Discussion
I have always had a bit of thing for this style of Merc, I know nothing at all about them, are they any good? Are they an absolute costly rot box nightmare?
Is there a good online SL resource ?
I would be using it daily and storing outside, is this just crazy talk ?
Also there seems to be a MASSIVE difference in price for cars that look similar, some seem to be £20k some £50K ???
Edited by nikaiyo2 on Tuesday 5th December 12:59
nikaiyo2 said:
I would be using it daily and storing outside, is this just crazy talk ?
Also there seems to be a MASSIVE difference in price for cars that look similar, some seem to be £20k some £50K ???
Edited by nikaiyo2 on Tuesday 5th December 12:59
As you are probably aware they are a cruiser rather than a sports car and I expect you'll find that various things are engine-vacuum powered rather than using electricity. Merc will probably still supply some parts, but they will be ££££££££££££.
Also, have a watch of this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIuHE27eCPU
I wouldn't want to run any car that age as a daily and keep it outdoors!
I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
Mr Tidy said:
I wouldn't want to run any car that age as a daily and keep it outdoors!
I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
I've ran cars from the 60s as daily drivers in all conditions. Volvos and Saabs in particular had furnace like heaters and even old Beetles with solid floorpans had toastie winter heat. A good one lf these mercs preventatively maintained will be a brilliant daily in my opinion. Hardtop option bolted on winter time! I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
biggbn said:
Mr Tidy said:
I wouldn't want to run any car that age as a daily and keep it outdoors!
I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
I've ran cars from the 60s as daily drivers in all conditions. Volvos and Saabs in particular had furnace like heaters and even old Beetles with solid floorpans had toastie winter heat. A good one lf these mercs preventatively maintained will be a brilliant daily in my opinion. Hardtop option bolted on winter time! I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
The caveats are can you cope (emotionally and financially) with deterioration, you'll either need a good indi or be competent diyer. Plus you'll need a back up plan, parts sometimes take time to source.
PositronicRay said:
biggbn said:
Mr Tidy said:
I wouldn't want to run any car that age as a daily and keep it outdoors!
I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
I've ran cars from the 60s as daily drivers in all conditions. Volvos and Saabs in particular had furnace like heaters and even old Beetles with solid floorpans had toastie winter heat. A good one lf these mercs preventatively maintained will be a brilliant daily in my opinion. Hardtop option bolted on winter time! I like having a daily I know will always work, get me where I'm going and get me back with no issues. But maybe my previous experience with older Mercedes (as in up to 10 years old when I had them) has coloured my view.
The caveats are can you cope (emotionally and financially) with deterioration, you'll either need a good indi or be competent diyer. Plus you'll need a back up plan, parts sometimes take time to source.
I’ve a 88 300SL which has been in the family 30 years next year so might be able to help!
My advice is as ever go in with your eyes wide open. Like all cars they have their intrinsic faults, but I simply adore it, but it’s very much a sunny Sunday car not a daily.
To steal another PH users comment from many years ago you don’t drive a 107 but sail it, sporty they are not!
There are lots of guides but personally I’d join the Merc club, they’re very friendly & the forums great. I think the 107 register captain uses his as a daily so it can be done.
My advice is as ever go in with your eyes wide open. Like all cars they have their intrinsic faults, but I simply adore it, but it’s very much a sunny Sunday car not a daily.
To steal another PH users comment from many years ago you don’t drive a 107 but sail it, sporty they are not!
There are lots of guides but personally I’d join the Merc club, they’re very friendly & the forums great. I think the 107 register captain uses his as a daily so it can be done.
Had one of these some time ago and echo they are not for regular use, regarding different prices there are many cheap ones out there that have been tarted up, usually rusty, leaving a soft top out in all weathers is not good but they should have a hard top too. As above later ones are galvanised but they may have been in an accident and the repairs may not be up to the same standard. The better ones are usually in very good condition with a good service history but you are paying for that.
Merc used to be good for spares parts are flown overnight from Germany by Lufthansa but maybe not so good now. Availability maybe a problem even using the SL shop who are good but what will you do if car is off the road do you have other transport? Parts are expensive.
