As the original components on our classics age, a repair or replacement will be par for the course until each system and component has been sorted out. Yes, some systems will continue to perform excellently for decades, but eventually all good things must come to an end. With my 1975 Mercedes...

It is a true honor to join the editorial team at FCP Euro from the Desert Southwest of the United States. Today we launch a series on the Mercedes-Benz, R107 chassis, covering topics such as what to look for in a potential purchase, restoration, and mechanical aspects. Over the next months...

For classic car owners there are certain topics that consume the internet in both the form of questions and answers. Topics such as “What fuel to use? What octane? What brand of oil? What weight of oil? Should I use synthetic? How often should I change my oil? And the list goes on and on...

PART 1 Now that we are officially into summer, at least in the northern hemisphere, there is no better time to talk about air conditioning. This week we will cover the A/C system in the 1975 Mercedes 450SL. To start we will work backwards in our process of restoration and installation. The...

For 1975, U.S. buyers were privileged to an all new feature—emissions! Yes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, required that all cars be fitted with an emissions system to hep curb exhaust pollutants. With the on set of the new government requirements, auto makers scrambled to get...

REFRIGERENT r12 or r134 In our second part of the Mercedes 450SL air conditioning restoration, we will focus on prepping the system for freon. The 1975 450SL I am restoring, had the original compressor with r12 refrigerant. While it had long since leaked down over the near decade of sitting,...

I was recently asked if I would write an article on spark plugs and wires. Like tires, additives, cleaners, batteries, etc., we have so many choices and each with a claim to be the “best.” So just where do we begin to get the right product for our classic Mercedes? The best place to start is at...

As we progress on our journey through the 1975 Mercedes-Benz 450SL, it is important to look at the D-Jetronic or D-Jet fuel injection system. With these systems aging and parts needing to be replaced, it is a good time to look at the general function of this system and the various components....

The early Mercedes 450SL power steering system is very robust and quite simple. The other positive is, pumps, hoses, steering boxes etc., are all available should the need arise. Several things that all power steering systems need on a regular basis is to be checked for fluid. While the power...

If you already own a Mercedes W123, 240D it will be no secret that vacuum is used everywhere. Despite the fact that this car, in my opinion, is one of the greatest cars ever built, both in a timeless look and mechanical longevity, they do indeed have their challenges and shortcomings. One of the...