1988 420SL Mercedes
Discussion
Time for a thread about my most recent purchase, since I sold the pagoda end of last summer.
I spotted the advert late at night just after the advert went live. It looked almost too good to be true but I called first thing and got the first viewing slot.
Was an older lady selling it due to lack of use. 420 V8, 119k White and blue mbtex. It has had more spent on bodywork at a very reputable body shop since 05 than I paid for the car. Bodily it is in fantastic condition. Needed brakes and a service though.
She had owned it since 1998, when she bought it from an MB dealer with a warranty. She was a bit emotional when I reversed it out her drive to leave.
I had to sit for 4 hours in her kitchen whilst RBS made a total arse of my transfer of money to get to her and in that time at least half a dozen folk called about it! She had organised a second viewer who arrived with the cash; he offered me £500 over what I had just given her but by that point I had already paid her.
I then put it into my trusted specialist and £1300 later it is in good health. Needed two new calipers and discs and pads as it had been standing, and only done 130 miles since she spent £1350 on it in March 14. MOTd as well. Classic insurance was £220 for the year for me + wife, both 31. Amazing!
Using it daily now to see if it breaks before holiday to south of France in June/ July. Never thought I would own a white car but it definitely suits it.
I spotted the advert late at night just after the advert went live. It looked almost too good to be true but I called first thing and got the first viewing slot.
Was an older lady selling it due to lack of use. 420 V8, 119k White and blue mbtex. It has had more spent on bodywork at a very reputable body shop since 05 than I paid for the car. Bodily it is in fantastic condition. Needed brakes and a service though.
She had owned it since 1998, when she bought it from an MB dealer with a warranty. She was a bit emotional when I reversed it out her drive to leave.
I had to sit for 4 hours in her kitchen whilst RBS made a total arse of my transfer of money to get to her and in that time at least half a dozen folk called about it! She had organised a second viewer who arrived with the cash; he offered me £500 over what I had just given her but by that point I had already paid her.
I then put it into my trusted specialist and £1300 later it is in good health. Needed two new calipers and discs and pads as it had been standing, and only done 130 miles since she spent £1350 on it in March 14. MOTd as well. Classic insurance was £220 for the year for me + wife, both 31. Amazing!
Using it daily now to see if it breaks before holiday to south of France in June/ July. Never thought I would own a white car but it definitely suits it.
That's beautiful.
These have always suited white - as does the W116 S Class. I think it is all the chrome and slender lines they have. The W123 looks pretty in white too.
I'm not sure the W126 works in white - and the W124 definitely doesn't suit it, in my view. They're much heavier looking cars though. It's a LOT of white.
These have always suited white - as does the W116 S Class. I think it is all the chrome and slender lines they have. The W123 looks pretty in white too.
I'm not sure the W126 works in white - and the W124 definitely doesn't suit it, in my view. They're much heavier looking cars though. It's a LOT of white.
Thank you for the comments. Like I said I would never have thought I'd own a white car but this screams 80s in the same way a 911 turbo of this age should be red too.
Now that I've had the pagoda, 107 and still have the 129 I think this is the perfect combo of classic-ness and usability. It's amazing though the advances that manufacturers were making with each new model, the 129 feels like a modern car compared to this. It also feels about as sporty (not very then
)
Now that I've had the pagoda, 107 and still have the 129 I think this is the perfect combo of classic-ness and usability. It's amazing though the advances that manufacturers were making with each new model, the 129 feels like a modern car compared to this. It also feels about as sporty (not very then
) Exactly what I've been doing today. Took the hardtop off for the first time and it looks like it hasn't been off in years. The soft top has seen better days so going to book it in for a new one this week, fortunately there is a company that is good near home. Will make it look like a new car so worth the £500.
When you have time, would you mind posting a comparison between the r107 and your old w113?
I have a 300sl and have always wondered what it is like compared to a pagoda.
When it came to it, I couldn't justify the premium for a pagoda (I remember looking at them when 25k got a good one)! I am now totally in love with my r107.
I have a 300sl and have always wondered what it is like compared to a pagoda.
When it came to it, I couldn't justify the premium for a pagoda (I remember looking at them when 25k got a good one)! I am now totally in love with my r107.
Short version would be don't bother; they look and feel amazing but the 107 is a much better all round car for a fraction of the cost. Pagoda looks better but not by the same cost ratio.
I no longer look at pagodas as longingly now I have the 107, put it that way. I'd have another but it would be part of the dream (I.e lottery) garage. Also, the profit I made on the 113 paid for the 107 so it was essentially free
I no longer look at pagodas as longingly now I have the 107, put it that way. I'd have another but it would be part of the dream (I.e lottery) garage. Also, the profit I made on the 113 paid for the 107 so it was essentially free
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Once upon a time I would have thought this was the worst thing in the world.
Now I think, hmmm, I could fancy a bit of that.
Time, it changes everything
Lovely motor!
You and me both. 10 years ago when I bought my Exige, I would never have expected to be buying the cars I have now! Now I think, hmmm, I could fancy a bit of that.
Time, it changes everything
Lovely motor!
Update since my last post.
Had a bit of a rough idle so spent a bit of cash on replacing the distributor cap and arm whilst the garage had it to do some paintwork. Didn't fully cure it so I DIYd the plugs, leads and coil pack which has cured the issues.
Also got a new blue roof fitted as the old one was crispy and had seen better days (it also seemed like it had shrunk as it didn't close) and the car is looking mint now.
Done just over 1100 miles in the last few days and currently in the south of France. The only time when it threatened to stop play was on the euro tunnel as it wouldn't start when we arrived. That was not fun I can tell you! Quick wiggle of some wires and it's been fine since. hugely helpful PHer lent me his rear windbreaker which made the motorway bits doable at 80-85mph with the roof down. Thanks idiotgap for that!
Looks a bit grimy in above after the long slog.
New roof. Didn't like the guy that fitted it but seems a good job. One of the parts of the mechanism snapped the first time I used it after he'd fitted it but it may have been age as much as anything. Fixed it myself with a bit of drilling and eBay joints rather than go back.
Had a bit of a rough idle so spent a bit of cash on replacing the distributor cap and arm whilst the garage had it to do some paintwork. Didn't fully cure it so I DIYd the plugs, leads and coil pack which has cured the issues.
Also got a new blue roof fitted as the old one was crispy and had seen better days (it also seemed like it had shrunk as it didn't close) and the car is looking mint now.
Done just over 1100 miles in the last few days and currently in the south of France. The only time when it threatened to stop play was on the euro tunnel as it wouldn't start when we arrived. That was not fun I can tell you! Quick wiggle of some wires and it's been fine since. hugely helpful PHer lent me his rear windbreaker which made the motorway bits doable at 80-85mph with the roof down. Thanks idiotgap for that!
Looks a bit grimy in above after the long slog.
New roof. Didn't like the guy that fitted it but seems a good job. One of the parts of the mechanism snapped the first time I used it after he'd fitted it but it may have been age as much as anything. Fixed it myself with a bit of drilling and eBay joints rather than go back.
We are on the return leg now, 2,200 miles done.
Car has been ideal and great for cruising around. Even in the high temps of Tuscany and sitting in a massive tailback on the motorway between Italy and Nice it idled fine and really has been great sitting roof down at 80mph on the autoroutes. Incredible in a car nearly 30 years old.
Will be tough to part with it when we get back!
Car has been ideal and great for cruising around. Even in the high temps of Tuscany and sitting in a massive tailback on the motorway between Italy and Nice it idled fine and really has been great sitting roof down at 80mph on the autoroutes. Incredible in a car nearly 30 years old.
Will be tough to part with it when we get back!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff