Hey, lurkers, show yourselves! Tell us about yourself & your car. Here are some questions to get you started:

Who's reading this?

Are you an owner, parts/service supplier, or a professional restorer?

What do you do when you're not driving or working on a nice car?

What state/country do you live in?

If you own an SL, which model/year do you have? Any interesting options/extras? Does your car have any modifications you'd like to tell us about? How many SLs have you owned in the past?

What other cars do you own?

What 3 other cars do you WISH you owned?

How do you use your car: Weekends only or daily? Racing? Concours competition? Road trips?

In response to your posting:
I have a 1975 450SL with most of its original equipment. I needs some work, but I am working on it little by little. The most expensive thing I have done to it is have the new rag top done from scratch. Next, I want to see what the heck is a noise I am hearing in the engine. I live in NM and there are not that many places to take the car where I live. The closest MB dealer is in Albuquerque about 140 miles from here. So since April 2002 my baby has been in the garage.

I just stumbled on to this site tonight, looks promising.

My name is Dan, from Cincinnati, I've got a 380 slc. After a spirited drive, I came away convinced that the only thing that would make this car better is about 100 more horsepower, Ha.

Anyway, I must say I see a lot of potential, but the aftermarket is bare, any of you all have ideas or places that I ought take a peek at? Anyhoo, its nice to see a slick site like this, this car needs community.

well, onto the questions

Ive owned the car for a couple years, its not driven very much, but when it is its a blast. Its my first experience with an sl, and ill say its a good one. Its got 83kmi on it, with euro lights, but those cursed bumpers! (if they ruin the lines on an sl, just think about the slc's), a dual row chain, and an exhaust leak.

Lets see, what else have I got, an 88 300zx 2+2,and a contour svt (great daly driver).

Car i want to own include but are not limited to a jag xjs, a 450slc 5.0, and a late c4 vette, those are the ones that im always actually looking for.

"I" have a 1987 560SL with a little less than 67k miles. This is my wife's "baby" and her daily driver. It is in near new condition, especially after about $3k in front end/engine and subframe mounts/shock replacement recently. She is metallic wine red (the car, not my wife) with a palomino interior. The only cosmetic "flaws" are a slightly worn window lift switch on the console and a small tear on the driver side door cover. It is a great car for open air driving here around the island of Oahu.

I drive a 1999 Audi A6 Quattro and also (occasionally) my 1997 Harley-Davidson FXSTSB Bad Boy. I am looking for a clean, low mileage 1998 Audi Cabriolet to add to the collection

Next!

Papageno in Sunny Honolulu

Another new first time MB owner here as well. I have 73 450SL that I bought last week. I just happened onto the site doing generalized searches for SL info. My car is dark blue with a tan interior. Does anyone know what Mercedes called their dark blue in 73? Thanks

I have a silver/blue 1972 350SL. It has navy tex interior. I've had it for almost 20 years. In the last three or four years, I've done a total cosmetic restoration. Car was completely dismantled and stripped down to the bar metal. Replaced the entire interior except for the gauge cluster and the steering wheel. The car is drop dead gorgeous.

I've enjoyed the site as I educate myself about 107's, and I now have one! It's my first Benz, a 1989 560SL--anthracite over cream beige. I'll be spending the next several months figuring out what little tweaks it needs and doing them/having them done.

Otherwise, I'm a family practice doc in Grand Rapids, MI. Our others are my wife's Olds Aurora, my daughter's '99 Jetta, and my Saab 9-5 wagon--which goes off lease this spring, leaving the Benz to work for its living in the warm months. As for the "someday maybe" car--perhaps a Pagoda, but we've got our one and only to get through college first!

Craig Bethune

I have a 1977 450SL in great shape. This is my second SL. I been fixing various odds and ends, and have learned a lot in the process. I hope to share this information with other SL owners so they my save themselves many headaches and highly inflated repair bills.

Best Wishes to all.

GeorgeR.

Greetings from a self-confessed car freak in Vancouver, Canada. I have a midnight blue 85 380SL that I purchased, restored, and lightly customized in L.A., then imported up here in 1998. When I say restored, I mean virtually every wear and cosmetic item outside of the engine block was replaced (you name it - timing chain, fuel distributor/pressure regulator/pump/injectors, radiator, master cylinder, bumperettes, door mouldings, trunk carpet, etc., etc.) as well as new paint and soft top. The restoration process took place over nine months. I did none of the work myself - all decisions were made over the phone (up to 5 or 6 phone calls a day) and my best buddy that lives in down there did all the coordination and legwork. I also say best buddy because he got all the the parts wholesale - there's no way I could have afforded it otherwise (no silver spoon guy here). Customization included an 8 speaker CD stereo with amp mounted in the side of the trunk, 560SL front spoiler, 3rd brake light on trunk (a slim line one mounted close to the rear window - not the chubby one you see near the back of the trunk on 560SLs), newer style slotted Mercedes mags, wooden Nardi steering wheel, and burl walnut shift knob.

Even though I'm not mechanically proficient, I am known by all as the "detailer from hell" as I tend to be out polishing something or other on the car every weekend (as well as giving it a weekly wash regardless of the elements).

