Consider This Before Buying Sl's

[Pili380SL]

Yes, Boudreaux, thanks a lot....

[Robert Mowbray]

For top replacement, check out this site:
http://www.worlduph.com/mbtopinstall.htm
The top will cost from $350 to $450. I had mine installed professionally for $800 total. Good luck

Steve,

I started about 6;30 one Sat morn and worked until about 4:00 in afternoon and then back at 8:00 Sunday until around 3:00. It was not the easiest thing I have ever done. It really takes two people to do it right. My wife helped out the best she could. It saved me $500 installation cost but I would not do it again.

[Greg in Oz]

Originally posted by Greg in Oz
I have owned my W107, a '73 350SLC for over twenty years now, with it being my daily driver for most of that time. I purchased it cheaply as a neglected car when it was ten years old, already showing high kilometres. In those subsequent twenty plus years it has been exceptionally reliable, probably the most reliable car I have owned. If it self-destructed tomorrow I could not complain. It owes me nothing as I have enjoyed twenty years of motoring pleasure with it.

Since posting that all those months ago I have had to do all the following to my '73 350SLC:

1. Left-hand and right-hand outer tie rod ends (at about AUD$15 each).

2. Oil and filter change (about AUD$12 for the filter and AUD$24 for oil).

3. Blown left-hand headlight globe. I must remember to replace this on the weekend.

This list is so long I'm worried this thing will send me broke. And to think it is only 30 years old and around 350,000km.

Sorry for the sarcasm, I just couldn't resist. My 107 is a reliable old car. I never have any concerns as to its reliability and would not hesitate to take it on a long journey tomorrow. All this despite it being neglected for the first ten years of its life before I purchased it.

[Pili380SL]

Thanks, Greg. Your story is working proof of what a lot of members have tried to get across in this thread. As far as sarcasm, fight fire with fire.....

[Buciraco]

I got 2 Mercedes number one 89 560sl beutiful car, little problems with it, got to admit donīt use it much. Number one is the reason I got number two, A160 what a piece of ****, number two is the reason i will never buy a Mercedes again, in 4 years it has managed to spend one year at the shop, not even mi junker 81 malibu had bad ball joints at 70.000 kms.
in 4 year 1 bad gear box, 2 inyectors, 1 starter, 2 belt guides pulleys(got to buy the complete set if one bearing goes bad), 1 flywheel, 1 alternator(mercedes does not sell the parts just the assembly), 2 lower ball joints , etc.
Just as a pionter if you have to take the alternator down, it is best to drop the engine assembly.
plus the labor, The warranty was 2 years, anything other than that you have to go with an attorney.
I am not the only one, there was a lady, very influencial one, media owner, she got her money back.

If none of this had happened I would have to admit the car is a nice car very confortable, hi tech car. but I am the one paying for thier research.

NO way, I will keep the 560 but that is my last one, they look good very tempting but not any more.

Thanks Buciraco for an honest accurate story and no whining. Good job

[prprjp]

This is maybe straying off topic but this thread seems to have gone downhill a long time ago so what the heck

What does everyone think about the new MB's? My impression (after albeit minor research) is that they rate poorly reliability-wise, at least compared to Beemers and the current crop of Asian vehicles.

Are they as bad as I am hearing? Seems electrics and build quality (esp. the M-class) are poor.

I'm not trying to fan the flames (like this thread needs it) but am on the verge of selling my 560SL and am considering a used (mid-nineties) E-class for my next set of wheels.

Any comments? BTW Lynn, I sympathize with your situation - bad mechanics more to blame though than anything IMHO. Good luck selling it; if you hang on 'til spring you will probably come out the other side without a major loss.

Regards, Ryan

Thanks for the advise. I think I will. Now it seems transmission will have to be serviced. It is having shift control problems. Surely wont costs more than 2 or 3 thousand to repair, per the dealer. This is the funniest thing I have ever been through in my entire life. Instead of Mercedes Benz, they should call them "has benz". What a complete waste of my time and money. I wish I were enjoying this "hobby", but you know what Im not and you better beleive Im whining now. PLease no one enter this hell..STAY AWAY from these cars.. You are warned

[Buciraco]

acording to the research on the forum, there was a quality drop in 94 or 95, to bring prices down to compete with the Japanese.
I have had 3 Lexus not a problem, we donīt have lexus dealer aruond here, donīt seem to need them anyways. Migth have been very lucky but them again same with mazda, toyota, honda etc We keep 10 cars running all the time in the company.

It is a shame, cosmeticaly they are really appealing, but quality wise is really another story.

Put it this way, If I got a cheap kia i would expect some problems.

If I got Mercedes price I would expect somethin better than Fiat.

This is a case were you donīt get what you pay for.

Sad cose Mercedes was out of the Venezuelan market for a lot of years, now it has come back, lot of folks got mercedes for thier previos reputation, what a fiasco.

Its gonna be ok though. If I just keep opening my wallet things will be fine. I love this quality.. I love this quality, I love this quality.

[prprjp]

Lynn:

I may have missed this info earlier in the thread, but is the mileage legit on your SL? Old Benz's have their problems just like any old car but you must be the unluckiest man alive

You're not still taking the car to the original mechanic I take it?
Cheers, Ryan

Mileage is legit and no, unfortunately the independent guy you suggested is too far away from me to provide me with the constant babysitting this car needs. Luckily I have an MB dealer 1 mile from home, and another across the street from work Its very very comforting. Ive just called payroll and asked them to direct deposit all of my future checks to American Service Center

[kchemers]

Took 20 minutes to read all the posts. Did you sell the car or is it back in the shop???

Car is still for sale. Humming sound and creaking in front end went away as soon as the weather warmed up. Car still has shift control problems but only in the morning when cold. Once it warms up it doesnt do it at all. MB dealership says they have to rebuild the tramsmission at a cost of 2500-3000. They say that is the only way they gurantee their work and parts. Im not even sure that I will bring it in for that. It seems crazy to rebuild the transmission when it only does it when its cold.