Recent Posts

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Commercial Advertising / Re: Fully Restored Early '67 250SL up for Auction at BaT

« Last post by Philippe VIARD on Today at 07:23:05 »

Hello
a car that many would have loved to have at the end of their restoration. The Graal of work well done! I would have kept it

2

General Discussion / Re: PW issue 34

« Last post by AndrewB on Today at 06:41:33 »

Arrived in the Channel Islands yesterday. Fabulous magazine, thanks to all those who contributed, edited, published and distributed

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Commercial Advertising / Re: Fully Restored Early '67 250SL up for Auction at BaT

« Last post by Tycoon on Today at 02:37:12 »

Having seen many presented w113 example on BAT over the years, and having become quite educated on originality through the vast posts and technical manual of our exceptional group, I have to commend our fellow member on this extraordinary restoration. The attention to original detail and precise reconstruction to factory specifications has yet to be illustrated in any previous auction on the BAT site. Congratulations and hope the reserve is set at well above $225K, as this example cannot be matched for less……a high bar has been set…..I would hate to part with this beauty if it were mine!
Looking forward to the results,
Bill

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General Discussion / Re: PW issue 34

« Last post by MikeSimon on April 18, 2024, 23:19:02 »

Have not received mine. All things show I am a full member. Maybe it is USPS again??

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Drive train, fuel, suspension, steering & brakes / Re: Axle Replacement for Different Gear Ratio

« Last post by Ed Riefstahl on April 18, 2024, 23:07:05 »

Greetings,
I'm always interested in what others are doing to their cars.
A year a half ago I was faced with a rear axle decision out of necessity, due to a broken yoke in the differential.

I own a complete 1970 280SE parts car. However i learned quickly that nothing much on a 108 is easily interchangeable with the 230 SL's. So, I decided to rebuild my original 4.08 axle, as apposed to using the 108 and switching to rear disk brakes etc.
It wasn't until I had the axle back in the car that I discovered the torque converter had failed causing the axle failure, according to Mark at Sun Valley.

As it turned out I couldn't use the 108 transmission in the 230SL either. So, I purchased a reman from Sun Valley and kept my original. Much to my surprise, it now starts out in 1st gear. The rebuild is out of an older, compatible sedan. I personally have never cared for the way my SL stared in 2nd. I'm super pleased with the way the car drives and shifts now, going through all 4 gears. To me, it's much nicer to drive, but that's just my personal preference.

I said all of the about to say this. Since I did all the rebuild on my car, I can't help wondering how the taller gears in the rear, with a transmission that starts in 1st would be? To me, for an automatic, that could be the cats meow.

However, 30 years later, I still miss the stick I had in my first 230SL. I even considered the conversion on this 230. I sure envy the guys that have the 5 speeds.

Keep us posted on what you decide to do.
Ed Riefstahl

1966 230SL (Ms Magoo) Horizon Blue
1970 280S (Miss Daisy)
1999 BMW Z3 5 speed
1991 BMW 318I 5 Speed
1997 Toyota Paseo Convertible - One of 1000, (have you ever seen one?)
1997 Ford Ranger step side (Mater)
2023 Mazda CX 5

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Electrical and Instruments / "Metal or Plastic "(bakelite)

« Last post by John Betsch - "SADIE" on April 18, 2024, 20:12:58 »

My Euro 65 230sl ignition wires needed replacement.

The present ones had metal jackets. (whether that was correct or not when done years ago)  To be "more correct" I purchased a set  listed for 230sl with bakelite connectors.  When they were installed, (I didnt do) was told they were "too loose" causing sparking etc. and not proper.

My vin 010662 I have been told is "mid run" neither early nor late if that matters

much confusion here, educated opinions?

jb

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General Discussion / Re: PW issue 34

« Last post by star63 on April 18, 2024, 19:11:50 »

Arrived also in Finland. Fantastic pictures and great stories on good quality paper - Thank you very much! 

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Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items / Re: ReChrome

« Last post by mdsalemi on April 18, 2024, 16:51:05 »

...all my hard top pieces re-chromed a couple of month ago. 23 pieces at $ 2,350...From what I am told, some shops collect a bunch of parts parts and send them to China or similar for processing. (Long waiting times to be expected in that case.)

$2,350 Sounds good and about right for the hard top chrome. I let my restorer handle mine (as he was doing the entire hard top) and I think mine was somewhere between that and $3K, all done locally in Detroit. Your two week turnaround is what stands out.

Would not surprise me one bit if some places send parts to China (or some other destination outside the USA) as there is a lot of labor involved and labor is cheaper there than here. I guess one can always ask, and if they won't show you the back room, that's a clue! There's a lot of book printing going on in China, too, and similar kinds of related back office work in places like India. Heck, a lot of medical groups use radiologists in India to read XRays...

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Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items / Re: ReChrome

« Last post by dirkbalter on April 18, 2024, 14:35:22 »

I had all my hard top pieces re-chromed a couple of month ago. 23 pieces at $ 2350 at my preferred shop. (Price and looks). All the parts were done in house and it took about 2 weeks.
From what I am told, some shops collect a bunch of parts parts and send them to China or similar for processing. (Long waiting times to be expected in that case.)

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Body, interior, paint, chrome, and cosmetic items / Re: ReChrome

« Last post by mdsalemi on April 18, 2024, 12:40:10 »

In rechroming discussions I always have to think back to 1977 when I had a ton of parts of my 1976 Yamaha motorcycle chromed, and I mean a ton, from body panels to every single spoke from the wheels, the kickstand, center stand; everything I could think of other than the frame itself. It cost me $30 ... (that would be $155 today according to google). This was in Drachten, Friesland, The Netherlands. I always hear environmental regulations have driven up the cost, but I have to wonder about that.

$30 today (or the then equivalent in guilders) wouldn't even pay to issue the invoice for the work, much less do anything. Any kind of decorative chrome plating involves a lot of hand work, and labor costs something. Even in 1977 $30 wouldn't buy you much of anything in terms of labor. I had a car painted for $50 at the same time...but I did all the masking and sanding and prep work, and even gave the shop the paint. All he did was perhaps wipe down the car, load the sprayer with paint, and shoot.

Those days are long gone.