$20K to restore! Beautiful '82 Mercedes 380SL. What does the CAR WIZARD find that costs so much?

An office mistake got this classic '82 Mercedes 380SL an appointment at Omega Auto. What does the CAR WIZARD 🧙‍♂️ find and why does it cost so much to fix this beautiful car?
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[@SaxaphoneMan42]

As much as yall don't want to do older vehicles, and I understand completely why that is the case, I really do enjoy seeing them on this channel.

[@Ifixstuf]

same

[@azmike3572]

But we do see "old" classic cars there...the Mopar behind him and and the blue Malibu in the background on the lift.

[@reginaldbowls7180]

Yah I only watch the older car vids.

[@neilgibbons2532]

@@reginaldbowls7180 remember you're only as old as you feel 😁

[@Daniel-dl3tf]

@@azmike3572 oh you mean the cars that haven't been touched in months?

[@natejgreene9871]

I am 29 yrs old. I bought a 76 450sl for $1,500. I spent 6k in parts (including tires etc) and did all the labor myself. It’s perfect & reliable now. I’ve driven it on 1,500 mile road trips many times. These are cars for diy or deep pockets, but very rewarding. Best car I have ever owned, no regrets. I daily drive it 3-4 times a week

[@Jeremyho439]

I always want a pre-67 VW bug. A good friend told me as long as I know know to work on car, otherwise forget it.

[@lazylewislewis4944]

deep pockets? a complete overhaul for $20k is cheap bro. you poor bruh?

[@romulus_]

@@lazylewislewis4944 be less shitty.

[@stephenw.9647]

I have "83" love this car but it's like a piggy bank with a hole in it

[@t7489]

You also picked a good engine. The US 380sl’s are absolute junk

[@thor8640]

great advice but at 40 years of age it still looks better than anything produced in the last 10 years.

[@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261]

Don't you wish it had a random bump and awkward crease here and there?

[@hitek9too255]

Yea the body looks fantastic. No rust.

[@sunbeam8866]

@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 Don't forget today's obligatory 'lizard-eyes', 'nostrils', and 'fish-mouth'!

[@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261]

@@sunbeam8866 I remember when the Audi A4, one of the best looking cars out there, went from handsome to "fish mouth"! Also, nowadays, "crab claws" brake lights.

[@sunbeam8866]

@@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261 I actually saw some 'crab-claw' headlights on a vehicle in a parking-lot,this morning!

[@TheMrthankuvrymuch]

I've been fixing up one of these for the past year, doing all the work myself. It isn't even in that bad shape compared to how many you see abandoned in a field out there, but I'm thousands in and I can already tell I'm still going to spend almost the entire value of the car in parts alone to make it a good driver. These are no joke to fix, especially if not maintained religiously

[@Secrecy30]

I understand people want to enjoy cars that were cool when teens, but potential buyers of these things should realize same time has passed between 80´s and today than 80´s and WWII

[@charlestimmis273]

20k if you want someone to do work. 7k if you do the work yourself.

[@nexusyang4832]

@@Secrecy30That is why I just relive dreams in Gran Tourismo. Much more affordable.

[@cindybetten7573]

Hitler’s revenge!

[@huhuuhuh9081]

Wow I never thought I would be seeing you here Emperor

[@peterdavidbuglass4169]

I had a friend who wouldn’t sell me a similar car. He had budgeted about $2k for annual repairs for a weekend car. He would only sell it to someone who was mechanically inclined and could do the repairs and maintenance work himself. He wouldn’t sell it to me because he didn’t want to ruin our friendship over a car that was too expensive to fix.

[@helmuthhaass3631]

A true friend indeed!

[@mattmalenda6585]

Your friend is smart.

[@JULIAN8845]

you can see one of these in better than this one and will be scrap.what the wizard has not stated the wiper mech is behind the lh side of bulkhead its bolted to bulk head and they rot making the car scrap.if you want to look at a 107 sl/slc first thing get hold of wiper blades and check they work and look for rust on floor. bad running can be a sticky faulty air slide my 380slc was fine but my 420 se was bad even with lots of wd40. the 380 was the best all alumin 450 was iron block alumin head.

