Hey,

Just saw this car on eBay. Looks pretty rare to me.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL300-MANUAL-5SPEED-MANUAL-TRANSMISSION-SL-300-MERCEDES-BENZ-FLORIDA_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6315QQihZ015QQitemZ250159817836QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

I wonder what kind of motor does it have m103 or m 104?

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1999 ML430 Silver 135k ml
Smoked LED taillights, Alpine in-dash DVD player, 12" sub, Pioneer components, 2 amps, 4200k HIDs, ML55 headlights, 20" rims, mirror LED blinkers

SOLD. 1996 E320 145k ml. Burgundy

SOLD but miss it everyday 1992 500sel Black
Chime buzzer mod,Alpine CD/MP3 player with stock amp,Euro headlights,S600 grill,20" rims, BEST CAR EVER!

SOLD. 1990 300E White
187k ml,smoked tails,Euro headlights,17rims,Intake,12" sub in first aid kit,alarm/autostart,buzzer mod

I actually was not interested in it until I noticed the American flad sticking out of the window. Now, I plan to bid whatever it takes to get that car . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

...German?! Hell no. That's an Amercan car!

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1989 300E 144K

With the 5 speed manual it is rare all right. But not in "outstanding" condition for sure.


Is the WDBFAxxxxxxxxxxx serial indicative of a Euro car? or a US-spec one?

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Dont see many manual transmissions, hope it hasnt been abused, looks decent

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Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

From additional photos off site it has an 104 engine.

The miles may very well be correct, but that is not the original odometer style. The cluster has been changed. This is not unusual for an early 129. Many were replaced because of the intermittent reset problem with the early cluster. (Search this site for the DIY fix if you are suffering from this problem.)

Those wheels are also not the original style for a 91 model. That style was standard for 93. (I like them better than the earlier wheels.)

I wonder what condition the soft top is in. Pictures of that are noticeably missing...

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02 S500
92 500SL
92 400E (Sold)
87 300E (Sold)
83 300D Turbo (Sold)
75 300D (Sold)
74 240D (Sold after 20 years)

This car is being sold by someone that seems to sell a lot of cars on Ebay, I was looking at one he had that was photographed in the exact same location, nice backdrop. I guess that is not really a major issue, but i am doubting that the seller knows much about the car other than he got it for a good price at a local auction. No matter how nice the car might be, most MB dealers are not going to keep a 1991 with over 150,000 miles on it with a bad elect seat and an inoperative soft top on their lot for sale. It likely got traded in to a dealership somewhere and they sent it to auction. Still, it is a rare car, it loots like it could be decent and it would be great fun with a manual. I like the newer wheels better too.

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Why is that? And is it more indicative of US Benzes than Euros?

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

U.S. 300SLs were available from 1990 to 1993. It's a 3.0 liter 104 motor. It sounds fun but it isn't really. It's the same 5 speed as a Porsche 928 - dogleg shift pattern, heavy clutch, long throw - quite tedious and annoying, especially in city driving. Just about the most disappointing car Mercedes ever made I'd say. The Euro 12 valve 103 motor stick is a much better car.

I would say the manual was standard, maybe not, but I bet MB said it was and then had an upcharge for the automatic...maybe not, but the us manufacturers sure like to do that to the buyer.
In any case I would say most were sold with the automatic since it was a higher cost luxury car and not intended to be a sports car racer. In any case, most times a high performance auto transmission, designed and timed correctly will out perform a typical manual, with a typical driver, in typical situations. Most average people just dont speed shift normally and a short rolling " race" from stop light to stoplight isnt enough time to use a manual to its full potential. I have seen many people make the short shift rice burner race street car feel inadequate when they pulled away from them with an automatic. Just look at mercedes Sl500 and SL600 cars. Not many manuals. Luxury cars, but try to outrun one on the street. Try to outrun a BMW 540i with an auto trans on the street from light ot light, not easy, my wife made a guy in a newer Camaro feel like a heel and left him way behind. Some people are demons with a manual, most are normal drivers that take too much time to shift or miss a gear if they are trying to race like Mario Andretti, I have never missed a gear shifting with an automatic. Never replaced a clutch in one either. LOL

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

It would be safe to surmise that many more Americans than Europeans simply are too lazy, or stupid, to learn todrive with a manual these days.

In support of this theory, take a look at how many pasenger cars with manuals cn be found at US new car dealers and on rental lots, and on the road.

Then look at how many manual transmission cars you find on European roads, new car lots and rental lots.

The difference will amaze you.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

In Europe, I can be difficult and at best, more expensive to even get a car with an auto transmission. Most all the cars we have ever rented in Europe were manual transmission.

__________________
Christopher Henkel
1990 190E 2.6 - Arctic white SOLD
1986 190E-16v - Blauswartze
1993 300CE - SOLD
2003 W208 CLK 320 Cabriolet - Magma Red

Am I blind, or does it look like there are water stains in the trunk carpeting and possibly the doors? Also, why is there a brownish tint to the firewall area behind the motor?

Could be a flood car.

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former: 83 300D, 97 C230, 93 400E

current: 08 C300 Luxury , 92 500SL

In mint condition. But only in Atlantis


uh oh! flashing red alarm going off


KATRINA SALVAGE CAR alert!!!

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)