READER AD: 1985 Mercedes 380SL
SOLD
Asking Price: $7,500
Location: Durhamville New York
Mileage: 134,000
Title Status: Clean
VIN: WDBBA45C9FA027196
Seller’s Description: Rust Free and solid Arizona Car. A great classic classy color and interior combination. This car could easily qualify as a candidate for an easy restoration that could take it to show car condition with out much effort.
Body Condition: Solid but not without the garage and parking lot dents and dings of being enjoyed as a fair weather daily senior citizen driver. The chrome and other bright bits are in remarkable condition. Overall the rubber has survived well considering the car is from a sunshine state. The brown manual soft top is there however it’s a bit crusty from the heat.
Mechanical Condition: Runs, Stops, Starts but needs TLC that we can not find anyone to do, the reason we are finding it a new home. Replaced in the past few weeks, correct trunk mount battery, Air Filter, Spark Plugs, Wires, Cap & Rotor. These were replaced in the effort to get it to run smooth, without success. Previous year, Re-Manufactured Fuel distributor installed, ran better but still not smooth. Was told injectors sticking from lack of use. Anti-Lock brake light on, replaced brake booster and master cylinder. Light still on. Sure wish we could find someone that knew how to work on these. Time for a new home.
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Comments
Tons of these for sale, The 380 had a single cam chain that failed. Mercedes knew it. Replacement with the proper chain was expensive and extensive. Otherwise these are great cars as long as they are maintained and cared for. Plus those BBS wheels are too much. The originals are great looking.
Early 380 SLs had a single ROW timing chain which didn’t fail any more than others in MBZ’s small V8s.
A good Indie can change a chain in about 5 hrs for 800.–
BTW, the chain didn’t fail per se, it stretched and was therefore slapping onto the Bakelite guides which would eventually break. Mercedes upgraded quite a few cars with the double row timing chain and made it standard in 1984 and 1985 380 SLs.
Proper maintenance, as always, would prevent these problems. My 1982 380 SL had its single row timing chain changed twice and I’m not worried at all about possible problems.
This advertised car should lose these horrid chrome wheel arches immediately and the bling-bling wheels should be replaced with the proper 14″ Bundt rims.
Constant maintenance will make it last for a long time.
ABS light on = limp-home mode = rough running engine. At least it does in my Turbodiesels.
Toss that troublesome motor, and replace it with a nice 350 GM crate motor! Retrofit kits are available that bolt right up to trans. I agree, to get rid of those hideous wheels and fender trim.
Yeah Jack the chrome fender trim gives it that pimp mobile look!! Nice car though!!
Car has been sold. Thank you for your time.