[@JULIAN8845]

my 380slc was so good to drive you could sit in it all day.its the best engine in these its a engine out job on 450 when the outlet manifold bolts shear which is not a problem on 380

[@motroman1]

Great advice Wizard! Pre-purchase inspection is necessary for any used car transaction, especially older classics. Just remember the advice when looking at a vehicle with a “great “ deal, if you can’t afford a good car, you certainly can’t afford a bad one.

[@safffff1000]

When I go looking for a car I know enough that it is usually a very wanted car and if you don't take it there is the next guy who will. Owners rarely want to wait for a pre inspection. Fortunately I have learned enough with thanks to people like the Wizard to check the cars out myself. But I do miss stuff sometimes.

[@lutomson3496]

meanwhile he bought the Jag from euroasian bob and it had problems so did Tyler..so its more about commodification then actual advice..I never buy any vehicle without an independant PPI

[@azmike3572]

@@lutomson3496 I was just about to say that Hoovie should take John Motroni's advice.

[@peterdevreter]

I know you don't take in the old stuff anymore, but I enjoy watching this. A clapped out 05 suv is just a warning video to others, but a classic is a classic. Faulty ot not.

[@felawes]

I run a Mercedes ML350 2005 150,000 miles. Each year I drive it from London to Scotland, France, Switzerland, and Andorra. Clocks up 8,000 miles as for half the year it sits in Chelsea doing 300 miles with the insane ULEZ rules. Runs like clockwork. In 19 years the only problem I ever had was the alternator in 2014.

[@Glen911porsche]

20grand!! Wow. I did alright then. I bought a 450SLC that had sat in a warehouse unused and not started for 21years. I replaced the injectors, fuel pump, I rebuilt the Bosch mech fuel injection distributor myself with a $150kit from cis, cleaned the tank, new sub frame and engine mounts, new plugs, all fluids and belts, warm up reg and have enjoyed the car trouble free for the last 5years. Spent maybe 3grand and I’m not a car mechanic. 👍🏼

[@felawes]

Absolutely adore the SLC. What a super car to have.

[@felawes]

And the 450 is the best one. Compared to the UK and Germany, US regulations rather strangled the engines. Hence the bigger engine is the one. It would be wonderful to have it cleaned by those crazy CO2-type detailers.

[@nelsonmajor2079]

Not a mechanic? But you did a lot. Rebuilding a Mech Fuel injection Distributor is a little tedious in itself!!

[@Glen911porsche]

@@nelsonmajor2079 yea was a bit tricky but turned out really well. Car ran beautiful

[@g-mang-man7924]

I had my apprenticeship at a Benz dealership in Maryland. Cut my teeth on these. Worked on them from 1986, until the W140's came out in late 91. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for classic 71-90 Benzes.

[@Dakiraun]

I hope the customer didn't spend too much on it. Also glad Jenny's okay - breaking up a fight can be dangerous.

[@mr.spokesman5849]

yo I´m in recovery!

[@azmike3572]

She might need to carry a can of Mace pepper spray to break future fights up.

[@peter-pg5yc]

values have gone up a lot

[@leonardodavinci303]

I know you don't like "old" cars, but, for YT purposes, this is a much more interesting car than a 2010 GMC truck.

[@RootBeerGMT]

Absolutely

[@erikhenricson9471]

Yes, the trick for these is definitely DIY. I’ve a couple hundred hours in mine, maybe $6-7k in parts, the car was free to a good home but now (usually!!) makes a great driver and gets lots of positive remarks. Can’t imagine the labor costs to get a good shop to do the work! $20k for sure. At least the r107s are appreciating these days!

[@peter-pg5yc]

I agree cost of trans 1400, valve job 1200. but now motor so smooth balance a quater on motor.. but top is 1400 bucks.. The rest i did.. did you do the driveline its long gone and scary to see dropped down.. center bearing no grease shocked me.. If that siezed car gone...

