Several Qs on my 280SL -
IamLostRU
Also OK to email to: IamL...@aol.com
Were talking 1982 Euro 107 here with the 6 cyl. 280:
1) Should there be a light illuminating my gear indicator? (Its an automatic).
a) Currently dark - how to access?
b) I seem to have a large number of accessory light probs...(only
accessory lightingh not idiot or gauge). Common?
2) Is there any aftermarket arm rest for between the seats?
a) (Perhaps smilar to the one built into the earlier 190E seats).
3) Any tricks on ONE-man handling the hardtop back on without scratching the
hell out of everything?
4) The little 1-2-3 dial next to the lights...what for? A delay is my guess.
5) I need to slow the idle speed. (Now @1.5 in P, 1 when in gear, not linkage
caused). I quess, which little injection screw do I just touch?
Thanks to all again!
Jeff Heller
98 C230
82 281SL
85 190E
Bnzmn600
The 1-2-3 switch is (was) a hights adjustemt for the european headlamps, if you
still have euro headlamps then you can use this switch to lower the headlight
adjustment if you have too much load in the trunk, this will keep you from
blinding others in the uncoming traffic.
Yes there is a light bulb that lights the shift indicator, remove the wooden
panel, and you'll see a clip with two wires going into the floor shift box on
the left side of the floor shift, pull the clip assmebly and change the little
bulb, (test it before you put it all back together).
All the accessory indicator lights are common.
Get a manuel hoist for the hard top, there is one way to install and remove the
top by yourself, however you are better be strong and also have your wife take
pictures while you do it cause it makes you look like a nut shell :-).
Martin Autobahn Auto Repair
1974 450SL
1988 190E
1979 300D
1977 240D
1985 240D euro Parts car
1974 450SEL parts car
Robert Millard
I have a 1983 380SL so our cars are quite similar. Let me go over your
letter a bit at a time.
IamLostRU wrote:
>
> My sincere thanks in advanmce to anyone giving me the benefit of their smarts!
> Also OK to email to: IamL...@aol.com
>
> Were talking 1982 Euro 107 here with the 6 cyl. 280:
>
> 1) Should there be a light illuminating my gear indicator? (Its an automatic).
> a) Currently dark - how to access?
Yes there is a light there. It will light up the whole plastic
"window" but will not really tell you which gear you are in. There is
an article in the current issue of the "STAR" magazine from the Mercedes
Benz Club of America on how to replace these lights. Join the club and
you get the magazine. A very good publication.
> b) I seem to have a large number of accessory light probs...(only
> accessory lightingh not idiot or gauge). Common?
My car has a couple of "stickey" switches that dont always let the
interior lights come on. Sounds like you may have some bad grounds in
the system.
>
> 2) Is there any aftermarket arm rest for between the seats?
> a) (Perhaps smilar to the one built into the earlier 190E seats).
The US cars had arm rests from the factory. SO - US junk yards brobably
have them.
> 3) Any tricks on ONE-man handling the hardtop back on without scratching the
> hell out of everything?
Yes - one man positions the top while another one man cranks the
top-hoist system down ;) No, you really need two people to do this
job. Even with a top-hoist system two people are needed.
>
> 4) The little 1-2-3 dial next to the lights...what for? A delay is my guess.
The lights are off when the switch is streight up. The two positions to
the counterclockwise of center are for parking. The positions are for
right lighse and the other is for left lights. Turn on the side tward
the road when you park. Maybe somebody will see your parking lights and
NOT hit your car. You can get an owner's manual from Mercedes Benz. If
they don't have one for the 280SL (107) get a 380SL book. It will be
quite close.
>
> 5) I need to slow the idle speed. (Now @1.5 in P, 1 when in gear, not linkage
> caused). I quess, which little injection screw do I just touch?
I don't know about the engine in your car but my car did the same
thing. There is no idle adjustment screw on my 380 engine. Idle
control is done by a computer connected to an idle control valve. My
computer was shot and caused the idle to go to 1500 rpm when the
transmission was in P or N . A new computer fixed the problem for about
$350.00. Sometimes (says my mechanic) the computer and the control
valve go bad and the cost to fix is more than 7500.00!
>
> Thanks to all again!
>
> Jeff Heller
> 98 C230
> 82 281SL
> 85 190E
I hope this helps.
Robert Millard
MBCA
E 55 AMG
>> 3) Any tricks on ONE-man handling the hardtop back on without scratching
>the
>> hell out of everything?
>
>Yes - one man positions the top while another one man cranks the
>top-hoist system down ;) No, you really need two people to do this
>job. Even with a top-hoist system two people are needed.
The hoist made by Sto'Away supposedly can be used by one person alone. I do not
have one, so I cannot say this from personal experience, but there was an
article about it in a European Car magazine a while ago. This hoist is the
safest because of the way it locks the hardtop in the up position. There is a
manual versiona nd an electrical version. In the article, a woman installed the
hoist and operated it by herself.
>>
>> 4) The little 1-2-3 dial next to the lights...what for? A delay is my
>guess.
>
>The lights are off when the switch is streight up. The two positions to
>the counterclockwise of center are for parking. The positions are for
>right lighse and the other is for left lights. Turn on the side tward
>the road when you park. Maybe somebody will see your parking lights and
>NOT hit your car. You can get an owner's manual from Mercedes Benz. If
>they don't have one for the 280SL (107) get a 380SL book. It will be
>quite close.
The 1-2-3 dial is for headlight height adjustement, as Martin explained. This
is in addition to the rotary switch that turns on the lights and was only
available in European models.
Incidentally, due to the lack of pollution controls on the Euro 280 SL, you
have a car that has more power than the U.S. 380 SL and most of the U.S. 450 SL
models. Naturally, the torque of the 280 SL is lower, but it's a great car. It
is powered by a high-revving DOHC in-line six.
Best regards,
Danny Stahl
SDP71
alone. Just did it again the other day. E-mail me if you want details on what
to get and how to do it.
Shannon
80 450SL
Bill Owens
IamLostRU wrote:
> Were talking 1982 Euro 107 here with the 6 cyl. 280:
>
>
I have an 85 280SL Euro
> 2) Is there any aftermarket arm rest for between the seats?
> a) (Perhaps smilar to the one built into the earlier 190E seats).
>
Mine has an arm rest, U may try junk yards
>
> 3) Any tricks on ONE-man handling the hardtop back on without scratching the
> hell out of everything?
>
>
I have a hard top hoist that allows one person to install/remove the top easily.. I
can do it by my self, get under the top standing in the car and lift/lower it into
place.. U should lower the windows first and make sure both doors are open..
> 4) The little 1-2-3 dial next to the lights...what for? A delay is my guess.
>
>
Headlight aim, if u have us (round) headlights that don't work anymore.
> 5) I need to slow the idle speed. (Now @1.5 in P, 1 when in gear, not linkage
> caused). I quess, which little injection screw do I just touch?
>
>
White plastic screw front of motor, low, drivers side, use flat head screwdriver to
turn clockwise to lower idle.. do this only when motor fully warm or it may stall
on u when warm...
> Thanks to all again!
>
> Jeff Heller
> 98 C230
> 82 281SL
> 85 190E
Anytime
--
Bill
ow...@ibm.net
88' 300E 131,000
85' 380SE 185,000
85' 280SL (Red, of course) 64,000
MBCA Member
"300E, The best car we have ever tested." , Consumer Reports