Mercedes SL/SLC late 70's - early 80's

[patmahe]

Hi All,

I'll admit upfront I know nothing about these cars other than I really like the look and the price of them. Anyone know much about them or where to start researching them. Are they a nightmare in terms of costs/rust/reliability or are they built like a benz (when that actually meant something)?



I've never owned a classic, would this be a very ambitious place to start??

Thanks,

Pat

P.S I am also open to alternatives so please suggest something else if you think its a better car.

[Yertis]

Haven't owned one, yet. I've been getting 'into' these this year, but have decided to stick with what I know, I love old Quattros too much...

There's quite a lot of info out there on the web, rust the main problem with earlier cars it seems, addressed in the mid-80s. Prices - for the SL - shooting up by the looks of it. SLC prices still low but it isn't as cool IMO.

[the pips]

I've the very proud owner of a 1985 500SL. The germans obviously did have a sense of humour as the dashboard sports an economy gauge! It's a superb long distance tourer, cruising effortless at whatever speed you wish. The 500 is a pretty quick motor and takes a lot of people by surprise.
The R107 does rust, and can be very difficult to repair. Good ones are expensive but like any classic you can end up spending a lot more bringing a poor car up to a good standard. The coupe (SLC) is much more affordable than the convertible but I think is seriously under-rated.

Have you got a particular car in mind?

Regards
Doug

[Throttle Body]

I think that these cars have a lot going for them: pretty looks, a really good hard-top making it a year-round proposition, quality engineering, a good spread of engines. As someone else has said, rustproofing was improved at some point in the mid to late 80s, so a later car is more likely to be free of rust.

I'm very tempted. Prices have gone up quite a bit, and will probably continue to rise, but perhaps too many were built to make them really valuable.

I have to say that later SLs from the 90s and naughties leave me cold.

[a8hex]

I like these too, Lady B8 is a Mercedes girl and if we didn't have kids to haul around I think there would be one of these sitting in the garage next to the XK.

There have been some good posts here about what to look for in an R107. If you want a really pampered one try chatting to your local MB main dealer, some of these still come home to Mercedes for their regular servicing and these occasionally come on the market. Talking with the local sales guy earlier this year he'd had one in a while earlier which he'd sold new and they'd had back to service all its life and the owner had sadly had to stop driving and it had come back to the original dealer. I don't suppose this is the cheapest way to buy one though.

I think Classic and Sports Car had an article on buying R107s a couple of months back.
I'm sure someone here said the last few years of production got galvanised bodies with helps, not necessarily eliminates, with the rust.
If they've not been looked after the suspension can be rather wayward.

[lowdrag]

If I was buying I wouldn't go for the old iron-block 350 or 450SLC, but the later alloy block 380 and 500SLC. Far better engine. Several clients had them and I've always loved that louvred interior on the rear windows.

And I just love this one in petrol ble - I had the roadster in the day.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C307316

[5.0ltr]

Post 86 they are galvanized. 107c are cheaper and give more legroom, 107 come with the roof off option and command more of a premium. Early engines, 350/380 are thirsty. As always buy on condition and push yourself money wise as a cheap one can get you into serious money sometimes.

[braddo]

lowdrag said:

If I was buying I wouldn't go for the old iron-block 350 or 450SLC, but the later alloy block 380 and 500SLC. Far better engine. Several clients had them and I've always loved that louvred interior on the rear windows.

And I just love this one in petrol ble - I had the roadster in the day.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C307316

Had to chuckle at what I assume is the bored girlfriend in the background while the pictures are taken:

[jackpe]

As mentioned go for one of the later alloy engined cars. The post facelift (86) cars are more sought after. They all rust in difficult to reach places as well. Dont be swayed by the plethora of 4-7K cars, all the ones I saw at that price were dogs. A PPI from a professional R107 man is a MUST. These cars can look fine if you don't know their quirks. Very comfortable but utterly uninspiring to drive. Which is why I eventually sold my 380SL. VERY expensive to fix rust and you will struggle to find one without. they are so cheap that lots of people have not looked after them. Also be wary of fuel economy. My 380 was better than the iron block engines and had a 4 speed auto instead of the early car's 3 but still struggled to hit 18mpg at a constant 60mph. Town driving would bring 12 MPG and under. I think overall the best bet would be a post 86 300SL. Rear seats are coveted extras. Good luck but don't be temped by a cheap car. You will regret it. Unless you're very lucky you need to budget at least £9K++++

[Yertis]

jackpe said:

Sobering stuff...

Thanks for that dose of reality.

[Hugo a Gogo]

just got rid of my 500SLC earlier this year

450 5.0 (with 3 speed auto) and the 500SLC (4 speed) both have that alloy motor (and alloy boot and bonnet), they aren't common though, and are LHD only I believe

only 1100 or so of each built, the 450 in 79, 500 in 80 - less than the 300SL Gullwing - but there seem to be a high percentage of survivors. very good 500SLCs go for 20,000 euro plus

all of the early 107s, rust, rust and again rust - look for it everywhere, sills, front and rear quarters, next to the bootlid - as with many cars buy the best you can afford. wings and front bodywork are the same as the roadster so easily replaceable

those louvre things on the side windows, if they are flaking inside it is a MASSIVE job to pull them out and repair them, removing almost the whole interior

edit: if you really want a good one, "MB Young Classics" will sell you a factory refreshed one, guy at the end of my road has one, I daren't think how much it would be though

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Wednesday 26th September 13:08

[na]

from the very, very little I know of them, cruisers and for posing in (perhaps) if that's your thing, no doubt you could get your golf bag in the boot(?) if that’s your thing

are some of these the ones that are a semi-permanent (closed car) hard top fitting, i.e. two man plus lift to get the hardtop on and off plus plenty of time(?)

[Hugo a Gogo]

^don't listen to him

[chris182]

the pips said:

The germans obviously did have a sense of humour as the dashboard sports an economy gauge!

I've got one of them on my 560SEC. It goes from really bad to really fking terrible

OT: They are built like a proper Benz, just watch out for rust (main issue). Mechanicals should be solid, although when there are problems Mercedes parts can be somewhat pricy. Also as mentioned, the fuel economy is not good (if you're bothered by that).

[Hugo a Gogo]

economy gauge is just a vacuum gauge as far as I could tell, WOT means it swings into the red

some parts may be pricey, but at least you know EVERY part is available, Mercedes support for their old stuff is great, compared to Audi for example

[vixen1700]

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

This place always has a nice stock of W107s and they seem to know their stuff.

[na]

^ that's your average road going s/h example is it

in its usual owner style of driving

as I put I know very, very little about them, perhaps I understated how little but I've done a few tours and day runs with a few different examples and owner/drivers none like that photo

nothing wrong with golf or posing if that’s what you like, harmless enough

ETA: I had to add photo to this post as I was so slow others posted in between

Edited by na on Wednesday 26th September 13:26

[Hugo a Gogo]

you are right of course, they are not really 'sports cars'

[na]

chris182 said:

although when there are problems Mercedes parts can be somewhat pricy

the place in Rushden would probably have plenty of s/h parts (the name escapes me at the moment)

[Hugo a Gogo]

vixen1700 said:

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

This place always has a nice stock of W107s and they seem to know their stuff.

R107 roadsters and C107 coupes
W is a four door saloon in MB-language