I am Andrew Todd. I live in Edinburgh, Scotland and am a 41 year old lawyer.

I bought my 107 two years ago. It is a 1989 420SL in signal red which has only covered 55,000 miles. The car had a few owners in its early years and was then owned by a retired engineer for 10 years. He really cared for this car and it is in pretty much perfect condition. The red paint had faded and I have just treated it to a luxury repaint.

I am a dedicated Mercedes enthusiast.In addition to the 420 SL we have a 2003 E320CDI, a 2002 CL500, a !969 280SL and a 1966 230SL. The E320CDI estate has been tweaked with a Brabus D6 tuning kit and allegedly hits the 155mph speed limiter. Pretty stunning for a 7 seater.

I could not really justify any more cars. If I could, top of the list would be a Citroen DS 23 Pallas and a Mercedes 280SE 3.5 convertible.

Although my 107 has been trouble free so far, I have found this site very interesting.

Regards
Andrew

Hi, I'm Lorne and currently live in Nordern Minnesota, for now. Retiring in 6 months.
I bought my 74 450SL about 4 years ago and I forget when I stumbled on this awesome website.
I'm no mechanic, but have been learning a lot on this site and since my purchase of this car. I'd attach a nice picture of her with an F16, but I don't know how. She's only got about 117,000 miles on her, no rust or dings and although the seats aren't great, those lambwool covers help. I've had some of the stauling problems I've read about, but she's been doing well, although she's still parked in the garage waiting for the snow to completely melt away. I've loved these cars since childhood and someday would be nice to find a 230-280SL as I played with a Matchbox of this car as a kid. Hopefully once I get retire, move and get internet once again I'll join as a member. Keep up the great site, it's awesome.

Hi,

I bought by 450Sl in 1996 or 1997. Can't remember exactly. I live in Anaheim, CA. My '76 450sl is an american import with about 160k miles on it. It is the traditional grey/silver with blakc interior. Since I have had it i put about 10K miles on it. It has not rust as I purchased it from Glendale CA, which is away from the beach. Anaheim is far away from the beach not to rust either. I know it has spent most of it's time in the last ten years in the garage. Not meaning for repairs, but parked in my garage. I have had some difficutly with smogging it. My mechanic has tweeked it some much to pass smogg that it runs like shit. Part of the reason is that I had to replace one cam and now the other needs to be replaced. Think since the last person who had it was putting 20/50 in it as I was putting 10/30. Doesn't burn oil, so don't see a need for 20/50. A person put 20/50 in it when I specifically asked him to put 10/30. I got on the freeway, and when I got off the offramp, I could hear the tappits. The top end didn't like 20/50. I continue to put 10/30 as I think the oil passages don't like 20/50. Anyway, it has sat for about a year now not started. I got discourged because it runs like shit and the issues with smogg. I need to put a new cam on one of the sides and I am sure that things will be fine. I need to get it running real soon too to that I don't do damage. Make sure the full is good, flueds up and oil circulating before starting. I reverse also went out on the tranmission, which will be very pricy for that replacement or rebuild. The car was bilt in '75 as a '76. In california, '75 and older is now smog exempt. I am hoping to convince the DMV to treat it as a '75, but I don;t think I am going to have too much luck. More about me, I am a 44 year old aeropsace working in the Engineering Field. I like to drive the car along PCH and Route 66. I like the car becasue it is a solid convertable. Handles nicely and still has the basic comfurts, and has an awesome design. I hope it gets more noticed some day.

Posting from Wyoming, OH (Cincinnati)

Acquired a '87 560 SL last January '05 from Houston, Tx, had 43k, just turned 50k this weekend. My first SL!

Car is completely stock except for Interstate battery.

Daily drive is '03 A-6 2.7turbo, although driving the SL more and more on sunny days 3 seasons/year. Also have '04 E500 Wagon.

Still have a desire for a Porsche, want a manual tranny again. Pondering trading the A-6 for S-4.

