Hooray

[djoyce93]

I just bought an 1986 300sl with 66,000 miles on it. I am so excited!!!

[abiby]

Originally Posted by djoyce93

I just bought an 1986 300sl with 66,000 miles on it. I am so excited!!!

Congratulations!

That's a hard to find model. I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with it.

[unesl]

Pictures!!! We need pictures!!!!!

[coleyjf]

Originally Posted by djoyce93

I just bought an 1986 300sl with 66,000 miles on it. I am so excited!!!

Great - Auto or Manual and as the man says - Pictures and details please - Then Questions I guess.

Cheers

Jim

[djoyce93]

[djoyce93]

I am flying to Houston to get it and driving it back to Ottawa Ontario. It's a 2000 mile drive. I hope she makes it!

[dadette123]

Why don't you have it checked out before your return trip. Let me know if you need a good, local indy to give it the "once over." Congrats!

[dugald]

Originally Posted by djoyce93

I am flying to Houston to get it and driving it back to Ottawa Ontario. It's a 2000 mile drive. I hope she makes it!

I think weather may be more troublesome than the car.
Good luck.

[karburn]

Well bought. Congratulations. Have fun with it!!

[djoyce93]

I'll be driving it back from Houston to Ottawa Canada late next week. Does anyone live on the way who would be willing to give me a hand if she breaks down?

[rowdie]

PM sent. If your route takes you through the land that time forgot.

[abiby]

Originally Posted by djoyce93

I'll be driving it back from Houston to Ottawa Canada late next week. Does anyone live on the way who would be willing to give me a hand if she breaks down?

Might help if we knew which route you were taking?

[coleyjf]

Hi Dave

Just had a few thoughts last night (well last night here in the UK!) - the two area's that seem to cause problems with car's laid up" for a while are fluids and brakes.

Fluids:

• "Stuff " in the tank gathers at the bottom of the tank and in the fuel filter (under the rear subframe next to the fuel pump).
  
• Petrol (gas!) degenerates whilst standing for a long time.
  
• Condensation could cause the oil to emulsify after a long stand.
  
• Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years - I guess partly due to deterioration.

Brakes:

• Discs will rust even in Texas
  
• Disc pads & callipers can stick is left unused.

Would it be possible to get the SL serviced before you pick her up, perhaps by an Indy recommended by someone on the forum,

All the above are included in a major service anyway, including:

• change of fuel filter
• change brake fluid
• obviously change engine oil & filter
• check brakes
• plus loads of other stuff I can't think of this time of the morning!

You would be probably doing this anyway when you got home and it might relieve the uncertainly of the journey so you could "just enjoy the ride"

Cheers

Jim

[djoyce93]

The seller has informed me that the a/c is blowing a fuse whenever it's turned on. Any ideas what would be the probable cause and can anyone guesstimate what it would cost to repair it?

[DanielG]

I bet you have this all figured out -- so I was wondering... what happens when you get to the border with Canada in a car without plates? Have you picked up a temp plate from your province? Do you pay taxes or some such - does it need to be inspected? Remember to turn on the lights - no DRL's on this car ;-)

I bought a car from Arizona and thought about driving it to the northern suburbs of Chicago --but when I figured out cost of gas, chance of break down, potential for damage to the car on the road (rock chips etc), cost of hotels and meals along the way (figured 3 days of travel), the cost of a one way ticket to Phoenix, and the shear boredom of such a long ride -- I decided to have it shipped. I bought the car in November 2007 so there was also the chance of bad weather on the way. I think the costs of shipping (inside of a trailer) was about $1100 -- but it gave me peace of mind.

You should get the a/c fixed before you leave -- even though its cold now, the a/c is part of the system that defrosts/defogs your windows and you will need that.

Best of luck on your trip and congratulations on your beautiful new car!