Help Wanted - Buddy wants this Benz 560 SL

[WreckITFrank]

So my good friend sent me this link and asked for my thoughts. He does not live in a place where he could do any work, so everything would be done via a local mechanic in southern NH. I am into all vehicles but my German vehicle knowledge ends with MK2/MK3 VW's. Anyone have any good points to look out for? This looks like a cream puff with low miles, but have no clue where the trouble spots are. Any and all opinions and comments welcome. TIA.

Apparently, they are on the strugglebus with posting up pics properly. So they are upside down.

Used 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class PU1197 For Sale | New Hampshire, MA Porsche

Pre-Owned 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500-Class PU1197 for sale at Massachusetts and New Hampshire Porsche dealership, Porsche of Nashua.

www.porschenashua.com

 

[hillstrubl]

I'm no help in this area but this car is awesome.

 

[acheck]

Funny, I know this exact car. It belonged to a client of mine and he traded it to Porsche Nashua.

Its a good car but not an all original jewel. Has had a front fender replaced and associated paintwork. Top was repaired. But definitely presents well and is clean/tidy. Good service history and did not seem needy, although any good MB mechanic would I'm sure find thousands in things that could be done.

Its a fair buy in the upper 20s for sure.

For servicing, I'd recommend your friend work with Ed Owen at European Auto Solutions in Waltham MA. A short ride from southern NH but absolutely worth it. Ed is second to none on these cars (he ran the Hatch & Sons restoration shop for years before opening his own about 15 years ago).

Send me a PM if you want to chat more. I may have photos of the car from when it was briefly here.

 

[MountainD]

I love the 560SL but have never owned one. I see good examples for $10k or less all the time so price to me seems high. The body sits on rubber bushings that harden over time, taking away some of th3 quiet and rattles— they are difficult to access and replace So that is worth checking along with rust. I’d get one from CA, AZ, TX or somewhere outside of east coast too.... but that’s me...

 

[acheck]

$10k or less for a good example is absolutely not an accurate representation of the market for a final year (1989) car with low miles.

If this one were fully original panels/paint and just a tad tidier, it would be in the 40s.

1989 560sl - CLASSIC.COM

Find 1989 560sl for sale at classic car auctions - including prices, comps, alerts and more.

www.classic.com

(average sale prices of cars at all mileage/condition ranges)

 

[FlyersFan76]

Definitely on my list of nice MB's that I would absolutely not mind owning. That is definitely I nice example also.

 

[rocky]

Arguably the best looking MB model ever. Even if the pictures are upside down...

 

[Napalm00]

I feel like these things are everywhere in northern California. I see this body style daily and I think there's one parked on my street. While I doubt many of them are the 5.8 l I would have a hard time paying 20 grand for something that seems so ubiquitous here.

 

[Angus]

I have restored a couple of older MBs, including an 190SL and a 220SL. These are great cars, and MB supports the older cars through their part network and Classic Center, but they are complicated and parts are fabulously expensive. The rules are the same on these as other cars of the sort - buy the best one you can find. You cannot "fix one up" for the difference in price and when "fixed up" it will be no more valuable that the clean original car. Also, make sure there is no rust, anywhere. There are other, lower miles examples out there, so tell him to shop around.

 

[WreckITFrank]

Thanks everyone. Got my buddy squared away. He going to take a look and get an inspection as per adam's recommended SME. Will post the results when I found it how it went.