380 SL--who's got one?

[John Doe]

The short version: We have sold two cars in the past 4 months at a substantial profit (not in the biz--special circumstances). My wife wanted a G-Wagon (02-04 depending on miles) and I looked for a diesel for a year. I finally found a perfect (albeit gas) one and was going to buy it with the spoils of my sales victories. She has now changed her mind because a lot of local 'gansters' drive them and it has ruined wanting a GWagon for her. However, I came so close to pulling the trigger on a car, I now need to buy one 'cause I got the bug. Both of us have wanted a vintage convertable benz for a while and one of the cars I sold was our 'sports car'. We have looked at quite a few early '60s 190 SLs and a 230(?) SL that was from 1964, I believe. Now these are restored cars, and were between $35-$60K. I can't justify that for a 2 seater, that I will likely destroy. Which brings me to the point: I saw a pale yellow, hardtop 380 SL today. I would have to guess 1978 or so? It was freaking beautiful and looked perfect. It even had a panel underneath the back glass that was the same color as the car. Are these cars problematic? Heavy service bills? I love the E300 TD, but it is not cheap to own, when I can buy disposable Suburbans, Jeeps, and even an Audi, and not spend a dime past oil changes on them. I don't mind the regular services, but are their timing chain, electrical, transmission or the like issues? How much for a nice one? Got one for sale? Thanks.

[POS]

The 380SL's are the dogs of the SL world - they are the least desireable. The 1981-1985 (am I correct on the years?) had a single-row timing chain that needs to be avoided.

By far, the best 107 is the 560SL - newest, most reliable, fastest. I'm having fun buying MBs, but I look at them this way, I want something that's a great driver, has some collectibility, won't depreciate like a stone after purchase, and is all original in excellent condition.

My 107 list would go something like this:

1) 560SL or mid-80's 500SL (euro)
2) any 107 with a manual (280Sl or 350SL - both euro)
3) '72-'73 350SL
4) 450SL
5) 380SL

Begin your homework, grasshopper.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by POS

The 380SL's are the dogs of the SL world - they are the least desireable. The 1981-1985 (am I correct on the years?) had a single-row timing chain that needs to be avoided.

By far, the best 107 is the 560SL - newest, most reliable, fastest. I'm having fun buying MBs, but I look at them this way, I want something that's a great driver, has some collectibility, won't depreciate like a stone after purchase, and is all original in excellent condition.

My 107 list would go something like this:

1) 560SL or mid-80's 500SL (euro)
2) any 107 with a manual (280Sl or 350SL - both euro)
3) '72-'73 350SL
4) 450SL
5) 380SL

Begin your homework, grasshopper.

Thanks for the input. I mean this thing was beautiful and looked to be driven by an oil baronness, given the county of the license plate and the St. John suit.

I tried to buy a mint 25K mile '86 560 SL two years ago from a desperate woman for nothing and should have made a realistic offer. My mom had one and I loved it, but as I recall it had issues. I really liked what I got to know of Kirk Vinning's euro 280 SL and may look into one of those.

I like reading you guys opinions on these things, but I just don't have the patience to research too much on cars.

What kind of money should I be thinking?

Thanks again.

edit: I should add that my indie has a beautiful forrest green 280 C for sale with tan leather that I would like to have, but he didn't know I was in the market and over a beer made the mistake of telling me how much he had in it, and he wants.......$27k fer it

[Eskimo]

Is any life complete until one has had a look at the lynn tassin 380 SL thread?

It's an epic read best enjoyed with one (or several) cold beverages.

[A264172]

An SL will not be cheep to own from what I've read about them, you'll have to become the cars sucker to own it or so it would seem. Then again you could get lucky if you drive it lightly and sell it in 5 years for what you paid.
I think it was on this forum that I read aprox. "A 20 year old Porsche can be the lowest cost of ownership ... if you sell it for what you paid right before the timing job comes due"...or somthing along those lines.
Seems like a fine way to get around town though if you find one that catches your eye.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by eskimo

Is any life complete until one has had a look at the lynn tassin 380 SL thread?

It's an epic read best enjoyed with one (or several) cold beverages.

Actually, I had read that. I forgot it was a 380. Lot of defenders there too, though.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by A264172

"A 20 year old Porsche can be the lowest cost of ownership ... if you sell it for what you paid right before the timing job comes due"...or somthing along those lines.
.

One of the cars I recently sold was a 30 (28 to be exact) year old Porsche and I made almost (subtract $1200 for my niece running it into a ditch)$10K off it.

[Hatterasguy]

Not a big fan of the R107, I prefer the R129. They look down right sexy in black and silver!


If not a G what about a Range Rover? I really like the Rovers, and the prices are amazingly attractive on 5 year old examples.

[John Doe]

I had a Range Rover County in 1996 and hated it, although it was great in the muck.

No offense to any R129 owners, but I feel like those are ugly. I liked the W140 counterpart though.

[Hatterasguy]

Ugly! Then I guess you are an R107 buyer! As said above the 560's seem to be the most popular.

[Larry Delor]

There are 3 SL's for sale in the local paper here. Cheapest one (380) has a new top, "many new parts" and ......"needs a headgasket" - I think they wanted $3k ...around 167k miles.

The others were around $12.5k with fewer miles.

There is a shop in Sarasota that had 2 SL's for around $7k each - if you want, I'll get the guy's #

[John Doe]

Which SL's? I could fly down and crash at a friend's on Siesta Key and drive back with the top down

I know I want one with less than 75K and a top that is either new or close to it. Two years ago I offered $15K for an 88 (mistake earlier when I posted 86) that had 15K mi on it and had been shipped back and forth from the Phillipines for more miles than on the ODO. A neurosurgeon had owned it and his wife got it in the divorce. Wine colored with tan interior and perfect. She ended up getting $25K

[Larry Delor]

MERCEDES 1984 380SL: Conv/hard top, Cream, good cond., 52,000 mi, must see $12,500.

MERCEDES 1998 SL500, low miles, both tops, smoke sliver, like new condition, garage kept, must see! $27,500

MERCEDES 1997 SL500 with 93K miles, silver, w/hardtop. $15,000.

Those last two are newer - but the '97 seemed so close in price that I pasted it here anyway. (the '98 is just for comparison.)

Here is the 380 that needs work: MERCEDES 1981 380SL. 167K mi, needs head gasket, new conv top, many new parts. $3,000/obo.


I will check the paper again tomorrow....I thought I saw a 560 in there today, but I don't remember for sure.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by John Doe

Actually, I had read that. I forgot it was a 380. Lot of defenders there too, though.

Actually, I wasn't thinking of the lynn tassin thread in a particularly anti-380 frame of mind. I mentioned it in part because the thread has quite some discussion of some of the perceived pros and cons with respect to the various flavors of 107. There's also some discussion of things that are likely to need attention on examples of particular vintage, how much those things might cost, etc.

The other part of it is just the story! The guy was (or at least pretended to be) a real piece of work, and that's a lot of what helps to drive the thread.

[suginami]

Originally Posted by POS

The 380SL's are the dogs of the SL world - they are the least desireable. The 1981-1985 (am I correct on the years?) had a single-row timing chain that needs to be avoided.

Actually, mid-year 1983 -1985 came with the double row timing chain from the factory.

However, I can't imagine there is a 380SL in existence that hasn't been converted. All that haven't have certainly grenaded by now.