Mercedes 500 SL buying tips

[anonymous-user]

I am accompanying a non-petrolhead friend to view a 1980 Mercedes 500 SL this evening (10th May), going along as his token car bloke. I know all of the usual stuff about checking old cars, but are there any particular gotchas on this model? The seller is asking 9K for the car, which is reported to have done 70,000 miles. Thanks for any advice.

[anonymous-user]

PS: a bit of research elsewhere suggests that the main issues are (1) rust, (2) rust, (3) rust, and (4) see 1 to 3. Quel surprise.

[a8hex]

There was an article here a while back about the R107 MBs. I think that had some pointers.

[Yertis]

Breadvan73 said:

PS: a bit of research elsewhere suggests that the main issues are (1) rust, (2) rust, (3) rust, and (4) see 1 to 3. Quel surprise.

And yet reading many of the opinions voiced on here you'd form the impression that rust is an ill affecting only British and Italian cars...

[anonymous-user]

I have a radical theory that rust is something to do with cars being made out of steel, and may have something to do with water, but I'm not sure.

The car looked OK. The mechanicals seemed sound, but I didn't have a magnet with me, and the car might be made of rolled up copies of the Daily Mirror sprayed silver, but I don't think that it is.

[mph]

I seem to recall that the lower part of the front bulkhead is the critical area and corrosion here is very common.

Unfortunately it's difficult if not impossible to access for inspection and hence to repair.

I'm not sure how to check for this as I only remember this information from a chap I knew that restored SL's for a living.

I do know that it's very expensive to repair and difficult to detect.

I'm sure there must be something about this on the web.

[anonymous-user]

The net says that another hard to detect rotbox area is the plenum chamber for the heater. Hey ho, this one seemed solid enough, but hard to say. The Merc V8 is a pretty might unit, I must say.

[a8hex]

Yertis said:

And yet reading many of the opinions voiced on here you'd form the impression that rust is an ill affecting only British and Italian cars...

You should try an early noughties MB
Still they come with a 30year body work guarantee and since they've contracted out all their body work work the repair companies are only too happy to swap panels regularly for you.

[vpr]

At the rear of the engine bay there is a black plate attached with about 6/8 screws. Remove it and you can see the plenum chamber.

It will almost certainly be rotten.......how rotten is the big question. Very difficult to repair as it'll be engine out.

Boots floor corners rot as do the front of the front wing and rear arches...behind the rubber strips down both sides and front of floors. etc etc.

Oh and in the hood well and around the edge

[P2 DJX]

If I was selling a 21 Yr Old Car and you pulled a magnet from your pocket Id tell you the car was no longer for sale. What are you expecting ? Its bound to have had a repair somewhere along the line at that time and your 'magnet' wont exactly give you a detailed report.

[anonymous-user]

There is a difference between a car which has had a few repairs and one that is made out of crisp packets. Would you also object to a potential buyer using a screwdriver gently to prod known flaky pastry trouble spots?

[vixen1700]

I'd go to these people if I was looking at getting a W107:

http://www.theslshop.com/Website/WebSummary-39-Web...

Decent prices and warranties, eliminating a lot of risk.

Personally I'd love one.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks, my friend has bought the car, so he is no longer a non petrolhead. I have obtained hooning rights in the vehicle.

Edited by Breadvan73 on Wednesday 11th May 17:53

[urquattro]

Breadvan73 said:

Thanks, my friend has bought the car, so he is no longer a non petrolhead. I have obtained hooning rights in the vehicle.

Edited by Breadvan73 on Wednesday 11th May 17:53

So you may converted from Interceptor 2, ?? or have you p/exchanged it for a diesel fiesta 2 door?
Sad days, Interceptor went to good home and S500 went today - also looking for a fiesta diesel 2 door !

[anonymous-user]

No, I still drive the Interceptor most days, when not driving my Europa.