Help me identify the year of a car please.
 

hello everyone,

TOday my friend and I were driving home from work, and he happened to spot an older mercedes at a kia dealership here in southern california. I turned around and passed by to get a look at it. From what I could see it was a 2 seater, kinda looked like my 83 300d but only 2 seats, hard top, and it had the 2 headlights per side on the front, and a big mercedes emblem in the center of the grill. I called the dealer, and they told me that it was gas, and that it was an 88.

My question is, could it be an 88 or is it older? I thought that the round headlights were faded out in like 85 or 86. They also told me they wanted 12 grand for it. Reason I ask is because if it is older, maybe I could talk them down because at least from driving by it looked pretty nice.

anyone know about these?

sounds like an SL model

Sounds like an R107. Had double headlights similar to the 123's, although a much smaller and "fleeter" dimension. If it was 1988 it would have been a 560SL. Last year for the 107 was 1989, when it went to the 129, which looks more like a sporty 124.

if it was a 560sl are they descent cars?

Yes, if you get a good one. '89 was the last year for them and '88 is virtually identical, and most of them have led easy lives. If it's a lifetime California car it's likely rust free.and Seating might be a little cramped if you are a big guy. Same cautions apply as if you are buying any used Mercedes; best to have a prepurchase inspection done. If it is sitting on a Kia dealer lot, you'd wonder how it got there, and also, there probably won't be records with it, as most dealers throw them away, citing "privacy" concerns.

You will need to buy a hardtop hoist for it, as the hardtop is removeable. The 560SL has a 0-60 time of 7.1 seconds, so it's a lot quicker than the diesels of its era. They were heavy, and more of a cruiser than a sports car, and were known as "Panzerwagens". They are robust cars and should last a very long time.

See also: www.oursl.com and www.slmarket.com for a little bit more, and the SL section on the forum here.