1984 380SL - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mcerchio · #1 10-29-2014, 10:56 AM

My dads 1984 380sl has sat in mom's garage for the last 7 years. She has finally come to be able to part with it and has asked me to take it. My question is after sitting 7 years do I need take plugs out to soak cylinders with some marvels oil or just check it turns freely change fluids and fire up. Also want to be fair to siblings what is a fair value for 1984 380 sl with 97000 normal wear and tear avg condition for age one owner. Any and all suggestions are appreciated.

rowdie · #2 10-29-2014, 01:02 PM

Value as is is around $1,500.00. That is parts car value. Sitting for 7 years it will probably need the entire fuel system removed, cleaned and/or some parts replaced. The timing chain, tensioner and upper guides are due for replacement. If you pay to have these things done you would be talking 4-5K. Then there is the front subframe issue.

Wodnek · #3 10-29-2014, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowdie

Value as is is around $1,500.00. That is parts car value. Sitting for 7 years it will probably need the entire fuel system removed, cleaned and/or some parts replaced. The timing chain, tensioner and upper guides are due for replacement. If you pay to have these things done you would be talking 4-5K. Then there is the front subframe issue.

Wow! remind me to never try selling anything to you!

I bought mine sitting in an Oklahoma field for 10 years. Call me gutsy, but the seller put a battery in it and I drove it home to Wisconsin. It has been a good car. It seems to me Mercedes cars handle sitting better than most. I bought a 1980 450 SEL for parts once. It sat in a field for 15 years. I towed it home, put a battery charger on it, it actually charged, and I tapped the key and it was running.
Better question, is it rusty or clean?

rowdie · #4 10-30-2014, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

Wow! remind me to never try selling anything to you!

I bought mine sitting in an Oklahoma field for 10 years. Call me gutsy, but the seller put a battery in it and I drove it home to Wisconsin. It has been a good car. It seems to me Mercedes cars handle sitting better than most. I bought a 1980 450 SEL for parts once. It sat in a field for 15 years. I towed it home, put a battery charger on it, it actually charged, and I tapped the key and it was running.
Better question, is it rusty or clean?

You rolled the dice and at least broke even. If you presented me with this car for sale in the described condition for more than $2,000.00 asking priced I would smile and walk away. He asked for a fair market value and I gave my educated opinion.

I was presenting the worse case scenario which you have to start with when you consider buying something like this. There are many stories both here and on BenzWorld of cars sitting for a couple of years and failing to start and run correctly due to everything from rusted fuel tank, frozen fuel pump and gummed up fuel distributors. The timing chain system is a known problem in the M116 and M117 engines. The front subframe is also a known defect in the 107 models manufactured before 9/85.

ejboyd5 · #5 10-30-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

Wow! remind me to never try selling anything to you!

+1 Drain the fuel, put in a couple gallons of fresh gasoline, charge or replace the battery as needed and start the car. These cars are tough and will amaze you with their survival abilities. Do be careful with the brakes - replacing the flex lines in the near future would be a wise move.

meltedpanda · #6 10-30-2014, 10:06 AM

Do you have service history?

If not and even if so , tires should be replaced, all rubber checked , especially in engine bay , all fluids, fuel tank drained , perhaps cleaned
Depends a lot on how its been stored, yes they are tough but "it all depends" Has is been started in 7 years? You will be putting $ into it and I agree with Rowdie, I MIGHT be a looker at $1000-1500 as described , but then again , been around these cars a long time and they sell for what people want to pay.
Bottom line if it were me and if I was planning to not keep it , sell it as is, set a price and see what happens. Realize the 84 380Sl is not at the top of the list for Sl lookers

DanielG · #7 10-30-2014, 10:11 AM

200 year old Volkswagen discovery scene from Woody Allen's, "Sleeper" (1973) - YouTube

"they really built these things, didn't they?"

Wodnek · #8 10-30-2014, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rowdie

You rolled the dice and at least broke even. If you presented me with this car for sale in the described condition for more than $2,000.00 asking priced I would smile and walk away. He asked for a fair market value and I gave my educated opinion.