Hi all, Im a new SL owner my girl is a 88 sl560 all orginal. I have put much money in to her the short time I have had her, new heating core and radiator, Idler arms, all hoses new mich. tires new top and on and on. She has a healthy 107k miles and runs very well. I still have a few problem to iron out such as rough running (I posted the problem) and a slight pull in the steering (which could be the seeping steering box) but over all Im very happy with her. I drive her on the weekends to run errands or going out with the wife. We are located on the east coast Delaware so she never sees rain or snow always garaged. I bought her from a dealer located in CA. and she has no rust that I can find. I joined this site due to all the great info I have found here, you guys are a real life saver at times. Im very glad to be here

Hi,

I just bougt an 88 560 SL impala metalic, and brazil brown interior, its all original with 127K miles. Registered it Friday, after having passed its CT emisions test with no problems. I will be playing with the car and drive it on sunny days, my other cars are a 99 A6 Avant, a 95 Saab 900 and a 03 2.7 Audi Allroad.

hello to everybody,
i just recently joined and ive been reading all your discussions on sl380's. i recently inherited a 1981 sl380.the car looks great except for the interior. i got to drive this dreamboat for one day ( all day ) the next morning i went to start it and nothing.my battery is fully charged i'm getting power to my starter. its like this baby has a kill switch on it are something. when i turn my key to the first position all my lights come on and i can here my fuel pump come on for a second. but when i go to start it i get nothing.

has this happend to anybody else.
thanks,
marker

I live in Southern California and I recently purchased an 1989 560SL from its original owner with 28K miles on it. I have wanted one since I was a kid! It is pearl grey metallic with black interior and in pristine condition. It is truly a joy to drive.

I also have a 1971 280SL (fully restored) and a 2005 SL500. I have learned quite a bit from the discussions on this site.

Thanks,

Joe

I just recently purchased a 1978 450SL. I just love looking at the car. It needs a lot a work and would like to do most of it myself but we'll see how it go. The body is in great shape. All the steering and suspension bushing have not been changed, so that will be the first order of business.

The is a problem with the car loading up so that we will be next. Starts cold will no problem, but has a problem starting warm or hot.

Greetings everyone! I just signed up on this forum after taking a quick browse through the various topics. I'm so happy to have found a site dedicated exclusively to the SLs! I currently have three of them, so I guess that kind of qualifies me as a SL nut of some sort. :-P They include a '78 450SL, '84 380SL, and a '88 560SL. We have other cars, but I have to say that the classic SLs are best overall.

I'm located in socal-LA to be specific, one of the "few" people working in the legal field. :-D Have family in the tire business though. If you guys need anything, maybe I can help.

Regards,

Vince

I am back on this site after being away for about a year. I have a 1984 380 SL in anthracite grey with palamino interior. Love the car and am working on fixing some minor things. Had sent in donations to this site a few years ago and I guess I'll be contributing again. Thanks for your work Dorian.

Hello all. I was told by a friend to come here and get your opinion on a 76 450 SLC I'm interested in buying. I found it on craigslist and have been back and forth with the owner. Here is his last email to me:

remember in the ad, this is a beach car, i only
use it run around here, montauk and back or maybe over to selter island. and
yes if you are going to keep this car well maintained it is exspensive. and i
am telling everyone the same thing, it's a mid 70's unibody. they all rust
unless they are garaged. this is not worth restoring or to be a daily driver.
it is a $600.00 carn not a rare find.

My friend is the son of one the members on this board. His father has a 1978 Mercedes Benz 350SL AMG. http://www.cardomain.com/ride/659727He thinks that this guy is bullshit by saying it's not worth restoring. it has 109,000 miles on it because he only used it as a beach car. It hasn't been garaged, so there is rust. Can I get your opinion?

quote:

Originally posted by Richard Fourzan:
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.

We have a 1975 450SL and it has about 86,000 miles on it. We live in Alto, NM, about 10 miles from Ruidoso. I'm trying to do all the work myself without taking it to ABQ, but I've got a problem with the accelerator that I can't figure out. The accelerator moves about 2" before the engine responds. Otherwise, it's in very good condition. The previous owner bought a new hardtop in 1995 and paid $12,500.00 for it. The cloth top is new. The tires are new.