[@doggedlydetermined7022]

These are finally starting to age really nicely and be appreciated.

[@peter-pg5yc]

mine is insured for 17k haggerty..last year told me to increase coverage..8 dollars more in cost..

[@nelsonmajor2079]

What you mean finally?? They have been aging nicely since I was in high school and that was over 20 years ago

[@robertharris7027]

Living with a now 25 year old Benz I would not say that 20k is too much to get this R107 properly fixed (sounds reasonable). It is obviously a good basis for a running restoration.

[@tomtheplummer7322]

...um 41 yrs. 🤷‍♂️😏. Since like build in ‘81 for ‘82 model year, likely 42 yrs olde. 😉😎

[@peter-pg5yc]

diy for less then half..

[@christos881]

It's very difficult to get a PPI, once I find a car I like I can't get in to see my mechanic for about two weeks, seller will not hold the car for you unless u give him a large non-refundable deposit.

[@sixpoint3]

Although 1982 is a Mercedes I would still buy (mind you : UP to 1996) you have to know that they started putting in sensors and receiver in different places ( temperature, oil pressure etc) which now gives it two chances of failure !! More and more remove and replace bullshit to make planned obsolescence a reality (what will you do if a sensor needs replacement and you cannot get a new one ?). I won't have a new(er) car ever.

[@1995RangeRover]

Hopefully, the timing chain has been updated with the dual row set up...good times ahead if it hadn't.

[@briggsquantum]

That's for goddamed sure. In Canada that's a $6-7k job!

[@ThatCarGuy1000]

I’m surprised the first thing done by Wizard wasnt checking fluid levels and conditions.

[@markwat5958]

My thoughts exactly

[@jamesredman1263]

That would cut the video shorter.

[@JSMZeez]

Yeah I was a bit shocked he didn’t check that first. Dieseling on a gas engine is a common sign for over heating.

[@Diligentcrab]

Check coolant if over heating? Surely Wizard checked this first but not reflected correctly in video?

[@bbhoustontx]

I think... no I know I would check at least the water and oil levels before even turning the thing over.... and I'm a decent shade tree mechanic.

[@theundergroundlairofthesqu9261]

Unless you have some very special reason to buy one or fix it up (say, it was your grandmother's), do not bother with 380SL, 450SLC, 450SL. Just take the hit and buy a good condition 560SL. Better engine, airbags, ABS brakes. World of difference between the last years and the early 70's. Speaking of which, tell Hoovie to drive his grandmother's SL, if only for the sake of the fuel injection system!

[@terryloh8583]

I think it could also be a matter of people equating low mileage/low use with great condition. This is exactly why I wouldn't buy a vehicle that has sat for a long time.

[@NGMonocrom]

Saw that video already, Wizard. I'll say it again. In most of those 6 stories about cars ruining customers lives, it was the customers themselves who ruined their own lives. A bit of research, planning, and getting Pre-purchase inspections done would have prevented what they had gone through. And, even if those inspections had turned up nothing, some research would have avoided issues down the road for them. _Oh look, a GM vehicle with the 3.6 liter V6. Car runs great._ *No, stay away! Those engines are notorious for breaking down!* Sorry Car Wizard, but I can't feel sorry for folks who don't do any research. Don't plan out a purchase. And, don't do Pre-purchase checks from a certificated mechanic before buying a vehicle. Any headaches they get later on.... Brought it on themselves.

[@johnwight6041]

I know old cars can get expensive to fix but I’m having a blast working on the 1979 W116 300SD I picked up in California. So much fun

[@nelsonmajor2079]

WoW a 300SD!! 🎉🎉 the First SClass of the 1980’s!! ❤

[@MrSparklespring]

Those awfull american bumpers, totally ruin the car. Compare this with the european specs. Great work and good explanation as usual! "Endless money pit waiting to fall into" a certain Scotty would say, lol.

