Don't Buy It Guide: Mercedes 107 280 SL

What a wanker. That is what you get for driving on the wrong side of the road and buying abused vehicles.

I have had an 87 560sl since new. 278,000 miles later. I have yet to have a single problem more than 30 plus years later. It's the original owner of the car that makes the difference. Never buy from someone who doesn't maintain the car properly like this fool did.

I had a similar experience with my 450sl. I agree with everything here. As a cruiser with a steering wheel for a truck, yes it's fine, but the way they drive...it did itself proud as the choice of the wealthy blue rinsed to trot around the London and the suburbs in the 70s and 80s. I see it as a ladies car.
All my clients said the same thing - "that'll go on for years." Yes, but at a cost; it was a money pit. Granted, they look beautiful, both hard top on and soft top up & down, but I couldn't wait to see the back of it. I'd go for an W116 S Class over the sl if ever ventured across the pond again.
I replaced it with an 88 XJS, which was so much more fun. Also a vast bonnet, but with the 'point it and aim it' characteristics of the Jaguar pedigree.

SO PLEASED to hear your review ! I went to test drive this car (the 500 SL) many years ago when it first appeared and could not believe what a dreadful mess Mercedes had made of it.
It is exactly like you say, so much power lost in the torque converter that it was like pushing a vacuum cleaner, the front end was incredibly vague, the suspension geometry must have been pure guesswork, the wheel base length and width is all wrong, the front wheel camber is horrible, the rear wheel camber is horrible IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION and poorly damped.
It was a miserable apology of a Teutonic sponge. Can we also mention that given just how many parallel lines Mercedes managed to inflict on this poor bodyshell, it's impressive how they managed to make sure none of them ever met.
I upset the Dealer by being honest, but for that kind of money, you have to be surely ?

Love your review. I’m 26 and I have a 560. I’ve drive all versions of the r107 and honestly I think you would have had a better time in the V8 cars, especially the 500 or 560SL. The power and torque alone makes me grin ear to ear. Very large difference between the inline 6 cars versus the V8 cars. Overall it’s a good video

The simple truth is that you didn't do your homework. Stupid. The point you make about the drainage design flaw which leads to the inner-bulkhead rusting out if the drains get blocked is entirely valid. The rest of your whinge is just sour grapes. You got taken for a sucker and it shows.

The 280SL is a 2746 cc inline 6 (not a V6) and should have 185 hp with a correctly adjusted K-jetronic, that's only 19 hp less than the much heavier 3839 cc V8

Hi Jack, I’ve driven many 107’s, I think the car you were driving had some issues.

Whilst these are not sports cars, the ride quality, comfort, and stability are beyond reproach. Yes the steering is light but there is no kickback and these are quality cars and superbly constructed, it’s not the weight as you said.

The very early cars did rust but the later ones were fine in this respect, obviously we have no such issues here in Greece.

I think you should drive a 500SL and report back.

Now do the same test with a Triumph Stag, please.

Totally disagree with most of this review.

Love this review.

Just thinking about SL again.....this vid reminded me when i went to the SL shop about 10+ years ago....Sam the founder gave me the keys to an older pre 1985 car it was a lovely summer day and my first ever drive in an SL......I could mot return it fast enough ....it was awful... just steering not driving i was so disappointed......however met another customer who had taken out the red car i was in and was returning a dark blue SL300....he said i should try it as was very different.
It was like a completely different car....it felt lighter, faster it drove like a car not a boat.....104k miles and £14k ......didn't buy it.....but should have...like all old car reviews .....it depends on the car. Generally all classics are awful to drive compared to many modern equivalents.... but i still enjoy driving them......maybe will re visit an SL300 lighter and galvinised.....PS. No27 has matured well and great new content and vids.....

