levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Mar 25, 2009 12:28:16 GMT
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Finally, after months of lurking around on here, some pics of my Merc. I bought it in 2007 to scratch my 'W123 itch'. I was originally after a proper banger so I'd been looking at unloved saloons and estates but when I saw this I just had to have it! It was bought in Essex and I live oop north - the journey up the A1 on an autumn evening to get it home was fantastic but I couldn't resist gunning it all the way - cost a few quid on motion lotion to say the least! I've now found that with a gentler right foot she's not actually all that bad on juice.     Hope you likey! Levi |
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Last Edit: Sept 6, 2011 22:13:13 GMT by levismerc
'83 Merc 280CE  |
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Mar 25, 2009 12:49:22 GMT
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Me likey! Very clean looking! Love the old mercs.....hate the new ones!
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'86 E30. '86 E28. '92 E32. '97 Laguna. '98 March. '00 A4. '05 Focus.
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Mar 25, 2009 15:02:23 GMT
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mines bloody terrible on juice  yours looks lovely. |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Mar 25, 2009 15:34:36 GMT
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Tidy Coupe, welcome to the RR Merc mafia  |
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Mar 25, 2009 15:38:08 GMT
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that looks really nice
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"quote hairnet"
I'm not paying nine pound for a pi$$!
[/quote]
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Mar 25, 2009 15:57:49 GMT
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Thanks everybody!
Sorry about the pic sizes being all over the shop. They're all the same size on my photobucket account. Drat!
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'83 Merc 280CE |
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Mar 25, 2009 19:20:12 GMT
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That is a very clean coupe. Good work sir. Any plans for wheels?
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chaz
Part of things
Posts: 403
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Mar 25, 2009 22:16:38 GMT
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That is lovely, who needs new cars.
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That really does look smart.
Welcome, and feel the eyes when you drive by..... envy, envy.
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Ether
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,450
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Looks clean! Have fun with it. M |
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luckygti
Posted a lot
I need to try harder!
Posts: 4,912
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Mar 27, 2009 18:08:25 GMT
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That is lovely Any plans or just run as is? (Cough,stick,cough!!) |
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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A long overdue update... Well, the ol' coupe is still going strong and has been a reliable beast other than a warm up regulator issue which was resolved with a second hand part. After running the car for a few months I decided to have a couple of bodywork bits sorted at a local bodyshop - mainly the trailing edges of the rear arches and a slightly crusty jacking point.    That was it until I met up with the gent known as Mantasport on these here forums. I took the car over to him as the lower rear edge of the front n/s wing was looking a bit sorry and after a bit of prodding with a screwdriver and unbolting the wing we discovered this...  Which, after some grinding and welding became this...   The wing was slapped back on and we were good to go! (Still needs a replacement wing but that'll wait 'til summer). A few months later I decided to get have a prod around underneath the car and discovered that one area behind the o/s rear wheel was looking a little sorry so it was back to Mantasport's place for a bit more treatment with the grinder and welder combo...   Bumper bracket being decrusted and treated (a job for the unskilled labour ie ME!)  New metal - hurray!  Then a brief period of cosmetic stuff that I could manage on my own. Mainly replacing the side window seals and cleaning up the interior a bit which revealed quite a bit of Waxoyl or something similar in the doors and box sections which has probably helped to keep the tinworm at bay.   I also fixed the slightly reluctant rear window mechanisms. The plate joining the mech to the glass bends over time and MB updated the part to have a strengthening section - which my car didn't have. So, a breaker provided one modified part and one of the existing parts had a strengthener welded on...  And that was it for a few months. |
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Last Edit: Dec 8, 2010 17:49:19 GMT by levismerc
'83 Merc 280CE |
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ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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Looks good. Having owned a coupe myself, I can well and truly see the appeal. It's nice to see one with a bit less rot than my old one, too!
Looking forward to seeing this progress.
