mercedes SL560 To Buy or Not to Buy?

[snoopy007]

I have a freind how is offering me a chance to buy there late brothers 89 mercedes SL560 it has ~120,000 with clean service records. I'm currently a diesel man but this this could be fun to have. The car is said to be clean and it has lived in the south. It had a repair from a deer encounter that was repaired two years ago. How dependable are these cars and is 9,000-10,000 a fair range? Thank you

[sokoloff]

It's either an '88 560SL or a '98 SL500 - big difference when you're asking about the price.

Len

[snoopy007]

Opps I was told it was a 89 I havn't inspected the car yet so I only have basic information. I correct the thread, sorry for the typo.

[ericdee]

9-10k, sounds like a deal to me, I'd jump on that.

[iwrock]

Yes sir, jump on it if its that clean. That car is a nice cruiser, and they are quite fun to drive.

[Jim B.]

It sounds like a pretty good price if the post deer-hit repairs were done properly, the total mileage is good for the model year of the car, and the color of the car is acceptable to you and the timing chain, guide rails and tensioner have been replaced, and there is no rust anywhere.

These are "gentleman's sports cars", more of a grand tourer than a canyon carver, if you know what I mean. Many wafted from Beverly Hills to the Palm Springs Tennis club, were 2nd 3rd or 4th cars of the owners, and were found in abundance in B.H., Hollywood, the Hamptons, West Palm Beach....almost a (required) fashion accessory for the rich/famous in their time.

They never really had any awful problems, and you are looking at the last year (1989) of a VERY long production run, (1972-1989) which is a VERY long model run for any car, so its VERY unlikely you will be getting a car with problems to sort out. Try to get all the service records and books to come with the car, make sure it tracks straight and true, take it through a car wash with the hardtop on to be sure there are no leaks, and the jack, tool kit and spare is in place, and the air conditioning is cold

They are not lightweights, (called panzerwagens for a good reason) they weigh in at about 3670 lbs, 0-60 is in about 7.5 seconds, 227 hp, and they ask for premium unleaded, and drink a lot of it, but after those diesels, you'll love the zip and you'll have an instant classic (see John Olson's www.slmarket.com) that you'll be able to keep FOREVER.

Parts are not always cheap, but REAL easy to find.

Whether seen in the movies, j like "Beverly Hills Cop", or "American Gigolo", or in real life, the R107 model has always been a hit, and they look just wonderful in most colors, you can't lose with "SIGNAL ROT"

Definately worth pursuing! Just be sure the one you are looking at is a good example without problems

Jim

[Roncallo]

With the increase in fuel prices the value of the 107's cars are dropping. But 9K to 10K at 120K miles for a 1989 is still a good deal if it's as good as you describe and the repairs from the dear strike were done well. But being a deisel owner you might be discouraged by the fuel milage. I average about 15.5 mpg mostly highway. I do get 17 mpg on pure highway driving. And it requires premium fuel.

At 120K it should have already had it's timing chain and rails replaced. You will need to check on that. And make sure the rails not just the chain were replaced. That should be 3 upper rails and a tensioner rail. Usually the cam oiler plastic fittings are replaced with the rails as well. Also look for signs of oil leakage from just forward of the transmission. What looks like a rear main seal leak is most likely a head gasket leak.

The cars are pretty bullet proof once they are fully mechanically restored. The only real weak areas would be the heating and air conditioning system. The AC push buttons seam to break at random. Other problems that you may encounter at the milage and age of car you are evaluating are:

Head Gaskets
Drive Shaft
Subframe Mounts front and rear
Engine Mounts
Dash board will most likely be cracked
Convertable top
Door and window seals
AC center vent actuators (The rest of them too, but the center's are in the $2000 location).
Side windows may have the guides fallen off (Check if window rattles in door when you close it)
Exhaust System

The above list of problems are not chronic in that you should not ever have to expect to have to do them again once they are done. But they are typical problems found in the 560SL at the age and milage you describe. If you can tell from the service records that these have been done, then you are assured that the likely hood of having to repeat these services is minimal.

Of those problems listed above the head gasket will be the most costly to you, expect $4000 from an MB dealer or $800 if you do it yourself including all the extra stuff you will be replaceing besides the head gasket when you get into it.

John Roncallo

[mbc43amg]

Originally Posted by snoopy007

I have a freind how is offering me a chance to buy there late brothers 89 mercedes SL560 it has ~120,000 with clean service records. ... How dependable are these cars and is 9,000-10,000 a fair range?

Great price. The '88 I just bought with 93K miles was $13,500. There -are- a number of serious items I have to repair listed by those in the know above, like heads are leaking oil, some vacuum problems of different sorts, AC vent actuator, window guides (holy cow, I'm hit by a lot of the things listed) and though the timing chain & guides doesn't make noise on cold start then quiet down I'm still doing that .... But I'm still glad I got it!

You can see from my sig, I drive a pretty heavily modified and quickened-up C43 ... But I'm duely impressed with the performance of the 560SL ; very surprised even. It sure feels like factory HP is underrated to me. With its long rear diff gearing and only 4 tranni gears (and normally 2nd gear starts unless you get on it and it shifts to 1st), at WOT it's up around 70 mph shifting into 3rd, and still pulling strong. I expected it to be labored a tad getting there, but not at all. The drivability is fantastic as torque right off idle is really really strong.

[droederer]

You guys did a great job in discribing what to look for in a 560SL. I also have a 560SL, it's a 1986 model. I have been noticing a slight oil leak that looks like it's coming from the righ rear area of the motor near where the head attaches to the block. Could this be the head gasket?

Thanks
Dave
1986 560SL

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by droederer

You guys did a great job in discribing what to look for in a 560SL. I also have a 560SL, it's a 1986 model. I have been noticing a slight oil leak that looks like it's coming from the righ rear area of the motor near where the head attaches to the block. Could this be the head gasket?

Thanks
Dave
1986 560SL

Usually it's on the left side unfortunatly yes it can be either.

John Roncallo

[Strife]

Originally Posted by droederer

You guys did a great job in discribing what to look for in a 560SL. I also have a 560SL, it's a 1986 model. I have been noticing a slight oil leak that looks like it's coming from the righ rear area of the motor near where the head attaches to the block. Could this be the head gasket?

Thanks
Dave
1986 560SL

If your engine is dirty it can be difficult find the source of a leak, and of course, if it's leaking, it's dirty.

Before assuming the worst, I'd replace the valve cover gaskets, and put on new crush washers properly taken down to the proper torque (and no more!). Those gaskets get hard and shrink, and are very tricky to fit in the back. Improper torquing or not doing the torque in a multistage cross pattern can distort the very thin covers and make things worse than they were. I worried about the leak I had on the LH side when I bought the car, replaced 'em, and no more leak. The oil has completely burned off the crossover and block about 8K miles ago, and I did a 300+ mile jaunt this weekend with no oil smell.

The gaskets are reusable so if this doesn't work you are only out a dollar or two's worth of crush washers.