280 SL v6 ? Never . It’s a DOHC straight 6 😂

Nasty

Well when you buying a car open your eyes,don't blame the seller, because you are stupid to make common checks

I had to check this vid after watching your latest vid, I wish you'd just come out and say what you really think though instead of holding back hahahaha

I have a 1981 280 slc ultra low kilometers with only 13.300 km from new.
A true quality car, an icon of beauty and reliabilty.
A true sleeper

The 🚗 looks beautiful, but the review was disappointing. As an owner of a BMW e30 325i Convertible, I appreciate 80s design and had hoped the r107 would be even better. However, it seems that the e30 is a better driving experience than the r107 should have been. 😔

I have add a few MB of many types, and other German cars in general (Porsche, BMW, etc.) I have come to the conclusion that it is not so much German engineering, , but more the brillance of American marketing!

I just watched HubNut’s review of one of these (but a 4-speed manual) and he seems to really like it. It’s certainly a handsome car, but it doesn’t sound like my kind of thing.

The 300SL from 86 has the mechanical soul of an accountant. 420SL or 500 is what you need.

Which model year was your R107?
I understand that rust was a problem in the early years (i.e. when the 380 was built) but improved a lot in the 1980s.
If you take a late one kept in a garage, chances are that the drains were not clogged by foliage and still do their job.
I bought an R129 in 2004 - and probably could have got an R107 for less money instead; might have been the better deal.
I like the R129 - but with the more upright windscreen further away from your head, I guess that driving the R107 leisurely with the hood down feels more like being outside.
And prices have gone up a lot more than those of the R129 (yet)...

I’m looking at bying a 280SL. A critical review does help, but remember that older cars are incomparable to modern ones. Not only because of less advanced engineering and technical design, but there also is a ‘human factor’ involved. How ever much reviewers do try, it’s quite a step to ignore the (subconscious) experience and feel of driving a modern car (I’m wondering whether this also is true for comparing English with German, American and Japanese cars - they really felt different then). Also the design philosophy in that era was totally different. For example even in the eighties it was fairly normal to have to do more maintenance, replace shocks, brakes etc much more frequent than nowadays. And more specific for an SL, it was probably more aimed at cruising the German ‘autobahn’ than fast acceleration and driving on twisty country roads (that’s probably one of the reasons why these cars have such a sluggish automatic gearbox).
But still, rust problems originating from poor design are unforgivable of course.

I guess Mercedes didn't built this for the rainy British islands.
Also you need the 500sl then the car is quick and Handy.
But didn't you consider the weight of the car and thought ok the engine must be to small with the offered gearbox?
As a heavy oldtimer they are thirsty it's f 40 years old.
I agree the quality isn't good for a Mercedes that is a real issue.

So you need a very well groomed version with the big engine and than insulate it with special paint.

My 450SL sold today, I could not be happier. I jumped into my 1.6S Capri( one point six!) and it felt like a go kart in comparison.... and quicker

I own one of those, and sir, I concur with you. Thanks for your honesty.

What a BIG FAT croc-o-shit !!! 🤔, that little drain hole as You called it is where you put the tire jack to change a tire if and when needed, it is not a drain 😂🤣😅🤣😂😆.
While it is true they rust out, it wasn't because or Your drain theory.
The run off water runs straight down through tubes under the car into the driveline tunnel where you will find 2 or 4 rubber tipped drain tubes, 2 the little ones, are for A/C condensation drains on USA Cars, but on the Euro Car of Yours only has 2 for draining away rain that water.
Don't take my word for it, go to a shop and lift it up and look above the transmission where the firewall meets the bottom of the chassis, and You can't miss seeing them. SMH.

