Son bought a 350sl nice car
Discussion
Have spent the afternoon in the sunshine polishing a car properly for the first time in ages.
My 23 year old son bought a 350sl as a treat, good for him.
He doesn't like out and out sports and performance cars but wafting cars.
It's a 05 350sl lovely car, we have known it for over a decade and he helped the owner with some electrical problems a couple of years ago that garages did not want to help with. Full history very low miles, cleaned up really well will be in the family a long time hopefully.
A couple of pictures.![](https://thumbsnap.com/sc/2ZRNZ2K2.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="https://thumbsnap.com/WwKyBVAY" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]https://thumbsnap.com/sc/WwKyBVAY.jpg)
My 23 year old son bought a 350sl as a treat, good for him.
He doesn't like out and out sports and performance cars but wafting cars.
It's a 05 350sl lovely car, we have known it for over a decade and he helped the owner with some electrical problems a couple of years ago that garages did not want to help with. Full history very low miles, cleaned up really well will be in the family a long time hopefully.
A couple of pictures.
Hi,
Thanks for the comments, have spent a long time looking at it in detail today as have never really had a good look at one before.
It is a great design overall, a big change from the previous design but still easy to clean with large panels with fuss free detailing.
It has always been garaged and only used as a "going out" car so it has no rear leak problems. I have checked all the seals and drainage channels at the back and down the sides of the boot.
It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
I am insured on it but haven't driven it yet, sure it will be great when I have a go
Thanks for the comments, have spent a long time looking at it in detail today as have never really had a good look at one before.
It is a great design overall, a big change from the previous design but still easy to clean with large panels with fuss free detailing.
It has always been garaged and only used as a "going out" car so it has no rear leak problems. I have checked all the seals and drainage channels at the back and down the sides of the boot.
It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
I am insured on it but haven't driven it yet, sure it will be great when I have a go
summit7 said:
Hi,
It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
In 2005 it was probably an analogue tuner, so wouldn't work these days anyway. I think the 350 has real benifits for as a used car. Proper suspension is one.It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
If they had a back seat I'd have one in a shot.
summit7 said:
Hi,
Thanks for the comments, have spent a long time looking at it in detail today as have never really had a good look at one before.
It is a great design overall, a big change from the previous design but still easy to clean with large panels with fuss free detailing.
It has always been garaged and only used as a "going out" car so it has no rear leak problems. I have checked all the seals and drainage channels at the back and down the sides of the boot.
It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
I am insured on it but haven't driven it yet, sure it will be great when I have a go
They do drain the batteries if, like mine, they are not used a daily.Thanks for the comments, have spent a long time looking at it in detail today as have never really had a good look at one before.
It is a great design overall, a big change from the previous design but still easy to clean with large panels with fuss free detailing.
It has always been garaged and only used as a "going out" car so it has no rear leak problems. I have checked all the seals and drainage channels at the back and down the sides of the boot.
It kept draining the battery, my son chased it down to a short on the TV tuner in the infotainment system. Took the tuner out of the circuit and it has behaved itself since. So I am sorry it does not have TV anymore. Everything else works. We know the previous 2 owners, the car has done less than 3k a year and is very nice.
I am insured on it but haven't driven it yet, sure it will be great when I have a go
They have two batteries, a starter battery under the bonnet and a larger 70amp consumables battery in the boot.
I have a £25 Halfords 70amp car and bike trickle charger which I leave connected to the battery in the boot all the time, this also links with the starter battery and keeps this charged as well. I would strongly recommend this to avoid low battery issues.
They are very voltage sensitive and will display all sorts of warning messages when the battery is low. You will also not be able to operate things like the roof, central locking and other convenience functions with a low battery.
The central locking will default to locked and will need the key to undo. These messages usually go away after a run to recharge but the trickle charge will avoid all this.
Mine has been sorned since November and will be back on the road next month, but in the meantime I have started it up a couple of times with no issues on the charger.
HTH
Wow you must be rightly proud of your son. Can't help but admire a young lad who has worked and saved to get himself something he enjoys. He seems to know his way about the car too and has worked on it for years so he's obviously bonded with it.
I've had 2 an SL500 and currently SL55. Had most of the problems they get such as leaky roof which busts the PSE vacuum pump in boot.
ABC suspension can give bother but it's an option on the 350 so should be fine, nice to have when it's working though.
The electronic side seems to be the weak point on them. Avoid power washing too diligently the bonnet vents and bottom of windscreen as water can get into ECU. Happened both of mine.
Batteries as mentioned are mental on them. I have recent ones in mine still not great even on trickle.
