Distributor replacement from 123 ignition

[fcannas]

Hi Everybody,

Just a quick note to ask for an advise,

I have found this distributor for my 230 sl from 1964, its electrical and they say it solves a lot of problems on settings...and the price its ok.

www.123ignition.nl

look for mercedes 6 cylinder

Any opinions? its good?

Kind Regards

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[philmas]

If you do a search on this forum, you'll find plenty of  advice about all kinds of electronic ignition systems.
The 123 ignition is favoured by german owners, and you'll get more infos on the pagodentreff website (if you speak german, that is).

IMHO, this is an intersting product as it replaces both points and advance system (pre-programmed advance curves).It is fairly expensive; still a good option if your old distributor is worn out,but might be overkill if you just want to get rid of points.

There are cheaper solutions such as Crane or Pertonix.

[Cees Klumper]

One good thing about these 123 ignitions is that, while you can delete the points by adding a Pertronix, Crane or other electronic set-up, you are still depending on the accuracy of the basic distributor unit itself which, after 40 or so years, may have issues of its own (play in the bushings, flyweights / springs etc). The 123 module replaces the entire distributor. As for cost, a new Bosch distributor is about $850 (current price at SLS), so you have to figure that into the equation as well.

[Peter van Es]

I have had one installed in my car since November 2007, as recommended by Van Dijk of http://www.classicsl.com/. They have installed it on most SL's they have under service in the Netherlands as it makes the cars more reliable and easier to service.

In my car it replaced an older Crane installation (which, to be fair, had given no problems either, except for occasional warm starting retries).

Benefits:
- excellent cold and warm starting
- no unsightly additional box and wiring under the hood
- reliable

I'm really pleased with it.

Peter

[paulr]

I have one and it's fantastic.

[fcannas]

Hi Everybody,

Thank you very much for your comments and kindness.

I will buy one for my car and than I will post my experience.


Kind Regards

[franjo_66]

To Paul & Peter (and others who have fitted these distributors),

Did you guys order the MERCEDES-6-R-V or MERCEDES-6-R-V-IE model ?

Rgds
Frank
1965 230SL Black/Auto/RHD
1996 W210 E36 AMG

[waqas]

I couldn't find pricing on this. I suppose I can call up the local distributor (no pun intended). Anyone here have the info?

[franjo_66]

Local distributor for USA is listed as:-

USA

Brooklyn Motoren Werke, Inc.
115 Market Street
P. O. Box 198
WS 53521 Brooklyn
tel: 608 455 7441
fax: 608 455 7442
www.brooklyn300.com

I saw one for sale on Ebay for US$440, will send through the link if you're interested

Rgds
Frank

[Peter van Es]

quote:Originally posted by franjo_66

Did you guys order the MERCEDES-6-R-V or MERCEDES-6-R-V-IE model ?

According to the 123 people: "the Mercedes 6-R-V is the correct one, the 123-xxxxxx-IE distributors are for Bosch D-Jetronic, electronic fuel injection system.  As you have an mechanical fuel injection system you do not need the electric impulses that D-Jetronic needs."

Peter

[fcannas]

Hi Everybody,

I was reading your comments and on the last made by vanesp, i got confused...

I thought the regular distributor was for carbureuter motors, and the IE for the one with bosch injection...Am I wrong?

Best regards

[fcannas]

http://www.123ignition.nl/id/25.html

Please look at the note refering bosch injection systems....

[philmas]

I agree with you,vanesp.The difference between the regular and "IE" models is only a matter of electrical connection with the electronic injection system, which ,of course, is  no purpose on the 113 mechanical fuel injection.

[fcannas]

So the injection system on my 230 sl from 1964 does not call " jetronic system" !!!! That's it...?

One of the resellers from 123 igniton told me it should be the IE, maybe because it was more expensive   !!!!

But both of them should work no?

Thanks

[philmas]

The name "jetronic"  doesn't apply to our w113 sl's.
This electronic device (compared to mechanical fuel injection) was introduced with the later w107 series.The "core" of this system is an electronic calculator connected both to the injectors, various sensors for temperature, pressure...and to the ignition system,i.e the distributor.
Therefore,there is no need for such a connection on mechanical f.i.systems, which don't rely on electronics.

The regular (not I.E.)model should be the right one for your 230sl.

[fcannas]

Thank you all for your comments and help they were very useful...

[seattle_Jerry]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XcqgLdeRGg

To be fair the Pertronics was run on whatever the old dist. was instead of a nice shiny new one.

[mdsalemi]

Crazy question here...exactly what does the 123 cost for our cars?  No song and dance...just a price.

Andy Wolff said--and this is quite interesting in my opinion--that when he strobed his Crane, his timing was a bit unsteady.  Well, in my time, I've timed all kinds of cars, most with either retro electronic ignitions, or conventional (Bosch and Lucas, mostly) and ALWAYS the timing is a bit unsteady--no matter what.  The unsteadyness was always worse at idle than at speed, but a bit wobbly nonetheless.

This rock-steady 123 sounds very interesting.

[awolff280sl]

The 123Ignition cost me $700. Alot of money. The most expensive piece of renovation equiptment I've put on the car since I began restoring it. In reality, I didn't REALLY need it yet, but the Euro keeps going higher. I also wanted an electronic ignition but did not want to disturb my recently refurbished original distributor.
Of possible interest is that while I assumed that the device "123" is
so named to indicate quick and easy, it may in fact indicate its derivation. In speaking with Dan Caron, I learned that MB may have made a very similar distributor for the 123 chassis gas sedans in Europe. Apparently, the US only saw the deisel 123, so this electronic distributor may not be known in this country. I wonder if anyone has any specs on this?

[seattle_Jerry]

I don't have a lot of money, but $700 for a smooth running car sounds like a good deal to me. Certainly more bang for the buck than $300 sunvisors or $500 wood sets.

[Naj ✝︎]

Jerry,

quote:Originally posted by seattle_Jerry

I don't have a lot of money, but $700 for a smooth running car sounds like a good deal to me. Certainly more bang for the buck than $300 sunvisors or $500 wood sets.

UK price is around £200.00 or $400.00 without VAT...

$700.00 sounds a bit OTT

naj

[awolff280sl]

Naj,
$700 is what it cost me including tax, shipping and modification of the unit. The unit needs a minor modification for our cars. This involves cutting or grinding off part of the "base" of the distributor "cup" where it sits on the collar of the distributor housing upon insertion, in order to avoid seating interference by the sleeve of the 5mm hex clamping bolt. While the unit will still function without this mod, the dog will only partially seat in the drive.

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by AWOLFF280SL

Naj,
$700 is what it cost me including tax, shipping and modification of the unit. The unit needs a minor modification for our cars. This involves cutting or grinding off part of the "base" of the distributor "cup" where it sits on the collar of the distributor housing upon insertion, in order to avoid seating interference by the sleeve of the 5mm hex clamping bolt. While the unit will still function without this mod, the dog will only partially seat in the drive.

Thanks for the info.

Nobody else has mentioned having to grind off a bit of the housing...

naj

[seattle_Jerry]

So is the grinding being done on the 123 unit or the engine?

[awolff280sl]

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