[@acs5928]

I had a 450sl, same color and everything. They're built well but beware of rust. They're not complicated to work on mechanically but the better condition you can buy, the happier you'll be. Its not hard for unscrupulous sellers to turn money pit R107's into something a buyer might think they can turn around cheaply, generally you cant.

[@peter-pg5yc]

they are all money pits..

[@sunbeam8866]

Wonder if this has had, or will need, the double-row timing-chain upgrade, or if that's part of the $20K rehab estimate?

[@LMSILVIA]

10 year old Bridgestones are BETTER than new linglongs...

[@carlosdad2204]

I sold my 1988 560SL because the cost of maintaining it took away all the joy of ownership.

[@RootBeerGMT]

Tell us more.

[@carlosdad2204]

@@RootBeerGMTeverything started to wear out and I just did not want to keep pouring money into it. The final straw was the a/c system needed to be completely replaced. I live in Fla and a/c is a must.

[@ravennexusmh]

Not always a puddle. My sister had a renault with a cracked waterpump..never anything on the ground. It only leaked when hot and what came out came out as steam and disappeared.

[@romulus_]

gotta use all of your senses with old cars. there had to be a sweet smell once the car got hot.

[@Learnmoretoday59]

I have an 85 300SD and enjoy the car immensely. It’s in great condition. Rust free and runs well. However, old Benz are not cheap to maintain and they are not for the faint of heart. Even if you do the work yourself, you’ll still spend a considerable amount of money. I love these cars but buyers must be cautious and willing to spend money and time to properly maintain them.

[@ItsCheechFool]

What have you spent big money on. Since you say deep pockets don’t tell me no little amounts of money that I can make at Pizza Hut to keep this car running is deep pockets or big money. tell me something that’s big money problem on the car you stated?

[@RootBeerGMT]

My mom had an 82 and an 85. Last one had the tranny conch out at 300k

[@excelerater]

i own one of these...its prehistoric and unreliable ... Added modern EFI in place of Bosch ..Now starts on a dime

[@amgonegaming9515]

It def needs a dry ice cleaning underneath ✌️💖

[@jeffzekas]

My buddy took his Corvette to a well-known restorer, gave the guy $30,000, six months later nothing was done, eventually he got his car back in pieces

[@zloychechen5150]

He restored it to its previous state, which is before it was assembled. That's even newer than a brand new car.

[@swilkobarfingtoniii1642]

When the stupid looking bumpers are deleted these cars look pretty cool. They were fast, reliable and comfortable when they were new. One of the best cars of it's era.

[@LMacNeill]

I was a teenager in the 1980s, and I *loved* the 380SL. Definitely one of my most favorite cars! I'm 52 now, and I still think the 1980s were about 20 years ago. LOL!

[@nelsonmajor2079]

😂🎉😅 same here Bruh I was a teenager i the 80’s and the 350/380/450Sl’s were the most beautiful in 52 also

[@azmike3572]

My '88 560SL (with a 6-speed manual transmission kit installed) and my '84 280SL 5-speed get their oil changed every 3K. Oil is cheaper than an engine rebuild, I've been told. But maintenance is crucial in these older classics.

[@relaxitsme_alex9104]

Where did you get a kit? I’m looking to do that to my 86 560sl

[@azmike3572]

@@relaxitsme_alex9104 TheSLshop.com. Good luck.

[@jerretschmidt4555]

First thing I do when looking at a vehicle I may buy is check all the fluids that are accessible. If I buy it, I change all the fluids and filters myself that way I know the correct fluid/oil, amount , and quality parts are used.

[@Parknest]

The owner has dodged a massive bullet on that R107 even though he's not quite out of the woods yet. These are among the best Mercs ever built (up there with the W123). I've seen one of these in the showroom of a local Mercedes dealer. I'll be taking a photo the next time I'm at the dealer.

[@wurly164]

I had a 85 metallic blue 380SL with the upgraded timing chain. Enjoyed it for a few years, then something told me to sell it. Hopefully it's still fine, but I listen to that little voice.

