280se 1970 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

dennyk · #1 10-30-2003, 08:01 AM

I have a 70 280 se which I inherited from a95 year old aunt several years ago. It has 150000m. This vehicle looks like new and has always been proffesionally maintained. There are afew problems with it that are unnerving though. One is the 3rd gear flair. Other gears are just fine but 3rd which has such a nice powerful gearing just seams to slip.New tranny? Repair? Adjustment? I tried Transx afew years ago w new fluid ect but it stayed the same. The other thing is thatr after I pull off highway warmed up cruising speed, and stop at stop[ sign the engine invariably kills. Runs and idles perfect cold or cruising around but after high speed doesnt idle. Any suggestions?

Tomguy · #2 10-30-2003, 04:53 PM

I assume this is the 6-cyl since you didnt specify 4.5.
For warm idle (Vs cold), I know on my 4.5 that warm idle is considerably slower than cold. I also know that adjusting my idle speed (mixture) screw changes this drastically (just a 1/4 turn is like 50-100RPM). One thing could be a timing/points issue: I don't know how the ignition system is, but if your timing is a bit too retarted it will idle lower (and thus stall at times). Setting it 1-2 degrees advanced could cure it easier than anything else that might change your engine's mixture (for the worse!).

300SDog · #3 10-30-2003, 05:09 PM

Stalling after high speed could be centrifugal advance mechanism in distributor sticking wide open....... try a shot of electrical parts cleaner and WD-40 to loosen it up.

TxDave · #4 10-30-2003, 08:35 PM

I just got into this baby a week ago for about the same price you paid for yours:

http://users3.ev1.net/~eldave/1971MERCEDES280SE/MERCEDES.htm

Guess what, I also have 3rd gear flairing. I haven't figured out if it flairs and stays in third or if it is just flairing between the gears. Can anyone who knows how it is supposed to feel tell me if there is considerable drop between 3rd and 4th?

Anyway Denny, I'm hunting this problem myself. Let me know if you find an answer before I do.

What speed does your 3rd gear flair at? Is it happenning when you think is should be going into 4th or is it just happenning all over in third?

Good Luck,
Dave