560SL w/ Cold A/C and New Soft Top. International Buyers Welcome
1988 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class 560SL Description:
The Overview
Offered for an aspiring R107 owner or collector is this nice classic and great driving 1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL Roadster.
It is finished in the Signal Red Metallic (568O), over beige or tan interior ("Palomino" in Mercedes-speak) leather hides with black soft top. Clean Carfax showing no accidents or damage reported at time of pulling report. Odometer shows 84,838 miles. It features a great running 227 horsepower 5.6L V8 engine mated to the factory 4 speed automatic transmission with four wheel disc brakes with ABS, power windows, factory hard/soft tops, and driver side airbag. I'm not an R107 expert or car expert for that matter, but please read description below and do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I received the car in partial exchange for a W210 E55, but I am a little too tall for it, and looking to get back into a sports sedan. Google Drive link below with, I think, over 400 pictures. Sold with clean and clear NY title.
Exterior
The exterior of this 560 SL is in overall very good condition. The car recently received a detailing and has a great shine, and has been stored in garage or under car cover since then, aside from taking photos for this listing. I took photos both pre- and post-detailing so you can be better informed. Paint shines very nicely with a great gloss. Consistent panel fitment and body gaps, and to my knowledge, paint is original, but you are more than welcome to come and confirm that for yourself. Very clean and straight body and I invite you to come inspect it yourself before auction closes. Door have that traditional Mercedes "Thunk"-sound when you close them! Front air dam is in place, bumpers look to be in good shape with chrome finish, and badging and ornamentation is all in place as well. As you can probably tell, this car retains its original headlights and US. bumpers, unlike many that have been haphazardly converted to Euro-spec. Most importantly, this car does not have those God-awful chrome wheel arches. The body looks very rust-free, with no corrosion or bubbling in the common spots for R107s like the wheel arches or aft of the passenger side wheel well. ALL VIN Tags are in place as well, including the doors, trunk, and hood. The panels look very clean per my mechanic's inspection. I'm colorblind so I asked him to inspect the car for rust and other issues, so I am writing what he reported. There is some sheathing or outside layer on the muffler/exhaust underneath that has some mild corrosion but floor panels and underneath look straight and clean. All engine compartment and door sill stickers appear to be in place as well, and vacuum door locks work as intended. Underside looks solid upon my and mechanic's inspections apart from the muffler/exhaust that I mentioned, but I definitely encourage and welcome your inspection as well and given it's a 30+ yr old car. No unsightly dents either. The Signal Red paint has a deep luster with a few minor nicks, scratches/dings, and other light cosmetic blemishes as to be expected on a car of this vintage. There is what appears to be some dried wax or polish or etching on some sections of the car like the vents near the windshield, probably can be polished out. I've pictured all blemishes I can find in the link below and tried to photograph every square inch of the car. CAR HAS A BRAND-NEW SOFT TOP. The top was redone within the last year. The handle to operate the top to is in good-shape too, no problems with releasing open the rear bow or rear deck, etc. Again, all is pictured using the link below. Original Hardtop is also included with the sale. All glass in good shape and free of cracks, working power windows, etc. Lights, high beams work as they should. Vacuum power locks work as well. If you need any more pictures or Facetime/video walkaround, just ask! Car has good tread matching TOYO tires all around, and original wheels in good condition. Overall, this is one stunning and well-preserved 30-year old Mercedes, with minor wear commensurate with age, in a not often seen color.
Interior
I think the photos will reflect the lovely interior, but the interior is in very good shape overall. Most importantly, no big crack across the dashboard like so many of these have. There is a smaller crack closer to the instrument cluster that is hard to notice, and likely easy to repair, should you decide to go that route. Original books, some service records, and tool kit are present. There are supplements for operating the HVAC, warranty booklet, radio manual, and owner's manual, among others. Radio has been swapped for a more modern and intuitive JVC unit with CD functionality. MOST IMPORTANTLY, A/C WORKS AND BLOWS COLD! That is a big difference from most of these for sale. It means the car can actually be used in the summer like it was designed to be. Heat works great too. Sun visors are in good shape, not puffy like a lot of other SLs on the market. Seats and leather have held up well for the age of the car and for it being original leather upholstery, not MBTEX, with minimal seat sagging, unlike some R107s. Of course there are some scratches and separation in the bottom cushion, but I have a family friend that is a great leather restorer for decades, so we can certainly arrange a restoration of the seating if you desire. Leatherique treatment would certainly rejuvenate the leather hides. Speedo, tach, odometer, fuel gauge, tachometer, coolant temp, oil pressure gauge, etc. function as they should. Car has a period-correct car phone (analog, so no longer operational) and radar detector, which is still functional and gives quite audible alerts, although a little oversensitive. Does alert you about speed traps, police, radar, etc.Trunk is clean and has palomino carpeting, along with full size spare tire and tool kit. Also have the tool to stow and raise the soft-top. Gear shifter goes into P-R-N-D-3, etc. with no issue. Parking brake and horn are functional.
