1981 Mercedes Benz 280SL. Here we go again.

What do we know about these. It's a 1981 MB 280SL 4 speed car. Could be fun. I know it won't be very fast.

Give me the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

A 280SL with a four speed stick would be a six cylinder, gray market car. If I were searching for one (and I was at one point), that would be the one that I would want.

In reply to Woody :

I don't even see a listing for them on Rock Auto. Does that mean parts are going to be a bear to get?

Star motors in West Ashley should be able to help you with parts. I assume they're still there. I always wanted a gray market manual and convert it to the 5.6 V8. 

Parts shouldn't be hard to find. It will be the m110 engine that a lot of US cars had but the euro version has slightly more power.

I ran a late 560SL as a daily driver for a few years. They’re very cool cars. Heavy and slow, but they do handle pretty well (double wishbones all around) and have strong brakes.

The short wheelbase, heavy/torquey engine up front, and relatively skinny tires make them a little tail-happy. Like an old Porsche, you can get caught out if you lift in a corner.

It’s very solid  for a “vintage” convertible. Reliable, easy to work on, and built like a tank. If you add the factory hardtop, it can be a true all-season car. I daily-drove mine through two rough northeastern winters with a set of Michelin Arctic Alpin tires and the hardtop on.

In reply to Toyman01 :

Mom hauled one of these back from Europe to FL when they repatriated. I drove it a bunch and loved it. Seriously thought of buying it from her when the Fun of buying a Miata in 1990 was starting to piss me off.

It is not a sportscar. They feel like they are made of one piece of metal and hum down the road very nicely as if coupled to the center of the earth.

Every repair was a $1000 bill to my Mom and she was getting a bit tired of that. DIY or specialist indie shop might solve that.

The fuel injection pump scared me to death should it ever go away.

A good friend of my Dad owned an import garage from 1950 to 2000 or so.  I pretty much grew up in his shop.  At some point in the late 90s I went down the list of cars I liked, and asked him which would be the best to own and drive.  In his opinion, #1 was A-H 3000, #2 was this platform Benz, and #3 was the Jag E-type.

There's nothing scary about this vintage of MB except for the fuel injection. I've been under one and it looks very simlar to my W116 which is a way overbuilt tank. Being a 4 speed is super cool too!

Every car model has that one guy that just brings a smile to your face. 

What do you want to know?  People like the 4 speed.  Those wheels are horrible.  Well maintained the cars are pretty reliable.  The euro m110 has a hemi combustion chamber, once sorted can cruise at 95mph all day.  

You will likely need to replace all of the rubber mounts, front and rear flex disc, center support mount/bearing, brake lines, etc.  Check valve lash, plugs, wires, cap, fuel filter.  There was a recall on the front subframe where the lower control arms mount, if not cracked weld in gussets, if cracked find front subframe from a 560sl.  The front subframe mounts are sl specific and very $$$$.  Thats about it.  Anything else you want to know?  

The wheels are horrible. I'm hoping he still has the stock set. 

Not sure what else I need to know. I'll be looking at it this afternoon. I will probably have more questions then, or I'll be starting another thread about some other car. 

We shall see.

Don't worry, MB Bundts are a dime a dozen. I'm sure idle clatter would happily sell you a set if you need some.

Oh, forgot, check for rust, they rust like crazy, take a pick with you.  Check the undercarriage, trunk, spare tire space, bulkhead, pull the blower motor cover inside engine bay covered with black plastic near windshield.  Also in the front fenders look for bubbles near headlight, there is a pocket where junk and water gets thrown by the tires.  The undercoating can hide rust really well. 

The radiator is unique to the 280sl/c so hope it isnt beat up.

If the car is in decent shape, runs and stops wind out the m110 to around 6000rpm an see how slow it it.   

While I'm not a huge Mercedes Benz guy, I've always liked these. I have a perverted vision to build one of these with a slight lift, all-terrain tires, and a light bar. You know, like these: 

NOHOME said:

It is not a sportscar. They feel like they are made of one piece of metal and hum down the road very nicely as if coupled to the center of the earth.

Best two sentences in the thread!

1988RedT2 said:

NOHOME said:

It is not a sportscar. They feel like they are made of one piece of metal and hum down the road very nicely as if coupled to the center of the earth.

 

Best two sentences in the thread!

There isn't a car much better for cruising around with the top down on a nice day. Quiet, smooth, comfortable, etc. I had a 350SL years ago and that hewn from a solid block of steel feeling isn't available in any other car from that era.

Did you go look at it?  I’ve always been a fan of these cars.

In reply to Cotton :

I am a fan as well. 

In talking to the owner, that is going to be a project car and I don't need another project so I passed on it. 

Toyman01 said:

In reply to Cotton :

and I don't need another project so I passed on it. 

 

Wisdom

Toyman01 said:

In reply to Cotton :

I am a fan as well. 

In talking to the owner, that is going to be a project car and I don't need another project so I passed on it. 

 

Email me the info please. Guaranteed future collector car. Those euro bumpers are worth $1300 a piece and it has the hardtop. Was it rusty?  Please send me the ad. Thanks

buzzboy said:

There's nothing scary about this vintage of MB except for the fuel injection. I've been under one and it looks very simlar to my W116 which is a way overbuilt tank. Being a 4 speed is super cool too!

The k-jet isn't hard to figure out. And yes the front half of the car is almost identical to the 116.

In reply to yupididit :

PM sent.