I loved driving the car (380SL) but I would go for the 5 litre or a 420 I sold mine because it was not being used enough and was getting rusty underneath watch for scuttle shake repairing that is very expensive. I also moved to the country and wanted a G wagen but that is another story.
They were called Pamela’s after jr Ewing tv programme as his wife drove one.
Join the MB club they might be able to put you in contact with an enthusiast who is selling.
Merc used to be good for spares parts are flown overnight from Germany by Lufthansa but maybe not so good now. Availability maybe a problem even using the SL shop who are good but what will you do if car is off the road do you have other transport? Parts are expensive.
I loved driving the car (380SL) but I would go for the 5 litre or a 420 I sold mine because it was not being used enough and was getting rusty underneath watch for scuttle shake repairing that is very expensive. I also moved to the country and wanted a G wagen but that is another story.
They were called Pamela’s after jr Ewing tv programme as his wife drove one.
Join the MB club they might be able to put you in contact with an enthusiast who is selling.
Edited by Mercdriver on Wednesday 6th December 21:04
Try one. A good one. I suspect you'd be surprised at its solidity and ease of use. No car was designed to be garaged. Find a good one, get the underside treated and use it as much as you can. Finding a good one might be the problem though!! Lots or rusty wrecks dressed up. Alternatively the SLC is a rather wonderful old bus with real pedigree and no worries about a leaking soft top.
Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Edited by biggbn on Thursday 7th December 19:57
biggbn said:
Try one. A good one. I suspect you'd be surprised at its solidity and ease of use. No car was designed to be garaged. Find a good one, get the underside treated and use it as much as you can. Finding a good one might be the problem though!! Lots or rusty wrecks dressed up. Alternatively the SLC is a rather wonderful old bus with real pedigree and no worries about a leaking soft top.
Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Haha enabler Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Edited by biggbn on Thursday 7th December 19:57
I would love an SLC, but they seem to be x2 the cost of an SL.
nikaiyo2 said:
biggbn said:
Try one. A good one. I suspect you'd be surprised at its solidity and ease of use. No car was designed to be garaged. Find a good one, get the underside treated and use it as much as you can. Finding a good one might be the problem though!! Lots or rusty wrecks dressed up. Alternatively the SLC is a rather wonderful old bus with real pedigree and no worries about a leaking soft top.
Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Haha enabler Wee link for ya.
https://www.theslshop.com/journal/2019/01/30/is-th...
Edited by biggbn on Thursday 7th December 19:57
I would love an SLC, but they seem to be x2 the cost of an SL.
I have had a 500SL for 15 years. You could use daily without a problem, they are built like tanks. Don't be fooled by the later 'galvanised' models, they all can rust pretty much the same.
Main rust issue is the bulkhead, floor pans and sills. Mechanically they are pretty robust, V8's cam chains stretch and need changing around 100k miles. The straight 6 280 is a rattly, thirsty old engine. If you can live without a V8 the straight six 300SL is probably the one to daily.
All should have a matching hard top for the winter.
Due to the current values, mine is a summer car only now and is garaged all winter. I use a R129 320SL as a daily nowadays which is a better, more modern car for daily use, built better, more safety features and a fair bit cheaper to buy. It is not such a good looker in the classic sense but still very smart.
Join the official Mercedes-Benz Club, lots of help and information over there.
Main rust issue is the bulkhead, floor pans and sills. Mechanically they are pretty robust, V8's cam chains stretch and need changing around 100k miles. The straight 6 280 is a rattly, thirsty old engine. If you can live without a V8 the straight six 300SL is probably the one to daily.
All should have a matching hard top for the winter.
Due to the current values, mine is a summer car only now and is garaged all winter. I use a R129 320SL as a daily nowadays which is a better, more modern car for daily use, built better, more safety features and a fair bit cheaper to buy. It is not such a good looker in the classic sense but still very smart.
Join the official Mercedes-Benz Club, lots of help and information over there.
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