New member and 300SL owner.

[Doobster6]

Hello to you all. I've already enjoyed reading many of the posts here and hope I'll be able to add something to the forum (eventually) instead of just benefitting from it.
I'm a new vintage(?) Mercedes owner as of a couple of weeks ago. In fact it's my first Mercedes of any kind and I bought it for my wife who has always adored the 107 convertibles. I've tended toward Bimmers myself and also have a beautiful '84 533i, but this little 300 is making a convert out of me. I stumbled onto it on eBay and once I saw that it was a 5-spd, I knew I had to check it out. It was supposed to be an '88 and, with only 105k excellently maintained miles, it promised to be a winner. It just returned from my Indie shop where it passed state inspection needing absolutely nothing and, having impressed everyone there, proved I had made a good choice. The previous owner was as wonderful a guy as you'd ever want to meet or do business with and the car reflects it.
Anyway, I think I've got something very special here but am struggling to find just how many 300SL's were ever produced with 5-speeds, anywhere in the world. I know they weren't imported to the US but it seems that they may have never even been built in any significant numbers. I'm currently in contact with the MB vintage site and am awaiting a response as to production quantities (they already sent me an image of the car's build card which shows a Feb. '86 build date). If anyone can provide me any updates or other places to look, I'd be extremely grateful! As soon as I figure out how to attach a picture, I'll update the thread.
Thank!

[Michael K]

Welcome to MercedesShop!

I have one, and yours and one other (owned by a foreign diplomat) are the only other R107 300 SL five speeds that I've heard of in the U.S.

If you gloss over my ramblings, there's some good information (including production numbers) that I copied from others in here...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=166331&highlight=107.041

Best,

Michael

[Doobster6]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for making feel welcome so soon to this forum! I've updated my original message to include a picture of my new baby. I've read through your links once and totally agree with the absolute joy of driving the car. I almost bought a 560sl that lives nearby and am glad I chose this car instead. Not only is it plenty quick and powerful but the stick makes for so much more driving involvement and the car is obviously something quite rare and special. The tragedy is that I've got to keep it in storage until Mother's day when I present it to my wife as a combination MDay/BDay/Graduation gift (she's finishing her Master's). She has always loved the 107's and especially the color blue, so you can imagine my delight at finding this car, and with a stick-shift, since we both drive Audi's with sticks as our 'regular' cars. I would love to be able to drive the 300 now!
Do I read correctly that you and your car are (were once?) in PA? If so, whereabouts and, where could you point me in regards to having it appraised and properly insured? So far, MB-Vintage has not responded with production figures and, based on your threads, I shouldn't hold out much hope. No matter, she is what she is and aren't we both lucky?!?

Thanks again.

[t walgamuth]

Welcome. The 107s with a six and a stick are quite rare here in the states but are probably fairly common in Europe.

I love them and might have one some day.

Tom W

[Michael K]

Ha, you and I have the exact same car AND color combination! I think that's 904 midnight blue over 172 gray (off the top of my head). Wish mine were that clean. Lucky wife and cool husband is all I have to say. Not that my pictures are any good, but if you put up more, think porn star photographer and taken them from behind and full front... from a low angle that accentuates her curvy, long, low slung lines. You don't take them like a sedan's picture; you'll see what I mean.

I live in the DC area. Our SL's birth parents are Germans who moved to York, PA for his job in 1988. They bought the car new before they left Europe and had it shipped (presumably as part of their corporate relocation package) with their stuff.

Geico/Travelers

I drive the piss out of mine... literally like I stole her. We both like it that way. I'm going to Exit 9, NJ tomorrow. 22 MPG nirvana.

Enjoy

[wbain5280]

What engine does that car have?

[Michael K]

M103

107.041 - 300sl (1986 - 1989)

[300SDog]

I guess that's the inline 15* degree slant 6 started in w124 chassis circa '83/84 known as the 300E. Now before everybody starts lickin their chops about 5-spd adaptation - its my understanding this trans will NOT adapt straight across into our earlier 123, 116, 114/115 etc vehicles. First appeared in '84 190d 2.3 16-valve if memory serves me well, probly notso uncommon either.

Strikes me MB *finally* got a clue circa 1984, ceased and desisted from their 10 yr moratorium/boycott of stick shift 5-spds. Many historians will agree with me on this: they went waaaay overboard developing and pushing automatics circa 1970's. Meanwhile has anybody, anybody on this forum ever seen an MB equipped with 5-spd built between the years of 1974 and 1982??

[Tims450SL]

I had a 300SL and it was a blast to drive especially at speed. I loved the racket!