This was also the way I have made use of it during the first couple of years including some nice vacation trips through Italy, Greece and the UK.
Now and then there was reason for some repair and restoration work (not mentioning the routine maintenance):
- Several bulbs behind the instruments needed replacement, which is a major job in these cars and would end-up in excessive invoices if it would be delegated to the official repair shop.
- A leakage at the hardtop had to be sealed after the first drive while raining. Water was dripping out of the roof trim.
- Electrical items in the rear of the car (including the fuel level gauge) behaved crazy until I could localise the loose ground contact.
- The electric antenna (original Hirschmann) has been repaired repeatedly (contacts of relays, drive, telescope)
- After a minor accident in 1978 the front suspension body, the right hand lower arm and the front shock absorbers have been replaced. Fortunately there was no need to straighten the chassis. At this occasion I had both front fenders replaced and all rusted spots in the left and right wheel arches repaired. The car got a new paint and a new windscreen as well.
- Fuel pump re-built
- Re-build of both front brake callipers
- New combined switch for wipers, direction indicator etc.
- Vent control levers (broken) replaced
- Exhaust system replaced regularly (even when not using the car it corroded within no time)
- Replaced broken brake-shield rear right (hand brake locked-up at periodic inspection).
- Complete engine re-build (new pistons, new bearing shells, valves re-ground, replaced all sealings and gaskets). The cylinder head was having some signs of cavitation damage obviously from a non-documented gasket failure
- Battery needs replacement every now and then
- New body panels covering the longitudinal beams below the doors
- Replaced mouldings and rubber profile at door entry
- Corrosion repair of the rear left fender underneath moulding
- Cylinder head gasket failure, water leaking inside the engine. New cylinder head, new valves
- New canvas top (original MB), replaced all body rubber sealings
- Replaced heater control valve (old one was leaking)
- Replaced all rubber hoses inside engine compartment
- Replaced cooling system thermostat
- Installed stainless steel exhaust system
- New carpets in driver and passenger areas
- Re-built cooling water pump
- Checked and re-built viscous coupling of radiator fan
- Replaced broken joint of roof mechanism (emergency repair, self-made)
- New body paint after repair of all small dents etc. Leather cleaned, repaired and re-dyed with Leatherique products. Chromed parts either polished, re-chromed or replaced. Renovated wooden parts. Replaced rubber protection profiles (2004)
- Replaced guideway for gear selection lever
- Complete re-build of rear axle. Replaced all rubber elements of the suspension. Re-build of the rear brake callipers, new brake tubes and hoses. Drive shaft re-built (pictures)
- Replaced rear engine / transmission support
- Installed booster- amplifier and (hidden) CD- changer for the contemporary Blaupunkt radio
- Replaced plastic eyes of the gear selection levers (preventative action)
- 4 new tyres fitted (Michelin Vintage Car Series)
- Welding repair of broken soft top mechanism (lever for spring- attachment, right side)
- Replaced front engine supports and all rubber parts of the front suspension
- New set of ignition cables, ignition parameters adjusted
- Installation of fully electronic ignition system ("123 ignition")
- After evidence of overheating: Replaced viscous drive coupling of radiator fan and water pump. Water temperature gauge repaired
- New upholstery for seat cushions and upper part of door-panels
- New gauge for cooling water temperature
- High performance radiator-net installed; lube-oil radiator cleaned
- Replaced all hoses for lube-oil and transmission fluid radiator connections
- Timing chain replaced
- RetroSound radio with DAB+ tuner ("Becker look") installed as a replacement of the contemporary AM/FM Blaupunkt Frankfurt set
- Replaced flexible drive shaft for revs indicator
- Electric fuel booster pump overhauled
- Automatic aereal overhauled, new gear-wheel manufactured
- Overflow-valve of the injection pump replaced in order to increase the system pressure to prevent from vaporization problems at high ambient temperature
- Clock overhauled
