Euro 380 SL versus the US 380 SL Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[@jamstarent21]

My dad has the Euro 380sl 1985, he has had it since 1989 with the flat headlights

[@bicylindrico]

Stuck modulator would effect all shifts. I agree with the schmutz in the valve body. He could search which valves are utilized for that shift and just check those. They may be accessible without pulling the valve body

[@kevdupuis]

I'm inclined to agree, a sticky shift valve that frees up as the transmission warms up would cause a no band/ clutch engagement that feels like the trans is going into neutral, but I would recommend a complete trans mission rebuild since other issues could be waiting to show up once the cold shift issue gets treated.

[@cdw904]

This response was for your “codes of conduct” video but has 380 departure so I’m posting here: I’ve been victim of a couple online groups of shaming. One particular Mercedes owner had a 560SEL and an inflated opinion of it. He was rather an armchair mechanic who didn’t have a clue on which way to turn a wrench. His advice and suggestion to everything was replace the “cap and rotar” (rotor consistently spelled incorrectly). I was in the middle of trying to get a 1985 380SL sorted. All he could do is chime in and berate the 380. He just couldn’t stand that I was enjoying working on it and learning a lot about it. I couldn’t simply enjoy it and post without a rebuttal on how terrible the 380 was. He even made audacious claims that a “450SL was twice as much power as a 380SL” that he once owned which is not true. Looking back, the guy was just dumb as a box of rocks. I finally got my 380 sorted very nicely and it runs superbly. It has plenty of power albeit from the malaise era. It is so smooth, idles so nicely And has a decent performance. If you wanted an SL in the early 80s, This is what you bought unless you had access to importing a gray market 500 SL which most people didn’t. Mercedes-Benz did not set out to make a piece of crap - The 380 was an effort to get some fuel economy and meet CAFE standards of the time. Also note that premium unleaded fuel was not readily available at the time in many areas of the US. The 380 superseded the 450SL and brought a four-speed automatic with a different final drive ratio. The performance was not that different from the 450 that it replaced. In fact, there was a 5hp difference from the final year of the 450 to the 380. I’d say that Mercedes-Benz did a pretty good job meeting requirements of the time and still being able to bring a V8 roadster to the United States. It is what they had to do and is a part of automotive history. In retrospect, none of the R107s were really that super powerful relatively speaking. Perhaps a gray market 500SL. In comparison, take a look at American cars of the era like the Cadillac with the 307 / 5.0L Putting out an anemic 140 hp. The displacement to power ratio of the M116 was actually decent. So my point is, if you don’t know what you’re talking about, take time to listen to someone who does. This severed a friendship between the two of us because I was tired of being berated everytime I wanted to discuss Bosch K-JetTronic with lambda for example. Instead, I would get no value added responses about it being just a 380 and to not bother since they are gutless anyway - Either my perception of gutless is off or he was just an idiot

[@sebaaaa56]

Really changed my perspective of the 380SL. I wasn't really aware of the 380 in euro spec. Pierre, what do you think of the 85-89 300SL with a 5-speed manual?

[@mknmike]

Both of my euro 380slc (pre-Sept 1981) have 3.27 (one LSD) rear ends. This was probably the standard before the short stroke motor was changed to a long stroke. I admit that I have not checked the standard rear end for the long stroke 3.8 cars. My 1983 380se euro did have a 2.47 rear (and long stroke engine). I assume this was filmed before we talked the other day because I didn’t hear anything about the early short stroke motors. :-)

[@AppleJack1997]

Gearing up for a euro rebuild of my 84 380SE’s engine and would love to pick your brain about these different 3.8L versions.

[@mknmike]

@@AppleJack1997 basically only euro 3.8 made before October of 1981 have the short stroke. All US and all euro after that point have the same long stroke. The euro long stroke has the most torque of all three types of 3.8. The early euro short stroke has slightly less torque but notably more power.

[@AppleJack1997]

@@mknmike So early 3.8 are more closely related to 3.5 then? The extra ~300cc was gained by a bore increase then? I had always thought that M116/117 just kept getting stroked as the years went on. Would love to get on the phone and talk about this

[@mikemakboul4409]

Can you do a video on rear ends ,recently I bought an 82K miles healthy 240D auto that is running circles around my 300D turbo cars , keep up the good work. Thanks

[@fernandomangino9773]

I just got an 11,000 original mile 1981 380SL in perfect condition. What should I look for as I use the car gently? When should I replace the timing chain?

[@Laura-gq3rx]

What about a 1985 380 SE. Sedan. It's been sitting 10+ years but I don't believe it would take a lot to get running again. Worth keeping and restoring to running condition again?

[@MBSLC]

Cool!

[@estebanp6391]

Hi. I purchase a euro spec 380slc and at 60mph it revs at 3000 rpm. It seams a lot for me.. do you recomend to change the dif ratio ? Excelent channel.. cheers from Argentina

[@mercedesclassicswithpierre1753]

Hello, Esteban P and thank YOU so much for your question(s), we want to answer you as quickly as possible. By signing in our Patreon www.patreon.com/thomaspolk page and making a donation of $10 your are assured of a 24 hour email response from Pierre. If you are already a $10 member please mention along with your question.

[@zenjamin6262]

Wondering what Pierre thinks of a euro model 1979 350 slc with 4 speed manual ? Go or no ?

[@mknmike]

Definitely a GO IMO. I personally think MB should have put anti-squat on manual trans 107’s, especially the 350 with the V8 torque, but the fact that it’s the SLC, not SL will help eliminate the rocking chair feel that a 350sl will give you when shifting.

[@kt35pw75]

he will think - 'don't waste my time' - this was not available in 1979 from Mercedes - only very early series 1 models.

[@mknmike]

@@kt35pw75 what? Huh? Oh, maybe 1979 not applicable to the 380sl video. Right?

[@ndnballa011]

Could you post more Gelandewagen (w463) content?

[@bassemaad8181]

Hi Pierre, can it be possible to remove to emission control system from an sl 380 so to gain more power.. (if resident in Lebanon 🇱🇧

[@hunorhegedus1534]

And how much power would it gain?

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@cardiffchris]

US Model 380SL.....Please Throw Me into that Briar Patch.