Dismantling a 450SE

More threads by Lukas

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
Hi all,

Long story. Basically, I bought a 450SE I shouldn't have a while ago, but it was cheap (initially), etc. Have been wanting to post about that for a while and still do, but in the interim.....

That 450 needed a new bumper amongst other things. An ad came through the local MB club recently about a tow truck driver who tows dead cars, parts them and then scraps the rest. They got a 116, and as they don't usually deal in Mercs, offered it via the club. I offered a little for the bumper or a little more for the whole car (didn't need any other bits, and already have a stash from dismantling the 450SEL). Ended up getting the whole car for $300, on the basis that they take the shell back for scrap.

The car has ~315,000km, and had been lowered, extractors fitted, etc. After some harsh driving something snapped in the engine, so here 'tis. It also has quite a lot of rust, so it was not long of this world either way. Pics:

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE12.jpg
Top of door frame rust - that's new

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE11.jpg
Rare optional extra

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE10.jpg
Different

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE09.jpg
Options and a curtain rail holder - I think the grille was mounted to this to keep it down when the bonnet was raised?

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE08.jpg
Filler rust

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE07.jpg
Perc my Merc

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE06.jpg
Charming

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE05.jpg
Spot of gardening

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE04.jpg
Epic door rust - the central locking actuator in this door was floating inside the door - its mount was also nothing but rust

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE03.jpg
Rear rust

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE02.jpg
1/4 rust

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE01.jpg
Extractors etc go here

2012-04-15Mercedes450SE00.jpg
Spolier - you can just see the 450SE that needs a bumper on the left

So, this car is blocking my driveway, and I'm trying to dismantle it as fast as I can. My neighbours must love me. There are some bits that I definately won't need, i.e.:
  • Roof liner - short, no sunroof, good nick less one stain in a corner
  • Transmission
  • Seats - blue MBtex, one decent front (1 tear), back might scrub up OK
  • Blue door cards with MBtex insets

There will be more I imagine. Let me know if any intrest.

Finally, option codes for this one:

586 BEHR AIR CONDITIONER, AND ELECTRIC WINDOW LIFTERS (FRONT AND REAR DOORS)
599 HEAT-INSULATING GLASS FOR SIDE AND REAR WINDOW PANES; SEDAN: HEATED REAR WINDOW PANE, LAMINATED GLASS
625 VERSION FOR AUSTRALIA
619 HEADLAMPS AND FOG LAMPS OR ADDITIONAL HIGH BEAM, AMBER; AND HALOGEN LAMP UNIT WITH HIGH BEAM/LOWBEAM/FOG LIGHT, R.H. TRAFFIC
877 READING LAMP IN THE REAR
220 REAR DOOR CONTACTS
496 EXHAUST EMISSION CONTROL, INAPPLICABLE TO VEHICLES EXPORTED TO THE U.S.A. OR TO CANADA, WITHOUT AIR-COOLED OIL COOLER
468 CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM AND REAR FOG LAMP
480 SELF-LEVELLING SUSPENSION

Lukas
 
Last edited:

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Did it have an XY spoiler on the back?? The front one suits the car quite well.... Interesting carb conversion and huge rust in the doors! I rather like the blue interiors... :)

Based on Styria's post on stator shafts, I'd keep the tranny as a spare...
 
Last edited:
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
Had a spoiler of some sort - removed before it came to me. Front spoiler was a hack job - zip ties and glue mainly. I don't really have the room for big things like transmissions, or the ability to remove them easily either (stands only, no crane, etc).

Agree that blue innards are nice, but my others are all cloth or velour, not MBtex.

It has 2 good tyres I think, and the bumper, so more than recovered the cost there alone.
 

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
I reckon I've seen pics of this car on TK before, but not sure what thread... Perhaps a search is in order! Motec you're good at this... :D;)
 
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
This is finally done, and the car gone!

Progress pics:

2012-05-09Garage00.jpg
Parts!

2012-05-09Garage01.jpg
More parts!

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE00.jpg
Work underway

ChucklesLucinderMagnolia16.jpg
Zzzzz

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE01.jpg
Even more parts!

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE02.jpg
Getting there

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE03.jpg
Attention to detail - each plug can be disassembled to get the wires through small openings or connect different looms together. Each wire has a yellow band around it with a number, which matches a number printed on a piece of paper inserted into the plug.

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE04.jpg
Under the floor

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE05.jpg
Big plug - this connects to the power window loom I think

2012-05-09Mercedes450SE06.jpg
More rust - the entire RHS of this bracket, which normally attaches to the boot well floor, just wasn't there.

More to follow.
 
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
2012-05-12Mercedes450SE00.jpg
HVAC out

2012-05-12Mercedes450SE01.jpg
More bits taken off the front of the engine

2012-05-12Mercedes450SE02.jpg
Water pump goers here

2012-05-12Mercedes450SE03.jpg
Bad: difficult to see, but something (in the engine) bent the spark plug pin against the point and sideways - wasn't me:)

2012-05-12Mercedes450SE04.jpg
HVAC goes here

2012-05-20Mercedes450SE00.jpg
SLS

2012-05-20Mercedes450SE01.jpg
Empty

2012-05-20Mercedes450SE02.jpg
Empty w/ ceiling
 
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
Last lot: pulled the rocker covers off to take a peek inside:

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE00.jpg
Covers off

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE01.jpg
Not good - all the cams on the RHS of the engine (standing at front of car) were not attached, and were just floating around. How does that even happen?

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE02.jpg
Also not good (note the kink)

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE03.jpg
Still not good - not much clearance between the chain and the cover

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE04.jpg
Floating cams

2012-05-23Mercedes450SE05.jpg
Finished!

