[texas turbo]

Hi, everyone! I'm happy to report that after three previous Mercedes Benz's and 11 years on the forums I'm ready to officially contribute with my first post being an intro for my new 1989 560SL.

Well, it is technically my wife's SL, but I will be the one tinkering on it and maintaining it so I can claim responsibility if not ownership. :^)

As mentioned above, this is our 4th Mercedes, the previous three have served as daily drivers for her. The first was a C-Class (LEMON: in the shop 14 times in the first 12 months!), then an ///AMG c55 (I had a lot to do with that decision, and it was a good one!) and then an S500 w. the Sport Package (I loved that car in all conditions until the warranty ran out. We have been leasing 5-series BMW's for the wife since.) The SL is her first weekend car, but she swears she intends to drive the pants off of it. Which leads me here.

I'm a lifelong european car nut and have owned a lot of different cars over the years. Mostly BMWs, Land/Range Rovers, and Porsches. A few years ago I bought my first Ferrari and I a member on Ferrarichat. That forum has very knowledgeable and generous members as does Pelican Parts, Rennlist, and of course others (Garage Journal, anyone!?!?). I have spent the last three weeks reading as much as I could from this forum and I'm very excited to see such a wealth of knowledge and personalities. The Benzworld R107 forum is just awesome and has so much content! I'm looking forward to learning from you all!

Details:

1989 560SL
Sourced after a fresh service from a dealer in Florida
58K miles
New leather
New tires
Orignal soft top (?) in great condition
Clean to Extremely Clean condition
Original paint

I have a few intro observations/questions and of course some obligatory pictures.

1) Transmission and Performance: I have to start here... I have never driven one of these cars and I have to say I'm kinda shocked by how sluggish the performance is. I mean, I was not expecting anything close to my previous c55, but it just feels SO slow. And the transmission is of course slow (again, wasn't expecting a Porsche PDK here, but wow.) My wife says it drives like a 70's car... and of course, she is right in that respect given the length of the R107 lifespan. I assume everything is okay with my car given I paid good money from a reputable dealer (Nego'd a few thousand off a $31,900 sticker) and had an independent PPI from a 40 year expert and he said it is about as clean as they get. I guess my question here would be... am I crazy? Is this car really this old school!?!? I mean, don't get me wrong. I love it! We took it downtown to dinner last night and it was perfect for that occasion, but man this car makes you just want to lean-back and enjoy the cruise. I guess the combination of a relatively lazy motor/tranny, a very compliant suspension on 205/65 R15s, and that big thin-rimmed steering wheel probably has a ton to do with it! I guess I'm saying I was expecting a little more performance. I'm understanding now that this car is going to set off (and basically dictate) an even more relaxed vibe than I thought... and I guess that's what has shocked me even though I did a lot of research before buying!

2) Creaking when wheels turned and braking: So it does has a mechanical issue I need to get sorted. It only happens under slow speeds when really cranking on the steering wheel. I hear a pop from what sounds like the front and I can reproduce it when parking in my garage doing a three point turn. Any thoughts on what that might be?

3) Chrome and Paint: Overall the Chrome and paint is great. The hardtop could use fresh chrome pieces on the bottom where it connects to the car behind the door windows. Are there any preferred online vendors for this type of stuff? Paint is in pretty good shape with just a few chips. The hardtop has some rub marks where the PO must have stored it in the stand. Also, does anyone have advice for paint protection? I put protective film on my newer cars but doesn't really seem right for this car, does anyone do this for the front of their SL in any way, shape or form? With that long/flat hood I can't see it being common to put film over the entire hood, but perhaps I'm wrong. I think this car will be with us for a long time so I want to do anything reasonable to reduce chips and generally preventative wear-and-tear.

4) Black Trim: The black trim around the car is overall in really good shape. One piece on the body between the fender and door is a little faded and I'd like to replace it. Again, any online resources for stuff like that? Also, any recommendations for cleaning/protection products to bring a little life back to the trim and door handles?

5) Cable by the hardtop: I haven't taken off the hardtop yet (waiting on a new stand), but there is a cable with a plug on the end of it hanging out of the area where the soft top is stored, over by the passenger window. Any ideas on what that could be?

5) Recommended Mechanic in Austin: I've googled a couple but have only worked with the dealer. Any suggestions of personal experience for someone to help me maintain this car?

Finally, of course I've had to start ordering stuff. I have a new stand on the way for the hard top, got some new license plate frames to replace the dealer stuff, and ordered some new logo'd floor mats. I'm not really going to mod this car (btw wow, Pearson's car is sick. I'm familiar with his 512 from Ferrarichat. What a great looking SL, just love it) but I do intend to use it and will be looking for things to do to enhance the ownership experience. Next on my list is a tape cassette with an Aux outlet so I can at least plug in my i-phone. Would love any obvious or noteworthy upgrades for these cars that I might have missed while doing my research.

Thanks for all the knowledge and laughs this community has shared over the years. It has already enhanced my R107 ownership experience. Cheers!

On to the pics:

 

[Aussiemerc]

I prefer the Ferrari you bought yourself! No wonder the 560 feels sluggish!

Creaking is probably bushes in the suspension. They are very old and if you are keeping the car well worth replacing. Worth having someone check them all.
Body bits are still available.
There are a lot of posts on paint protection and polishing.
Good luck with the new toy.

 

[RLT61]

Welcome to the R107 forum. Looks like a very nice car!
Your first impression of driving the car are identical to mine when I drove a 560sl for the first time a couple of years ago. I felt like I was in a time warp.
Part of the laziness of the engine/transmission is because the car starts out in 2nd gear. You can override the first gear lockout and shift the car manually.
The groaning noise you hear when turning the steering wheel at slow speed is more than likely the idler arm. A idler arm rebuilt kit is about $25.
Enjoy the car, it'll grow on you.

 

[nobby]

Welcome to the forum!

And a great introduction. Well done.

Item #2: Check your tie-rod ends. $10 says an outer tie-rod end is pooched.

 

[nobby]

Item #5 (1) : Rear defrost 12V power source. There is a little flap on the passenger side behind the seat. You'll find the receptacle there.

 

[roncallo]

Nice find. Like the Ferrari too. I used to work on Ferrari's and Benz's and everything else.

I have the URO stand which I really like.

As far as the transmission its the same one used in the Porsche 928. POS by today's standards but back in the day this car would out go a 5 liter Mustang.

 

[Nyyyce&Eeeezy]

Item #5 (1) : Rear defrost 12V power source. There is a little flap on the passenger side behind the seat. You'll find the receptacle there.

Beat me to this question by about an hour, Nob, It's about the only thing I could comment on with any certainty.

Welcome to the forum. You'll probably find this car to be more of a cruiser than a sports car.
Like the white color. :wink What color is the interior?

 

[CavallinoRed]

Welcome back.

As to "I have to say I'm kinda shocked by how sluggish the performance is. I mean, I was not expecting anything close to my previous c55"

Yep. Not going to set any 1/4 mile records for sure but 560SL (& 380s) start out in 2nd gear unless you really put your foot in it. To get a first gear start (while stopped) put the gear shift into 2nd the click over right (--> B) then return back to drive. This will select first then shift up from there.

To get a bit more sport would suggest going with a set of Bilstein heavy duty shocks on all four corners. They do have a "Comfort" shock for the rear but find the HD gives a better ride.

Pops in the front end are probably bushing related. If not done all should be replaced. And do the motor mounts if not done already.

But looks like a great R107!

 

[Ianwright40]

Hi, everyone! I'm happy to report that after three previous Mercedes Benz's and 11 years on the forums I'm ready to officially contribute with my first post being an intro for my new 1989 560SL.

Well, it is technically my wife's SL, but I will be the one tinkering on it and maintaining it so I can claim responsibility if not ownership. :^)

As mentioned above, this is our 4th Mercedes, the previous three have served as daily drivers for her. The first was a C-Class (LEMON: in the shop 14 times in the first 12 months!), then an ///AMG c55 (I had a lot to do with that decision, and it was a good one!) and then an S500 w. the Sport Package (I loved that car in all conditions until the warranty ran out. We have been leasing 5-series BMW's for the wife since.) The SL is her first weekend car, but she swears she intends to drive the pants off of it. Which leads me here.

I'm a lifelong european car nut and have owned a lot of different cars over the years. Mostly BMWs, Land/Range Rovers, and Porsches. A few years ago I bought my first Ferrari and I a member on Ferrarichat. That forum has very knowledgeable and generous members as does Pelican Parts, Rennlist, and of course others (Garage Journal, anyone!?!?). I have spent the last three weeks reading as much as I could from this forum and I'm very excited to see such a wealth of knowledge and personalities. The Benzworld R107 forum is just awesome and has so much content! I'm looking forward to learning from you all!

Details:

1989 560SL
Sourced after a fresh service from a dealer in Florida
58K miles
New leather
New tires
Orignal soft top (?) in great condition
Clean to Extremely Clean condition
Original paint

I have a few intro observations/questions and of course some obligatory pictures.

1) Transmission and Performance: I have to start here... I have never driven one of these cars and I have to say I'm kinda shocked by how sluggish the performance is. I mean, I was not expecting anything close to my previous c55, but it just feels SO slow. And the transmission is of course slow (again, wasn't expecting a Porsche PDK here, but wow.) My wife says it drives like a 70's car... and of course, she is right in that respect given the length of the R107 lifespan. I assume everything is okay with my car given I paid good money from a reputable dealer (Nego'd a few thousand off a $31,900 sticker) and had an independent PPI from a 40 year expert and he said it is about as clean as they get. I guess my question here would be... am I crazy? Is this car really this old school!?!? I mean, don't get me wrong. I love it! We took it downtown to dinner last night and it was perfect for that occasion, but man this car makes you just want to lean-back and enjoy the cruise. I guess the combination of a relatively lazy motor/tranny, a very compliant suspension on 205/65 R15s, and that big thin-rimmed steering wheel probably has a ton to do with it! I guess I'm saying I was expecting a little more performance. I'm understanding now that this car is going to set off (and basically dictate) an even more relaxed vibe than I thought... and I guess that's what has shocked me even though I did a lot of research before buying!

2) Creaking when wheels turned and braking: So it does has a mechanical issue I need to get sorted. It only happens under slow speeds when really cranking on the steering wheel. I hear a pop from what sounds like the front and I can reproduce it when parking in my garage doing a three point turn. Any thoughts on what that might be?

3) Chrome and Paint: Overall the Chrome and paint is great. The hardtop could use fresh chrome pieces on the bottom where it connects to the car behind the door windows. Are there any preferred online vendors for this type of stuff? Paint is in pretty good shape with just a few chips. The hardtop has some rub marks where the PO must have stored it in the stand. Also, does anyone have advice for paint protection? I put protective film on my newer cars but doesn't really seem right for this car, does anyone do this for the front of their SL in any way, shape or form? With that long/flat hood I can't see it being common to put film over the entire hood, but perhaps I'm wrong. I think this car will be with us for a long time so I want to do anything reasonable to reduce chips and generally preventative wear-and-tear.

4) Black Trim: The black trim around the car is overall in really good shape. One piece on the body between the fender and door is a little faded and I'd like to replace it. Again, any online resources for stuff like that? Also, any recommendations for cleaning/protection products to bring a little life back to the trim and door handles?

5) Cable by the hardtop: I haven't taken off the hardtop yet (waiting on a new stand), but there is a cable with a plug on the end of it hanging out of the area where the soft top is stored, over by the passenger window. Any ideas on what that could be?

5) Recommended Mechanic in Austin: I've googled a couple but have only worked with the dealer. Any suggestions of personal experience for someone to help me maintain this car?

Finally, of course I've had to start ordering stuff. I have a new stand on the way for the hard top, got some new license plate frames to replace the dealer stuff, and ordered some new logo'd floor mats. I'm not really going to mod this car (btw wow, Pearson's car is sick. I'm familiar with his 512 from Ferrarichat. What a great looking SL, just love it) but I do intend to use it and will be looking for things to do to enhance the ownership experience. Next on my list is a tape cassette with an Aux outlet so I can at least plug in my i-phone. Would love any obvious or noteworthy upgrades for these cars that I might have missed while doing my research.

Thanks for all the knowledge and laughs this community has shared over the years. It has already enhanced my R107 ownership experience. Cheers!

On to the pics:

If you feel it's sluggish I would suggest you keep one eye on the rear-view mirror. You will be well over legal speeds and not know you are on the move.....

 

[roncallo]

A 722.6 transmission is a huge improvement. I believe Pearson is having one installed in his car as we speak.

I'm also a member of Ferrari chat, but I don't think I ever posted anything there. And I and several members here are also members of Garage Journal, I have a bunch of stuff there.

 

[Elmer Fudd]

well, I can actually see your Ferrari turning green with envy

+1 on everything the chaps have already said. Yes, it's more of a yacht than a speed boat, but remember, the book times on 0-60mph were in the order of 7 seconds. By 'eck, my SLK320 just about beats that. For its time, this car was head to head with BMW 635i, Porsche 928, Porsche 911, Jaguar E-Type 5.3 ( one of my favourite shoot-outs in the contemporary car press) and Jaguar XJS 5.3.
I don't know if it will work on yours, but I don't have the winter/summer gearbox switch. If I want a dose of embarrassment for whoever is next to me at the lights, then either mash my foot all the way to kickdown, and it shifts down to 1st, and holds it until you faint *, or, slip it into 3, which I find will make it start in 1st.

I ca recommend polyurethane bushes. That's because I spent a ton on them.:grin


* I haven't actually fainted while driving yet. i reserve that for when I fill up with super-duper at the top of the price cycle.:devil

 

[cwmoser]

Performance perception of your 560SL is either:
a- because you compare it to your Ferrari
b- that its out of tune

Sometimes the Fuel Injectors on these 30 year old cars don't spray a proper pattern and cause performance issues. Be interesting if you compare your 560SL with someone elses to get a feeling - except don't compare yours with Roncallo's 560SL Inside joke - he transplanted a V12 engine in his 560SL.

 

[Weather Man]

Congrats on a great-looking car and welcome to the forum. Is it Classic White? That is a nice color, very warm and kind of buttery, as opposed to Arctic White which is bluish. My 380 came to me alongside a big ol' Pontiac station wagon, compared to which it is a dragster. I suppose compared to a Ferrari it would seem a little sluggish.

 

[texas turbo]

Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I appreciate all the tips and will start working on a fix. I hope it is not going to be too expensive but I want to get it done so I can drive it like “der Panzerwagen” it was designed to be.

Drove the car last night to pick up some last minute supplies for a dinner party, within a few short minutes 3 different people complimented the car. A nice lady at the liquor store yelled at me across the parking lot, "Hey, I REALLY like that car!" A guy in a minivan at a stoplight asked if we could trade and a dude at another stoplight in a blacked-out G55 literally was looking down on me and he said "I need to get me one of those!"

While it is not why I bought it and the main reason mine is not red, I am accustomed to getting "nice car" comments in the Ferrari... it comes with the territory. However, I was not expecting a similar response with the SL. The public has spoken... it truly is an all-time classic!

Can't wait to take the top off and experience it as a convertible for the first time!

 

[SinSL]

For me, biggest quality of lie improvement in my R107 was getting new steering box from Mercedes. Now, with your low-mileage car it is quite possible that steering box still in a decent shape. However, change steering box oil and use specially formulated Mercedes steering box ATF to ensure it stay that way.

However, you should not expect any R107 to go fast unless you drive it off the cliff. You might be able to beat fart can Civic, but that is about it. R107 were designed as cruisers, and now 30 years later tech moved on.

 

[SinSL]

To get a bit more sport would suggest going with a set of Bilstein heavy duty shocks on all four corners. They do have a "Comfort" shock for the rear but find the HD gives a better ride.

I have done this, and went back. HD Bilstein will make ride less comfortable and will only marginally*** improve handling.

***The car won't drive like Buick anymore and you will be able to push it through corners, however you still won't win slalom events with it.

 

[cwmoser]

I have done this, and went back. HD Bilstein will make ride less comfortable and will only marginally improve handling.

That might be why my 560SL rides so hard.
Handles great. PO put on Bilstein's on all 4 corners.
BTW, where are the markings on these Bilstein Shocks that one can determine if it is HD or Comfort ????

 

[SinSL]

All of this depends when these were put on. Bilstein went through some branding changes. At some point it was touring vs. heavy duty. Now it is different.

I am 51% sure that yellow are HD, and black are touring.

Experimenting with various setups, I now run HDs at the front and touring at the back. Comfort is all about back shocks.

 

[dbamber]

Having owned a 83 380SL (now thats sluggish) I would check the timing chain. A little "stretch" made for poor performance on mine. Congrats, and hopefully your significant other will let you drive the car.

 

[roncallo]

Having owned a 83 380SL (now thats sluggish) I would check the timing chain. A little "stretch" made for poor performance on mine. Congrats, and hopefully your significant other will let you drive the car.

Speaking of timing chain. Its a great idea to change your timing chain guide rails. These are more age dependent that mileage dependent and can break and cause the inner engine parts to have a huge argument.