had
the 220/250 grille with the smaller openings to offer.
So yes, these grilles are very rare..

wwheeler · « **Reply #40 on:** April 29, 2011, 19:52:34 »

I wonder why the switched if it was only for the '68 and 1/2 of the 69 model? I believe in late '69, the went to the low grille. Was that change to the low grille world wide or just in the US?

As a general rule, MB was trying to find ways to lower the costs starting with '68 model. The larger openings in the mask would have less metal and maybe easier to manufacture. Who knows?

heckflosse · « **Reply #41 on:** April 29, 2011, 21:02:35 »

I suppose i was a way to spot the visual difference from the 220/250. The grille and hubcaps are the only outside difference between these models.
These grilles does contain more metal than the older ones, due to the thickness of the latter. So no lower costs for MB there.
The flachkühler (low grille) where a wolrdwide change introduced in late 1969.

Ben · « **Reply #42 on:** August 11, 2011, 12:05:00 »

Hello everyone, this is my February '68 (early) 280SE Coupe, DB180G SilverGrau with Black leather interior and Macassar Wood. When I laid up my 230SL for resto I bought this to use and have gradually improved it over the last 5+ years whilst using it regularly. The W111 Coupe is my favourite shape of all cars EVER !!

douglas dees · « **Reply #43 on:** August 13, 2011, 21:56:52 »

I took my 69 280 SE coupe to the Concours of America show at the Inn at St John's in Livonia Michigan last week. I was invited to display it along with some very expensive Mercedes. Mike Salemi and I had the youngest cars there and although we did not win anything it was an honour to be invited.

Although I had replaced the starter before leaving the car would not start after leaving US customs at the Canada US border. Only when the car cooled down would it start. After getting back to Toronto. it appeared that there was a short in the wiring on the neutral safety switch wires which caused the problem. Other than that the car ran very well despite the 35 degree temperature especially at the Port Huron bridge.
On Tuesday I flying to Pebble Beach for the show although I don't expect to see many W111's there. This will complete my "bucket list" of being at the big three car shows including Amelia Island which so far is my favourite.

Doug Dees

wwheeler · « **Reply #44 on:** August 16, 2011, 19:51:24 »

Great car Ben! Do you have any pictures of the interior wood?

glenn · « **Reply #45 on:** September 02, 2011, 11:47:30 »

OK, Which is the better looking car, 111 or the 113?? Why??

Sableco · « **Reply #46 on:** September 13, 2011, 19:46:37 »

Hello Everybody
Here is my 1970 280SE 3.5 with an exact Maisto 1:18 repliica.
I had bought this car from an elder guy less than 2 years ago.
The car runs fine with some minor problem that I will take care of once I have the work on my 1967 250SL done.
The weather is getting to be nicer in Kuwait so I will get to enjoy my car for the winter season.
I will post photos of my Pagoda once I get it back
Cheers

Basem

wwheeler · « **Reply #47 on:** September 16, 2011, 19:38:28 »

You have TWO great 111's!

Louis · « **Reply #48 on:** September 17, 2011, 11:03:18 »

Basem,

Did you install the headrests and side view mirrors? They aren't stock Mercedes items but look very good . It is a very attractive W111 . Is it an automatic transmission ?

Sableco · « **Reply #49 on:** September 17, 2011, 19:44:43 »

Hello Louis

No I did not install the headrests, I actually bought the car about two years ago like this. I know the side view mirrors are not the original ones, but I like them.
as for the head rests, i thought all 3.5 models came with them installed, or may be they were an option requested by the dealer.
my small 280SE sitting on the hood does not have the back headrests, but then it is only a 280SE not the 3.5 (

).
It is actually an automatic floor shift
anyhow I like both.
as well as my 1967 250SL which I still did not get a chance to drive yet, but hopefully soon.

Thanks a lot Louis

Basem

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Author Topic: Calling all W11X owners (Read 52888 times)

douglas dees

douglas dees

heckflosse

dtuttle123

Louis

heckflosse

heckflosse

Ben

douglas dees

glenn

Sableco

Louis

Sableco