Chris
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Looks good. Having owned a coupe myself, I can well and truly see the appeal. It's nice to see one with a bit let rot than my old one, too! Looking forward to seeing this progress. Chris Then progress you shall have Sir! A few months down the line and I notice that the radiator is looking a bit past it so a new one is ordered and Mantasport and I (well, 95% Mantasport and 5% me) stick it on as well as a new waterpump and 'stat for good measure - easier to do all these jobs at once dontchyathink? The original fuel pump was a bit 'shouty' so we replaced that too along with the filter and a new banjo-bolted high pressure line (£60 from MB!) The windscreen seal was also looking well past it and dripped, in heavy rain, from the passenger side between the glass and rubber so a new seal duly arrived and a date was made to take the car to Mantasport's super new unit for fitting. The screen was cut out and I held my breath fully expecting to see a load of rot in the screen aperture profile but...   Nothing - clean as a whistle - Phew! So we went about putting the old screen back in and promptly it decided to CRACK! Drat and double drat. A quick phonecall to Martyn Marrocco in Malton provided us with a new screen for £30 so we had a retro-filled trip up to collect it in Mantasport's Carlton. We also had a bit of a nosey round some of Martyn's V8 converted W123s too. The new screen was fitted and actually is a blessing in disguise as it's far clearer than the original screen. So here she is looking exactly as she did before.  Thanks for reading and a big thanks to Mantasport for all the work and patience - listening to me ask stooopid questions. cheers Tim |
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Last Edit: Dec 8, 2010 15:48:30 GMT by levismerc
'83 Merc 280CE |
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mrj
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,662
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this is a beautiful car, with an interesting/rare colour... also the metalwork from Mantasport looks very neat...  |
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- 1971 VW 1600 TL Fastback
- 1978 Passat GLS Variant
- 1980 Audi 100 5E
- 1981 VW aircooled panel van (sold)
- 1983 VW Jetta Mk.I
- 1984 VW Polo Coupé
- 1984 VW Passat hatchback
- 1987 VW Passat Variant
- 1987 VW Passat hatchback
- 1988 VW T25
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Love the fact you have given it some attention.
I love them, Nicola says they would make me look like my dad.
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Dec 10, 2010 15:03:21 GMT
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this is a beautiful car, with an interesting/rare colour... also the metalwork from Mantasport looks very neat... Thanks for the comments guys. Yep, Mantasport's welding is pretty damn good - he cut his teeth on 80's Lancias apparently so he knows his stuff! |
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'83 Merc 280CE |
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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Dec 12, 2010 21:35:37 GMT
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That's just lovely. I've always fancied one of these - got the same engine in my G wagen, love the sound it makes when you give it some beans
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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So nice, I WILL have one of these at some point!
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Well, a bit more progress on the old ship. (Sorry for the craptacular pics - dirty lens + dirty hands + lots of reflection in screen = pics from the early 70's). Nothing major but I have one of those 'crib lists' that I'm sure many RRers have. One issue that was not particularly annoying but is, strictly speaking, an MOT fail (although it's never been picked up on in 4 years) was that the front seat backs didn't lock in the upright position. In their infinite wisdom Mercedes decided to utilise the most convoluted vacuum system to ensure that the seats lock if the engine is running and the doors are shut. If you open a door, kill the engine or press a little button then the seats can be leant forward. Anyway, after a fair bit of grunting, shoving, sucking and blowing (stop that sniggering, you at the back...) the passenger seat was removed and tested which eventually lead Mantasport and I to the conclusion that this little fella had sprung a leak...  ... it's the vacuum distribution piece that sends vacuum from the inlet manifold to the vac resevoir, seat locks, economy meter, headlight levellers, and central locking. The locking is now electric off a remote so we isolated that circuit and re-attached the rest using tee pieces and then... Bingo! Locking seats - hurrah! Next on the crib list was to fit the two front exhaust down pipes that had been in the boot since last July (ahem). The old bus was stuck up on axle stands and more grunting and swearing resulted in this...  which revealed this...  which made Mr Mantasport look like this...  To cut a long story short it all eventually went back on and is now sounding fruity without sounding farty. At this point I have to say that David (Mantasport) did most of the work while I offered a hand, made tea and decrusted and repainted the battery tray. All in all a satisfying few hours. Thanks again to David and I'd suggest that if you're anywhere near Harrogate and need some workshop based mechanical or welding work doing then get in touch with him. The tea is FREE too. Cheers All |
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Last Edit: May 13, 2011 9:22:59 GMT by levismerc
'83 Merc 280CE |
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yours looks lovely.
