Tell me about R107 300SL's?
Discussion
Post-1986 cars had some galvanisation, especially to the floor pans, and are rather more sought-after.
However MB never galvanised the bulkhead and drains, which were under-specified and which are a well-known and expensive weakness in the R107. Specialists can inspect this area with an endoscope, everyone else has to pour water down the windscreen and see if any leaks into the footwells. If the vendor doesn't allow this then walk away.
In general R107 values have raced upwards quite sharply, led by dealers selling pristine low-mileage cars for strong money. Owners of higher-mileage or scruffy examples have tried for higher prices too, even though their cars may need many thousands spent on mechanical maintenance and bodywork.
If you are patient and diligent in your search I think you can eventually find a nice car, albeit with higher mileage, for around £15k, but you would need a decent fighting fund and contingency reserve behind you too. But the R107 hides rust well and you could easily get caught out.
However MB never galvanised the bulkhead and drains, which were under-specified and which are a well-known and expensive weakness in the R107. Specialists can inspect this area with an endoscope, everyone else has to pour water down the windscreen and see if any leaks into the footwells. If the vendor doesn't allow this then walk away.
In general R107 values have raced upwards quite sharply, led by dealers selling pristine low-mileage cars for strong money. Owners of higher-mileage or scruffy examples have tried for higher prices too, even though their cars may need many thousands spent on mechanical maintenance and bodywork.
If you are patient and diligent in your search I think you can eventually find a nice car, albeit with higher mileage, for around £15k, but you would need a decent fighting fund and contingency reserve behind you too. But the R107 hides rust well and you could easily get caught out.
I’ve had mine for nearly seven years, in the family 24 years. Great cars, in no way a sports car.....
Never believe anyone who says they have a rust free one, unless it’s done single figure miles they don’t exist! As has been said bulk head, bulk head. Open one up & you will not believe your eyes, not an ounce of rust protection!
Water in the grills trick is good to a point, but it only means the channels aren’t blocked & the gullies intact, round the heater could be an entirely different issue.
Never believe anyone who says they have a rust free one, unless it’s done single figure miles they don’t exist! As has been said bulk head, bulk head. Open one up & you will not believe your eyes, not an ounce of rust protection!
Water in the grills trick is good to a point, but it only means the channels aren’t blocked & the gullies intact, round the heater could be an entirely different issue.
I quite like the look of this one...
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-300SL/2326073308...
This purchase would be a gift for my brother, but, a gift requiring £1000’s spent on it, wouldn’t be much of a gift at all, would it
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercedes-300SL/2326073308...
This purchase would be a gift for my brother, but, a gift requiring £1000’s spent on it, wouldn’t be much of a gift at all, would it
It would be a tremendously generous gift! Lucky brother.
Probably the best regarded R107 mechanic in the country is a guy named Steve Griffin (aka Merctec) who doesn't advertise (because he doesn't need to) and who works south of Redditch, so not too far away. Paying three hours of his time to inspect the car would be very wise IMO.
Probably the best regarded R107 mechanic in the country is a guy named Steve Griffin (aka Merctec) who doesn't advertise (because he doesn't need to) and who works south of Redditch, so not too far away. Paying three hours of his time to inspect the car would be very wise IMO.
I bought one for my wife last February.
Private purchase - I gave 19k and then spent £3.5k with these guys as recommended on these forums: -
https://www.colinferns.com/
Fixed a variety of problems including replacing a load of wiring that a pesky mouse had chewed through. Mine is relatively low mileage (90k) but has had 12 owners (last two cover a nine year gap though) so will never appreciate that much but I am quite confident I could get exactly what I have invested in it. In response to Acme mine is indeed rust free! I must have looked at about 20 of them and this was the only one that had none.
They are super cool cars, your brother is a lucky man!
Private purchase - I gave 19k and then spent £3.5k with these guys as recommended on these forums: -
https://www.colinferns.com/
Fixed a variety of problems including replacing a load of wiring that a pesky mouse had chewed through. Mine is relatively low mileage (90k) but has had 12 owners (last two cover a nine year gap though) so will never appreciate that much but I am quite confident I could get exactly what I have invested in it. In response to Acme mine is indeed rust free! I must have looked at about 20 of them and this was the only one that had none.
They are super cool cars, your brother is a lucky man!
Edited by petjam on Tuesday 2nd January 16:14
petjam said:
I bought one for my wife last February.
Private purchase - I gave 19k and then spent £3.5k with these guys as recommended on these forums: -
https://www.colinferns.com/
In response to Acme mine is indeed rust free! I must have looked at about 20 of them and this was the only one that had none.
