Oppoinons Craigslist Find

"JR1" (type35bugatti)
08/28/2014 at 09:31 • Filed to: Mercedes SL

The Mercedes 380SL. I think behind the G wagon this is the longest running member of the Mercedes lineup. I have seen a few of them on Craigslist and they just seem to be so cheap for an awesome gran touring classy piece of German engineering. I am wondering if they are cheap because they are a nightmare to repair or just at the bottom of deprecation curve. I am finding ones from 4k to 20k. A lot hover around 6800 like this peach of a SL here. What do y'all think?

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DISCUSSION (39)

jkm7680 > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:33

There really seems to be tons of them out there, leading me to think that parts will be readily available and probably won't cost that much at all.

But that black one looks incredibly fucking clean, the interior looks pretty great also.

Nibby > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:34

560SL or bust

JR1 > jkm7680
08/28/2014 at 09:35

I think they are just flooded all over the market because of the 17 year lifespan. Because of that though it is kinda the most iconic SL.

Yes this one is drop dead gorgeous. Very tempting

505Turbeaux > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:37

all R109 SL's are between 2 grand to 20. Just the way it is. Like any older gasoline benz, the bigger the motor, the better, but the 380 isn't bad by any means. Just watch out for hidden rust. Cars are gorgeous to drive and you have to love the "third seat"

JR1 > Nibby
08/28/2014 at 09:38

But I could potentially buy a 380sl in the next few years 560sl not so much

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:38

Yes, this is on my shortlist as my second vehicle. I love the fact that it comes with hard and soft top. They are nicely priced. From what I understand they are also built like TANKS.

I haven't delved into what's more and less desirable engine and transmission wise. But I am always interested on a post about this particular Merc. I've posted a few NPOCP's of this myself.

edit: loving the wood in the dash of this one.

JR1 > 505Turbeaux
08/28/2014 at 09:39

The older German cars tend to be more reliable correct? And "third seat"??

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 09:41

The steering wheel as well in wood is perfect. Besides some classic 60s cars for a grand touring cruiser this is one of the most beautiful

TheChafing > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:43

I say go for it. It occurred to me while I was looking at the ad that it'd be a blast to fly to Florida, buy that, and then drive it back to where I live, in Texas.

Especially given that it's a convertible, the fact that it doesn't have a bazillion horsepower doesn't seem overly important, to me. There's only so fast you're going to be driving it anyway.

Nibby > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:43

http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/461205… http://sarasota.craigslist.org/cto/4626864638…

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > jkm7680
08/28/2014 at 09:45

I have to say though, here in Michigan they don't seem that popular, I suppose they sold better in other markets.

JR1 > TheChafing
08/28/2014 at 09:46

My grandparents also have a house down there which is usually why I like to look at Florida Craigslist and then yes I agree the roadtrip back would be loads of fun.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > 505Turbeaux
08/28/2014 at 09:47

I just saw a 450SL with a "rare factory ordered AMG motor" is this a thing?

http://battlecreek.craigslist.org/cto/4626321050…

JR1 > Nibby
08/28/2014 at 09:47

I guess it isn't THAT much of a difference. And is it just me or is the single headlight prettier than the dual?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > TheChafing
08/28/2014 at 09:54

That'd be so much fun. I unfortunately will be in Florida in December, not so much a good idea to drive one up to Michigan that time of year, although it could be done...

505Turbeaux > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:55

Kinja'd!!!

only good for one person sitting sideways :)

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:55

Yeah, I think when I buy one I'll drive it up to Michigan from somewhere south, makes for a good story :D

Party-vi > JR1
08/28/2014 at 09:55

That's a nice looking R107 with the European lights (not legal in the US at the time of production) but it's an American car. Stock it would have had quad headlights (sealed beams) and those 8" safety bumpers are terrible looking.

R107s have a wide value range, from around $5k for high-mileage examples (of which there are lots) to $25k for a clean 560SL. They were well built and had some pretty good rustproofing measures taken at the factory, but still had issues. The V8 engine in the 560SL had notorious oil leaks, the evaporator core drains would plug, leading to a rotted floor pan, and on the 380SL the V8 engine (they were all V8 engines except the 280SL and 300SL) had a single-row timing chain from 1981 to about 1984, which was terrible. Mercedes even took early 380SLs and replaced the single-row chain with a double-row chain if you complained about it enough. The 380SL wheezed out 155hp and was mated to a 4-spd automatic (all R107s in the US were automatics if I recall correctly). This doesn't mean a 1981-1984 380SL is bad, just that you need to do a timing chain replacement at 50,000 mile intervals as opposed to 100,000 mile intervals. The transmissions rarely gave anyone trouble.

