Advice needed on this SL

[Rbatt]

if you look closely you can see that somebody added a hose thats running across the engine to bypass the heater.

This is all very useful. Why would someone need to bypass the heater? Is this a common issue?

[stickandrudderman]

Probably because the heater matrix is leaking.
You don't need to bother with the classic centre in the USA, I can get your data card for you.

[mdsalemi]

Probably because the heater matrix is leaking.

I don't know if this is true, but I've heard that the heater valve (controlling flow of hot coolant to the heater core or matrix) never completely shuts off, always allowing a small amount of flow. Thus in order to try and prevent every last bit of excess heat from entering the cabin area, I've seen several mods where people but a real shut off valve in line.

[Panzer82]

I don't know if this is true, but I've heard that the heater valve (controlling flow of hot coolant to the heater core or matrix) never completely shuts off, always allowing a small amount of flow. Thus in order to try and prevent every last bit of excess heat from entering the cabin area, I've seen several mods where people but a real shut off valve in line.

My 230SL had a shut off valve on it, installed by the previous owner after his wife complained hot air would come into the cabin, even in the Summer time. Easy to remove and put back to original.

[Tom Colitt]

I agree with the prior comments.
Make sure that Tom Colin inspects the car before it leaves calif. He is excellen,t Gary from Aus will verify this.

To be original change the wheels. They were only available on the last of production of the 280SL in late 1970 and 1971.
This was verified to me when I attended the 50th Anniversary in Germany in 2013.

Also look up NAJ in the members list. He is your best contact for the London area.
He has been around these SL's forever.
Good Luck.
Tom

Thanks for the recommendations Sandcrab and James (BTW, it's Tom Colitt, not Colin ;-)  Unfortunately, I didn't see the thread in time to be of any use to the new owner. I've done several pre-purchase inspections at Beverly Hills Car club (they are nowhere near Bev. Hills) as well as Goodman Reed, Heritage Classics and a few others in the Southern California area. As one might expect from used car dealers, pictures are generally shot less to inform prospective buyers about the true condition of the car than to sell-the-car. I would say that I have saved a good number of people from buying cars that were "over-advertised" by doing a pre-purchase inspection of the car and simply providing them with very detailed pictures of the typical problem areas on the cars. Sometimes, I worry that these car dealers will eventually not let me inspect their cars anymore, but if the car is as advertised it will also show from the inspections that I perform. I try to find out exactly what the buyer is looking for and not to be too critical of every Pagoda I look at because I know that there are people who are simply looking for a decent car at a reasonable price without spending years searching for the right one. Recently a 280SL at Heritage Classics that I inspected for a buyer in New Jersey turned out to be exactly what he was looking for. Goodman Reed also often has nice cars, but they are still a car dealer...

Regards,
Tom Colitt
ClassicAutosLA
(323) 251-0987

[jameshoward]

My 230SL had a shut off valve on it, installed by the previous owner after his wife complained hot air would come into the cabin, even in the Summer time. Easy to remove and put back to original.

Presumably you are referring to the wife being easy to remove and put back to original. That's what I'd do if my wife complained about hot air coming into a convertible car on a hot day!