My first SL forum post - thinking of buying 380SL

[rgnprof]

Hi guys,

My first post here and I'm looking for some advice. I am thinking of buying a 1981 380SL for my wife and want some help. It HAS been retrofitted with the double row timing chain and I know it still has the dreaded ACCII climate control servo (I have the same on my '78 300D). I haven't seen the car yet - just a bunch of pictures, but it looks good - no rust that I can see and owner confirms this. Has 103,000 miles and comes with both tops which look to be in good shape and a hoist (??). Known issues are the cruise control does not work and the AC was 134a'd and blower shuts off intermittently, but comes back on. Dash is pretty cracked - he covers it with a carpet pad, but otherwise the interior looks to be in great shape.

What should I be concerned about? What questions should I ask?

BTW, asking price is $5000.

Thanks,

ryan

[Alkraut]

Sounds like a nice car. Major maintenance items would include subframe bushings, shocks, motor mounts, and brakes. The most important thing to ask is if maintenance records are available so you can review the work done. Regular fluid changes are key to a good car and helps makes that mileage a non-issue. look for evidence of rust and bodywork. See if you can get a good Carfax on it as well. Drive it and make sure it handles well and the transmission shifts effortlessly. Good Luck.

[jAMES2182]

I just bought a 85 380SL with 107K miles. It ran great until one day it died about 6 months after I bought it. I found broken timing chain rails that caused the timing chain to skip teeth which caused 4 bent exhaust valves. To replace all the plastic rails the timing chain cover needs to come off. Before you do that you need to remove the oil pan to take off the chain for the oil pump to remove the timing chain cover. To remove the oil pan you need to remove the engine. Then you can get to the heads easily to rebuild. If you don't do the work yourself your in for a total lost and then some. Only buy this car for your wife if you hate her, because she will divorce you.

[tecqboy]

I agree with the above post. Don't buy this car unless you are willing to expend lots of time and money keeping it going. These old SL's are not good daily drivers. Gas mileage is poor. Parts are expensive. Old parts break often. Old rubber and plastic just crumbles. Get your wife a 2nd hand Toyota.

[AlexK]

Last year we bought this little 1981 380SL for my wife, the car she always wanted, and it was a good deal she insisted! Has two tops. nice paint job. All we had to do is an inspection, and drive it away, Right?

But now let me tell you the rest of this TRUE story.
First thing to do:
-Lift the floor mats and the trunk mat and under the spare tire for water damage. I didn’t. It stank like a wet basement of and old house.
-Look at the Soft Top for broken bolts and ribs. I didn’t.
-Check for dual timing gear. I didn’t.
-Check the Transmission. I didn’t.

This MB was imported from Florida, I don’t know when, but an old Oil Change sticker shows: 20 Sep 1997 having 70,327 miles on it.

On 7 July 2000 the Motor, Transmission and Idle Control Unit got replaced with stuff from the Wreckers, for the total sum of $7,420.00 CDN.
Having 74,967 miles on it.

On 21 December 2006, the poor owner sold to my brother in law, a car dealer for the cost of the above.
The In-law put 4 brand new tires on it, had further work done for $391.00 drove it around a bit, and put it in his showroom for $20,000 CDN

On 17 August 2010 we bought it for $7,000 CDN, not knowing the above story.
Having 75,600 miles on it.

As it stands now, it needs a Dual Timing gear for $1600CDN and a re-build trans mission for $1,560 US. My negotiated fee for my mechanic is $1,500CDN.
Future: Master Brake Cylinder, Steering Box, Steering Pump plus labor about $1,600CDN

The current Market value is $12,000CDN?? Maybe?? In perfect condition that is.
My cost:
Purchase $7,000
When I am done with the repairs?? $14,000
No kidding!
It clicked only 5,300 miles on it in 14 years.

[nobby]

A well maintained 380SL is just as reliable as a well maintained Toyota.

[Wodnek]

The 380SL has the newer climate control, not the older one like your 78.

