Grey Market 500SL (1985)

[Jerry Hudson]

Rickyd; If you are just looking for the owners manual I would order the 85 380SL version from Mercedes Benz USA. The difference between the 380SL and 500SL is mostly mechanical so the owners manual for both model's should be almost the same. If you are looking for a repair manual you can order one on CD ROM from mercedesshop. Just scroll to the top of this page and click on partsshop. Look about half way down the page and you should see the CD listed for the 107. ( it covers all SL models from 1972 to 1989) I just bought my 88 560SL a few months ago and have been amazed at how much information and the number of sources for parts there are. Good luck... Hud

[maheath]

The factory service manuals for the grey market SLs are being sold on eBay right now on microfiche. Look at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=600082693

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with this auction.

[n2lw]

Try Walter Miller in Syracuse NY. They carry old manuals etc.
In the 70s and 80s it was legal to import Euro-spec cars and there was a one time exemption for individuals which was designed to help returning members of the forces bring their cars home. Most had add on parts for smog control, but in many cases bumpers etc were left unchanged.
I hope to be a resident of Smith Mtn Lake soon, leaving the frozen North for good!

[DZLPWR]

As far as dealer support for the 500SL, the U.S. dealers didn't get the sales of these cars when they were new. Of course they don't like to see them. I would think that any non-dealer MB repair shop would love to work on a euro 500SL. If there were enough of these fine cars in the US, the dealers would have to change their policy to stay in the service business.

[Deltacom]

Originally posted by RickyD
Hey Hud, I'm still new wiff dis posting messages stuff, and sent you a reply by clickin' on the button @ the bottom of your response. I think it was the one that was PM or E-mail, but just in case you didn't get my reply, it was a Tk U note, another question about how I've tried to locate a owners manual following everyones advise but no luck on the 500SL (1985). All the sites have responded as "we have em for 380SL's but no 500SL for an1985." I'm sure ones out dare sumwhere.
Anyway, it's darn cold here in the Mountains of Virginia (I know that's relative to some of you Yankees, but to this gud ole southern boy, it's cold. We (wife & I) can't wait for the spring thaw so we can take the top off and drive down on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Ricky,

Go to www.mercedesclub.org.uk and check the "Books" section. You'l find the workshop manuals for your model.

Regards

[Steve Gutman]

You just have to look carefully at the specs listed in the manual. You can buy them on this site.

The biggest problem with my gray market is that sometimes it it hard to tell if you have the right part and parat number. There are 380 SL parts and 500 SEL parts that may be required. If you have patience you can sort it out. I have had a dealer politely "pass" on servicing my car. I still love it and have learned a ton in the process.

Steve
1985 500 SL Euro
Full AMG appearence package

[buckwyatt]

Grey market cars are cars that are not legal to import as new, but that are legal to own in the U.S., as well as legal to register, drive, etc.

what makes it grey instead of white is that you can own it but there is no way to legally buy it. One way that they get in military personnel buy SAAB's, Mercedes, BMW's in germany at a hefty discount, and they are euro models, then they can bring back their personal cars, they have to have 6,000 miles or they are considered new and unshippable.

There are many other ways, including putting the 6k miles on the car (10k kilometers) while you are there on vacation, or buy a slightly used one on vacation.

part of the grey factor is your imagination for skirting the law.

[ljmauricio]

If I took everything in this post as the gospel truth, I would be scared to death to own a 107 500SL euro. I have owned 2, 1 of which I did extensive refurbishing. Rebuilt transmissions, timing chains, A/C, etc. There is not a part that I needed that I have not been able to get easily. As for service, if you take it to MB you must have a lot of money and a high tolerance for abuse. I've used 2 Independents and neither one was baffled by anything on the car. My experiences have both been good with the 107 Euro grey market cars, and their performance makes them more fun to drive. They are nothing to be afraid of....

[MTUpower]

No kidding....seems some are scared to death of anything, and others know what's going on. Grey market cars... you should be afraid if you can't change your own oil... then again if you can't do that then perhaps you should buy a toyota.

[maheath]

Well that's oversimplifying it. I own a grey market car and *SOME* parts are a lot harder to get ahold of. Fortunately, my grey market car, the 500SEC, has a US sibling, so there's a fair amount of duplicity in parts. If I found out that I needed a new camshaft though, I wouldn't expect that to be easy.

The biggest difference that I see is that the Euro models have a lot of options that come standard on the US models. When you start getting into things like manual windows or the older climate controls you start to see some of the problems. Even the wood trim doesn't usually have the same number of holes cut in it.