The Mercedes 280SL is a classic 2-seater Mercedes roadster/coupe first introduced in 1963 and stopped production in 1971. More than 48,000 of these were originally built for the entire planet. Some estimates suggest that there are only a fraction of these in perfect working order. A few online sources that there are only 8 of these in the entire UK.
The 280SL value has been continuously on the rise in the last decade. The cheapest 280SL models costs at least $30,000, even if they require complete nuts and bolts restoration. The most expensive concourse models can fetch upwards of $300,000 after complete, thorough, and true to MB brand restorations.
As far as reliability is concerned, the 280SL is decent, but it is an extremely old car after all. The most common Mercedes 280SL issues are associated with rust, engine trouble, electrical issues, leaks and increased levels of oil consumption, and faulty fuel system hoses.
Some of these can not be repaired easily after they become severe, such as rust. Others, such as engine-related issues can and usually are remedied through preventive maintenance. Everyone is aware by now that the 280SL “Pagoda” is a truly valuable classic and therefore people are keen on maintaining them.
Mercedes 280SL rust problems
The Mercedes 280SL is an old Mercedes which means that it suffers from rust just like any other older Mercedes does. Be sure to go through all the vulnerable spots such as underneath the car, inside the wheel wells, around the headlights, on the floor, around the tailgate, and the hood. Severe rust is a complete no-go unless you are planning on restoring the car.
By now you should already be aware of what rust does to a car and that it is extremely difficult to fix a rusty car. Season rust can even compromise a car’s structural integrity which means that the car needs extensive work.
Mercedes 280SL engine problems
The Mercedes 280SL comes with three different engine options and all three of them suffer from similar issues. The mass airflow sensor is a known gripe because it stops maintaining the right ratio of air to fuel inside the combustion chamber. These engines are also prone to ignition system issues and fuel injector issues.
Some owners have stated that these are also known to overheat which can lead to severe consequences such as a fire bursting out of the engine. All in all, these are old and delicate which means that they need to be babied if you want to retain as much value as possible.
Mercedes 280SL electrical issues
Being 70-years old for a car means that it could suffer from virtually all kinds of issues. These cars are simply too old to work as well as even 80s cars do. The 280SL seems to experience issues with the electrical connectors onto the engine which can hamper startup.
The 280SL also suffers from exterior-lightning issues which are a given for a car that comes with the oldest and least reliable lightning technology that exists. All in all, the 280SL is simple enough that there aren’t too many electrical problems because there aren’t too many electrical components in the 280SL to begin with.
Mercedes 280SL leaks and increased levels of oil consumption
Everyone is aware by now that Mercedes cars leak and that old cars leak. If you combine these two, you get a Mercedes classic car that enjoys leaking like nobody’s business. The 280SL leaks oil, yet it also leaks cooling fluid and even fuel in some instances. We have already mentioned the car’s ability to burst into flames.
To remedy this, be sure to always keep an eye out on the floor where you park your car and go through the car’s hood from time to time to see if there are any leaks visible from the top of the engine.
Mercedes 280SL faulty fuel system hoses
To finish our list of the Mercedes 280SL problems, we are also going to mention fuel system issues. In the engine issue paragraph of this article, we have already mentioned faulty fuel injectors. The issue here is that the engine leans during turns which puts pressure on the injectors and causes them to develop issues with the seals that surround them.
When this happens, fuel can start leaking which is also dangerous as it can burst into flames in no time. The fuel hoses that send the fuel to the injectors can also deteriorate over time which can cause even more severe fuel leaks.
FAQ Section
Why is the Mercedes 280SL so popular?
The reason why the Mercedes 280SL is so popular is that there simply aren’t too many of these around. Furthermore, everyone is aware that the 280SL offers impeccable high-quality build materials that make the car feel expensive and indestructible.
The 280SL looks stunning and that is also partially why people love it so much. Finally, if you ask a Mercedes classic enthusiast about which Mercedes classic drives the best, there is a great deal of chance that the Mercedes 280SL is going to be in one of the top 3 places on that list.
Why is the Mercedes 280SL called the Pagoda?
The Mercedes 280SL was designed by a man called Paul Bracq who came up with the cool roof design of the 280SL. People started calling the 280SL “Pagoda” because the roof resembles those of a Far Eastern temple. When this nickname started, it didn’t take too long before people started calling the 280SL Pagoda across the world.
The concave roof is one of the defining features of the 280SL so it makes perfect sense that the 280SL stays remembered because of its roof and because of many other things.
Is the Mercedes 280SL a good investment?
The Mercedes 280SL Pagoda is indeed a good investment for a variety of reasons. For starters, there simply aren’t many of these around which means that those in great condition are now able to fetch huge amounts of money.
If we take a look at the 280SL value charts, we are going to see that the value of these is consistently going up. All in all, the 280SL should be a good investment, but it’s impossible to tell for certain.
