1979 Mercedes-Benz SL 450 SLC from North America - Comments

To the poster from July 9 '08: I have a 79 450 SL w/140,000 miles. Mine exhibits the same fluctuations in oil pressure and has for a while. According to my original owners manual, it is normal for this to happen.

It is my belief that the oil pressure may drop down at idle speed when the engine is at operating temp, but that it should be at, or about, "3" bar when the engine is revved to 1500 rpm.

Also SAE 20W 50 engine oil is recommended for summer use. This oil is available in Canada and elsewhere from Castrol.

You get even better protection if you use diesel rated engine oil that has better anti-wear additives and a better ability to carry impurities.

Fuel consumption?... I have found on my fuel injected 1980 SLC runs between 18-22 MPG (Imperial gallon) highway and anything from 12-14 in town, obviously less in stop and go.

On 350 and 450 engines the timing chain can be a substantial prob if it brakes... ruins the engine.

A new chain can be threaded onto the old one and wound into the engine carefully. Don't try this at home unless you know what you are doing... If the timing slips the engine will not run well and may be ruined... Take to someone who knows what they are doing. A new chain is about 75 times cheaper than ruining an engine. On older engines the gears may need replacing.. a costly job. Don't forget the oil pump and drive drive chain while you are at it.

Overheating?...Yes but only in very stop and go driving. Suggest install a manual override switch for the fan.

1980 450 slc Euro model. Dieselman.

My Father-in-law gave me a Silver 1979 450 SLC to keep it in the family. I had about $4000 worth of work done in southern California and shipped it to southwest Florida. It runs well, runs cool and handles beautifully. It has about 260K miles on it. I had the window switches replaced in Florida.

The odd thing about this car, is that while running the A/C and making a right turn- water drips on your right foot! This is a harmless condensation / leak issue, and I'm told the car has always done this since new! (It is a German model.) The electric antennae has stuck in the "up" position. Getting out of the car is a little slow going if you are over 6 feet tall.

A fantastic classic.

Randy in SW Florida.

Unfortunately, the 450SL/SLC belongs to a time of old generation engines with the least amount of electronic engine control, coupled with a heavy body and a full hydraulic automatic gearbox, which all together result in a generally poor fuel consumption figure. If you average something like 5-6 km/L, then that's normal, you might be lucky to hit 8 km/L on the open road cruising without the air conditioner on.

The good news is that it isn't infested with unrepairable entire-assembly components, including a platoon of computers and sensors which are difficult to diagnose and expensive to fix.

Hi all.

My 1980 SLC (bought a month ago) gives a strange vibrating noise when I'm driving beyond 80km/h. I was told this could be because of the car not being driven in excess of this speed for some time, partly due to the fuel price, and that the injectors are clogged. Any other reasons for this?

Thanks.

Christopher.

Hello all,

I'm in South Africa, I have purchased a 1979, Mercedes 450SLC which is without a gearbox. Please help with the details of a good mechanic for this vehicle. And a place where I can find the parts.

Thanking you in advance

Lerato.

I have a 1979 SLC and love it to death. This is my second one and I want to change its appearance with chrome wheels and a paint job. It has 14 inch tires and I would like to step it up to 16" in chrome five or six spoke. I'm getting mixed comments like nothing over 15" or I will have tie rod wear within a year. Can someone help me find rims and give me a true answer as to what I can and cannot do?

Thank you.

D.

HELP, 1980 450 SLC The car starts up great, runs great, for a while 15 miles, then it starts to chug chug like it's out of gas. What?

I have inherited a 1978 450 SLC, my dream car... I have eventually found a mechanic and body work specialist to work on the car. Do we have a M/Benz 450 Club in South Africa? dean@bold.co.za

My father has a 1970 450SLC that he would like to sell. Where is a good site to put it for sale? It is silver and is in good condition.

Hi there.

I read that it can be the 'idle air control valve'. See link http://www.ehow.com/facts_7974179_mercedes-450sl-problems.html

I bought my '79 450 SLC in 1980. It had never been titled, as it was driven for 1700 miles by a Mercedes executive. Found out it was a European car when I had to replace a radiator. Have just over 134000 miles on it, and still love it.

About 5 years ago, I had it all taken apart and cleaned up and restored at about 20k. To me, it was worth it. It stays in storage now through the winter months, and still looks great. We do have three other cars, but in the summer it gets to work out. Not the fastest off the light, but over 70 nothing can step out quicker, although I have kept it under 150.

I have a 79 450 SLC that I just purchased. I am having trouble with getting the trunk to open. I had it open twice and now I can't seem to get it open. Doors and fuel tank door all open well. So, I don't know if that eliminates a vacuum problem or not. Any suggestion?

Hi. You can do a lot of things with your wheels/tyres - but any changes to the standard factory set up will affect the handling; sometimes dramatically. The original set was 205 70 R14.

Baz.

Hi, I too have a 450SL (C). Actually a 1975 with 40,000 KM from BC. I live in Winnipeg. I'm just storing it outside for the winter, and need to know how you check the antifreeze. FYI I put it on a concrete pad, jacked it up carefully and put blocks under the frame so the tires are off the ground, and put a cover on it.

Any ideas on the antifreeze? I don't want a cracked block in the spring...

Thanx, Chris.