Mercedes-Benz SL (1971 – 1989) Review

Mercedes-Benz SL (1971 – 1989) At A Glance

Elegant, iconic, long-lived and offered in many guises

It's a bit of a cruiser, even in the higher-powered versions. Extremely rust prone.

Ask Honest John

How much is my 1987 Mercedes 300SL worth?

"How much is my 1987 soft top Mercedes 300SL worth? It also has a hard top. "

In the current classic car market, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (R107) remains one of the most desirable modern classics. Because yours is a 1987 model, it benefits from the post-1985 facelift, which added improved suspension, better brakes and the more refined 3.0-litre straight-six engine — all of which make it more valuable than earlier 280SL models. Of course, value all depends on condition. Based on recent auction data and dealer listings for March 2026 concours/mint condition cars with low mileage (<30k), full service history, pristine original paint and interior have gone for £45,000 – £65,000. If your is excellent, very clean, well-maintained and everything works with a mileage of around 60k-80k you'd be looking at between £30,000 – £42,000. Good condition cars with some patina, higher mileages (100k+) and minor cosmetic needs go for around £18,000 to £28,000 while project cars with significant rust that are non-runners or have poor interiors are fetching between £8000 and £12,000.

Answered by David Ross

Is a Mercedes-Benz SL a sensible buy as a classic?

"I am in love with classic Mercedes-Benz SLs, especially R107 models built between 1970 and 1989. Finding a Mercedes-Benz R107 at a good price and in good condition, especially late RHD SL500 (242 BHP) models, is increasingly difficult. The LHD SL560 produced from 1985 only for US, Japan and Australia seems tempting. What are the potential pitfalls of importing one? What would you look for where and who could help? What are the insurance and emissions implications? The European 560 SEC the 560 V8 produced 296 or 275 BHP (latter with catalyst). Are all 560 SLs restricted by US-required emissions equipment to 227 BHP? Is it possible to remove the emissions equipment from a 560SL to unleash its full potential? "

I'm afraid you've missed the boat on R107s. Ten years ago, prices were competitive but not any more. It's unlikely that you'll save any money on importing one by the time you've paid fees, shipping and VAT... and that's before your planned modifications. As power seems to be high on your list of requirements, have a look at the R129 series that replaced the R107 as these can still be found for under £10k.

Answered by Keith Moody

What should I do to prepare my car for winter storage?

"I recently purchased a 1986 Mercedes Benz SL 300 (R107) and I'm about to lay it up for the winter in a garage. Would you recommend adding a fuel stabiliser to the petrol in the tank and, if so, which brand would you recommend? Also, should I periodically start the car and bring the engine up to running temperature? Any other tips would be very much appreciated as I have been reading conflicting advice."

Try to use it as much as you can in November and December. Unless you've opted for a six-months of road tax, the main reason to lay up a car up over winter is to avoid the salt on the road - and as we don't normally see the gritters out until January and February, you've still got some crisp days to enjoy the car on. Keeping it moving will prevent flat spots forming in the rubber. If you're dead set on storage - make sure all your fluid levels are topped up. We'd also recommend investing in a trickle charger to keep your battery in good health. And yes, we'd suggest using an additive in the fuel tank. Millers make a range of suitable additives and we've used them before.

Answered by Keith Moody

How much should I be paying for a 1983 Mercedes-Benz SL?

"I am looking at a 1983 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL with 120,000 miles. It has two previous owners and a full history. It's good condition but has an oil leak. What would you say is a fair price?"

Once we get into cars of this era, car valuation tends to be done on condition. So, for example, a dealer with a concours winning example on his forecourt might price the car at £24,000 - but this would be top money for one of the very best examples. A very good car sold privately (a Condition 1 car) might be up for around £16,000. A Condition 2 car (average) might be around £8000 while a Condition 3 car (rough, but could have an MoT) might set you back about £3000. It sounds like your car is in the middle to upper tier of values for this model. If you're not sure have a look around for recent examples sold at auction, in the private ads or on eBay and see what sort of money they fetched. Values for the R107-series Mercedes SL have risen pretty steeply in the past ten years. Two owners with full history suggest a car that's been well looked after. So why hasn't the oil leak been sorted? These models do tend to leak a bit from the cambox, but there's also a variety of other places they can leak from, so more investigation is needed. How much oil is it using? How long has it been like that? What has the owner tried to do to fix it? If you're not a hands-on person, arrange with a local garage to take the car in for an inspection. And if you need an expert on hand why not try the Mercedes-Benz Club UK? They may have a knowledgeable member living locally who might be able to help you assess the problem.

Answered by Keith Moody

More Questions

Mercedes-Benz SL (1971 – 1989) Buying Guide

Good

• Roadsters, which had very long model life from 1971 to 1989.
• Model designation R107.
• 14' 5" long by 5' 10" wide.
• Six-cylinder engines more economical and cheaper to repair than V8s. A lady in Weybridge used to drive her pet parrot around in one. It just sat there on a box in the passenger seat chattering away.
• Some people like them, though, and by late 2009 low mileage W107s were selling for up to £40,000. They offer a more practical ownership experience than the pagodas or earlier SLs which are much better to look at than they are to drive.
• Most people acknowledge the 71-85 cars are not as good as the 86-89s.

Bad

• We call these 'ribside' roadsters from the FIAT Panda-like ribbing along the sides.
• To some eyes, they are really ugly and look like oversized fairground dodgem cars. But other people like them and there is still some status attached to driving one around with the top down.

Watch

• Extremely rust prone. Rust around the edges can be seen, but rust in the bulkhead vent well is difficult to find and renders the car beyond economic repair.
• Fell into the wrong hands in those middle years between being old cars and becoming 'classics'.
• Lots were driven by rich women, some of whom bounced them off kerbs, so check for uneven tyre wear signifying suspension damage.
• Be very wary of 'customised' SLs with oversize alloys, vulgar body kits and white leather steering wheels.
• If it has aircon, make sure the aircon blows cold. A/c used the old gas, no longer available and can leak when drained and fulled with CFC free gas.
• Faulty ABS means a very expensive MoT failure.
• Make sure the hood works properly and has no tears. Do not buy one with the hardtop on and the hood folded away.
• Was an aftermarket power hood kit but not very well thought of.
• Must have had 3,000-mile fully synthetic oil changes.
• Take the air filter top off and look for oil in the plenum chamber underneath. If you find any, walk away sharpish.

Running Mercedes-Benz SL (1971 – 1989)

• Club: www.mercedes-benz-club.co.uk 
• Usergroup linked to 'Mercedes Owner' magazine www.mercedesclub.org.uk 
• Useful online forum: www.mbclub.co.uk

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