As you might be able to tell, there are rear jump seats added to the car which should go a long way towards increasing practicality. They are removable to my knowledge, and I have a panel that is included that should cover them up. The carpets are very clean as the photos show. Car also comes with another set of brand new carpet mats. Bolsters are clean/firm but have some wear as to be expected with a car of this vintage, with an even hide throughout. Thermometer also works. Wood trim also appears to be in good shape with some cracking, see for yourself as pictured in the link below. Armrest goes up and down. Seats also fold forward and recline/tilt, etc. Overall, this is a very comfortable and well laid-out, well preserved cockpit that is very comfortable over long or short trips. Still has that great rich leather smell that MBs used to have!
The Drive
Mechanically, this Benz drives very solidly. It starts up easily, on the first try, and runs great and makes a lot of power and torque. Great passing power and smooth shifts from the gearbox. These are stout powertrains and are quite under-stressed. Consistent brake pedal feel, good braking ability, and good suspension/supple ride quality. The suspension components in this one feel a little better damped than other ones I've been in. The car has a substantial feel to it, with minimal play in the steering. Car had a fluids service and new brakes earlier this year. A great driver car or boulevard cruiser, and good bones for a restoration if you desire, as I think the only thing that would need to be redone are the seats. I would recommend refinishing rather than re-upholstering, for originality sake. I welcome any PPIs. No warning lights illuminated on dash. I would recommend a road-force wheel balance if you will be doing a lot of high-speed highway driving. There is a little vibration in the steering wheel around 70-75 mph. Car has no problem getting to highway speeds, it is very powerful, but more importantly torquey. A very strong runner that can keep pace with modern day traffic and a great cruiser that gets a lot of thumbs-ups. Car is a great runner and with things like the working A/C and rear seat, is very usable. Also, the car idles properly, doesn't have the weird high idle in park or neutral like others.
RECENT SERVICE HISTORY
In February 2018, car had a new fuel distribution switch installed at cost of $500. In addition, the rear brake calipers and hoses were replaced. At the same time, a full brake fluid flush was performed, and the car received four new brake rotors and pads. Window relay also replaced. Oil/filter change done in April 2019. Ball joint, control arms, brake modulator control pump and wheel alignment performed at 82,700 miles, which is probably why the suspension feels solid. The previous owner kept some service records and also, kept a driving/maintenance log with mileage notation at each service interval, etc. Please check out the link below as I have uploaded some of the records there.
Terms and Conditions
1. Car is being sold with a clean title and is sold"AS IS" "WHERE IS"with no written or verbal warranties or guarantees expressed or implied. I fully welcome and encourage and prospective owners/bidders to come check out, feel, and inspect the car in person. Please note there will beNO POST-SALE INSPECTIONS to determine whether you actually want to purchase the car soPLEASE BID THOUGHTFULLYand carry out the purchase if you win.Please ask any and all questions before bidding, I want this to be a great transaction for all parties.
2.Zero feedback usersplease contact me prior to bidding/making an offer or bids will be canceled. Car is also being advertised in other platforms and I reserve the right to end the listing at any time.
3.Ican help with shipping arrangements or work with your shipper to coordinate pickup.Out of state and International BUYERS WELCOME!
4. Winning bidder please message me through eBay or email me within 24 hours of auction close.
5.$500 non-refundable Paypal deposit due uponauction close.
6. Balance of purchase is due via cash in person or bank wire transfer within 7 days of auction close. All funds must clear before releasing vehicle and title. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. I can certainly store the car under car cover or in garage for longer while you arrange and coordinate shipping or pick-up.
7.All photos taken by iPhone X or Nikon camera
8.I have described this car to the best of my ability, disclosed every thing I know about it, photographed it as much as humanly possible, and been as transparent as I can. All inspections and viewings are welcome. More images available here:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1J-yW_bCaR-5H_O4EnilJ4pmtJBHx0n1M
Please do not hesitate to contact me to request additional photos, videos, or to schedule in-person viewings or mechanical inspections! If you need a driving video let me know. Like I said, Facetime or video-chat inspections/walkarounds are available as well, just ask. Thank you for viewing this listing and best of luck with the listing! Hope to help you become a 560 SL owner, or add to your collection, quite soon!
