Beautiful car. Mine is an 82 that I’ve had for 25 years. You consistently make references to Mercedes of the 80’s and 90’s. This car was designed in the late 60’s for release in 1972. The 107 was produced for about 20 years.
I have a 1989 560SL and don't really care that the seats don't recline, but I sure wish that they were 6-way power seats so common on other luxury cars of the day. When someone tall gets into my car, they always want to adjust the seat, which is very hard to do. A tilt and telescopic steering wheel would have been nice, too !
Nice Vid! I have a 560SL that was my daily driver for 20+ years (350,000+ miles). Now it has been retired to my garage for a weekend car. Totally agree with everything you said about the likes/dislikes. I will add one more of my dislikes - people with neat, clean garages! :) How do you guys DO That!!! :)
Nice video Alex and so nice to see you have Euro spec bumpers and lights which are vastly superior to the USA spec versions. Nice coco mats too. There is a reason the seats have limited rear travel. I have a 107 in my collection and at 6’ 2” tall I do wish there was a little more rearward adjustment on those seats! The 107 was designed mostly in the late 1960’s for introduction in 1971. During its development there was anticipation that rollover safety regulations would be introduced and that convertibles would be effectively eliminated. For this reason many manufacturers introduced targa style cars with t bar roofs instead of full convertible designs, think contemporary Porsche Targas, Triumph Stag, Jaguar XJS, Corvettes just to name a few. Mercedes alone proceeded with a full convertible design and to improve roll over survival they strengthened the A pillars/windscreen frame to act as a rollover bar. It works too but to ensure a front rollover bar can keep passengers alive in a rollover, their heads must be relatively close to that rollover bar. They achieved this by restricting seat travel so that it is physically impossible to get too far away from the rollover bar. All of this worked too - the 107 was a fabulous success for Mercedes and for several years it was the only new full convertible available for sale. The restricted seat travel combined with another challenge for the long legged, being the huge steering wheel, which is why you see many 107’s with smaller after market steering wheels, with the Nardi versions very popular in-period. I’ve kept my 107 totally original, like you, and have learned to live with these limitations. It’s a wonderful car, an incredible design and such an excellent car for touring and long drives. Enjoy it!
As a R129 owner, I also miss not having my seats recline. Especially on long trips and you need to pull over for 15mins. That's what the "REST" button is intended for: the heat runs for 15mins w/ the engine off while you take a nap.
Great looking car and honest review. Thank you! Hope you are getting a chance to get out and enjoy it now that spring is here and things have loosened up a bit vis a vis Covid restrictions.
i have owned the car you have and I currently have a R129 and that car knocks the older model into a cocked hat! From the looks to the practicality to the fully automatic convertible roof it is an all round improvement to the older model and is actually superior in build quality to the model that followed. Give a good R129 a try and you will be amazed! You will also be surprised at how much more car you get for your money!
Totally agree on everything *except* SADE is best enjoyed via 1980’s cassette technology, and the Becker player with Mercedes speakers still provides a very authentic period sound.
The ' 88 I am looking at has the Orig,. Becker Cass. Radio , hope it works Ok. I have a ton of Jazz cass.'s ! I see some guys ad optional speakers in back . Or possibly in doors , or upgrade in dash . we will see .
There is a ‘cup holder’ of a sort. If you lean forward and slide your water bottle to the right of the console (your prndl shifter) in between the console and the black loop handle for the passenger seat forward and back adjustment, a water bottle fits in there nicely without falling. Even a quick stop won’t dislodge it. I’ve had my 1980 450SL since 2011.
Nice car! I had a 107 300SL about 15 years ago and you are right about build quality and styling - it’s a very beautiful car BUT I simply could not get used to the soft suspension! Maybe it was the set up on that particular car but it just did not give me any kind of sporty drive and I sold it pretty quickly. Fast forward 15 years, I’m now having another look at them…. Let’s see!
My aunt had one, she was about to order the garage accessory to lift the hardtop off. (She has a husband for that =) But if you had not mentioned the solid door sound, I would have moved on to another video. My aunt also pointed that out to me. I have heard about places that can modernize the hi-fi, but what for? They would ruin the marquee like getting plastic cupholders from the convenience store. Too bad about the drizzle, but there will be better days. Love the car, thanks for sharing!
Alex , Ok video , everyone has an opinion . I have wanted an SL ( 107 body ) since I was in Jr. Hi ! Tomorrow I will be test driving one owned by an older couple . They have owned it many Yrs. & no longer want to drive / keep it . There son is selling it for them . I hope it Ck.s out Ok . I will be able to have it Cked . out by a local trusted shop . It is black & Tan & No Rust . I have driven a ' 89 SL - 560 with 40 K miles from SW USA WoW ! Nice . This one is an 1988 with 88,100 K miles & overall not bad conditin , we will see on Friday thanks for Video . M. N.
