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1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

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  • Mileage~88,607 on the clock
  • Transmission4-speed automatic
  • Engine3.0-litre
  • LocationWarwick - Our VIP Storage Facility

AUCTION CLOSED

1989 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL

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Introduction

Darren Rungasamy
Editor and Photographer

The R107 300 SL offers the perfect combination of responsive straight-six power, dependable engineering, and legendary styling.

Very few classic cars seamlessly combine iconic heritage with exceptional reliability and everyday usability. Featuring timeless, understated, yet commanding styling, the R107 SL truly came of age in the 1980s, becoming the ultimate symbol of affluent luxury. Its legendary reputation was further enhanced in 1986 with the introduction of the robust 3.0-litre straight-six M103 engine. Benefiting from years of continuous development, its inherent design prioritised safety, comfort, and robust engineering - all the virtues for which Mercedes-Benz was universally renowned.

In its later guise, the 300 SL offered comfortable handling, practical real-world fuel economy in the high twenties MPG, and true all-weather capability thanks to its factory-removable hardtop. Rather than being seen as a raw, aggressive sports car, the SL was an exercise in effortless grand touring, projecting an aura of relaxed, high-society sophistication and absolute build quality. As a practical, daily-drivable classic, the SL is arguably in a class of its own, offering an unmatched blend of vintage charm and modern dependability.

This late model 1989 300 SL is beautifully finished in Nautical Blue, perfectly complemented by a Cream Beige leather interior. Smartly presented throughout, it boasts highly desirable factory options, including heated rear seats and a matching hardtop. The car is backed by an impressive maintenance history, featuring 14 stamps in the service book from main dealers and the renowned specialist, The SL Shop with which it's also been stored by them for the last few winters.

With a modest ~88,607 miles on the clock, it was last serviced approximately 500 miles ago by the SLShop and comes with the added peace of mind of a fresh MOT valid until May 2027.

This listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Philip the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

It's practical for daily commutes or long-distance grand touring.

Drawn to the SL’s durability and practicality, Philip thoroughly enjoyed its everyday usability and the reasonable economy offered by the smooth straight-six engine.

Over his seven years of ownership, the car was used gently and occasionally, though it has seen less road time more recently coupled with the fact Philip is moving abroad, hence the reason for sale.

For the past few months, it has been safely kept in a dry, secure storage facility at the SLShop.

Philip chose our VIP Service, allowing us to manage the entire sales process on his behalf. We collected the car from the SLShop, transported it to our secure Warwick facility, prepared it for photography, completed the photography and On-the-Road filming, and will continue to store it safely until the sale has been completed.

Philip will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments section below.

Philip
Vehicle Owner

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CONTACT OWNER

Exterior

Boasting a cleanly presented body, the smooth Nautical Blue finish naturally slims the car’s muscular profile.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15” alloy wheels are smartly presented and free of rim wear.

The front and rear of the car are fitted with Michelin tyres, with the front showing a spec of 205/65 - these are date-coded from 2018. They all have plenty of even tread.

Please take time to review the photos and videos for a detailed view of the exterior, wheels, and tyres so you can make your own assessment of their condition. Tyres are a key safety item, and you should consider replacing any that are cracked, perished, unevenly worn, or over 10 years old.

Bodywork

The exterior is in excellent condition with perfectly aligned panels and even gaps. All doors operate smoothly with a solid, reassuring feel when closing.

There are a few minor spots of surface corrosion to note: the nearside A-pillar, the lower lip of the offside front wing, and the top of the front valance.

The chassis rails are solid, and the floor pan has been treated with rust inhibitor, showing only minor age-related wear underneath. Crucially, the engine bay, boot floor, and wheel wells are all in good, solid condition.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our high-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view of what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

The Nautical Blue paint boasts excellent, consistent coverage and a great lustre with no significant surface swirling.

Notable imperfections are minor, limited to a few chips on the nose, some light marks on the offside rear deck near the rear screen, and a small area of under-paint bubbling beneath the bonnet emblem.

The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high-resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass, lights, and lenses are all in good condition, and the exterior trim is securely mounted with no significant issues.

While the chrome work is generally good - the bonnet emblem does show some wear.

Both bumpers fit flush to the body and are free of any major marks.

Interior

Evidence of its careful ownership profiles is evident in the well-kept interior.

Seats and Carpets

The leather seats are in good condition, with only mild wear and creasing visible on the driver's seat.

The carpets are similarly well-preserved, with no signs of dampness.

Dashboard

The dashboard and centre console present very well with no significant signs of age, boasting excellent padding and no major marks or scuffs. The wood veneer finish is tidy and free of any hairline fractures. All switches and controls align with the interior's positive presentation and appear to function exactly as they should.

Additionally, the door cards and interior trim are in good condition, while both the soft-top and hard-top headlinings are free of damage.

The boot is clean, showing only light signs of careful use.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

Both the steering wheel and gear lever are well-preserved, reflecting the interior's positive presentation.

Mechanics

Confident on the move, the silky-smooth 3.0-litre engine hands out its power with a seamless linear delivery.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine fires up without hesitation, and all dashboard warning lights extinguish as they should. There were no unwanted fumes from the exhaust, nor any evidence of fluid leaks during our inspection. The engine idles smoothly and runs quietly with no unusual noises.