I now have my driveway back, and a stupid amount of spare parts.

Lukas
 

Michel

The Prince of Arabia
Moderator
Messages
10,016
Points
775
Location
Sydney, Australia
Very impressive.

Did you dump the body?
 
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
Deal was the towies take the body to the scrappers (and thus they get paid for it). They did deliver it to my place and take it away again though, so I'm happy.
 

Michel

The Prince of Arabia
Moderator
Messages
10,016
Points
775
Location
Sydney, Australia
Deal was the towies take the body to the scrappers (and thus they get paid for it). They did deliver it to my place and take it away again though, so I'm happy.

Did you keep the bonnet with the cutout?
 

Helmet

Connoisseur
Messages
1,214
Points
59
Location
Sydney
Nice pics , the engine pics detail what happens when a chain guide breaks, gets jammed between the chain and cam gear causing the chain to jump. Make sure you guys always change the guides as well as the chain ;)
 

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
I always find it facinating to see what's hiding underneath all those trim pieces! Well done Lukas; what a huge job! Did you keep the sunroof?

Personally I would've stripped the driveline and suspension and junked the engine. But of course that's even more work and it makes it even harder to move....
 

Oversize

Grand Master
Messages
5,746
Points
596
Location
Melbourne
Have you been watching The Sopranos or Al Pacino movies again Michel? lol.
:D

Filled with quick-set and off the end of the jetty!! Hahahaha! :D
 

260ebenz

Master
Messages
6,668
Points
175
Location
NSW
Filled with quick-set and off the end of the jetty!! Hahahaha! :D

The Godfather starring Marlon Brando now that in my opinion is a real Mafia movie!

Marlon famous quote from the movie "Make them an offer they can't refuse"!
 

Tony66_au

New Member
Messages
2,306
Points
0
Location
Gippsland, Vic
The beauty of wrecking a car is that you learn an awful lot about what goes where without fear of consequence or pressure to put it allllll back which is the worst bit about strip down bare metal restorations.

Re that cam chain kink?

The sprockets looked pretty stuffed too.
 
OP
L

Lukas

New Member
Messages
651
Points
0
Location
Canberra
The beauty of wrecking a car is that you learn an awful lot about what goes where without fear of consequence or pressure to put it allllll back

Indeed. This one was much quicker because of the experience from the last time too.

Re bonnet: no room to store it! The front LHS door was, oddly given the rust elsewhere, perfect - also no room though.

Re driveline: it had chopped springs, and I just don't have the heavy tools to get the big stuff off. Wanted to keep the steering box for example, but no socket to get the big nut off. Was also working on a sloping cement + gravel driveway, so not the best foundation for crawling under the car. I chocked it to high heaven before getting under the back to get the SLS valve out.

Anyone know why the cams just "fell" off? Reving too fast, or timing chain out of sync as discussed above?
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
L Dismantling a 450SEL: ~Free Parts Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
W126GUYSYDNEY My Love for the W116 1979 450SE Silver green Mercedes W116 4
c107 nice 450SE on grays Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 5
Styria 450SE for sale - Europe Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
Styria 450SE for sale - VICTORIA Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
Styria My 450SE for sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
Styria 450se - For sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 45
motec 6.9 450SE Gumtree Perth Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
6.9forever 450SE in Sydney Mercedes W116 11
R 450SE harsh transmission shifts Mercedes W116 15
260ebenz Impressive 450SE for sale Mercedes W116 2
BenzBoy Tyres for the 450SE Mercedes W116 23
300SDude 1975 - 1980 MERCEDES 450SEL 6.9 PARTS W116 280se AMG 450se Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
B FS: 450SE Track car #116 now on eBay Motorsports 2
Michel Modified 450SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 6
300SDude eBay: 1975 Mercedes-Benz 400-Series 450SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 15
Oversize 450SE for sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 7
BIGBENZ 74 450se Mercedes W116 11
Tony66_au Tony's 450SE Project Mercedes W116 29
BenzBoy Show condition 450SE/SEL wanted. Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 0
L Pristine 450SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
B 1 lap of Sandown in-car video 450SE Motorsports 3
B Team116 #2: front end tart-up on 450SE Motorsports 8
Styria Potential cooling problems - 450SE Mechanicals 7
SELfor50 Bathurst Prep - Final Touches - 450SE 6.9 Exteriors and Body Repairs 11
Styria Styria's 450se Mercedes W116 142
450SE 450SE going to Taswegia Mechanicals 7
B Milan Brown 450SE for Sale Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 6
B Does anyone want to see my 450SE in a motorkhana? Motorsports 12
L Another 450SE 6.9? Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 1
Styria looking to buy 450SE Mercedes W116 11
Fotografa Want something different? How about a 450SE 6.9. Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 10
450SE 450SE picks up his 450SE Mercedes W116 44
3 steel rims 450se w116 Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 2
oscar Robert de Niro's 450SE Talking Torque 14
G For Sale 1973 450se Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 3
A '73 450SE - vacuum line to transmission modulator? Mercedes W116 7
B How do I remove the engine fan? - 450SE Mechanicals 4
Michel Clean 450SE in South Australia Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 0
B Which Bosch fuel pump do I need for my 450SE D-Jet 1975 Mechanicals 1
L FS: 1974 Mercedes Benz 450SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 2
Michel Cheap SWB 450SE Gumtree/eBay/Facebook Listings 0
B 450SE/M117 lower sump gasket - does it need sealant or not? Mechanicals 10
B 350SL diff into 450SE - speedo correction Mechanicals 5
B Some parts for the club car TeamW116 #2 450SE Motorsports 8
BenzBoy What price a 450SE? Mercedes W116 12

Similar threads

Top