Car: 1970 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3
Owner: Jeff Fisher
From: Palm Beach, FL

There’s no law that a sports car can’t have four doors, lots of headroom and seats for five. Witness the famous 6.3. Mercedes engineers created this hot-rod by inserting the 250 hp, 6.3-liter SOHC V-8 from the huge 600 Pullman limousine into the lightweight 300SEL.
The result is a highly-rewarding – and mechanically complex – grand tourer with air suspension, four wheel disc brakes and 140 mph top speed. Despite being repeatedly voted “the best car in the world”, only 6,536 300SEL 6.3’s were sold from 1968 through 1972.

http://www.mercedesshop.com/images/2000amelia/1970_300sel63_1.jpg

http://www.mercedesshop.com/images/2000amelia/1970_300sel63_2.jpg

Photos by Bill Wood
2000 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance
Nikon 900S
------------------
Bill Wood - Webmaster
MercedesShop.com, LLC

[This message has been edited by Webmaster (edited 03-18-2000).]

You might want to add that out of the 6500 produced from 1968-1972, fewer than 1900 made it to the United States in those years.

The facts are changed, of course, by the evident tendency of Europeans to pay high dollar for U.S. cars and export them, because U.S. cars seem to be less abused and better preserved.

------------------
--------
'00 ITR #110
'69 MB 300 SEL 6.3 #2546

http://www.george.knighton.com

I have looked at a few axamples of this car and prices ranged from $3k for a rough example and $18k for a perfect one. I have found a 300sel with a 3.5 v8 that is beautiful. Is this a good model and what are some things to look for as far as problems.

Thank You

I am not an expert on these cars, but I here that their wonderful pneumatic suspension is prone to have problems if moisture accumulates and then ius very expensive to fix. I believe there is a water trap that have a drain valve that needs to be opened occassionaly. If more than a few drops come out, or if it is black and "gunky" watch out. I suggest that your search for previous posts on this subject and car.
I am in the process of buying a 280 SEL 4.5 and I chose this car since it has a more conventional suspension and has lots of power!
Good luck!

------------------
Deezel
87 300TDT
150,000 miles

These cars are soooo neat - but from what I've read on the 6.3/6.9 page a hell of a lot of work (and EXPENSIVE work at that) to keep in top shape. Scarcity of parts makes this a challenge as well. But what a piece a metal, huh?

I really like the 6.9s too and would probably opt for one instead of the 6.3 - though I'd get my hands on euro-spec bumpers (as employed on the 6.9 in 'Ronin').

People often talk about an MBZ and how the cars seem to function and perform at a greater level than the "sum of their parts". The 6.3 and 6.9, in my opinion, were the truest examples of this legend.

And every owner knows precisely what they have.

Funny story to that point: Two years ago I was at Long's Drugs and this elderly lady pulls into the spot next to me in a silver 6.9 - PERFECT example. I did some quick math, decided I could live for a few years on a diet of water and Cheerios and proceeded to ask her if she was interested in parting with the beaut. She was game to the point where I asked what she might want for it (hoping to - and I hate to admit this - get a steal of a deal), when she immediately came back with $19.5k. I almost fell over, but kept it together, cracked a smile, started to talk about the age of the car, the mileage (only 90-something thou but I was trying hard to make that sound high), cost of maintaining it etc, when this septugenarian interrupts me and for a full five minutes goes NUTS telling me all the specs on her car: maintenance history, peformance, longevity of parts, mechanical shortcomings - you name it - all the way to recent compression-check results. This rabid old enthusiast spanked me up one side of her car and down the other!

On the way home I had to laugh at two things - how incredibly neat it was that someone's grandmother was so taken with her MBZ and how low I could sink into a moral void. I tried to console myself with the idea that karma would have had the 6.9 wrapped around a tree had that lady not been so astute.

I still see her every once in a great while, white puffy hair, hands at ten and two, barely able to see over the wheel and moving fast.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by makakio:
I tried to console myself with the idea that karma would have had the 6.9 wrapped around a tree had that lady not been so astute.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That was a funny story, and thanks for posting it. But...the part I quoted above puzzles me. What exactly do you mean?

You were probably looking at the grandmother in the 6.9 the way kids at work look at me. I'm 45, and my regular driver is an ITR. :)


------------------
--------
'00 ITR #110
'69 MB 300 SEL 6.3 #2546

http://www.george.knighton.com

Alright!!! I love M-100 posts!!

