Mercedes Benz 300SEL Parts & Accessories

Six Fast Facts that You Should Know about the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL

• Rudolf Uhlenhaut, known for his version of the 1955 300SLR race car that was road legal, was invited by Mercedes-Benz to test drive the prototype of the 300SEL. Perplexed by the vehicle's superior performance, witnesses said that Uhlenhaut popped the hood at the first stop to check how the engineers and designers managed to fit the vehicle's big engine and supporting equipment inside the small bay.


• From 1968 to 1972, only 6,526 Mercedes Benz 300SEL were manufactured. But, although many car owners and enthusiasts think that this vehicle is very expensive to maintain, the 300SEL remains to be one of the best collectible cars today.


• Compared to other SE sedan versions, the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL had a longer chassis and a different rim offset. In fact, in terms of rim width, some 300SELs were equipped with 6.5-inch rims, while others featured 7-inch ones. Likewise, the offset for this line's rims varied. The offset for the 6.5-inch rims was measured at 21.5 mm, while the 7-inch ones had 25 mm.


• What will you get if you combine the 109 series Type 300 SEL and Type 600? The 300SEL, of course! By combining these vehicles, Mercedes-Benz, which was known as Daimler-Benz during that time, was able to launch one of the fastest series produced sedans in the world. Powered by a 6.3-liter V8 engine, this sedan was as nimble as its competitors in the sports car division because it could provide a top speed of more than 220 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 7.4 seconds.


• With its excellent eight-cylinder engine, entering the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL as a race car was not a farfetched idea. So, in 1969, with company engineer Erich Waxenberger taking the wheel, this vehicle was entered in a six-hour touring car race held in Macao. Though it was a one-time entry, the 300SEL did not disappoint by finishing in first place.


• Although production of the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL started in the late 60s, it is still considered as one of the best vehicles in the automobile industry. To prove this, the 300SEL has made various appearances in various TV shows and films such as Zombie Farm, Driving Miss Daisy, Top Gear Korea, and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

One of the best luxury cars ever built is the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL. With its powerful engine and unique design, this vehicle has inspired many car owners and automobile manufacturers around the world. Unfortunately, despite its success, this vehicle still encounters problems that can affect its overall performance. Listed below are some of the issues that car owners may experience with the 300SEL.

Intermittent power loss

One problem that plagues many Mercedes-Benz 300SEL owners is intermittent power loss. Although Mercedes-Benz has not issued any recalls regarding this problem, some car experts suggest inspection of the intake valves to diagnose the problem. However, if the valves are not the culprits, then the fuel injector should be checked for leaks.

In case that these are not the reasons why the 300SEL is experiencing power loss, then fuel volume and pressure should be examined carefully. If the pressure is rated below 76 and 79 psi and volume is measured at less than one liter every 40 seconds, then these may be the roots of the problem.

Varying rim offset

Although this is not a serious problem, some 300SEL owners still complain about the varying rim offset of this vehicle line. For those models equipped with 6.5-inch rims, their rim offset is measured at 21.5 mm. On the other hand, for those with 7-inch wide rims, then their offset is 25 mm. Car enthusiasts and experts recommend proper measurement of the offset to avoid ill-fitting tires.

Failed window regulators

According to an online car care website, one of the most common problems encountered by many car owners with the Mercedes-Benz 300SEL is having failed window regulators. Most especially with the 1990 and 1991 models, this problem causes the door windows to get stuck whenever they are raised or lowered. To solve this problem, replacement of the faulty window regulators is necessary to avoid recurring issues.

Cold starting issue

Another problem that 300SEL owners should take note of happens when the weather is too cold. Although cold starting is a fairly normal thing to do, some 300SELs, particularly those manufactured in the 1987 model year, have issues with this. To solve this problem, the fuel system accumulator and cold start injector should be inspected for damages. However, repairing or replacing these parts without guidance is a no-go because they tend to be expensive and making a wrong diagnosis will only lead to more complications.

As many known car enthusiasts put it, the Mercedes 300SEL is considered as the best sedan in the world. Why is it a favourite among car collectors you ask? Well it is powered with a huge 6.3-liter V8, which makes the four-door sedan cruise the road with ease. However, because of its huge engine and because the vehicle is fairly old, it uses up more fuel.

Given these circumstances, you might want to cut down on fuel consumption mainly because gas prices are getting more and more expensive, and that you'd want your Mercedes 300SEL to be more environment-friendly. Doing that won't be a problem. Here are fuel saving tips you can follow.

• Cut down on short trips.

Normally, an engine consumes more fuel in the first five miles. So now, you can imagine the gallons of fuel consumed if you do several short trips in a single day. What you can do is you can consolidate the errands that you have to run,so you can do them in one go, saving fuel in the process.

• Avoid rush hour.

It can be very annoying when you get stuck in a traffic jam, not to mention the fuel that is consumed while your car is idling. Whenever you stop and go in a traffic jam, you need to shift to first gear to get your car moving. It consumes more fuel to get your car moving again. You can also save on fuel if you try to anticipate what the car in front of you will be doing. Instead of accelerating and abruptly braking, drive steadily at a low speed.

• Drive with closed windows.

When you are driving at a high speed, it is best to drive with the windows closed as it reduces drag on your car. When there's too much drag, it adds more weight to your vehicle. This means that your engine has to work double time to make your car move. Extra effort for the engine is equal to more fuel consumed.

• Avoid pushing the gas pedal down too far.

Contrary to popular belief, you consume more fuel if you are pushing the gas pedal farther, even if you are in a high gear and travelling at a reasonable speed. This is true on most cars with manual transmission.

• Don't use the air-conditioning if you don't need to.

You may be used to turning your air-conditioning throughout your drive, but did you know that you are burning more fuel when you leave it on for a long period? Try rolling the windows down on your leisurely drives and enjoy the breeze instead to save more fuel.

• Keep your tires' pressure in check.

Underinflated tires make the engine work extra hard to move your car. And when your engine is working extra hard, it is definitely consuming extra fuel. Check the tire pressure regularly, say once a week to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. Not only will you be saving on fuel, but also you will keep you and your loved ones safe.