advice on buying 1980's SL

[hollyg]

Am looking to buy a 1980's SL. I welcome advice on pros and cons of the SL in terms of reliability, level/cost of maintenance, suitability for driving around town, and things to look for when checking out cars for sale. Have been focusing on the 1986 560SL but am open to suggestions. Will use it to drive around town so can give teenage son my suv. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give. - Holly

[JimFreeh]

A broad queestion deserves a broad answer.

Buy the nicest, rustfree, documented example you can afford. The newer the better, as the last of the series is the youngest, and has the most upgrades, as well as being fully sorted.

Buying a very nice car at market price will always be a better purchase than a car that is cheap and neglected.

Lots of members here thrive on the bottom of the market, then spend hundreds of uncompensated hours fixing the cars. Therapeutic, but not economic.... Often the cost of parts plus the purchase price of the cheap car will exceed what was spent for a truly fine example.

Jim

[300sdToronto]

I assume gas costs are not relevant to you if you are looking at a 560?

Other than that, as Jim said

1. Look for rust, rust and more rust
2. Documented service records

If it has receipts for oil changes at Mr Lube or alignments from Sears Auto or outfits like that, drop the vehicle!

[jplinville]

Originally Posted by 300sdToronto

I assume gas costs are not relevant to you if you are looking at a 560?

I'll have to 2nd this sentiment...but oh how much fun it is!!!

[POS]

The best one (most reliable, fastest) is the 560SL. My suggestion is to start looking at a lot of them (preferably from an individual; dealer cars get "prepped" prior to sale and you don't know what you're getting when they're done with it); you need to learn what a good one feels like. The low-mileage good cars (a) look very well kept, (b) drive "tight" and that includes inside switchgear, and (c) come from an individual that you like and who gives you honest answers about the car. When you've found a good one, take it to a local Mercedes indy shop who does nothing but older MBs; get it on a lift and check it out.

Start looking and driving all them you can. You should know a good one when you drive it, and I'd bet you find 1 in 10 that qualify as a really good one. PLEASE don't buy the first one you see/drive; don't use emotion in your decision making process.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by POS

don't use emotion in your decision making process.

If you take emotion out of the equation, Holly will end up with a Hyundai sedan.

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by abiby

If you take emotion out of the equation, Holly will end up with a Hyundai sedan.

"In terms of reliability, level/cost of maintenance, suitability for driving around town", Holly might be better off with the Hyundai.

Not that these cars are unreliable, but they are old, parts can be very expensive, and finding a competant mechanic can be difficult.

If you can deal with all of the above negatives, then by all means find yourself the nicest one you can afford and enjoy all the positives aspects of the car. They are great cars, but they're not for everyone.

[coleyjf]

Hi Holly

You go for it - you'll not regret buying an SL if you buy a good one and there seem to be loads around.

One thing to go for is the "86 - 89" "facelift model" of the SL, which includes the 560 you're looking at.

Reasons for this especially in a "daily driver" are simple things like ABS, more reliable engine, better suspension plus loads of slightly more modern touches under the bonnet ( sorry hood!) and a better looking (in my opinion!) car.

Have fun looking and with the current state of the second hand car market you should be able to get a really good deal - especially with all of those "Bankers" needing money!!!! Don't settle for less than full service history.

Cheers

Jim

[hollyg]

thank you for the great advice...so helpful. To recap (please expand on any of these if I've missed the point.)

JimFreeh: Buy the nicest, rustfree, documented example you can afford. --- yes, so I'm looking at rust and a service record

300sdToronto:I assume gas costs are not relevant to you if you are looking at a 560?
---no, I currently drive a LandCruiser, so I suppose I've officially spurned fuel efficiency as a goal in life!

Jplinville: but oh how much fun it is!!!
---really, my primary goal. I live in a warm climate (where the top could be down almost 365 days a year) and I want a fun! car to drive, and one that not everyone has.

POS: The low-mileage good cars (a) look very well kept, (b) drive "tight" and that includes inside switchgear, and (c) come from an individual that you like
---I can assess driving "tight" I think, but what do you mean by the switchgear?

