Consider This Before Buying Sl's

[G-Benz]

Sorry about the problems you've been having.

I will add that what drives most owners to sell their aging vehicles is the sheer frustration with the local indie's (or dealer tech's) inability to troubleshoot problems without throwing parts at it.

$6400 worth of parts and service and the original problem still persists?

I would venture a guess that if the right technician got a hold of your car early on and diagnosed the problem correctly, you would have faced far less intimidating costs, and a reliably-running MB as a result.

There have been times when one tech would recommend some expensive replacement of parts when another would say a vacuum hose or clogged injector was at fault. If you followed the advice of the first tech, you would bemoan the expensive maintenance costs of the vehicle. If you had the latter as your technician, you would praise the ease of serviceability and low maintenance cost of the same vehicle.

I guess you had the first tech doing the work.

Good luck with your new purchase...

[MineMapper]

Sorry to hear about your misadventures Lynn, but I gotta say this.

Way to sell a car, hon!

Thanks for the replys. Life is just much simpler and more fun when things work as they should.

Dont worry, some fool'll buy it. I did

[dmorrison]

Lynn
Sorry to hear about your problems with the car.

Again it is a 23 year old piece of machinary. It will require work. so will that 23 year old Infinity in 2026, but I know your frustration and you are right to stick with new cars under warrentee. You see, you have no idea what your doing with a classic Mercedes. You have to have some mechanical knowledge to maintain these older cars, which obviously you don't have.

Old Fords just require routine mantainance?? My son's old Ford required a 2.5 year restoration to make it reliable.
A 81 Ford requiring only oil changes, yea right!!!

Replacing the timing chain was a good idea on the 81 380SL. But did the mechanic lead you to believe that the timing chain was causing your rough idle?? If so get a new mechanic.
The timing chain replacement could have been preventive work, not trying to solve a problem.

It sound like you need a new mechanic.
I had a rough idle in the 560SL The dealer worked on it twice. to the toon of $1100. It did not fix the problem. I raised hell and they finally replaced the distributor cap which fixed the problem. I requested and recieved a full $1100 refund for work done that was not necesary. I also changed mechanics.
Maybe you should bring this up with the shop doing the lousy work.

Sell the car. But not here, you have informed everyone here that it's a lemon and you want someone here to buy it. Not something you would expect a freind to do.

Dave

But Sir, you see its not a lemon, its your normal old sl that just needs a little maintenence thats so often mentioned on this forum. People on this forum would think nothing of dropping a few thou here and there to maintain this dying breed. From what I hear its just another day at the races for this car. SO dont be afraid, step right up and buy it. Whether you buy my problem or anyone else's problem on this board, its all good. this is what the people here do. Fix Fix Fix Fix Fix. 80% of the post are "oh my god, how do I fix this."PLease Help".. I think ..Im not sure but I think Ide rather spend my time actually driving something. If you guys ever get your cars fixed, you'll no longer have time or need for this board. Spend time in a new car, instead of all day on this board looking for illusive answers. There is Life out there. Borrow someones car thats running and go get it guys

[engatwork]

That is a nice looking car lynn and I would like to pick something like that up (and I am fully capable of keeping it going myself) but I made up my mind awhile back that I would never again pay more than around $2500 for these old cars. If you drop the price to my range email me and let's dicker.

[Jason Beal]

I was under the impression (from reading on this board) that this model was expensive, even for a DIY, to maintain. 6500 clams for that work is outrageous though.

[Michael K]

Howdy Lynn,

How much to take it off your hands?

[CDNC36AMG]

Originally posted by G-Benz


I would venture a guess that if the right technician got a hold of your car early on and diagnosed the problem correctly, you would have faced far less intimidating costs, and a reliably-running MB as a result.

Reminds me of my TVR 2500M. Had nothing but trouble until someone hooked me up with a great auto electric repair guy.

Had spent a couple of grand elsewhere with no results but a few hundred with this guy and suddenly I had an actually reliable TVR, almost unheard of to be honest.

When people ask repair advice here it's often to actually monitor what our techs are doing for the most part. These are complicated and beautiful cars....why let your tech re-invent the wheel.

[Boudreaux]

A 23 year old car will not run like a 2003. When you buy a used car, you are buying somebody else's problems whether they are known or hidden. MB's are not for everyone and their price justifies that fact. Why do you think Louis Vuitton charges so much for it's handbags made of PVC coated canvas and leather? For the snob appeal, of course.

I'm happy with my '94 SL500 despite it's problems, but hey, what do you expect from a used car?

Good luck selling it but not to anyone in this forum.

[ChasB]

Hell hath no fury .. etc.
I cant help feeling you've been royally screwed by your mechs. How they thought the timing chain was causing the uneven running I've no idea. As a previous post suggested a new set of mechanics would be in order.
My 31 year old Merc is my daily runner. It has cost me a fortune in detailing products! Upholstery cleaner, vinyl cleaner, car shampoo, chrome polish, the list seems endless. Oh, I did have to spring for a new air filter and servicing for oil changes.
Do I detect that if it wasn't for the lumpy running you'd be happy with the car?
I still get a rush when I come out of the house in the morning and se the majestic lines beckoning me. Perhaps it's a gender thing, men wanting a car as a mistress and women wanting it as a slave. A bit like relationships really!

In answer to some of these questions, yes if it ran with no problems I may have been happy with it. I have never owned a used car before, and I bought the MB because of the "quality" I had heard so much about. Thats hardly what Ive gotten. I have gone online to Ebay and such as well as looked in the local paper for prices. Cars with physical damage and bad interiors etc are selling locally for for 7- 10 K. I have practiacally replaced most of the engine now so after all current repairs I will sell it starting at 11k. Again rich or aggravation friendly only need apply

For those replying to try to take it off my hands. I will not be selling it for the $2500.00 Ive been offered. PLease you degrade the fabulous MB image by even suggesting such a price. No as Ive learned on this board, these cars are for the rich and famous and come at a hefty price because of their "advanved " lol technology and reliability. You will have to pay a pretty penny to buy this baby. but its like dog breeding, we have to keep the breed alive. With what you guys spend annually on repairs, you can just buy mine and double your headaches. No this car will sit quietly in front of my home to remind me daily how stupid I am. I apparently learn only from example so this will help me to be a better person. When you sift through a junk pile, guess what you get? JUNK.... Run to your local new car dealer and revel in new seats, the smell of new leather, and a car that starts everytime... oh and a warranty

[RickM]

Was the jumping idle problem solved? If so what was the problem?