I recognize the vague steering experience. But I noticed it’s still a neck turner when I drove it from my storage hall to my home last week. You just don’t see them on the road that much anymore

Interestingly R107 has been favored by many people but also has some avid haters. Living in US I just can’t get used to those US spec bumpers and headlamps. Design wise I think that R129 is better, setting aside the unreliable softtop and wiring harness issue in some model years. So I am looking at 90-92 500SL

Thanks for this, I looked at a 2nd hand one in a showroom in the 80s I believe, always loved them and I think the styling is amazing.
I walked in and a salesman came up and I asked him about it and he said battery flat come back tomorrow, the next day went back and same guy came up and said "yes mate" whilst doing his tie up, can I have a look at the Mercedes, please "oh we have not had a chance to charge yet". I walked out and never went back OR bought one of these, few stories about roof probs and rust later and then this from Jack, good call. Great design in the way of looks but be careful Folks.

Were the rust problems resolved in later models?

I am German and I will never understand why people would prefer a Mercedes 107 over a Jaguar XJS! 😉

Did this man call the M110 engine a v6? lol

This was a poor report, the 280 was deliberately made as a low powered version because of cost to the consumer. The car is exactly as advertised do your homework. Complaining about the front end drainage just tells me that you need to maintain your car based on your environment, obviously he lives in a wet/damp climate so he needs to pay attention and make sure all drains are clear. Classic cars in England all have the problem of rust due to the weather.His experience with a person ripping him off on his car purchase is again based on his lack of knowledge, do your homework. Finally, using an advertisement for a 560 SL to laugh at a 280SL again lacks knowledge. A 560SL is a totally different car and was a final product that ironed out a lot of the prior SL issues over a very long R107 production run.

Sorry, but this article is not about the 280SL but about an individual that failed to do his homework before buying a used car.

Pointless drivel.

I have a 1989 560SL and it's extremely powerful. If you wanted power, why didn't you get an R107 with a bigger engine? Also, my car is a California/Oregon car and it never had any rust issues.

380s and the 80s bodies are the best ones… and you have to compare the car to other cars of its era not a modern Mercedes 😂.. and yeah mate my feelings are hurt (SL owner)

Sounds like you're driving around in one with a dusted suspension. My 560sl had original suspension when I bought it and it didn't drive great. I rebuilt the suspension with all new mercedes bushings and bilsteins including the subframe busings and motor mounts....the car drive absolutely magically. It's NOT a sportscar, but I think the ride is sublime and it's pretty damned quick when using the 1st gear kickdown...loads and loads of torque at all RPMs. The 280sl is probably pretty anemic.

This is a funny video! genuinely always good to see both sides of the story, which we rarely see - so thankyou for that!

What is irritating, you sound too charged.

"Rust"? What is that? (I live in Arizona, in the states. Does reach 115°F/46°C in summer.) 🙂

I think you’ve totally missed the charm of this car. Maybe as your only car some of your points are valid but as part of a collection of say 3 to 7 cars i think these are fabulous and reward their owners with their character and delivery. They are not sports cars but a form of transport to relax and enjoy a journey and get out the other end not feeling exhausted or tired.

'Meh!'cedes😁

WOW....you really don't like R107s! While I can and do agree with most all of the points you made about this chassis I can say that I enjoy my R107 on sunny days of "boulevarding" around my local area. I ask that you remember most of that car was a carryover from the 60s pagoda chassis and not really meant for anything but being seen behind the wheel in. I daily drive 3 different R129's (I6,V8,V12) and the difference between the chassis(s) is night and day. I still get a grin on my face puttering around in the R107 and remembering back when I first saw one as a child. Now in my case childhood memories have led me to collect W140's, R107s, R129s and W116s as a form of financial suicide.....I do enjoy my time maintaining them and driving them. I am lucky to have talented private MB service techs along with my own mechanical talents to keep my aging fleet on the road. Keep up the good work on your channel.

Man i love mercedes..but i love more a man a Cencere one ur the guy keep it up

Get some help mate - pills might work 4 U.

In 1971 these were literally twice the price of a Jaguar E type. You could buy 2 jags for the price of one of these.

The SL from 1972 to 1989 was legendary. I have a 1989 560 SL and I love it. My next purchase is a 280 SL Manual

Harry Metcalf and Iain Tyrell appear to disagree.