Hi Everyone,

I am taking possession of my mother's 1987 560SL with only 4K on the odometer. Told her I will take the car and help her buy a new Mercedes. The car does not have a single scratch nor paint chip. The interior is like new. The engine has some rodents bite marks and the insulation of the hood was replaced due to the rodents. Otherwise the car is in excellent condition. Everything is original. I am planning to clean it up and drive it occasionally, but try to keep it with very low mileage.

Just curious how much something is worth?

Thanks.

It's hard to say what it's worth, especially considering the condition and low mileage.

By looking at ads in the local paper an a daily basis, the average 560SL in alleged "good condition" is $8k - $10k.

About the mileage, 4k is an incredibly low number, but sitting is just as hard on a car as high mileage. Gaskets and seals go bad, rubber cracks, etc.

I would certainly recommend taking the car to a Mercedes mechanic and have the timing chain rails checked out just in case. They are plastic and got hard and brittle with age. If one breaks, it will get lodged in the chain and get caught up in the cam sprocket and cause camshaft and valve damage.

Do a search on any of those topics and there is plenty in the archives to keep you reading all day long.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

I'd estimate it to be worth around $25,000.

An independent Mercedes mechanic did look at it and everything seemed to be fine. I've searched the internet and cars.com (nationwide) and the lowest mileage I have found so far is 10K. I'm just hoping to drive and enjoy it. New to this board and found the SL forum so I will be searching there for useful info. This is a very nice site.

A 1987-SL with 50K is worth 16-20K and your car is worth at least 25K...If you have had mice under the hood I would put something inside the car to capture any possible strays and also in the trunk...Jim

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James A. Harris

Here's my (jaded) advice - -

Don't drive this car around. Two reasons:

1. With these incredibly low miles, every mile driven is exponentially more expensive to you than a higher mile example. For some inexplicable reason, the extremely low mile cars demand outsize prices. I would guess there are a few who want to feel like they bought a "new" older car.

2. Every mile you drive generates a risk of something breaking, going bad or some negative discovery or occurence that will need repair. Very likely, this car has issues that you don't want to deal with, like those mentioned in a previous posting. Let the next buyer find out.

Wait until a nice warmer week in May, and put this up on eBay. You might also consider going through a Kruse auction.

That is, unless you really want this car. But think, if you didn't own it yourself, would you spend $25 k to get one?

Tom

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CloudNine
'89 560SEC