PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - How I found 560's and learn to love them.

dmorrison · #11 06-13-2003, 06:16 PM

I was a senior in High School on Long Island when the 350SL came out in the 107 body. While everyone in my class wanted a Corvette, Camaro, Mustang or any muscle car I wanted a 107 body Mercedes. I guess I was a snob even in High School. I have always love and owned convertables. My first car was a 59 Karman Ghia convert. then I got a 63 Chevy Impala convert.
In 82 I almost bought a 190SL But My wife convinced me not to do it. I could barely afford to maintain the 220D the way I liked so how could I maintain another Mercedes. She admits her mistake, we should of bought the 190SL. In 1995 I was at annual training with American Airlines. Twice a year we went to simulator training. I felt I needed to go by the Mercedes dealer that day when I got out of training. I asked about any SL's. They had one but it was sold, or promised to someone. I asked if I could see it in case the deal fell through. It was an 88 560SL with 45,000 miles. Desert Taupe with Parchment interiors. Full records. Mercedes Starmarked. The deal did fall through and I negotated a price and the replacement of the softtop. Actually we had already come to an agreement. We found out that someone had driven it and lowered the top without folding the curves in. This caused the material to be cut. So the top now had a 2 inch cut in the softtop. I got them to put a new Hapich top on the car.
I converted the car to synthetic fluids and have been driving her ever since.
My kids are not allowed to drive it. They have driven when I'm with them but as I say "its my toy, not your".
I do love the SL. The one thing I don't like is the fact that the seats do not crank down. When My wife and I go on trips in it She likes to leave early. I don't. So she drives and I sleep. Its tough sleeping sitting straight up. But that is the only thing I don't like about the car.

In the summer of 95 when I bought it I decided to drive every convertable on the market, almost, to make sure the SL is what I wanted. I did and I do.

Change your oil and fluids to synthetic. Check the stretch of your timing chain. If you find it out of limits then change it. If not then keep checking it. I just had the subframe mounts replaced at the Dealer $1600. Unless you have a lift its a bear of a job. I do the majority of the work on the car but some things , like subframe mounts, I have the dealer do.

Enjoy the car, they are fun

Dave