I bought a red 1989 560SL with 30k original miles. Love it. Beautiful, solid, and so smooooooth! Like a beautiful, classy older lady strolling by with a smile and perfect posture which attracts all
Great review, gorgous color. I loved my 560 SL but share your points - seatback travel inadequate and speakers under sized for a convertible. I was always torn on whether to take off the hardtop as I do not believe any other vehicle looks so beautiful and classy as the R107 with the hardtop in place.
@@AlexBeras If you live in California like I do, you do not use the hardtop ! I have had my 560SL for 20 years now, and the hardtop has only been on the car twice !!!!! Nothing looks better than this car with the convertible top down !!!
I couldn’t agree more! The AC in my car never blew cold air like a modern car. no matter how well it was charged, you just hope the climate control worked well enough to not sweat in traffic.
@@AlexBeras Mine has the earlier climate control system and there's a short in the servo so it only blows AC, no heat :( It's $$$ to fix but haven't done yet because it's warm here. It's the only thing not working correctly in the car. I only have 34K miles on it too :)
Thank you! With Mercedes, parts availability is relatively hassle free. Every part is out there, prices can by crazy for specific parts, and will require you to reach out to the MB Classic center in Irvine at times for those hard to find parts, but everything is relatively affordable and nearly everything is in production/remanufactured.
@@AlexBeras Thanks !! What about good/specialized mechanics? Do you bring it to some specialist or a normal garage will suffice? Do you service and fix it by yourself?
I agree with your remarks about the cup holders, BUT have you seen Mercedes' response to the problem? I have a 2002 CLK430 with a cup holder that fits into a covered recess in the console. After opening the recess, you push a button and the cupholder springs up for use.The problem is that it intrudes on the passenger and is out of balance. It is the typical German engineer's overreaction to a very minor problem.
Hello I had a 79 450 sl it was my first daily driver mercedesbenz and yes the 107snare bullet proof I drove it and only changed the plugs and engine oil and new tires Goodyear ones and it was red with tan interior and yes I noticed the seat reclining I'm 6/5 but it still checked my boxes on a olsldnschool sports car but when I bought it it definately attracted girls but it's is tank on doors but I loved that car I have a 1998 500sl now but I will find another one and restore it to factory and not get rid of it OK I enjoyed yournvideo I'm subscribed enjoy oeace
That's dead-on about the seats. I'm on my 2nd 560 and if they had just used the SLC chassis, which is slightly longer, it would've made for such a more comfortable seating position. For shorter drivers it's not such an issue, but if you are anywhere around 6' or bigger, getting that driver's seat back far enough without jamming the seat into the belts is almost impossible. My last one had indentations in the leather where the previous owner must have kept the seat constantly digging into them. I'm thinking about having some of my femur shaved down so that my legs are slightly shorter. That should help. My last car was your Diamond Blue Metallic color. Such a pretty color! Enjoy it!
James, you are so correct about 6' or taller having a problem with the seat comfort. I am 5'8", so I have no problem. But one of my friends who is 6'2" has a heck of a time getting really comfortable in my 560SL.
There's one thing that I cannot stand about my 1987 MB 560SL. The door buzzer. Really? All that German engineering, and they missed the mark on fully reclining seats and a terrible sounding door buzzer! But I absolutely love my car!
I had a Caledonia Green (Pea Soup) 450SL I hate that i just don't fit very well inside a Benz 107....It's just too tight in the shoulders and the cabin in too narrow. Timeless Styling, Amazing Quality,Satisfying Performance (Cruises at 100 mph)
I had a very good experience with ownership over ten years. I bought the car with a fresh timing chain.! It thankfully didn’t leak oil, but I think if you stay on top of everything obsessively, budgeting oil changes, brakes, and tires makes it a relatively easy car to live with.
nice video! have one 560sl myself in germany, imported from the us... beautiful car, but you should not be to tall.. and fit an aftermarket sound system ;)
The German made Becker radio is excellent, its a system that's simply missing a power amplifier. It needed better speakers and a power amp. How do you fit to drive it, its not meant for tall people.
@@AlexBeras I'm 6.4 and my knees hit the dash. My friend owns one. You should look into adding some better speakers and a 4-ch power amp to that cassette deck. You will be impressed by the sound you'll get from it.