The car was purchased with 72,300 miles, and is now a daily driver with 87,500 miles. The original owner is a psychiatrist - maybe I should have had my head examined after going through all of this........but the ends did justify the means.

hi im stephen from derby in the UK im new to the site (was directed here from [URL=http://www.mercedes113.com) i have a 280sl 1984 which has been in the family since it was 2 years old and now in need of a little work as it was standing for a while and is now used every day most of the mechanics are now done and i can start on the body work which isnt much (thank god) so if any1 knows a good panel supplier that dosent see you comming it would be helpfull, also i can not find the handbook and would like to know the tyre pressures for 195/70 r14 91h ? front and rear it would be helpfull also the hard top is stuck in the latch at the back is there an easy way to get it free as this summer i plan to have the roof
anyway hello to all and happy new year

[This message was edited by Mulgrew on Jan 09 03 at 09:06 PM.]

Last year I purchased an '85 380 SL in anthracite grey with grey interior, and am really enjoying the car and learning what I can about 107's. Years ago I had an XK-140 that I sold off... and yes, I do sometimes kick myself for having done so. But, that's past and the 107's are a real treat.

Walt

[This message was edited by waltere on Feb 28 03 at 11:53 AM.]

As you can see from my earlier post I am a new Benz owner having picked up my 450 slc on Friday.I sold my BMW 3.0 cs to get the 450. My daily driver is an audi allroad which suits alot of the tougher driving conditions here in oz. My 450 is a very original euro style model with the steel hubcap wheels. It is very pretty and i will take some photos soon.

Other cars I would like to own are a dino Ferrari or any Ferrari, a mark 2 Jag, E type, and Porsche 911. I sold my BMW 3.0 cs to get the 450.

Looking forward to learning on the board and contributing when I can.

Hi folks,

I am Jimi and I live in So. Florida. I have a 380sl and have had it a while. I arrived at an Sl after stops at M G's, Porsches (of which I still have one) and an E-type. I had never really appreciated Mercedes products as I thought that they best fit ladies and older gentlemen. Perhaps I still feel that way except that I have aged enough to qualify (feeble attempt at humor). I do love the lines of the 107's though. I wish that I had known about the power difference between a 560 and 380 prior to purchase but satisfied none the less. For some reason I liked the 190sl but was not a fan of the 230-280, love our cars but not a fan of the body style that followed. I do love the latest model however.....Dream cars...lets see....for me a Ferrari and perhaps a 911 but what would really send me over the top would be a series 1 Jaguar E-type that actually ran.smile.
take care and happy motoring,

Jimi

Hello, my name is Anthony from Lockhart , Texas.
I have a 1986 560 sl, 1994 sl500, and a 1978 280ce
I've been active with the MBCA Lonestar chapter and was pictured in the latest Febuary issue of The Star under club events LONESTAR rally with my 560 sl. It's black with burgandy int. with 110k miles. Besides showing and shining it, it's been a trouble free Mecredes. Happy motoring

admu class 83
'86 560sl
'94 sl500
'78 280ce

I share similar sentiments with Jimi Re: the regret of going 380 rather than 560 and also on the 90-00 chassis. I have black '85 380sl, and haven't been left roadside yet! I wouldn't mind owning an older jag (new to car market so still scoping).

Hello I'm John and I live in Connecticut. I have a 1973 450SL which I purchased in late 2001. It currently has 109k miles. I've been doing a bit of "freshening" lately; timing chain, supension bushings and tires. The car spent most of it's life Arizona and is rust free. The previous owner had the car repainted in it's original silver green color.

I also have a 1959 Morgan, 1937 BMW R6, 1941 R12 and various late model Audis. The 450SL is quickly becomimg my all around favorite ride!

JP

Hi all,

I live in beautiful winter park, florida. the weather here is perfect for driving top-down...for about 8 months out of the year. the other four months it is a humid oven.

i just bought a 1986 euro 500sl - was looking for one. it has low miles, a perfect interior (i replaced some map lights), original kinder seats. bought it as a weekend car, but i find that i am driving it more often!

Exterior is red with a black leather interior.

I have spent some money on rebuilding a leaking steering gear, new ball joints and new belts - all stuff i knew about when i had teh car inspected. have a tiny oil leak now - couldn't tell before - there was so much ps fluid leaking out. just a drop every once in a while. not ready to take it in yet. looks like it might be coming from a sensor plug or the valve covers. working on a lot of little stuff myself, but nothing that needs a lift.

the car runs very strong - the big eight gets me to 60 in less than 8 seconds and this past weekend it showed its passing prowess on the freeway for the first time. really enjoyed driving it.

one recomendation i would make to everyone - and this is one that i got from this board - is to replace all the small fuses as soon as you get your car. it's amazing what a couple of dollars in fuses will do for a lot of niggling maladies.

ps. i would like to post a picture but i don;t know how - any help would be appreciated.

I have a 1976 450sl with some emission parts missing like the smog pump and egr valve, car runs good. What effect does these item missing cause? Any information or anyone else modified there engines like this? Plese respond or e-mail at PhillMddx@aol.com

I'm John S in Brockville Ontario Canada.
I have an 85 greyish 380SL. Because we are still in a deep freeze and have salty highways, my car is in storage and having some repair work done while patiently waiting for late spring. My daily driver is a 93 Saab 900...a nice car in its own way, too. Love those heated seats! Google brought this site to my attention, and I check it out now and then to see what's what and who's who.

I just purchased a 74 450SL. Its sitting in 2+ feet of snow in Annapolis, MD. I'm a BMWCCA member and own 3 early 80's models. I do most of my own repairs and all maintenance, and I'm looking forward to getting into the MB this spring.

Just purchased $500 of reprint manuals from schiffeuropean.com. Interestingly enough they were recommended by MB Customer service.