Having sold my beloved '79 6.9 not too long ago, I will soon be searching for another one, but with M-100s it HAS to be the right one--or else!! We work on a number of 600, 6.3s, and 6.9s at our shop and having driven them all, I must say that the one with the most comfortable position is the 600SWB, but my all time favorite is the 6.9. While I'd still love to see a dark green 6.3 in my stable one day (WITH alloy wheels), I must admit that the 6.9 is definitely a better overall gentleman's express. I ran my 6.9 up to 203,000 miles without a single hitch (fingers crossed all the time), except for having to do a starter at 152,000 miles. Otherwise, the hydraulics, engine and tranny held up wonderfully. I drove it on some pretty long trips and the only negative part was the resulting fuel economy, although with a relatively light foot, a 6.9 will return almost 20mpg on an extended freeway run. Well, there's a reason for everything, and there's one for why I sold my 6.9 too. After weathering 21 years of north coast winters, the body was beginning to crumble into nothing. I put an ad in Hemmings and found someone in Texas who is now in the process of restoring the car!! I think last time I spoke to him, receipts were nearing the $30,000 mark, but he insisted he wanted a completely restored example. Of course, I also had a very desireable color combination to boot: Anthracite Grey over Parchment leather. Mmmmmm. So these days, a BMW 745i Turbo is sitting in the 6.9's place in the stable. Yeah it's faster than the mighty M-100 powered MB, but it's still not even close to the experience of having 6.9 liters under the hood. One day, one day...

------------------
Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

[This message has been edited by Aaron (edited 07-04-2000).]

Sir Chesterfield - sorry if the California-native thing came through too strong... I simply meant that had I taken advantage of an old lady and bought that car for a steal, karma (divine intervention, Murphy's Law - whatever you believe in) would have come back on me (and probably the car as well).

Superstitious? You bet. Made funnier by the fact that I don't truly believe in karma - just something out there that inevitably trips you up when you're getting away with murder.

Perhaps cynicism...

S'OK. I'm just not very well educated on Cali-speak. :)

I was amused the other day to learn what it means to pull someone's card.

------------------

'00 ITR #110
'69 MB 300 SEL 6.3 #2546

http://www.george.knighton.com

I was wondering if anyone had any info about the air suspension on the 69'300sel. Does anyone have an idea about replacement cost or if it can be done by a novice with how-to instruction. I saw one for a good price but the suspension is gone. The car has been sitting a few years. Any comments or recomendations is appreciated.

I've heard a number of different answers about the air suspension ranging from $100 to $4500. I have not worked on the 109 cars with air suspension, but I have heard that sometimes you can rebuild the air suspesion parts yourself by putting in new o-rings sourced from industrial supply houses. You can also find a number of vendors in the back of Hemmings that advertise rebuilt air suspension bits, but perhaps PartsShop on this site can help? Apparently it's not that hard to replace the components, but the valves and cyls are expensive. I've seen anywhere from $350 to $800 for the valves.

Perhaps other posters can add to or correct me.

GO TO THIS PAGE IMMEDIATELY:
http://www.m-100.org

It's the (un)official 6.3 and 6.9 page. It's a GREAT site and you'll tap into TONS of guys who know about building a new air suspension. Great reading too...

Is it true the fuel injection system on the 6.3 can cost up to $15k to have replaced? I did a search on it and that is what I found! I really want one of these cars and I know some repairs can be a few thousand dollars but $15,000 is what I wanted to spend for the whole car, not one part! Anyone had any experience with this? Who works on these things in Atlanta? Benzmac?

Rojogo,

Yes, a new fuel injection pump for the 6.3 is around $15,000 from Mercedes-Benz. That is even if you can still get a brand new one anymore. A 6.9 motor is in the neighborhood of $43,000 and I'm sure a 6.3 is in the same ballpark (or more!). Injectors for the 6.3 are around $700 each so putting one of these cars back into complete original condition requires BIIG bucks! I remember putting a BRAND NEW pump in a silver 6.3 and 8 new injectors for a guy who demanded new and not rebuilt. Needless to say, I noticed him cringe a little when he cut that final check :)

There's a shop out in San Francisco by the name of Pacific Fuel Injection and they are a Bosch authorized rebuild center. They rebuilt the FI pump from my '67 250SE Cabrio for me and the turnaround was very quick and the bill came to $870. They did a great job and the pump looked brand new when I got it back. BTW, the car is running excellent.

------------------
Rgds,
Aaron Greenberg
MB technician
Precision Motorcars, Cincinnati, Ohio
'67 250SE Cabriolet
'77 450SL
'80 300SD
'85 380SE
'86 420SEL
'89 420SEL
'93 300E 2.8
'74 Jensen Interceptor Mk.III
'81 DeLorean DMC12
'84 BMW 745i Turbo

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aaron:

Yes, a new fuel injection pump for the 6.3 is around $15,000 from Mercedes-Benz. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

(Gulp!) OK...I changed my mind....anybody want to buy a 6.3? :) Just kidding. I want to drive it a while first.


------------------

'00 ITR #110
'69 MB 300 SEL 6.3 #2546

http://www.george.knighton.com

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Aaron:


We work on a number of 600, 6.3s, and 6.9s at our shop and having driven them all, I must say that the one with the most comfortable position is the 600SWB, <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You mean it's the one most comfortable to drive? Or were you talking about its position in the market?



------------------
'00 ITR #110
'69 MB 300 SEL 6.3 #2546

http://www.george.knighton.com