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Mercedes 380sl (upgraded dual row timing chain)

  • Price: Ask a price!
  • Condition: Used
  • Make: Mercedes-Benz
  • Model: 300-Series
  • Type: Convertible
  • Year: 1981
  • Mileage: 129,100
  • VIN: WDBBA45A5BB003688
  • Color: White
  • Engine size: 3.8 L V-8
  • Number of cylinders: 8
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Drive type: RWD
  • Interior color: Blue
  • Vehicle Title: Clear
  • Location: Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Description

Update: Below is the original description of this car when I was asking $11,000. However, since the original posting something has happened where the engine runs really rough and dies if I take my foot off of the gas. I took it to a mechanic who told me that there are multiple vacuum leaks, and he thinks that it probably needs new fuel injectors as well. I have decided that I don't want to deal with it and I'm going to sell it cheaply. So I have dropped the price down to $3000. The car is currently sitting at a mechanic's garage.
Original Description:
For sale is a 1981 Mercedes 380 SL that has been upgraded to a dual row timing chain. The weakest point in the 380 Mercedes from 1981-1983 was that they had a single row timing chain that was prone to slipping off the gears or breaking as it aged and stretched. All other years had dual row chains which prevented this from happening. A couple of years ago, I had this car professionally redone to upgrade the timing chain in the engine to a dual row chain. The mechanic who did the work said that this engine was as good as new and should last a long time. I have the receipts for the work that I had done as well as all the service records from the previous owners. When I had the timing chain work done, I also had almost all of the air conditioning system replaced, so it does work now. The only issue with it now is that the temperature wheel for the air conditioner sometimes doesn't seem to make a good connection, so when adjusting the temperature from hot to cold I have had to turn the wheel back and forth many times before it actually adjusts the temperature in the car.
Other than that, the car runs absolutely great and is very reliable. It has 129,000 miles, but this car, with the engine work that I had done, should go another 100,000 easily.
The convertible top is in great condition and I have the hard top as well. But honestly, who is ever going to use the hard top on this car?
I also upgraded this car with a back seat. I have the original read deck that was there before I installed the seat. The european version of these cars came with back seats, but those that were shipped to America did not have them, but they still had seat belt anchor points below the rear deck. I ordered a back seat and seatbelt to match the original interior and installed them.