1980 450sl

[gjsumm55]

Today I was looking at a 1980 450 sl the person wanted 8500.00 but he would take an offer.When I drove it it vibrated either like a transmission torque converter or the universal joints,it also had several problems like it rolls in park.A yellow light, to the right of the steering column , which is round with small lines coming from it around the edges lights sometimes.Also the valve covers leak.The car has 106000 on it.The engine sounds good its just the vibration is pretty bad.I do not know a lot about these cars but I do like to tinker a lot with cars and have a modest work shop. The body on the car is really nice ,no rust.Are any of these problems major?

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by gjsumm55

Today I was looking at a 1980 450 sl the person wanted 8500.00 but he would take an offer.When I drove it it vibrated either like a transmission torque converter or the universal joints,it also had several problems like it rolls in park.A yellow light, to the right of the steering column , which is round with small lines coming from it around the edges lights sometimes.Also the valve covers leak.The car has 106000 on it.The engine sounds good its just the vibration is pretty bad.I do not know a lot about these cars but I do like to tinker a lot with cars and have a modest work shop. The body on the car is really nice ,no rust.Are any of these problems major?

At the price point you mention, the car should be well sorted and in nice condition.

Vibration may be engine/trans mounts, Rolling in park suggests the linkage bushings are gone.

New gaskets should fix the oil leak, UNLESS it is actually a head/block head gasket failure.

Dunno about the light.

All in all, sounds like a lot of deferred maintenance on this car. Might pay to look around more, lots of these cars are for sale...

Jim

[mbboy]

Originally Posted by gjsumm55

A yellow light, to the right of the steering column , which is round with small lines coming from it around the edges lights sometimes.

Sounds like the worn brake pad light.

[Strife]

That's a lot of money for that car, and the mileage is not that low. There are thousands of dollars of unknowns. Hows' the heat/AC? That could be $1000+ right there in DIY parts, and this would be one of the things to look at on a sort of neglected car.

[meltedpanda]

at that price should be nearly perfect and a solid past history of maintenance