Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Mercedes-Benz SL Discussion Forum

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 08-02-2008, 11:53 PM
88Black560SL
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: CT
Posts: 3,510
Quote:
Originally Posted by cbdo View Post
My 560SL does 15-17 overall in mixed driving; though not everybody observes the requirement, MB says it must have premium. The 560 engine AFAIK is as reliable as any of the others, and mine has been fine at 170K with only the expected/known issues--had the timing chain done once (an issue common to all the V8 engines used in the 107), had the radiator neck go and needed a new one, and needed a new starter. The top and bottom ends are fine and still factory with no redo having been needed; it'll burn a quart or so in about 2000 miles. Not sure how hard the fuel system is to work on, but on mine it's needed no attention whatever in the last 5 years and 25K miles.

Even the much-maligned 380 engine is actually as reliable as any other, from what I read, except for the single-row timing chain (before 1984) which needs either to be replaced more frequently or converted to dual-row. It's known for being less thirsty than any of the other V8 engines, and burns regular happily. Any of them will need regular attention to maintenance but will last essentially forever given that.

The last of the 560s is now a 19-year-old car, and stuff happens with any vehicle that old; if you're going to get into it, you need to be ready to deal with such things. Given that, I treasure mine--it's a great car to drive and I know of no two-seat drop-top that's more usable on a daily basis.

If it were for *my* Mom, I'd go for a 380SL with double-row timing chain, recently redone front and rear subframe mounts and engine mounts, no rust and great cosmetics, and the five-horizontal-button version of the ACC with a freshly resoldered circuit board (an easy 1-hour DIY even for me). What you should pay for that car gets you more fun and cachet for the buck than anything else I can think of.
I wouldent go too overboard. In my opinion the iron block MB V8's, all of them, were the most reliable gas engines on the planet. But the alloy engines being the second most reliable are still pretty damn good. The 450SL was the best built SL of all time. I recommend people go for a 560 over a 450 only because of age, performance, gas mileage and newer and more features.

To me the best deal in an SL is an under 60,000 mile but more than 30,000 mile 560SL. It might seem expensive but it will be the cheapest SL to own and maintain.

__________________
To see my 129 parts for sale visit:
http://stores.ebay.com/The-Mercedes-SL-Store
John Roncallo
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 08-05-2008, 04:06 PM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
At least the seller of that car I looked at is honest. He changed the claimed milage in the ad: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/782559536.html
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 08-05-2008, 04:41 PM
450slcguy's Avatar
Don't Tread on Me
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 613
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
At least the seller of that car I looked at is honest. He changed the claimed milage in the ad: http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/car/782559536.html

I would't call that honesty. He tried to pull a fast one and got caught in his own lie. Now he's just trying to cover up.
__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 08-05-2008, 11:37 PM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
I guess, but if he was really dishonest he could have just "lost" the service records in the glove box.
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 08-05-2008, 11:44 PM
450slcguy's Avatar
Don't Tread on Me
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 613
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
I guess, but if he was really dishonest he could have just "lost" the service records in the glove box.

No one said he was a smart liar. Does the odometer now read 121k or is that just another lie to cover the first one?

If it doesn't read 121k, where is he getting the mileage from. Pretty obvious, true mileage unknown.
__________________
Question Authority before it Questions you.
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 08-06-2008, 12:08 PM
pwogaman's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern, Virginia
Posts: 2,034
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
Aw man, these things have climate control too?!
Sure, you put the top up or take it down. You also have the option of making the side windows go up and down, and they can do that independently!
__________________
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/l...aman/Fleet.jpg

Peach Parts W124.128 User Group.

80 280SL
85 300SD
87 300TD
92 300D 2.5 Turbo
92 300TE 4Matic
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 09-03-2008, 08:36 PM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
I found another one to look at. It's a '79 450 SL with 135K for $5500
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 09-05-2008, 12:12 AM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
Well I bought it for $4500.

The good: Good paint, no rust, runs and drives nicely, new tires, new evil climate servo, one owner since the '80s, many records, recently refurbished interior

The bad: Needs battery (I met the guy at a gas station and had to jump it to test drive), hood release cable does not work (hood stuck closed) tires are not the best and squeal easily, trans kick down does not work, hard top whistles a bit.

The car has 128K miles on it.

What do you think?
Attached Thumbnails
SL Newbie-dsc02407s.jpg   SL Newbie-dsc02409s.jpg   SL Newbie-dsc02410s.jpg   SL Newbie-dsc02411s.jpg  
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

Last edited by bgkast; 09-05-2008 at 03:09 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 09-05-2008, 08:26 AM
ScottinSoCal's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 252
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
Well I bought it for $4500.
Not a bad price.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
The bad: Needs battery (I met the guy at a gas station and had to jump it to test drive), hood release cable does not work (hood stuck closed) tires are not the best and squeal easily, trans kick down does not work, hard top whistles a bit.
Battery isn't bad - expected for a car that's sat. If the problem with the hood release cable is the same as mine it's a pretty easy fix. Lots of tires out there. The kick down switch might need to be cleaned or replaced. The hard top seals aren't that much and will correct wind whistle. They aren't as difficult to replace as the soft top seals, but you do have to have patience (not my strong suit).