I use mine as a daily driver in the summer and get a pretty steady 20 mpg. These have a 4 speed automatic, and are far less thirsty then the 450 SL that they replaced. I bought mine sight unseen off craigslist in Oklahoma. I had a buddy look at it, change all th ebelts, hoses, and fluids, and i drove it back to Wisconsin. I've been very happy with it.

The 380 SL is not fast though. Actually, my 87 300D will take it at any speed. (If your looking for a tire smoker, or even something to race against a 90s or newer V6, this is not the car.)

[JimFreeh]

Originally Posted by Wodnek

The 380SL has the newer climate control, not the older one like your 78.

Depends.

I've got a 1980 380SL out back with the vertical style CC button (= old).
Also have a 1985 380SL with horizontal buttons (= good!).

My 1984 280SL has neither.......

Jim

[rowdie]

I think 1982 was the first year for the ACCIII system.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by rowdie

I think 1982 was the first year for the ACCIII system.

Yup...

Originally Posted by nobby

A well maintained 380SL is just as reliable as a well maintained Toyota.

Especially if you're comparing the 30 year old SL to a 30 year old Toyota...

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by nobby

A well maintained 380SL is just as reliable as a well maintained Toyota.

I also believe this to be true, tho' whunter disagrees with me. He considers these cars not to be as strong and rarely well-maintained, thus money traps.

I bought mine for a very low price and it could stand a bit of repair and new seat covers, plus a PS hose.

I think 5000 is WAAAAAAAY too much.

Say no and you will find another for less. They are out there.

3000 is about the limit I would go unless the car has been constantly used and maintained, which yours hasn't.

PLUS: Demand the maintenance records! Mine was a gray market and the records are in germany and not kept this long, and the PO was the second owner and didn't have them. Hence the problems.

If there are no records, it could be there was never maintenance!

You may want to consider the 450SL if you want a roadster. More of a gas hog BUT more reliable, less finicky, I am told.

My two cents.

I don't regret my decision, it was harder for me to work on, because I was sick at the time and didn't know it. Now i'm ok and the maintenance doesn't bother me.

Either way, do lots of looking and asking before putting down the money.
If it's now or never, make it never, the buys are there.

[JohnM.]

Originally Posted by strelnik

I also believe this to be true, tho' whunter disagrees with me. He considers these cars not to be as strong and rarely well-maintained, thus money traps.

That is really true of any luxury car for the most part. Very few people can afford the car, AND take it to the dealership/good indy for scheduled maintenance without missing a beat (especially after ~60K).

Any used car is a money trap if you have to use a mechanic. My time is free, and because of that I'm able to drive a nice car for the same operating cost (in $, not time ) as a 20 year old Honda Accord. I probably have 100-200 times the hours compared to $$ in parts I've put in, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

[strelnik]

Originally Posted by JohnM.

That is really true of any luxury car for the most part. Very few people can afford the car, AND take it to the dealership/good indy for scheduled maintenance without missing a beat (especially after ~60K).

Any used car is a money trap if you have to use a mechanic. My time is free, and because of that I'm able to drive a nice car for the same operating cost (in $, not time ) as a 20 year old Honda Accord. I probably have 100-200 times the hours compared to $$ in parts I've put in, and I wouldn't have it any other way!

John,
I agree with many things you say.

What's WORSE is the attitude of technicians who start talking about these cars as "rare classics" with exotic systems understood only by Master Technicians from the planet Vulcan " so it's going to cost more."

The reality is: these are machines that require understanding of earlier systems that require a little bit of thinking which the techs don't want to do, when they can get a computer to do the thinking. Those techs are more parts monkeys than real mechanics.

There are many real mechanics on this forum, hence its popularity.

[rgnprof]

It's amazing how these old threads can get resurrected! I posted this question almost 3 years ago - since then (August of 2008) I bought an '86 560SL for $6K (See my other posts...), which I love. Runs great!

But, hey - better late than never! Thanks.

ryan

[meltedpanda]

I have as close to a perfect 72 450 that you can get ( IMHO) that I would sell to the right person at the right price -