[@jackmoore1988]

Don’t care…love this car. It is iconic. I love the red ones better.😊

[@lilibethdoherty295]

Bless you for saving the life of classic Mercedes Panzerwagen !

[@wallochdm1]

Any reason CW didn't check the coolant before starting it?

[@Design_everything_gio]

85 Mercedes 380SL and 85 Mercedes 380SL. I have put about 3K into the 380SL and about 6K into the 300D. Once you get them sorted they work well. But - all of the old stuff goes. Luckily I have four cars - I only use them for cruisers with minimal mileage. But what the wizard says is true - it can screw you over big time. You need to really make sure you get a well maintained one. Truth is - they are much less expensive to fix than modern cars - case in point - a Porsche Cayenne went nuts on me 8K later - it never worked right. Piece of over-complicated junk. These old Mercs are made to last forever. But you need to be aware of what you are getting into!!

[@adelkheir]

Honestly this looks like the perfect car for a diy mechanic since the body is in such a good shape and all it needs is mechanical work without going too deep into it.

[@MetaView7]

It would be cheaper to put an LT-1 or crate engine in it than to fix it up. Otherwise, the cost of the parts will bankrupt you.

[@RobbieHerrera]

Only a true Mercedes enthusiast should take this on. And it's the type of restoration that can't be rushed. Definitely DIY cuz the labor cost would kill you. On these cars, the mechanical parts are easier to fix than the cosmetic and structure. The body and interior looks pretty solid and the top is nice. On this and earlier R107's the climate control is troublesome and expensive to fix, but the replacement parts are much better built.

[@GreenOval_Adventurers]

@@MetaView7 its a circa 20000 euro car, it would be devalued a lot by changing the engine.

[@MetaView7]

@@GreenOval_Adventurers The R107 will never appreciate in value. There are over 237k built. They are a dime a dozen. There are abandoned R107 everywhere in every corner of the world.

[@chevchelios8582]

Most of the old MB motors & trans are very strong. They aren’t to be feared like old Italian or English car. I would clean out the fuel tank, have the injectors professionally cleaned, run in on the best gas and see how it goes.

[@iphone3guru]

As a teacher here in NY, I feel for Mrs. Wizard!

[@charbelyammine6604]

20 K? Entire fuel system cost 900.00 includes plugs and wires and distributor, injectors , fuel pump and filter,accumulator.. labor cost 800.00 total of 1700.00

[@JonBushell]

“We don’t work on old cars?!” They are all old cars in the background.

[@richardgreene3460]

Not sure I understand the quoted $20,000! The fuel distributor can be professionally rebuilt with a lifetime warranty by the best in the industry for approximately $700.00. Brand new set of 8 Bosch injectors are $163.00. Both injectors and the fuel distributor are not "rocket science" to replace! You said brakes are now good. Where does the remaining $19,000 come from? Labor???

[@blaakrose]

Great to see you did take in this car. Good to see you fix this old Mercedes.

[@md2k8]

If you are planning to buy a classic or a collector's vehicle, do not buy that, 1982 Mercedes-Benz 380SL. Instead, buy a late-1990's to early-2010's Chevrolet Corvette coupe.

[@stevebrien1041]

With regards to Mercedes do you see them as good value? Not the new ones but older ones like a mid nineties E320? Or maybe an early 2000s E500?

[@youxkio]

Hey Wizard, what do you think about pouring some injector cleaner, or detergent gas compatible from 3M or STP in the tank to clean the system? I mean it really worked in my '96 Civic.

[@lucasp3894]

That 20K quote sounds a bit exagerated... especially without having even looked at the car. A good understanding of the kjet system is required to diagnose these properly. If it were mine and it ran reasonably well, I wouldn't touch it either, just regular driving and maintenance and I bet it would still be fine for a long time. I've been daily driving a 31 year old w124 for the last 7 years without issues. Sure it doesn't idle perfectly but it's still extremely reliable having now added 100000km to the odometer. As others have said if the owner is not at least mildly mechanically inclined it's probably not a car for them. There aren't many rust-free 40+ year old benzes around, so this one is clearly a keeper.