Take care,

Bobby and Nancy Johnson
1975 450SL
1952 Ford F600
Alto, New Mexico

Hello to everyone.

Who's here?.. Oh is me.. My name is Tom, I live in San Diego, California. I am new to this forum, so far I love it. I appreciate all the help and tips from folks in this room, and those links that you provide to parts and supply. I just bought 1972 350SL, body straight; engine runs well, some rust on the floor. My plan for this 350SL is to restore it step by step. It is my hobby. I could not pay for a Pagoda W113. Also, I can not handle fuel injection type. So, W107 is some thing I can play with.

I also own:
1958 MGA. I spend 5 years restore this one from frame off. It is a noisy car and oil leak car. No oil leak, not an MG.

1959 190SL, I love this one. It runs very well, 1.9 but power car. I am still working to make this car looks great.

1999 230SLK, commute car. Not much to talk on this one.

Keep up the great site, it's awesome.

Tom...

Hi, I just bought an 87 560 SL as a weekend cruiser. It's in fairly good shape but still needs some love and attention. I'm trying to get it inspected but ran into a problem maybe someone could help me with.

The brake lights suddenly quit working. The third light and left one were working but the right one wasn't. Now, none work. I've changed the fuses and bulbs. Also, only the right reverse light works and not the left. Is there another relay switch or inline fuse that I've missed? Thanks for any help.

I also have a 2000 BMW Z3 Roadster. I wish I owned a new Chevy pickup.

Captain Kirk! I found a new life form. They look just like me and speak the same language. Man, what rock have I been hiding under?
Two weeks ago I took "Jennifer", my 78 450 SL, to the local dealer for the subframe recall work. I heard about the recall 7 or 8 years ago but I am a procrastinator. I declined to accept their offer to replace shocks ($300 each) and purchased a set from my favorite parts place.
Standard shocks are pretty straight forward but before jumping into the job I thought best to check the web for possible unknown problems that may arise. I found no secrets but did find SL107.com.
My eyes are blurry from reading all of the threads, and the info I've gleaned is more than worth the $33.00 I have invested.
Jennifer and I became partners in June of 95 when she had 80K on her and she is now just a shy of 90K. I had the opportunity back then to go for an older "Classic" SL but I'm a 107 kind of guy. You just can't beat lots of chrome, big bumpers, and nearly two tons of mass. Oh yeah, let me not forget the neck jerking, bury you in the seat kind of acceleration that comes from the 107.
Jennifer was in great shape when we got together and except for getting rid of the 3rd brake light and 560 wanna be badge I haven't done much to her since. She is Cabernet red, which I do not believe was even offered in 78, and the bamboo interior is still like new. Was bamboo offered in 78?
For the most part I am a purist and soon plan to pull the aftermarket stereo and replace it with the Becker Mexico radio I purchased a couple of years back. I told you, I procastinate.

Iam the proud owner of an '85 280 SL which is my first MB. I have always loved the design of this car with its sleek sloping bonnet and MB star in the radiator grill. Hope that doesn't make me sound like a dumb blond (oh and I just love the matching hub caps!) and I have learned how to maintain most older cars..up to a point.

Mathilde as she is called, is my first MB. My run around is a tried and trusty 100% reliable 11 year old Honda Civic (when still made in Japan).
I come to SW Louisiana twice a year (Lafayette) and would love to meet other owners of SLs of this type as I have had no success in the UK where I live. Had some v useful advice from a guy in US about problem with vacuum door locking system and have some further advice to give in return. Does anybody own a similar model and be interested in swopping stories/advice on their maintenance?

quote:

Originally posted by Mathilde:

quote:

Originally posted by [dorian]:
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?

hello everyone out there, Iv'e owned a 107 for the last 5 years and it has bean a truly wonderfull car .apart from routine maintenance it has bean 100% reliable .anyway I have done a very silly thing [went and bought a pagoda 113] I now have two beutifull/old/classic SLs and cant come to part with the 107 .which was my original idea . an SLs for life not just for christmas it seams