The engine bay presents very well, featuring healthy hoses and ancillaries. The drive belt is also in good condition, all of which points to a history of regular, careful servicing.

The automatic gearbox functions flawlessly, free of any clunks or slippage. The kick-down is seamless and provides a prompt, smooth burst of acceleration when required.

Suspension and Brakes

The car rides smoothly, absorbing road imperfections with ease. Free of any knocks or thuds, the suspension delivers a comfortable ride and handles corners beautifully without any squeaks or unwanted feedback.

The braking is highly effective, pulling up straight without any judder or wobbling. It was noted that the steering wheel is slightly off-centre, which suggests a straightforward tracking alignment should resolve it.

The Drive

The 300 SL holds an enviable reputation for delivering an authentic modern-classic cruising experience, thanks to its smooth 1980s fuel-injected engine and effortless drivability. More than capable of keeping pace with modern traffic, the engineering finesse and build quality of the R107 make it a confident performer - one that leaves the driver with a sense of genuine satisfaction.

As part of our VIP service on behalf of Philip, the car was taken for a thorough test drive on a dual carriageway, where it performed admirably. It cruises beautifully, almost gliding over road imperfections. Even with the soft-top up, the cabin feels reassuringly cosseted at near-motorway speeds. The engine pulls smoothly and linearly across the rev range with no hesitation or untoward noises, while the power steering feels light, direct, and free of play.

Navigating tighter urban streets demonstrated its versatile, easy-to-manage nature, with both engine temperature and oil pressure remaining perfectly within normal operating parameters throughout.

Electrics and Other

The hardtop is in tidy condition with no issues noted on either the trim or the glass; it present well and straightforward to fit and remove. The soft-top is also in excellent shape, showing only minor marks on the rear screen. It raises and lowers effortlessly, with fully operational release mechanisms and catches. Additionally, the hood well is dry and free of any damage.

The car is equipped with a functional immobiliser fitted by the SLShop and Philip has a second key that he will supply with the sale.

The car is fitted with a modern Blaupunkt Bluetooth / MP3 radio (original is supplied with the car) - this was done by the SLShop together with upgraded speakers.

From factory the car was optioned with the rare addition of heated rear seats, complete with seatbelts.

You'll notice the bottom of the canvas roof is folded a little - this is purely due to being stored in the down position for a long time, as mostly the hardtop has been fitted. It will naturally drop down after a few days.

History and Paperwork

To complement its positive service history, it has also seen over £4,600 in spending at the SLShop.

First registered in March 1989 by Mercedes-Benz main dealer, Hughes of Beaconsfield, the car appears to have been consistently serviced by the same garage well into the millennium. The vehicle history file contains a collection of invoices, including recent receipts from The SL Shop totalling over £4,600. This significant expenditure covers a comprehensive mechanical overhaul, which included cooling system upgrades, a refurbished power steering pump, new rear shock absorbers and bushes, alongside selective cosmetic improvements.

Last serviced by The SLShop in 2018, it has covered just 4,000 miles since. It is accompanied by its original owner's manual, stamped service booklet, a wind deflector, and a current MOT valid until May 2027.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a history check on the vehicle - this is a professional check operated by HPI that will highlight if the car has been previously stolen, recorded as being in an accident, or have any outstanding finance - note, this does not include a mileage history check.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment of the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bids, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house.

Service History
Date Type Mileage
29-05-2026 MOT 88,591
03-04-2025 MOT 88,178
01-04-2025 SLShop Health Check See Paperwork
17-07-2024 MOT 88,107
22-05-2024 SLShop Service 88,097
23-03-2023 MOT 87,026
22-12-2021 MOT 86,970
14-12-2020 MOT 85,889
22-11-2019 MOT 84,584
05-12-2019 SLShop Service 84,581
06-12-2018 MOT 82,770
09-02-2018 SLShop Service 81,826
16-11-2017 MOT 81,826
30-06-2016 MOT 79,830
27-11-2001 Mercedes Service 58,114
01-08-2000 Mercedes Service 55,159
28-07-1999 Mercedes Service 52,809
30-01-1998 Mercedes Service 48,230
01-01-1997 Mercedes Service 43,976
01-09-1994 Mercedes Service 36,646
12-01-1994 Mercedes Service 29,088
01-11-1992 Mercedes Service 22,510
05-11-1990 Mercedes Service 18,988
19-03-1990 Mercedes Service 13,051
15-09-1989 Mercedes Service 7,765
29-03-1989 Mercedes Service 862
Key Details
  • Year1989
  • Model300 SL
  • Transmission4G-Tronic 4-speed automatic transmission
  • Reg. Date21-03-1989
  • CC2962
  • Mileage~88,607 on the clock
  • ColourNautical Blue
  • Interior ColourCream Beige
  • Interior TrimLeather
  • Chassis #WDB1070412A0991870
  • Last Service05-12-2019
  • MOTYes Exp: 28-05-2027
  • MOT ExemptNo
  • Road Tax ExemptNo
  • HPi ClearYes - all clear
  • Tyre BrandMichelin
  • Tyre Age2018
  • Security SysImmobiliser
  • LHD or RHDRHD
  • VisitedYes
  • Sale TypePrivate
  • Owned~7 Years
  • Key FeatureCondition
  • Vehicle RegistrationF99 LWL
  • Driver’s SideRight
  • Fuel TypePetrol
  • Body Type2 door Convertible
  • Auction ID3808






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