[@evilron944]

Hankook tires are a red flag.

[@markmonroe7330]

The owner realizes that they were causing the problem by adding coolant. They stopped adding coolant and the huge puddle on the driveway stopped. Good for them.

[@wingman427]

$20K seems like a reasonable price to make the 380SL into a dependable driver. I have an ’81 Chevy C10 with a little over $22K including the purchase price in it and I have done 75%-80% of the work myself.

[@strat0871]

You're right Wizard, we were young when these cars were new. I've been told that these engines 380 and 420 have also timing chain loose problems when getting old, is that true ?

[@ashleygordon3467]

That dash top does not look factory - I think it’s a plastic dash cap, meaning the real dash top under it is very likely cracked. Those front seats are not upholstered in original leather also the door cards are always covered in MBTex, even if the seats are leather. A few problems but what did he pay for the car? A properly sorted Mercedes R107 is a fantastic car and thoroughly enjoyable.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

Another car; another radiator without a cap (whether pressurised or just a cap) on the radiator itself.... "just undo the cap and check the level"..... not in this and many other cases unfortunately....

[@peter-pg5yc]

My bro pat was a famous car painter caver of auto week..On restorations owners never expected that bill..most never finished.. reality..

[@liamcody5060]

I would like to see wizard tackle a 1987 Porsche 924s... definitely not because I have one with 37k miles that sat since 1994 ...;)

[@mykofreder1682]

Looks like a car that needed repair and was old and unreliable, became the 2nd or 3rd car and was not driven because it needed repairs. Any car you maybe put a quarter tank and burn that tank. If you can't fix it so you can drive 100 miles you should dump it for what every you can get as is.

[@kenjohnson3641]

Dont do old cars but Hoovies garage 1968 charger right next to it 😂😂😂😂

[@maddog8148]

Mercedes are just money pits. They are garbage when you don’t have a warranty. Good bye Mercedes. Get a Lexus!!!

[@markremy4946]

Old cars = MONEY PITS! Especially GERMAN old cars.😀😄😁🤣😉😊

[@petestuff1]

most of the 380 had a single timing chain,and was considered a service item, 450 is better all dual chain,560 great cars I exported many back to Germany.

[@normanschenck6906]

funny there are two 60s/70s cars behind him but he doesn't work on old cars. Great video.

[@jongmassey]

Are those ridiculous ugly bumpers aftermarket and if so why on earth would anyone put them on?!

[@alexelliott5022]

Does Hoovie follow your advice on pre-inspections?

[@steveauston6020]

Haha it's an 82. That's minor stuff for it's age. BS! It won't cost twenty grand. The car is a perfect Sunday driver. Just keep maintaining it as is!

[@spda242]

Crazy D did a good job so we could get a video on this 👍 Feel sorry for the customer. He should have spent his money on Eurobumpers

[@audiophile6475]

A lot of people seem to think that if a car just sit in a garage that time just stops. For somethings yes but for many many many others it doesn't. Sure the paint and frame will probably love the relatively stable temp and humidity but all the rubber parts (belts hoses, tires, brake hoses, ect), shocks, springs, fluids, gaskets, seals, wires, fuel system, ect will not and will continue to degrade and in some cases degrade faster then if it was driven more regularly.

[@ILOVEBACONBOY2018]

The shop cant do older cars take it to someone who can then, what a joke..lol. Hell work on any junk ass car hoovie brings tho so he can charge him insane prices.

[@stuartkcalvin]

Some of those sacrificial bushings look like they need replacing.

[@ohadparan2853]

If you buy a 380SL you should do hours upon hours of research and deep inspections. These are phenomenal machines that need to be meticulously maintained. If so, they will do a million miles. The. Customer who owned this car BEFORE the current owner should be ashamed. And I would argue 20 grand is worth it because these are very very valuable now.

[@BeingMe23]

The Royal Purple oil has such extreme friction reduction it saved the pistions.

[@lawrenceralph7481]

When you are done spending, it will still be an unreliable $5000 German grenade.