The side effects of sitting concern me a little more, but my 78 had sat for most of 4 years before I got it. It had leaks (steering box, transmission, engine oil) but most of them weren't bad. I did wind up having the steering box replaced because of the leaking - it got worse and became a real problem. The transmission got rebuilt for reasons unrelated to the leak but it's gone now. The engine oil leaks have actually reduced as I've driven the car for the last couple of years.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 09-05-2008, 10:34 AM
Lexxani's Avatar
MBCA Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 699
Thumbs up

nice 107. . . Driving a 107 vs a 123 is like day and night. You lucked out with the new servo and everything else it cake. That iron block m117 is about as simple to work on as they come.

Is that a cap on the dash? If it is original it looks great!

Welcome to the realm of the 107. . .you'll get hooked quick...
__________________
". . .back before accountants designed cars"

-Current Stable-
'78 MB 450SL-C 107.024.12.020783 #3840 <Kayleen>
'85 FORD F250 6.9L Diesel <Allison>
'98 Lexus ES300 <Rachel>
Long Gone...
'74 Chevy G10...........................'99 GMC Yukon 4X4
'83 Chevy Suburban 6.2 diesel .....'99 SAAB 9-5
'90 Mitsubishi Eclipse GS............. '01 Chevy Tahoe
'98 Nissan Altima .......................'02 MB ML320
'88 Chevy Suburban V2500 4X4 6.2 diesel
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 09-05-2008, 12:19 PM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
Thanks for the comments. I don't think there is a cap on the dash.

What's the trick to popping the hood with the cable in-operable?
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 09-06-2008, 09:44 AM
ScottinSoCal's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 252
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
What's the trick to popping the hood with the cable in-operable?
I had the same problem on my 78 when I first got it.

Take the three screws out of the hood release handle bracket and pull it out. You can pull on the handle to release the hood. To fix it so it works, look at where the cable fits into the handle and there's a metal sleeve. I used a piece of vacuum tubing, but anything solid with a hole in the middle will work. Cut a section about 3/8" long, wrap it around the metal cable and slide it down into that sleeve on the handle. When you pull the handle it'll now have something to push against and the hood release will work.

The alternative is to get a new hood release cable and install it, but this was faster, easier and works just as well.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 09-06-2008, 12:48 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Battle Ground, WA
Posts: 576
Nice car - I have a red '79 also, live out just north of Battle Ground, and would love to compare cars. I installed the Unwired tools digital servo in my car, and am very, very happy with the result! I also have an '82 380SL that has had a 560 engine/trans installed. Surprisingly, the 560 gets much better mileage than the '79 due to the numerically lower rear end ratio - the '79 gets a max of 18, the '82 gives me around 22 on longer trips, like to Bend or Seattle. I use the '82 as my daily driver.
I also have an '82 300D that I installed an Astrovan 4.3L V6/t700R4 in, it now has over 303,300 miles, over 100K since the conversion. It gives me around 28 mpg on the freeway, and has more power than the diesel did. The wife loves it.

I guess the only thing I don't care for on the '79 is the fast idle business. It takes too long to come off of fast idle for my tastes. They use a hot water controlled valve with no electric heater to do the job, I've been wondering if installing one of the newer fast idle controllers with the electric heater could be done.
__________________
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
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 09-07-2008, 02:01 AM
bgkast's Avatar
Rollin' on 16s
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Vancouver WA
Posts: 6,528
Thanks for the tip Scott. I got the hood open and found why it was shifting a bit strangely. The ATF was just barely registering on the stick. I topped it off and it drives much better now...hopefully no harm done. The PO said he had only put a few hundred miles on it in the past 3 years. So far I have fixed most of the things I noticed on the test drive. The top was whistling because it was not latched down properly in the back, the tires no longer squeal with more than 10 psi in them

I pulled the hard top off today and had a great time driving it around with the wind in my hair. To bad I have to give it to my Mom I pulled out the soft top and it is brand new, no rust in the well either.

What sort of maintenance items should I do before I pass over the keys to my mom?

Thanks
__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 09-07-2008, 10:44 AM
ScottinSoCal's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 252
Quote:
Originally Posted by bgkast View Post
What sort of maintenance items should I do before I pass over the keys to my mom?
All fluids and filters changed, the vacuum tubing examined for cracks and dried out rubber connectors, the coolant flushed out and new put in. Use Xerex G05 or the MB coolant, not the green stuff.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:20 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page