FAST

FACTS

As the top-of-the-line SL, the 560 came fully loaded. The only options available were heated seats and electric orthopedic back rests
The 560 also came standard with a limited slip diff, sharing the final drive ratio from the 380SL (2.47:1)
With almost all options standard, including the largest V8 ever installed in an SL, the suspension had to be made bespoke for the 560 to support the extra weight
The hardtop is a high quality steel piece that acts as a great insulator against road noise. Unfortunately, it weighs 97 lbs, and it isn’t meant to be handled frequently. Thankfully, it comes with a rolling hardtop rack from the factory
The 5.6L V8 had plenty of power. Performance stats weren’t that far off from the early C4 Corvettes and Mustang 5.0. In fact, Mercedes made a last minute decision to include the SL’s 5.6L V8 in the S class sedans to compete with BMW’s newly launched V12 750i
The 5.6L was thirsty enough that Mercedes felt the need to install two fuel pumps
The 560SL went through an unusual (and inexplicable) price hike during its four year model run. It started off at $48,200 in 1986, and sky rocketed to $64,300 in 1989. This possibly explains why only 5,351 were sold in ’89 (compared to 13,788 in ’86), making ’89 the rarest model year of the SL
The iconic Mercedes “ribbed” tail lights are ribbed on purpose. These are designed as “self cleaning” tail lights. The grooves act as channels for passing air to “clean” and blow out dust, dirt, and debris. This design feature has survived over two decades of Mercedes cars

Key Model Year Changes:

The 560SL was sold in the U.S. from 1986 to 1989, with the first noticeable updates occurring in 1988
1988 updates:
The 3rd center brake light (known as “the wart”) moves from the center of the decklid to the edge of the decklid and replaced by a more sleek-looking unit
An A/C switch was installed that shut off the compressor at high engine temps
The fresh air recirculating system now features an integrated timer
1989 updates:
The on board diagnostics for the engine and climate control systems were upgraded (new impulse readout)
Final year of the R107 generation
While there are very few differences between model years of the 560SL, understand that Mercedes built 13,788 560 SLs in 1986 and only 5,351 in 1989. The ’89 models are much harder to find

Specs:

5.6 L V8 (M117)	4spd auto
227 hp @ 4750 RPM	279 lb/ft torque @ 3250 RPM
0-60 MPH: 6.4 sec	Top Speed: 140 MPH
Base Price in 1986: $48,200	Base Price in 1989: $64,300