1972 Mercedes 250 coupe - engine repairs

[John_mc]

hello,

Just bought the a 1972 Mercedes 250 Coupe which is in generally good condition but won't idle, just cuts out and has difficulty starting, although once warmed up runs okaish. I need someone to have a proper look at it. Can anyone recommend a good garage for old mercs or individual in London/south east who can help.

 

[Hibbo]

I would recommend that you sell the car to me.

For fifty pounds.

 

[John_mc]

Not going to happen, it's a beauty, silver exterior and red interior, both interior and exterior pretty good, just need to get the engine running. . . . .

Any recommendations welcome - it's my first merc so looking for some help and can't find any info on the web. . .

 

[mattkh]

Hi

Can you put up a picture of the under bonnet bits.

 

[John_mc]

thanks, there you go, also one of the car, have called Automerc in N8 which is only a mile or so from my place and they seemed to know what they are talking about re. old mercs so am going to let them have a look at it - will advise of they are any good. . . .

 

[television]

Ouch,that car is so nice,WOW

Malcolm

 

[Bolide]

thanks, there you go, also one of the car, have called Automerc in N8 which is only a mile or so from my place and they seemed to know what they are talking about re. old mercs so am going to let them have a look at it - will advise of they are any good. . . .

You'll be in safe hands at Automerc. Ivan and his team work on a lot of older Mercs and they have a very respectful approach to cars & customers

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk


PS I was going to make a wisecrack about how you'll find it easier to start if you fit a battery but I decided not to...

 

[mattkh]

PS I was going to make a wisecrack about how you'll find it easier to start if you fit a battery but I decided not to...

You are right. What a lovely car. Thanks for the picture of the engine compartment.

looking at the size of the battery tray, once the battery is in, does the ignition coil just dangle about ?

 

[eric242340]

A real car, and a real eye catcher, 50 quid? it would sell for a small fortune in Asia. Congratulations on a nice buy. Especially as its your first Merc, great taste. I notice its got a new distributor cap and HT leads, is the rotor arm new?

 

[jibcl500]

was this not the MB on ebay, imported from Africa, sold 3 time son ebay and then relisted recently after selling to somone who didnt know anything about cars just to find out there are many faults with the car.
First thing replace your battery for a good or new battery, My 72 280CE had issues starting or running well, I could crank it all day on the key but it would fire, new battyer started first time everytime, also there is an ignition control unit on the right side inner wing, alloy box, these are prone to failure, I have the control box in stock but it not for sale.

jib

 

[jibcl500]

PS forgot to say, ****** nice car, would give my right nut for one like that.

If you want to sell shout at me first could you.

jib

 

[Amphiscian]

...looking at the size of the battery tray, once the battery is in, does the ignition coil just dangle about ?

The battery tray is even bigger than it looks. The coil is already mounted in that position, the battery sits ahead of it. Seems a daft place to put a big, heavy battery, ahead of the front wheels.

 

[Ultymate]

hello,

Just bought the a 1972 Mercedes 250 Coupe which is in generally good condition but won't idle, just cuts out and has difficulty starting, although once warmed up runs okaish. I need someone to have a proper look at it. Can anyone recommend a good garage for old mercs or individual in London/south east who can help.

John the idle on your engine is manually adjustable there's an air by pass screw where I've arrowed in your picture, there's a large brass screw and unscrewing it should speed up your idle if it does'nt work someones probably tampered with the base angle of the throttle butterfly which once factory or dealer set should not be played with

 

[Bolide]

there's a large brass screw and unscrewing it should speed up your idle

Oh for the days when cars were tuned using large brass screws!

Pre-73 cars are definitely the way to go

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[television]

Oh for the days when cars were tuned using large brass screws!

Pre-73 cars are definitely the way to go

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

Or the days with 2-3 carbs, I had a friend come round one day,concerned that if the twin carbs were not set up correctly,one half of the engine would go faster than the other and break the crankshaft in half.


Malcolm

 

[Hibbo]

Or the days with 2-3 carbs, I had a friend come round one day,concerned that if the twin carbs were not set up correctly,one half of the engine would go faster than the other and break the crankshaft in half.


Malcolm

What an idiot, that can only happen on a V8

 

[ceejay]

I remember being told many years ago by a fellow student (at an engineering college) with conviction that two strokes needed two star fuel, and four strokes needed four star fuel.....so I thought I'd get him and asked what three star was for.....

easy he said, thats for ****el roatary engines......

 

[Hibbo]

easy he said, thats for ****el roatary engines......

The censorship's a bit tough, considering this is a motoring forum - nothing rude about a rotary engine!

 

[John_mc]

Hi all

Sorry for delayed response, (also training for London marathon at the moment, so life is a bit crazy) first of all thanks to everyone for your input and positive response on the car - much appreciated, I'm a newbie at this, so really helpful, I'm afraid, I'm not yet up to speed with the technology, but will aim to get there asap.

Mattkh: will check ignition coil and post picture if poss. Thx for pos. feedback
Eric: will also check rotor arm, you're right, new HT leads, sparks and distributor cap, work was done apparently in worthing by a merc specialist recently, although don't have the paperwork, but do have the boxes for the bits I think.
Jib: very interesting your comments: the car is perfect underneath, hardly any rust so I did suspect it was from south africa - will DVLC know this if I ask? I did buy from Ebay, from a guy in Brighton who bought it without seeing it, got it trailered up from Cornwall then discovered engine needed work. He needed a reliable car and doesn't want to spend anymore money on it. .. .I think I've paid the right money for it, given the risk of needing considerable sums spent on it. I don't think there is much else wrong, but my brother who is a mechanic has supplied me with a list of things to get checked by Ivan at Automerc. And yes, battery is out because it was flat, so I think I'll invest in a new battery forthwith, thanks for that and if I do sell, you'll be first to know. . . I've been looking for one for over a year, one went on ebay in hackney, east London (also silver and red - a beauty) for around 5.5k last year but couldn't get to see it. I lived in Germany for a year 10 yrs ago and several students drove these cars (saloons generally) so I've always really liked them.
Ultymate: thanks for you drawing, will have a crack, although have read, you only need to turn a very small amount so will be careful
Nick: thanks for feedback on Automerc. I'm going to try to drop the car in today/tmw and will post feedback as soon as I get it.

Some more photos. . . .

 

[Ultymate]

That large brass air bypass screw will not cause any problem if you turn it too far but remember where you started from:!: If it has no effect on the idle you may have to get the butterfly angle reset by a dealer if you can find one of them who still remember how to:?