Potential buyer needs R107 tips - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mbtjc · #1 05-19-2002, 09:01 PM

I may be interested in getting an R107 sometime. I love that classy body style. My questions are regarding buying tips. Are there certain model years that are not so good or really great? Any major makeovers? Which engines are good, bad? Any "must-have" option(s)...and so on. Of course a 560SL would be nice, but I don't think I want to spend that much right now. I saw a NICE one the other day...'86 560, shiny black, grey leather, 60 some thousand miles.....23 grand! So I may be lookin for a 450 maybe because of price. I wouldn't matter if it were a little rough around the edges so I wouldn't have to worry about it as much as I do that enough with my 420! I also want to take it on some roadtrips, so reliability is a definite factor. Thanks for any tips.

Holson Adi · #2 05-19-2002, 09:15 PM

I have been doing the same! I may just keep the 300CD and just add an R107 to my stable! I just can't keep my eyes off any R107 that I come across! I remember when I was drunk... I saw a beautiful topless 560SL on the side of the road (in front of a 5-star hotel...)

I just sat there and admired it... people obviously stopped and wondered what I was lookin' at. I didn't say anything and many of them just said... "wow, what a nice car..." after they looked at it and I for a few seconds... hehehe

I do want the 560SL for its 5.6L V-8, however, I think I could live with anything else as long as I get the front spoiler a'la 560SL...

BTW, here's a page that might interest you.

http://fly.hiwaay.net/~gbf/107/rt.html

#3 05-20-2002, 09:51 AM

I know how you feel.

I am rescuing my grandfathers 1973 450SL. The car has not run properly for sometime. Thanks to this forum and some work I should be driving it to the shop today to be fine tuned. These cars are prone to rust. Check the rockers and the rear wheel wells. They DEMAND regular maintaince if you get an early 70's car you will want as complete records as possible. If the car smokes it needs a valve job. The dealers were charging $1600.00 a few years ago. If the fuel gauge is not working beware we just had to flush the gas tank after the old sending unit rusted, there was tons of it in the tank it is amazing the car will run at all. If you are willing to get your hands dirty these cars are great fun. But when they get in trouble they can drive you nuts the best thing above all is find a good tech to work with. When this car is maintained by someone who knows the car it is a real joy to drive.

Regards

Charles D

maheath · #4 05-21-2002, 07:04 PM

If it's smoking, it's more likely to need new valve stem seals, especially if the mileage is less than 200k. That costs $700-$800.

Here's a quick rundown, I'm sure I'll make mistakes, but somebody will correct them.

1972 - First year in US. Badged as 350SL even though it had the 4.5L engine. Cast iron engine block.

1973 - Badged as 450SL. Also, 450SLC appears.

1975 - First year for catalytic converter.

1976 - The exterior rear view mirrors change, I think this is when the black rubber around the housing appears.

1977 - The catalytic converter was finally pulled out of the engine compartment. For this reason, 75 and 76 models are seemlingly less desirable (?)

1980 - Last year for the 4.5L and the cast iron engine block.

1981 - First year for the 380SL/SLC. Aluminum engine block. Single row timing chain. Last year for the SLC.

1982 - New A/C Control Unit (pushbutton instead of levers)

1983 - Passenger side exterior mirror is powered.

1984 - Sometime during this model year, production switched to double-row timing chains. Power antenna appears?

1986 - First year for 560SL. Different wheels, third brake light, front spoiler. Smaller bumpers? First year for driver's airbag? Leather seats become standard. New A/C Compressor. Major changes to the suspension. Air recirculation switch appears. Shifter plate is moved below console trim. Seats get more lateral support.

1988 - Third brake light becomes smaller and moved to the edge of the trunk lid.

1989 - Last year for the 107 chassis

This doesn't cover things like the stock radio which was either the Becker Mexico, Europa, or Grand Prix, but I don't know which years those changed.

