1984 380Sl in Tucson, Az.

[az_stargazer]

I am interested in selling this car and was wondering if there is a site to help determine a price to ask?. I have checked NADA pricing, and have also been researching private ads, there seems to be quite a span. Are there certain things on the
SL, persay, that would make it stand out? Just want to get my research together. I purchased this car from my father's estate, (just turned 128,000 miles) so I know it was well taken care of, (he was the 2nd owner) and was self employed in car parts and service for all of his life. Just thought I'd try this forum and see if you nice people could throw some ideas my way......

[ctaylor738]

From what I have experienced, the mainstream SL buyers will pay a premium for low mileage and excellent condition. There are a lot of nice cars available, so they can be choosey. Anything obvious like a torn seat or paint problems will drop the price disproportinately. Maintenance and repair records help. If you price too high, you will compete with the 560's and lose.

I don't know the local market, but IMO in the DC area this car would be in the 7K-8K range if it is without obvious flaws. Maybe another grand if it were in exceptional condition for the mileage and the buyer loved the color.

[az_stargazer]

Thank you for the reply. (I pretty much decided that it must have been a dumb question to ask this forum). It's just that since I've been price researching, there is such an extreme gap, and some of the cars on the low side seem really nice. This car is by no means "a dog". I've sold a few cars in my life, (including a Bluebird Wanderlodge!) but never a car like this. I just want to price it fairly and find it a new home. Thanks again.

[ctaylor738]

You're welcome.

And it is not a dumb question, and this is the right place to ask it.

You are correct that there is a huge discrepancy in asking prices. In the SL market, you will find poor cars at 10K and good (or at least honestly described) cars at 7K. The trick is know the difference and to avoid paying a primo price for a good, average, or (shudder) poor car. As a seller, about all you risk by asking too much is looking uninformed and paying for another ad.

All of these cars are somewhat of a crapshoot since they are well beyond their original design horizon. But there are known problems (electronics, suspension, rust) that you will discover if you browse this forum

It sounds like you have a good car on your hands. Driive it for a while and enjoy it! And feel free to ask questions here.

[az_stargazer]

IMO being an informed seller is the best way to sell anything!. I don't want to look like an idiot to a potential buyer. Naturally, I want the most money I can obtain from selling this vehicle, however, I want to be fair. Most people looking for a Mercedes Benz, new or used, do ALOT of research, as I want to do just to sell it. As I said before, I purchased the car out of my Dad's estate (from my brother), probably more for sentimental reasons, as I KNEW how much my Dad loved this car, it was his DREAM to own a Mercedes. However, my father was a brake part dealer for 30 yrs., and he could build a car from the ground up! He did so much research and looking before he bought this vehicle and was very proud of it, so I know it's not a DOG. Currently, I am having a problem getting the hard top off, back window latch doesn't want to disengage completely, so I can inspect the convertable top. I was thinking of taking it down to the Mercedes dealer and having them take it off, as I cannot physically do it myself. I also decided it was probably a good idea to try and check out any Service Recall information on this vehicle to see if perhaps there is something that needs to be serviced before I sell. I just want to be an informed seller! I love this car, but have decided to sell it before it gets ahead of me. Thanks for responding to my post Chuck, and any info you could direct me to regarding Service Recall info. would be greatly appreciated.......

[az_stargazer]

Just for the sake of it, this is a ARIZONA car!, and to my knowledge I believe, was original to California!-so NO RUST HERE!!! I am a snowbird, so to speak, and would just love to take this car back east for the sale.....

[buckwyatt]

Key points are as follows, unless you are wanting to get ripped off buying a 380sl.

1) Heater servo condition - I know a few who have bought SL's with a non-working heater, thinking it works like Chevy pickup's.

2) transmission condition if over 100k.

3) Engine smoke. This is an ALL aluminum engine, no steel or iron liners in this overgrown SOHC lawnmower engine. I love my car and everything, but it is not even close the euro motor of the same pedigree.

4) A/C condition.

5) padded dash

6) interior wood

7) rear-main seal leakage - this can be fixed without yanking the whole mess, but it is still rather difficult.

If any of these problems exist, and you are not a handyman, don't pay over $5000 or you will be sorry.

[page62]

Originally Posted by buckwyatt

Key points are as follows, unless you are wanting to get ripped off buying a 380sl.

I think he's selling one. And given the fact that it was owned by somebody who cared about the car, it should be worth more than average.

But for the most part, the average buyer cares more about shiny paint and chrome than anything else.

Yes, the early 380SL's are known to have auto trannys that eat themselves once in a while. And we won't even discuss the timing chain. That said, however, it's amazing how many 81-83 380SL's are still going strong!!!

[buckwyatt]

touche' ,

I should have said, "unless he wants to rip off someone"

[az_stargazer]

Thanks for your responses, at least now I have an idea of some of the more notorious "problems" these particular cars face, and I appreciate your input. (However, I'm a "she", user names can be tricky). Now you're probably all saying, "no wonder" about my posts. However, I have changed brakes, done oil changes, and even replaced a distributor in a 1976 Mustang at one point in my life, but of course Mercedes is a totally different breed. "Dad" did teach me some of the ropes, so to speak, and my son is a mechanic in Mich.......

[Jim B.]

A little bit of information you could use might be found might be found here


www.slmarket.com
and here
www.oursl.com

or Hemmings Motor News Mag. www.hmn.com

Good luck finding a good home for the car, might be interesting takeing a long trip to deliver it.

Sometimes cars find the nicest home with owners interested in collector cars, that have sites geared towards them

The SL has always been special, however the R107 model 380SL was the least desirable engine for them to have, as they did have the problem of the single row timing chain, and were the lowest performance ones with the V8.

[az_stargazer]

Thanks for your responses, this forum is extremely informative. I was able to check out some of the sites recommended to me by the last post. I now at least have some idea of the issues that face this particular model and am happy to report that my heat and A.C. are in good working order, the dash and wood look wonderful, and I don't have any rust anywhere because this is a Az. car. I took the car yesterday to a reputable Mercedes repair shop here locally so they could take off the hard top for me, (as I couldn't do it myself), so I could see the soft top, it looks BRAND NEW! Could someone tell me when Mercedes switched to a single timing chain in this particular model? From what I've read, it seems like a pitfall in the SL's, and makes them least desirable? Just trying to get a feel for this information and thanks again to you all........

[az_stargazer]

Well, I think I found my answer, thanks to this site, but if anyone wants to put in their two cents worth..............