I'm going to look at an '83 380SL that has blown an engine once (single timing chain). Therefore it's been rebuilt and upgraded to double-row timing chain at 70k mi. Now it has 115k.

I have my '83 300CD as a benchmark. I'd assume that the SL should be faster (doooohhh), shift better, and overall of better quality. So, I should be fine in comparing the tranny especially.

Do you guys think it was early for it to blow up? (70k mi. with the original single row timing chain?)

I'm also goin to take a look at a Silver '89 560SL with 11,700 mi on the clock The dealer probably wants at least $30K for it. We'll see.