tcowles

[tcowles]

Sirs: As a first time buyer of an M-B, I was gratified to find your Forum Web Site.Since purchasing my 1984 380SL last September, I have many questions concerning Mercedes autos.
The PO gave me an inch thick stack of past repairs on the car. However, as I would later find out, repairs to the 380 were somtimes done in a slip-shod fashion.
With the mileage on the car at 156K, I knew some repair work would be fothcoming. I have , however, learned a lot just by reading the questions that previous owners have sent in. Basically I have only a few questions.
(1) In the past I have added Marvel Mystery Oil to the gas tank of my cars.Will using that oil damage the 3980?
(2) We will spend a month this summer in North Carolina. Are there any precautions I should take with the car before letting it sit for a month?
(3) I have used Castrol Oil in many of my other cars.(Camry).I had a mechanic put Castrol 20-50 in the car after I purchased it. Was that a good choice?
(4) I noticed a factory plate fastened to a bar in front of the radiator. Do the numbers stamped on the plate mean anything?
(5) There are two metal cylinders mounted underneath the car just to the back of the right rear wheel. What are those for?
Finally, back in the 1980's I owned a MGB for a while. At the time I thought that the MGB was a great drive.However, after driving the 380SL for about four months, I realize what real driving is all about. I want to keep this 20 year old car in the best condition I can. Thank you for letting me join in the Forum.
Tom Cowles, Inverness, FL.
tcowl@earthlink.net

[cbdo]

Welcome to the ranks of the MB-owned!

Regarding your questions:

1) No personal opinion regarding its benefits or risks. Do a search on the tech help part of this site and settle down to quite a bit of reading, then form your opinion.

2) Not in my opinion. I store mine for the Michigan winter season with overinflated tires, a fresh oil change, fuel stabilizer in a full tank, and a carefully chosen battery-pal-type charger, and it fires right up after four months. For one month, I'd simply park it, probably with a full tank of gas to reduce condensation; I've never had a car fail to fire at that length of time.

3) Short answer--Yes. Longer answer--Dino versus synthetic oil is probably the most interminably debated topic on Mercedes boards. Personally, I use a good dino (Valvoline for high-mileage engines in my case, but I'm not sure it really matters much) and change it in the spring after storage, midsummer and just before storing in the fall (which works out to 2500-3000 mile intervals most years).

4) Yes; they're codes that relate to when your car was built and what was put on it originally (chassis type, which is 107, engine type, color, upholstery material and color, radio, etc). Search the tech board and you'll probably come up with the codes. You can also contact MB-USA (try the MB website for more info on this) and get the full build information on your car (free) and a nice certificate from MB about it (not free).

5) The fuel pumps on 107s are smallish cylinders, two in number, and are mounted under the car by the fuel tank. Not sure exactly where they're mounted on the 380, but they probably are what you're seeing.

One other point: Make *sure* you know from the records when the timing chain, tensioner and guides were done. Being a 1984, you should have the dual-row chain, but it still needs attention; I'd get antsy about it if it's 100K or more and not done yet. Very rarely does any other problem kill a 107 V8 engine, but this issue is common to all of them, whether 450, 380 or 560.

Again, welcome to the club, and by all means add your car to the picture thread!

[Jef Fulton]

Welcome to the forum and MB SL ownership. Some of your questions have answers,some opinions, YMMV (your mileage might vary). The easy one, those "cylinders" behind the right rear wheel are the fuel pump, fuel filter and fuel accumulator. A month of inactivity will not hurt your SL. However, disconnecting the battery might be a good idea. As far as oil choice, it is that a choice. Some feel that in the older cars with manufacturing tolerances somewhat loose compared to today, conventional multi-weight oil is preferable to the synthetics. As they say "Dance with the one that brung ya." If you have had good results with Castrol, continue. As far as Marvel Mystery oil and other "additives" results make the decisions. If you have seen NOTICABLE benifit, keep on using. You might start out without it so that you have a point of reference before adding it. Good luck with your new SL and, again, welcome.

[Jef Fulton]

That plate on the cross member in front of the radiator indicates vehicle basic information and options installed. It is important when looking for the correct replacement parts and accessories. Your MB dealers' service shop can translate for you.

Top down waether will soon be here!!!