I was presenting the worse case scenario which you have to start with when you consider buying something like this. There are many stories both here and on BenzWorld of cars sitting for a couple of years and failing to start and run correctly due to everything from rusted fuel tank, frozen fuel pump and gummed up fuel distributors. The timing chain system is a known problem in the M116 and M117 engines. The front subframe is also a known defect in the 107 models manufactured before 9/85.

I have been miraculously lucky with cars. In my case I wanted a rust free example, and that's what i got. I was willing to gamble on the mechanicals, but it paid off.
I did think that 84 changed back to the double row timing chain, am i correct?

RickOrth · #9 10-30-2014, 11:59 PM

I bought my 1984 380 SL in 2011. It came with the hardtop. It still has it's issues with hardened weatherstriping and no AC, but I enjoy driving it.
I paid bottom dollar for a running specimen: $4,000. At the time there were a lot on the market in my area asking $6,000 to $8,000.
Hope this helps you.

rowdie · #10 10-31-2014, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wodnek

I did think that 84 changed back to the double row timing chain, am i correct?

Yes but the tensioner still gets weak, guides get brittle and break, chain stretches and cam gears wear. Most R107 V/8s have the double row timing chain and plastic guide rails. The exception are the '81-'83 North American 380SL with single row chain and the '71-'73 350SL and '72-73 450SL with the alloy guides.

mcerchio · #11 10-31-2014, 09:19 AM

Thank You for all the reply's. It is very much rust free, a good example of a fair to good condition car with less than a 100 thou on it. Full dealer service till 1995 then normal maintenance at local indie. The timing chain recall was preformed early in its life. Do not know about sub frame. Picking it up this weekend. No it was not started. It fortunately had non ethanol fuel in it. I know all rubber will need replacing, gonna start at fuel tank and work fwd. Didn't think of brake lines but that will be next after she is running. Car has been in a attached garage which while not heated stayed pretty constant due to insulation. Gonna get a few fuel filters and hope for best depending on what I see when drain tank may or may not drop it for cleaning. Any recommendations on this?? Wish me luck. I really think fuel and juice and off to the races, but like with anything that has sat caution is best, just do not want to hurt it. And it was my Dads so it has sentimental value therefor any reasonable discussions about value and wasted money will fall on death, ears besides look at my sig and I own a boat, the real joy will be in keeping it up to snuff as cheap as possible (doing my own work and screwing up a few thing as I learn along the way still cheaper than paying and I get to buy new tools) while maintaining the quality level of this type of vehicle and riding with the top down.

rowdie · #12 10-31-2014, 06:19 PM

Realistic attitude. There was no recall on the timing chain system, especially the '84. It is a maintenance item.
There is a recall on the front subframe. Unfortunately it only covers the North American model 450SL even though all 107s up to 9-85 had the same front subframe with the same failure problem.
You were the one that started the discussion on value. You asked for it to about to be fair to your siblings.

mach4 · #13 10-31-2014, 09:23 PM

One good way to handle the value question is for all the siblings to place a bid for the car in a sealed envelope. The envelopes are opened and the high bid gets the car, the other siblings get cash in their proportion (or value against other items in the estate) - three siblings nets 1/3 of the bid to the others etc. This forces everyone to check local selling prices and bid reasonably...because they might win. It's fair because no one is going over bid and win or under bid and lose out.

mcerchio · #14 11-03-2014, 09:40 AM

My request on value was just that. My comment on death ears is an expression of my commitment to the car not meant to dismiss information I asked for sorry for the confusion.Great idea on bidding value. We agreed on a value with the help of the value and issues raised here. Picked her up Sunday. Need to get on lift to ck sub frame. She had oil on rear diff and normal lack of meticulous maintenance oil leak residue all around lower engine. Got a Battery drained fuel did not look bad at all did smell stale. Did as soon as I got it home after ride hopping that it had stirred up sediment. Flushed with fresh 3 gal twice no extra junk. Ordered new filters and hoses for pump/ tank and gonna get some racing fuel 93 octane but no ethanol, so as it sits will I work on her and run a little bit and quick ride around development, better fuel than ethanol. Hopefully fire her up this week late. Will post pics later.