R107 380sl

[heckflosse]

I?ve been offered a straight swap for my Mitsubishi Shogun against a 1982 380SL mechanically it?s excellent with 105,000 miles and MB history up to 96,000. Strangely it?s got all its old MOTs and bills but has had 10 owners.
Excellent leather interior and mint hard top with a recently fitted original new hood.
However the body work could do with some work. Generally it?s very good with very solid underside and sills but one of the rear arches is badly rusted and the other is starting to bubble. Also has bubbling on the trunk and a small rust crack along the inside of the rear boot valance. Also has an AMG badge on it :LOL: (why do people do that?).
Do you think its worth the swap?
How big an issue is this single timing chain I keep reading about? How much would this cost to change to a duplex and how can you tell if it?s already been done?
Main dealer wants £1200 for the body panels, does anyone know of anywhere cheaper?
What MPG should I expect? I?m guessing around 18mpg, a little more on the run.
Anything else I should be thinking about?

 

[angela mccaw]

w107 parts

all the panels are available from eurocarparts nationwide company front wings £90 rear arches £140 rear 3 piece valence £200 all chrome bumpers available....i get 17 to 20 mpg on my 1984 380sl i am lead to believe its a twin chain but not sure...angela

 

[heckflosse]

According to the Mercedes Benz technical centre, Milton Keynes, The Euro engines are different to the US ones. It's still single but apparently the US engines had to be made lighter so the timing chain, tensioners, sprockets etc. were some of the items to be 'lightened'. They said alot of people change them every 100,000 but Mercedes themselves don't recomend this.

Didn't get it in the end, but their's another I've got my eye on although it's the 500 and with fuel prices in the UK?

 

[Myros]

fuel, schmuel

we get 22-27 out of our 500, and neither of us are noted for hanging about. Get one now, they'll be outlawed in 10 years time. Guaranteed smile on face motoring.

 

[heckflosse]

I bought the 500SL in the end, slightly more expensive but in far better nick.
History and a folder full of receipts. I've a few teething problems to sort out , indicator bulb and starter occasionly doesn't engage. For some reason it hasn't got the rear spoiler and has 17" AMG replicas which I hate. Wilkinsons body shop told me around £1,000 to do all the bits and repaint were neaded. It needs attension to one of the rear arches and there's a scuff on the front N/S wing which is starting to rust. Hard top has a few scabs and it needs a good vallet but for a 1983 car It's the best I've seen for the money.

 

[Myros]

would those be the AMG 5 spoke Pentas

which you hate so much? If so, I might be able to take them off your hands, but don't rush to get shot, as the original Fuchs/Mexican hats are hard to find and very pricy to boot, as are the later 15holers.
Congrats on the acquisition. I'm sure you'll have as much fun with it as we do with ours.
Next step, digital photo upload on to our fast expanding gallery.