[@robertmoore2049]

Such a beautiful car! Looks so nice on outside and in the interior as well. Too bad it doesn’t drive as good as it looks. Such a classic!

[@bryduhbikeguy]

That's a very solid example of a very nice ride that was stored allot.If it's your 'dream car',then any amount could be spent to ensure it is driveable,and this person has.Kudos.

[@peter-pg5yc]

20 k is not far fetched..

[@danf4447]

most mercedes with aluminum heads will warp after even a modest overheat. It wont show up usually for a few days to a week, but on an interstate type trip when everything gets good and hot, then look for the milkshake in the coolant and the oil dissapearing. the head gasket will be ok but the head must be removed and if possible remilled..or replaced..dont ask how i know this :)

[@jimcolangelo7003]

If I were the customer, I would sell it, cut my losses, and buy a Miata.

[@goodtimejohnny8972]

What we older folks enjoy are cars that aren't over engineered, and will still get you from point a to b even with a faulty component. Now you need a roll back for something as simple as a brake switch, door latch, abs sensor and the list goes on and on. Oh my, now the rollback won't start....Mr. Ed where are you?

[@fredjan8514]

this is not the dash, its , its an aftermarket dash cover. the dash is cracked as hell that is why they covered it.

[@frankn4skeen]

I had a 350 SLC coupe when I was working in Germany. Basically same car as the SL except for a real roof (with a sun-roof) and 2 real rear seats. It was a really nice smooth ride.

[@patrickboyd3364]

I think it's time for Miss Wizard to retire from teaching..

[@vintagehaynesflute]

It probably has a single timing chain which needs to be converted to a double row chain. $20,000 is not a bad price and to be honest the R107 roadsters are considered classics.

[@rickastely95]

I’m the guy who asked about this on your Facebook page lmao, and seeing you just posted a video about them is kinda ironic, went to see the car and it was a piece alright.

[@jazzjokesjalopies]

You’re today’s hero, Mrs. Wizard, for breaking up those girls.

[@martinehrlich3908]

What is with the ‘69 charger? Seems pretty old to me?

[@stephendavidcavuoti6548]

Got a question and you have probably said but I be missed it are have see the one why you say but how come no older vehicles are you just tired of working on the older ones are because when you work on older ones and you find more more problems, your customers just don’t want to put the money into the older ones I don’t understand because I like the older vehicles and I spend money to keep them up. I know I’ll put any of my old vehicles up against any of these new vehicles.

[@stephendavidcavuoti6548]

Oh except on Gas Mileage ! And that’s not something I going to worry about as long as it stay under 4.00 a gallon

[@cedhome7945]

What is with those dreadful bumpers?

[@machtschnell7452]

SL380 are the worst MB V8 made.

[@hotpuppy1]

Problem with the MB engines of the 70's-80's was the lack of iron cylinder liners in the aluminum block. One only has to look back at the Chevy Vega to see what happens. My uncle had a '72 MB 28SEL four door. Nice bar but had to have the engine gone through due to oil burning.

[@relaxitsme_alex9104]

The M117 V8 is definitely not. It’s quite indestructible is taken care of. The only Achilles heel of these engines was the taming chain and tensioners. The early 380sl had single row timing chains that couldn’t hand the engines power and of course grenades the engines. They fixed the issue buy upgrading the later 380s to a dual row timing chain but still you gotta change them every 100,000 miles. I’d say the only thing people complained about them was the performance. These had the same performance as a modern day Civic

[@cwmoser]

Any Mercedes, new or old, is a Money Pit !!

[@kbVACArestatecarsnrvs]

In 1980, my early 20's, I was in Studio City, CA and my friend had a 450 SL, probably a '78 or '79 model year. I really like these cars but have always known they are expensive to fix, keep repairs up on. Like the fact you usually had the hard top to go with and could change it up when convertible life wasn't weather friendly. But those V8's, even though plenty of power in these, sucked up the gas. I drove my friends once out of many times offered to me, because it just was so bad on gas and I was afraid something would break while I had it. I didn't make that kind of money at that age, even working in Century City Twin Towers. I stuck with my '65 Thunderbird for driving around the town, gas savings not so much but to fix, indeed.