Thanks for this great video. I am actually thinking of buying a 560 SL. I live in Sweden so I will probably import one from Germany. You said it drives like a muscle car - what about the engine sound? I like to hear the v8 clearly. But I dont want any roar and not too silent either. What is your opinion?
It’s like a muscle car in that it accelerates incredibly well in a straight line. I went with a Timevalve exhaust system that is OEM fitment equivalent and completely fabricated from stainless steel. I was incredibly satisfied with the fit and the sound.
Aotearoa Kiwi I mean, in all seriousness the seating position is great for driving, you are right about that! For me, It was just an observation I made from my passenger wanting to recline her seat after a long road trip.
You are too tall to fit comfortably. The big steering wheel would hinder you from exiting and entering the vehicle. I’m 5’9” and it fits me comfortably. I own a ‘85 380SL with 79K miles. Dark navy blue. Love the car!
Hey Im happy I came across this video. I have a 560 on hold till I return next week and If all goes well, she'll be mine. Overall what is your final opinion on the 560? Ran into any maintenance issues?
Quinten Curtis the 560SL is one of the easiest classics to live with. 8 years no issues. If looked after, one of the best, most relaxing grand touring experiences ever. Not a sports car, but a fun cruiser that you can live with in modern traffic.
When I got mine my mechanic suggested that I change the timing chain as an inevitable issue to deal with. He said it was a $500 job at the time (about 15 years ago). I trusted his opinion and had it done.
Hey Alex, My 87' 560 SL is on its way across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe. Obviously,the Merc has the( in my opinion) ugly US bumpers and headlights which I plan to replace just like you did. My question about the bumpers: are yours MB original (restored?) or brand new aftermarket ones (Vietnam?) If the latest- how do you like them? Regards Chris
They are aftermarket. The quality is amazing. The fit takes some adjusting to get it just right. Original bumpers are a bit hard to find in rust free condition. Congrats on the new car!!!
You’ll have to adjust, readjust, and adjust a few times to get them perfect, but once they’re set in place, I think you’ll be happy. The quality is surprisingly good. A company named MACarbonFiber supplies them as well.
Timing chain issues were corrected on the 560SL. The 380SL was plagued by timing chain issues, but were subsequently corrected when converted to dual row at an early recall.
Very sympatical presentation. I have a R107 myself, a 500 SL. Since I know, Mercedes produced the 560 SL especially for the US market, it was always delivered with the "long/wide" bumper und double head-lights. Yours doesn't have the traits - why?
Great eye!! I was able to source European Bumpers and Headlamps, and I proceeded with the conversion. I loved the original European design and I wanted the car to appear as the designer originally intended.
@@AlexBeras I understand your point. But in Germany you wouldn't get the classification as a historic car, because it is not original. The 560 SL was only produced for the US market. You should have tried to get one of the 500 SL that were exportet to the US. Those have the European design. As far as I know, they didn't have to be converted, if the owners paid a little extra fee for the insurance. Thats what I heard. And I own the proof, since my 500 SL was delivered to a German car dealer who directly exported it to Utah. After having been there for more than 30 years, it came back to Germany in 2017.
Reason I ask because I found one in the back of a barn... the body still looks good but I don’t think the motor works... I saw urs while checking the model out... I was wondering if it would worth it , to bring back life to it
If the body is structurally intact with no rust, absolutely. The motor in these cars are reliable when serviced. With a thorough cleaning and cosmetic refreshening, you’ll have a great car for a lifetime!
You made a great video. This is my favorite Mercedes as well and I am shopping for one. Your color combination is very nice. There are very few nice ones out there and sometimes the price is through the roof.
wurly164 thank you! I was fortunate to get this one before prices went up. If you find a clean one with high miles, and a good maintenance history, it’s usually not a problem. Ones that were stored away from new in collections tend to have more issues from not being driven. Rubber parts/seals and metals have an expiration date.
Strong video - thanks for talking about interesting aspects of the car without being boring! So many car vids one has to skip through the tedious parts - not your's. And silver over blue - great SL colors.
I can’t even imagine what it’s like driving this car down a straight road listening to the sweetest taboo full blast on cassette. Must be really nice despite the outdated sound system. Great video!
Just an update, I bought one last fall, a 1985 380 SL in this exact color. It had a new soft top, it’s in very nice shape, the woodwork is in perfect shape. I replaced the complete exhaust system and it now spends its time turning heads on the roads.
