Category: Mercedes

420SEL parts car update 0

420SEL parts car update

I’ve owned my 420SEL parts car for a while now, and not really provided any updates as to how it’s going.   Overall, I’m glad I purchased the car, although it’s hard to find enough time dismantling it. I’ve been able to recoup some of my money selling a few parts, but I really need to put more effort into this in 2023.    I’ve...

Planning 300TE repairs and improvements 1

Planning 300TE repairs and improvements

Now I’ve had the 300TE registered for a month or so, and have put about 600km on the car, I have a better idea of some of the improvements I want to make to it.    I was able to take care of some of the most obvious ones right away.    I’ve been ordering some parts over the last couple of weeks that...

Mercedes W116 280SE vs W126 300SE 0

Mercedes W116 280SE vs W126 300SE

For years the W116 has lived in the shadow of the W126.    The W126 is often lauded as one of the best cars Mercedes-Benz ever made.     Under its skin it can trace its lineage back to the W114 models of 1968, but the styling was fresh and modern and it was light years ahead of everything else on the market.    Today,...

300TE first improvements 1

300TE first improvements

I bought my 300TE in generally good condition, but there were a couple of things I wanted to do right away to improve the car.    I find this is pretty typical with a ‘new’ car even in great condition as every owner has a different idea of how they want the car and what they care about. The first was the A/C.   I...

Introducing my 1990 Mercedes 300TE 0

Introducing my 1990 Mercedes 300TE

Now I have sold my 1986 Mercedes 300SE, time to introduce its replacement, a 1990 300TE.   I had been keeping my eye out for a good driver quality S124 wagon for a while.    I wanted a car I could use for things like taking my kids bikes around and so on.   The S124 really fits the bill for this.    I think these...

Farewell 300SE 2

Farewell 300SE

Today I sold my 1986 300SE W126.   It was the right decision to sell, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to miss the car.   It wasn’t the nicest 300SE in the country, but in some ways it was like a favorite pair of shoes, comfortable and familiar.     I originally bought the car as a daily, and I was on full registration for...

MBCNSW January 2023 seven bridges night drive 1

MBCNSW January 2023 seven bridges night drive

Last night was the first MBCNSW night drive of the year.  This month we tried something a little bit different.   Previously inner city drives have been a bit of a failure as the group got separated and lost.   This time, we tried again with a few changes.   Firstly, we kept the route quite simple.   Secondly, we had a muster point halfway along the drive. ...

MBCNSW Past Presidents drive through Berowra 0

MBCNSW Past Presidents drive through Berowra

Today was the first Mercedes-Benz club event of the year.   It was the first of a couple of drives, organized by past presidents of the club.   This drive was organized by our immediate past president and started in Berowra.   Next week the previous past president is organizing a drive down south. The route was pretty similar to one we have used before as  Night...

For sale: 1979 280SE W116 0

For sale: 1979 280SE W116

For sale:  1979 Mercedes-Benz 280SE. Australian Delivered. Update model with the nicer velour carpet and full wood trim. Original Becker Mexico radio. Well optioned including alloy wheels, sunroof etc. 906 Grey Blue with cream MB-Tex interior, both in great shape. Original books, data card, and service history for the first half of the cars life. A lot of work in the last twelve months...

For Sale: 1986 300SE W126 1

For Sale: 1986 300SE W126

For Sale: Australian delivered W126 300SE in striking signal red and cream MB-Tex interior. Both interior and exterior in nice shape. Car was repainted by the previous owner. I’ve owned the car six years and it was my daily driver until the covid lockdowns. Since then I have a different job and I’m not driving it as much as I used to – time...

W126 Hirschmann Antenna 2

W126 Hirschmann Antenna

A couple of months ago an eagle eyed viewer of my Instagram feed asked my why my 560SEL doesn’t have a Hirschmann Antenna.    Given how original the car is, it was a good question.  I had never really noticed what antenna the car had, other than it worked.     Since I have the original Becker, I really should have the original Hirschmann Antenna...

Auto Vintage Bangkok 2

Auto Vintage Bangkok

I recently spent two weeks in Surat Thani, Thailand.   On the way back, the flights from Surat Thani to Bangkok do not line up with the flight back to Sydney.   Therefore, I had an afternoon to spend in Bangkok before returning home.    It turns out there is an amazing classic Mercedes (and select other models) restoration shop very close to the airport.  It...

Classic Mercedes in Surat Thani, Thailand 0

Classic Mercedes in Surat Thani, Thailand

Surat Thani is a mid sized city in southern Thailand.   It is home to about 120,000 people and is a regional centre for agriculture.    The main business is trade in crops such as Rubber, Coconuts, Palm oil etc.   It is not a tourist destination, but it does function as a connection point for those traveling to islands like Koh Samui via ferry. I’ve...

2022 Fleet Update 1

2022 Fleet Update

With yet another year almost finished, time for an update on the Classic Jalopy fleet.   Similar to last year, I will go over what I did with each car, any issues, and future plans.   As with last year, I don’t own (or desire) a modern car, so these cars are used as a combination of hobby and everyday transport.   Last year I had a...

W126 Self Leveling rear suspension low ride height 3

W126 Self Leveling rear suspension low ride height

Ever since I owned my 560SEC, it has always ridden too low in the rear.   I have attempted to adjust it a couple of times, but was never able to get the correct height.   Using the factory procedure to set the neutral height did not work. At this point a lot of workshops would suggest to rip out the system.   This is a really...

MBCNSW 60’s models photoshoot 0

MBCNSW 60’s models photoshoot

The Mercedes club is planning a feature in the magazine for models of the late 60s and early 70s.   They have previously done features on the 107 series and 124 series.   To accompany the article, the club organised a 60’s models photoshoot for some nice examples of various models this morning.   I was asked to attend, as my W111 Cabriolet is one of the...

Classic Jalopy