Should I - or shouldn't I - Thinking of buying an SL (450 vs. 280)

[rgnprof]

OK - after weighing all of the advice I am probably going to pass on this car. I spoke with some local Mercedes mechanics - a shop that does a LOT of Mercedes business (actually they only work on Mercedes), and they told me to stay away from the M110 motor. They claim it is one of the worst Mercedes ever manufactured and they refuse to work on them because you just can't ever get them fixed right. They especially pointed the tendency for them to leak and all of the problems associated with the gaskets - from valve cover to head.

I have read several posts on this board though, that express exactly the opposite viewpoint.

Needless to say, this is confusing...

ryan

[deanyel]

The one thing that is clear about the 110 is that it is not average. Everyone thinks it's either the best or the worst.

[freshairfiend]

Well, you certainly stirred up a storm of opinion! Up to now I have not run across anyone with a bad opinion of the 110 motor other than some people who assume it's a good one to stay away from beacuse spares must be hard to find - wrong.,we are talking about the inline 6 dual ohc -185hp aren't we?) My own Mercedes guru claims it is one of the strongest motors Mercedes aver built, and it cetainly outperforma most of the 8's except for the 560SL, and with better gas mileage at that. Still, to each their own. Of the various 280SL owners I know or have had contact with, not one would swap what they have except perhaps for a 380 Euro (very rare) or maybe a 500 Euro.Good luck in your future search

[rgnprof]

I know! And I am so confused...

I understand that strong opinions can be formed with one bad experience - a customer brings in a 280SL with the 110 engine, the shop can't get it fixed right - for whatever reasons - customer gripes - and all 110 engines are garbage.

We all have a tendency to generalize...

I'm still not sure what to do though.

ryan

[280sleuro]

Here's an interesting article on the 280SL history.
http://timelessmotorclassics.com/Euro280SLHistory.htm

[ctaylor738]

The only reason I saw not to buy the car was that the price was unrealistic.

I think my personal count of 110's is at seven or eight. The point about leaking is valid, but easy to ascertain - just look around the cam box to head seal, and at the front main seal. They do seem to need valve guides and seals every 100K or so.

I think the shop is off-base in dissing them like this, though.

[freshairfiend]

Interesting article. I don't disagree with his sentiments re the benefits of the Euro 280SL or the strength of the 110 engine, but even for low mileage cars NADA values seem a little unrealistic to what I have seen on Ebay.

[280sleuro]

My 280SL with the 110 engine had 121K and started smoking. The valve stem seals at the intake valves were harden and therefore leaked. the exhaust seals were still soft. I replaced all seals. The valve guides showed no signs of wear and the compression was within specs. The engine was very clean inside and out. Where the cam housing fits on the head has no gasket, just a precision machine surface. The point being, I was very impressed with the condition of the engine for the mileage. I even reused the valve cover gaskets with no leaks. Also, the valves have never been adjusted and the engine is very quiet. If you keep the %@##!! CIS fuel system adjusted properly.... the M110 rocks.

Jim
1985 280SL

[deanyel]

The article is obviously written by someone selling the cars, someone who subscribes to the adage "when in doubt make it up". Gray market cars were never sold throught MBUSA European delivery program. And not all of the cars were EPA compliant - many came in under the one-time lifetime EPA exemption. And if values have gone up by $7,000 to $10,000 in the last two years they must have been close to zero two years ago.

[FineOlBenz]

I know you looking for an SL however I do have a real nice 280 SEL stashed away with only 70k miles. Any interest?

[rgnprof]

Well, I am about to change my mind - again! I think I can get it for $4500 - what do you think Chuck?

People forget that these cars (and anything for that matter) are only worth what people are willing to pay for it. None of these cars are selling for what sellers are asking for them online - unless the seller knows what they're doing. I have been following these on ebay, craigslist, for quite a while now - very few reserves are being met. When I run into one of these cars locally, they are WAY out of line. I guess people see Mercedes...

As far as the shop is concerned, their reaction caught me a little off guard. I have been dropping in there for quite a while, so they know me - and they have been in business for quite a while...But they were very adamant about the problems with the 110 engine - which contradicted with most of what I had heard.

ryan

[rgnprof]

Well, I called the owner and offered $4500 - which I thought was a VERY fair price. He refused the offer and I'm not prepared to go any higher.

A sidenote here: He has had the car for sale for 5 years! I don't quite get some folks... oh well...

ryan

[halman2228]

I would agree with most that he's expecting too much.

I picked up an '81 280 automatic a little over a year ago for $3500 - tired interior, minor left fender damage, tired paint, a/c questionable. I probably paid too much, but I knew goiing into it how much I would spend to get it back to "very good driver" condition ( none of mine will ever be "show" - you don't drive a "show" quality car).

My secondary motive was to be able to use it as a guinea pig in tackling an interior refurb project. I'll learn on the 280 and then be experienced when I redo my 500.

I didn't see anybody say it so I will - take your time, study here and know what you're looking at and what you'll need to put in it after you buy so you know your total 1st year cost.

They really are out there so be patient.

Best regards,
Kevin

P.S. - oursl(dot)com lists a lot of 107 cars. You can get a feel for condition and high/low range $ there

P.P.S. - The M110 is a great engine (3 of mine are M110 powered)...

[freshairfiend]

Good advice from Halman. There's always another one out there - sometimes better than the one you lost out on. Also good advice re what it is likely to cost you after the purchase. You have to remember you are looking at cars that are 20+ years old and even when you think you have a handle on likely repairs there will be something else that either you didn't or couldn't see and those unexpected repairs can be quite expensive. Best of luck, but keep looking. Craig's List, ebay and oursl are all good places. I think Hemmings has a sale site too, but only believe half of what the seller says!

[rgnprof]

Thanks for all the help - I bought a 1986 560SL for $6000 (see my other thread). So far, I am ecstatic!

ryan