Was some of the 3.5k spent on rust? If not I can but assume it had had work on it previously.Private purchase - I gave 19k and then spent £3.5k with these guys as recommended on these forums: -
https://www.colinferns.com/
In response to Acme mine is indeed rust free! I must have looked at about 20 of them and this was the only one that had none.
Edited by petjam on Tuesday 2nd January 16:14
My comment is simply made to help those looking and to warn them too. With mine having been in the family since Jan '94 and with 60k miles I know how it's been looked after, i.e a summer car only, always kept in dry garages and still it has rust. Granted not a lot but once you've washed it & worked on it enough you know it's there.
Lovely cars and an antidote to modern crazy life, on the right summers day it's a genuine pleasure to be driving one
No I bought it rust free. No telling if it had some fixed in the past though, nothing in the huge history folder that I was given.
I agree it is a massive problem on these. It was the only one I viewed which had none, I travelled all over the country looking at them. Typically the one I wound up buying was only 5 miles away from me!
I agree it is a massive problem on these. It was the only one I viewed which had none, I travelled all over the country looking at them. Typically the one I wound up buying was only 5 miles away from me!
petjam said:
No I bought it rust free. No telling if it had some fixed in the past though, nothing in the huge history folder that I was given.
I agree it is a massive problem on these. It was the only one I viewed which had none, I travelled all over the country looking at them. Typically the one I wound up buying was only 5 miles away from me!
That's superb, just 5 milesI agree it is a massive problem on these. It was the only one I viewed which had none, I travelled all over the country looking at them. Typically the one I wound up buying was only 5 miles away from me!
Have to say I was truly shocked when I opened up the heater box to reveal no protection whatsoever. I know they use to call them the 'panzerwagen' in their day but not clearly all! The way water collects on top of the chassis legs via the holes either side of the headlights isn't the best bit of design!
Apologies if you mentioned this before but what spec/colour etc did you get?
Mine's signal red (as they all seem to be!), the only optional extra I can work out is the rear seat.
They are very rewarding cars but, as has been mentioned, can hide some expensive faults.
Steve Griffin - recommended above - is the chap who worked on my C107 (SLC) and I'd endorse him. Be very cautious about some of the 'specialist' SL sellers.
If you haven't seen them, some recent readers rides threads are worth a read and give some useful background and real-world experience:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Steve Griffin - recommended above - is the chap who worked on my C107 (SLC) and I'd endorse him. Be very cautious about some of the 'specialist' SL sellers.
If you haven't seen them, some recent readers rides threads are worth a read and give some useful background and real-world experience:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
acme said:
That's superb, just 5 miles
Have to say I was truly shocked when I opened up the heater box to reveal no protection whatsoever. I know they use to call them the 'panzerwagen' in their day but not clearly all! The way water collects on top of the chassis legs via the holes either side of the headlights isn't the best bit of design!
Apologies if you mentioned this before but what spec/colour etc did you get?
Mine's signal red (as they all seem to be!), the only optional extra I can work out is the rear seat.
Sorry that is the only picture I have on this computer.Have to say I was truly shocked when I opened up the heater box to reveal no protection whatsoever. I know they use to call them the 'panzerwagen' in their day but not clearly all! The way water collects on top of the chassis legs via the holes either side of the headlights isn't the best bit of design!
Apologies if you mentioned this before but what spec/colour etc did you get?
Mine's signal red (as they all seem to be!), the only optional extra I can work out is the rear seat.
It's a kind of gold colour, brown interior with brown roof.
I am not sure what is an option on these (need to decode my VIN) but it has electric windows, air conditioning and electric mirrors. Annoyingly it didn't have the rear seat option (not that anyone could ever sit in it) so I bought an aftermarket from The SL Shop which is a pretty good match.
petjam said:
Sorry that is the only picture I have on this computer.
It's a kind of gold colour, brown interior with brown roof.
I am not sure what is an option on these (need to decode my VIN) but it has electric windows, air conditioning and electric mirrors. Annoyingly it didn't have the rear seat option (not that anyone could ever sit in it) so I bought an aftermarket from The SL Shop which is a pretty good match.
Cracking, very 80'sIt's a kind of gold colour, brown interior with brown roof.
I am not sure what is an option on these (need to decode my VIN) but it has electric windows, air conditioning and electric mirrors. Annoyingly it didn't have the rear seat option (not that anyone could ever sit in it) so I bought an aftermarket from The SL Shop which is a pretty good match.
AC wasn't standard, though not sure how much it cost. Fairly certain electric windows & mirrors were.
As you say the rear seat is pretty useless, it's an odd position, assuming you can even get in there in the first place!
I see you're something of a Merc fan, loving the W123, what is it?
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