[@Badge1122]

The hub caps are still good.

[@FBfogo]

I bought a used one when it was only 10 years old. Did all the work myself and put 130,000 miles on it. Kept meticulous repair records and concluded that it cost $0.25/mile to drive not counting gas. Sold it in 2002. Fast forward to today, many systems used rubber hoses and rubber vacuum fittings and actuators. That stuff was expensive then and I can’t even imagine now.

[@savedin87ify]

The 380 SL is my favorite of Mercedes of all. Would love to have one.

[@williamharrell4283]

I'm SORRY. That car is "PRISTINE". Has ONLY 114,000 MILES. THIS "MECHANIC" TALKED ABOUT "EVERYTHING" "EXCEPT" what the CUSTOMER needed in a "MECHANIC". The BEST A "LEGITIMATE" mechanic would have done in THIS CASE (when he hasn't A "CLUE" PAST anti-freeze, brakes replacement, CHANGING OIL ,if that, on a Mercedes Benz car) was to TELL THE CUSTOMER that he is IGNORANT as to WHY that "PRISTINE" EXAMPLE of a SL won't RUN like a $100,000 car AGAIN when it was "NEW". I remember one time a Mercedes Benz DEALER "TALKED" so BAD about the CAR; I thought it BLOW UP before I could drive it off if the SHINY, WAXED garage floor WHEN all the DEALER needed to do was carry out a RE-CALL on an odometer. I WASN'T the usual NICE, HAPPY, DEEP POCKETS, Mercedes Benz OWNER and LET THEM KNOW: Just do the RE-CALL. I don't NEED OPINIONS, "ALL" NEGATIVE when I already KNEW the DEALER didn't PAY WORKERS ENOUGH to drive a Mercedes Benz car. Long Story Short: THIS WAS FUNNY! Especially the EXPERT WIZARD somewhere ELSE just said it would COST $20,000 to fix the car AS TO RUNNING SMOOTHLY when spark plugs for the car COST $2.00 EACH. FILTER cost another "maybe" $30.00. The GOOD THING HERE is that this is NOT A "DOCTOR". Sorry. But, I am partisan to Mercedes Benz and don't like when folks see my car parked on the SIDE of the ROAD, so I had to learn the TRUTH and NOT TRUST folks who will TRASH my car RATHER than say: Sir, I don't speak German and have NO CLUE about German cars. I like Chevrolets.

[@JustinSchmidtisobsolete]

K-Jet is really easy if you understand how the system works. I was able to resurrect a 1977 280SE that sat for 15 years with similar issues. New Bosch fuel injectors were $26 each from Pelican Parts, fuel pump, accumulator, and associated fuel lines were not terribly expensive, under $300 all in after some savvy parts shopping and finding deals on new OEM parts. The hardest part for me was converting everything to Euro spec and removing the US emissions garbage. Honestly, I spent more money on redoing the brakes, flex discs, and center support than anything else. Once I got it up and running, it performed remarkably at Watkins Glen International for a driving event I did last year.

[@greasebellygarage]

My k-jet on my 82 won't idle.... Very frustrating problem. Lol

[@ronaldwarren1267]

Put LS and trans now it's reliable sweet

[@christopherburns524]

Car Wizard, do you offer the service of pre-purchase inspections for customers? As someone who only drives vehicles 20 years or more old, it would be great if you could treat working on older vehicles like being a lawyer-- require an upfront nonrefundable "retainer" that can be applied to repairs if the owner chooses to go forward and to compensate you for a thorough evaluation. Your market-based value assessment of whether to invest in repairing a vehicle is generally spot on, but if the car is worth more to a customer than market value and they are willing to pay your going hourly rate to have their older car repaired (and they know the money-pit risks), why not? Thanks for your no-nonsense videos! "Let's get started!"