The subframe problem never went away, Mercedes just decided to ignore it when they put the lighter aluminum V8 in the car! I had to replace the subframe in my '82 380SL because one of the lower control arm mounting tabs broke off! I have the new subframe in my '79 450SL, and it is MUCH stronger than the one in the '82, which is now the original subframe style with the reinforcing tabs. All the reinforcing tabs do is add some metal to each side of the lower control arm tabs. A new subframe from Performance products comes with the tabs boxed in, easily twice as strong as the original setup in the tab area. I imagine that all 380SLs and 560SLs will eventually need new subframes, or at least the reinforcing tabs installed. I don't know how they got away with limiting the recall to only the cars with cast iron engines installed.

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Richard Wooldridge
'01 ML320
'82 300D 4.3L V6/T700R4 conversion
'82 380SL, '86 560SL engine/trans. installed
'79 450SL, digital servo update
'75 280C