I have a really nice 500 SEC with good paint and a really nice interior, but your SL is crazy minty. What a glorious ride. Props. We all hate you! My center console box is basically used as my Starbucks coffee holder. As for 80's sound systems three decades later.... Oh yeah. God awful. I'll eventually have my completely redone, but tastefully. I did have my Becker rebuilt, with the internal tape deck function disabled in favor of adding a Line-in, but that's just a stop-gap. My ride is a keeper so I will want a proper sound system at some point.
The seats not being able to recline/move back ALL THE WAY is the biggest oversight Mercedes made on this car. A lot of these cars (r107's) have aftermarket speakers added. For me it's the style/design of the car that I love most. Wanted one since the 80's and finally got one. Old car, bad on gas, not great in city traffic, but I LOVE it still.
I hear you as I have an 89 in red. I replaced the speakers with a set of Morel's and it's changed the whole experience dramatically. Wasn't cheap to find a set that fits the unique slot in there, but very doable and worth the investment.
I have an 86 560SL I am doing some restoration work on right now. 7 of the front lug bolts snapped off. Drilling them out was by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I urge you to torque them by hand and never use an impact, or let anyone else use one. I am doing the work in Bridgeport but I live between Stamford and Queens. Good to see another New Yorker enjoying Mercedes quality.
Great example you have there Alex, I had a 123 in china blue myself, you make me want to get a 107. Btw what an odd size and place for a speaker. I thought the speaker size in my 123 was odd, the 2.5" slot in your SL probably fit a 3", nevermind about midbass, 3" probably struggle with lower end of midrange.
Amazing color for your W123! I had one several years ago in Smoke Silver with a black MBTex interior. Absolutely loved it. China Blue is a dream color on those cars!... many do upgrade the system and place speakers in the rear parcel shelf, but to maintain the minimalist design cue, I leave it alone.
You know after I did the conversion I was happy with the work done, but I knew it was no longer original! Thankfully over 10,000 were made each year they were in production!
The car is awesome, another thing, you could probably say about the car is you have the best of 2 worlds, the 560, is sporty, but yet, it has the elegance of one of the sedans, that is a plus, 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I am happy to see that you gave your 560SL the treatment it deserves (as Friedrich Geiger, its designer intended): Euro bumpers and lights! I always thought the North American cars looked like skateboards with the exaggerated 5mph bumpers and the useless sealed beam DOT headlights. I am fortunate to own a W116 450SEL (F. Geiger designed as well) and a C126 560SEC (Bruno Sacco design) both Euro versions. It would be great to meet one day (once things get back to normal) as I am just across the border in Ontario. Cheers!
unfortunately this it is a big investment to change the bumpers and headlights...as i have found out as a new owner of a beautiful diamond blue SL560 - still going to do it though!
Great job on your video. I agree on every topic. I own one very much like it incl Euro conversation. Bought it from the original owner in Pebble Beach California in 2018. Tip: H&R springs, which actually raise the rear slightly make a huge difference. They have two versions comfort and sports. I chose the the comfort version because I didn’t wanna ruin the ride.
In my opinion the nicest convertible. love the euro lights and bumpers. Learn how to work on car yourself. The KE Jetronic is a complex but workable system. Very few mechanics know these cars that you can trust to work on them. The M117 engine has lots of room to work on the car. I;ll give you a small advice, lube and lube and lube. Everything from door hinges to throttle linkage. Nice car....
I am not a pro on the R107 but from what I can tell, this is a Euro-conversion of a US car (560 SL). The bumper and the headlights are Euro-spec. The US cars had massive ugly bumpers, and US headlights were twin headlights. Am I right or wrong about that? Did you get hat work done, or did you purchase the car in this form?
You are right! This is a US spec converted to Euro spec! I bought the car in its original spec and had it converted. The headlights required re-wiring, but the bumpers were a fairly straightforward bolt on procedure with minor bracket adjustments.
Dear Alex, in total agreement!! I own a '82 380 SL..My German mechanic has kept it in storage for me for a very long time due to the fact I was short on $$ to pay him -- now that I was just approved for a monthly VA pension I will have enough & to bring "her" home..can hardly wait ...It's navy blue with Palamino interior. I have both tops...I know the soft top needs replaced..the hard top has been on all this time. Will start and replace things as the $ comes..I bought "my baby" in late Nov. Of '90..took me 5 yes.to pay it off ....NO REGRETS whatsoever on any level!! .
I place my drink in between the front of the passenger seat & the adjustment lever. Holds tight and is well in reach. I don't use the radio too much but it is nice sometimes and is better than nothing. Not much seat adjustment but I can drive all day in it.
I take it that you had the headlights and bumpers changed to the European style. I always had the impression that the 560SL was sold mostly for the U.S. market, as well as Australia and Japan.