The first 450SLs didn't have a rear window defroster for the hardtop, somewhere along the line two different heated rear windows came along. A Single Sheet Safety Glass and a Compound Safety Glass. By the time the 560SL came around, only the Compound Safety Glass was used. I've heard that in the Single Sheet, the defroster elements go side-to-side. The Compound defroster elements go up-and-down.

Obviously I know more about the 560SL than the previous models, but this should be a good start. If I knew what year certain chassis numbers fell in, I could add more detail to this.

maheath · #5 05-21-2002, 07:21 PM

I also wanted to add that you shouldn't assume that you can't afford a 560SL. I bought mine last August for $11,700 and it "only" needed about $3000 worth of (mostly engine) work to become a nice, mechanically sound car.

Most people either think, or are told that their oil leaks need $2500-$6000 worth of work to fix. That's probably why I got mine so cheap.

In fact, the first mechanic I took it to thought it needed an engine rebuild. Then I took it to a respected German shop and they found out that it was the valve stem seals, $720 for new seals and spark plugs. I dropped another chunk of change on new chain guides and tensioner and complete new front brake assemblies. $2200 and suddenly my car was running (and stopping) like a dream.

suginami · #6 05-21-2002, 07:29 PM

I think the catylitic converter was moved out of the engine compartment in 1976.

Also, 1976 was the first year of the much improved fuel injection system.

#7 05-21-2002, 07:43 PM

My 73 has power antena and rear defrost for the hardtop.

#8 05-21-2002, 09:33 PM

I bought a 450SL with 70K miles in December for under $10K, knowing that I would need to put a little more money into it to make it REALLY nice. I had a major tune up, new blower fan, new weatherstripping, new soft top. The body has NO rust, the paint is excellent and the interior is immaculate. I took it from Delaware to Kentucky a month ago, put the hard top back on because of the noise. Got a whopping 14.5 to 15 miles per gallon. It wanted to run a little hot going up some of those mountains in western Maryland and West Virginia, and going up those mountains, the car lost some speed while the cruise control was on. It was a comfortable ride, though. I've made that trip several times in my Windstar (kids in college) and the 450 gave a much superior ride. Best of luck in your search. BOB

Holson Adi · #9 05-22-2002, 12:08 AM

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.

mbtjc · #10 05-22-2002, 12:25 AM

A silver 560....must be gorgeous. All I know is that when I get one...I am immediately ripping those bumpers and lights off of it and replacing them with euro units! Look at a euro 107...looks clean, sleek and muscular...can't say the same for the four-eyed US car with foot long bumpers. Those bumpers, esp., ruin an awesome design IMHO. Also...since the 560SL was a US only car, is it possible to transplant a euro 300HP 560 W126 motor in a 107? I don't see why not, but I thought I'd ask.

Holson Adi · #11 05-22-2002, 01:26 PM

Yeah I do think that a Silver 560 must be gorgeous. If I did get a 560SL, the headlights will go first. Maybe if I find a wrecked Euro R107 I'll get the bumpers. I can live w/ the foot long bumpers of the W123... however on the 116 and 107 they really really ruin the look of the car.

I was also thinkin about a 300hp Euro 5.6L V-8 in a US 560SL... imagine that... 0-60 in 7 secs and a bit.

mbtjc · #12 05-22-2002, 04:10 PM

You said in your signature that an 89 500SL euro is in your dreams...one can find a euro 500SL for sale over here every once in a while. Go to AutoTrader.com and type in 500SL ending in 1989 and there are some on there. A lot of them are low mileage and they don't want a fortune for them. Most if not all of them are 85 and before though. I don't know if that would matter to you. I bet if you look long enough one might be able to find a later model one. As far as importing...can one still do that these days? Anyone have any idea how much that would cost?

sublettd · #13 05-22-2002, 07:31 PM

Believe either '88 or '89 was the last year you could bring a European car that didn't conform to US specs into the country. I shipped my '82 300D back to the states in 1988--even though I didn't return till 89--in order to beat the deadline.

Those European cars had to be brought up to US specs before customs would release them. Can't recall for certain, but believe I paid about $3,000.00 for shipping and the conversion on my '82.