R107s with value would be early production models without the US bumpers (pre-1974) 350SL/450SLs or later 1986+ 560SLs. The 380SL was the only model from 1981 to 1985, but is still plenty nice. A car for sale should have the convertible top and hard top it came with. The 560SL was the most powerful SL you could legally get in the US unless you imported a 500SL which is rare here. Expect to pay from $7,500 to $12,500 for a decent low mileage 380SL (less than 100,000 miles) and $10,000 to $20,000 for a low mileage 560SL. You should jump on any 280SL, 420SL or 500SL you see because they were more than likely grey-market imports (the reason Mercedes lobbied Congress to past the Motor Vehicle Safety Compliance Act).

R107s with no (or little) real value would be high-mileage examples (a lot of these cars push over 200,000 miles!), and essentially anything from 1978 until 1984, where the climate control in the 350SL/450SL sucked and the 380SL had the single-row timing chain. They aren't bad cars though - you can pick up a high-mileage 380SL in decent condition for $5,000 and have a proper German luxury coupe.

Party-vi > Nibby
08/28/2014 at 09:56

*500SL

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 10:04

Let us not forget you're likely to find a better car from the south anyway

JR1 > Party-vi
08/28/2014 at 10:08

I had heard about the timing chain issue and I had also heard most had been fixed under warranty back in the day. It is too bad the lights had to be different in the US because the euro spec lights are far better IMO. I am not sure if the car would get the adrenaline pumping but I would bet the car could make you smile.

Party-vi > JR1
08/28/2014 at 10:11

My fiancee's dad has a 1985 380SL with abou 76k miles. It's a gorgeous gray/brown color. Very nice and solid car. He's looking to sell for about $7k. They are great cars.

Slave2anMG > JR1
08/28/2014 at 10:14

Plus...the Euro spec lights were WAY better as lights than the lousy quad sealed beams. Those were truly awful lights...and every US car from any manufacturer had them long after the Europeans were running vastly better halogen non sealed beams.

JR1 > Slave2anMG
08/28/2014 at 10:17

I wonder if you can buy them aftermarket? I am sure you can

Slave2anMG > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 10:24

Built like tanks, yep. From the time when Mercedes Benz built their cars to a standard and not to a price point.

Slave2anMG > JR1
08/28/2014 at 10:26

Which ones? The Euro lights or the OEM US stuff?

JR1 > Slave2anMG
08/28/2014 at 10:31

Euro

Slave2anMG > JR1
08/28/2014 at 10:33

I would presume used, yeah. First place I'd try are the Mercedes forums...

Sean > JR1
08/28/2014 at 11:47

How difficult is it to switch out for Euro spec bumpers?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 12:43

Yep! Although i bet a lot up here are summer cars, so I am not too concerned in most cases. There'd be obvious signs.

Check out this Japanese Market 560SL, see the subtle spoiler? JDM as fuck yo, but really, I do think it looks quite neat. I think it may look really nice on a grey/silver SL. Also they get the nicer bumpers we don't get (stock).

Kinja'd!!!

JR1 > Sean
08/28/2014 at 13:27

No idea I am not Mercedes expert

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 13:31

I just wish the spoiler didn't look like it was rubber. Same with the bumpers. It looks a little cheap. But I like the look if it was nicer material

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 13:37

I think on this white car it'd look a lot better in white ( the spoiler).

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 13:40

I agree. I like that the fenders don't have the tacky chrome

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 13:56

Yeah, can't stand the chrome fenders.

I've been thinking though, if all the other chrome were matte black along with that spoiler it could really be an interesting JDM look.

Nibby > Party-vi
08/28/2014 at 18:11

No, 560.

Nibby > JR1
08/28/2014 at 18:11

Much nicer.

JR1 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
08/28/2014 at 19:19

True but when I get a German GT I don't want JDM look. I would get an RX-7 if I wanted that.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JR1
08/28/2014 at 21:44

I dunno, it's kinda cool to get different cultural influences on uncommon-to-that-culture cars. Mustangs in Japan somehow have a different look to them too. I just like what a fresh set of eyes can do with a car rather then the typical American or German that has been around said-car for years and does what they grew up with.