Abiby: end up with a Hyundai sedan
---please, no! Life is too short to waste it driving around in that.

Coleyjf: "86 - 89" "facelift model" of the SL
---so forgo the early 80's models and focus on the later 80's? Is there a significant difference in the engine size: would I notice a big difference with the larger 5.6 engine?

to all my helpful respondents....I have driven two so far.
1. A 1986 with 160k in gold with tan, privately owned (2nd owner). Cosmetically not ideal: torn top, scraped wheels, cracked console, drivers seat sags to left, a/c doesn't work. Sits all summer, so not driven much. Seemed tight to drive, but didn't take above 40mph. Felt fun. Owner respectable and honest, although not particularly knowledgeable. Seems expensive for mileage and condition. $12k
No. 2 was 1986 with 86k one owner, silver with grey, but now with a dealer. All cleaned up to look pretty, but didn't start first time and ran rough at first. Seemed a little springy to drive. Service records back to 1989--lots of indications of "runs rough" in late 1990's. Didn't feel too fun. Seems like good price $12k

Is is worth finding some earlier or later models to drive for comparison?

Other than looking in newspaper, cars.com and ebay, any other suggestions to find some for sale?

- Holly, in search of the right SL

[winecountryone]

The models from earlier in the 1980's used a smaller 4.5L V8.Less power,but better MPG.(180HP vs 230Hp for a 560SL)There was also a 380 SL,but I would steer clear of those. They had several years of troublesome and expensive engine problems.They made only 155HP in the same body/weight as the 560.20MPG is possible but they are a real dog in the performance dept.Most of these early models had 3 speed auto transmissions where the 560 has a 4 speed automatic.A 560 will get about 12-15 MPG in town at best.None of the 107 SL's ever had a power top.
The 560's are undoubtedly the best of the 107 chassis SL's.
That being said,if you want serious power,plus more luxury appointments you might want to look at the next generation SL,the 129 chassis.The first generation 129's have less troublesome electronics and their 5L V8's make 300HP.There was also a 6 cylinder 129 which made nearly the same HP as the earlier V8's but could get 20+MPG.
There are a lot of listings for these cars on "criagslist".The rising price of fuel has caused a lot of people to start "dumping" nice SL's at bargain prices.
All of the ones you drove sound overpriced.I think at least in my area(here in CA near San Francisco)you should be able to get a very nice 560 for 6000$ to 8000$ tops.Keep looking.....I took 4 months to find mine.Pickiness will likely pay off!!

[hollyg]

thanks for your insight. You mention the next generation 129's -- what year was the start of those models?

[dwcars]

I consider myself quite knowledgeable when it comes to cars. I anyone wants to have an SL eyeballed, I might be able to go see it for you and give you an honest bumper to bumper evaluation, no obligation on your part.
Dexter in Fort Pierce, FL ( 1/2 way down the East coast of FL )

[hollyg]

thanks Dexter.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by hollyg

Am looking to buy a 1980's SL. I welcome advice on pros and cons of the SL in terms of reliability, level/cost of maintenance, suitability for driving around town, and things to look for when checking out cars for sale. Have been focusing on the 1986 560SL but am open to suggestions. Will use it to drive around town so can give teenage son my suv. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give. - Holly

All 107's are very reliable but they are all 20+ years old, so generally there is restoration involved of some type. Maintenance is about the same as a VW bug, but finding someone who knows the cars is difficult since most of these guys retired. But they are very simple cars and well suited for the DIY owners. My recommendation to anyone is to purchase a low mileage 560SL in as good a condition as you can afford. It will cost more to try to restore a car than to pay up front for a pristine one. The 380SL will give you a slight gas mileage advantage at the cost of a significant reduction in performance. 450SL are very reliable when restored but there age makes restoration more of a standard requirement. I dive mine daily in the summer and winter if there is no snow.

Whatever you get make sure it has no rust.

[hollyg]

Thanks John. So the 107's are the late 1980's vehicles? Or how do I know which cars are the 107's?