Did 100 mile trip yesterday, numerous stops and on last leg the AGM boot battery boiled itself. Steam venting out of it. Very hot to touch, acrid stench. Electric functions seemed fine. Anyone any idea why? Took hours to cool. Not looked at it today. Still annoyed.
Anyway I digress as usual. That's a great colour and spec. The pan roof and wind deflector are great options. Get the roof down and enjoy the Easter weather.
Oh if he's not already a member get him signed up to Mercedes Club. Good mag, club events and MB discounts! Useful to have.
Cheers
I've had 2 an SL500 and currently SL55. Had most of the problems they get such as leaky roof which busts the PSE vacuum pump in boot.
ABC suspension can give bother but it's an option on the 350 so should be fine, nice to have when it's working though.
The electronic side seems to be the weak point on them. Avoid power washing too diligently the bonnet vents and bottom of windscreen as water can get into ECU. Happened both of mine.
Batteries as mentioned are mental on them. I have recent ones in mine still not great even on trickle.
Did 100 mile trip yesterday, numerous stops and on last leg the AGM boot battery boiled itself. Steam venting out of it. Very hot to touch, acrid stench. Electric functions seemed fine. Anyone any idea why? Took hours to cool. Not looked at it today. Still annoyed.
Anyway I digress as usual. That's a great colour and spec. The pan roof and wind deflector are great options. Get the roof down and enjoy the Easter weather.
Oh if he's not already a member get him signed up to Mercedes Club. Good mag, club events and MB discounts! Useful to have.
Cheers
He took me out in it yesterday for about half an hour.
Never been in one before. The ride and body control for such a long open top car I thought was exceptional. No scuttle shake, no rattles or squeaks from the interior which was a lovely unfussy place to be. As a passenger I could fully straighten my legs. It has a simple torque converter box and better for it in my mind. Didn't hunt for gears seemless smooth changes with the v6.
Most impressive was the lack of wind disturbance at 70 with the roof down. You could talk normally with very little buffeting. I guess the long body helps the wind fall off the car further back than a normal convertible.
Yes I think he should join the owners club to get more from the car.
I've yet to drive it but am on the insurance so will take it sometime over the summer.
Never been in one before. The ride and body control for such a long open top car I thought was exceptional. No scuttle shake, no rattles or squeaks from the interior which was a lovely unfussy place to be. As a passenger I could fully straighten my legs. It has a simple torque converter box and better for it in my mind. Didn't hunt for gears seemless smooth changes with the v6.
Most impressive was the lack of wind disturbance at 70 with the roof down. You could talk normally with very little buffeting. I guess the long body helps the wind fall off the car further back than a normal convertible.
Yes I think he should join the owners club to get more from the car.
I've yet to drive it but am on the insurance so will take it sometime over the summer.
MercedesClassic said:
Wow you must be rightly proud of your son. Can't help but admire a young lad who has worked and saved to get himself something he enjoys. He seems to know his way about the car too and has worked on it for years so he's obviously bonded with it.
I've had 2 an SL500 and currently SL55. Had most of the problems they get such as leaky roof which busts the PSE vacuum pump in boot.
ABC suspension can give bother but it's an option on the 350 so should be fine, nice to have when it's working though.
The electronic side seems to be the weak point on them. Avoid power washing too diligently the bonnet vents and bottom of windscreen as water can get into ECU. Happened both of mine.
Batteries as mentioned are mental on them. I have recent ones in mine still not great even on trickle.
Did 100 mile trip yesterday, numerous stops and on last leg the AGM boot battery boiled itself. Steam venting out of it. Very hot to touch, acrid stench. Electric functions seemed fine. Anyone any idea why? Took hours to cool. Not looked at it today. Still annoyed.
Anyway I digress as usual. That's a great colour and spec. The pan roof and wind deflector are great options. Get the roof down and enjoy the Easter weather.
Oh if he's not already a member get him signed up to Mercedes Club. Good mag, club events and MB discounts! Useful to have.
Cheers
I believe that Merc no longer specify AGM for the boot battery. Possibly, what you experienced was not an isolated occurrence.I've had 2 an SL500 and currently SL55. Had most of the problems they get such as leaky roof which busts the PSE vacuum pump in boot.
ABC suspension can give bother but it's an option on the 350 so should be fine, nice to have when it's working though.
The electronic side seems to be the weak point on them. Avoid power washing too diligently the bonnet vents and bottom of windscreen as water can get into ECU. Happened both of mine.
Batteries as mentioned are mental on them. I have recent ones in mine still not great even on trickle.
Did 100 mile trip yesterday, numerous stops and on last leg the AGM boot battery boiled itself. Steam venting out of it. Very hot to touch, acrid stench. Electric functions seemed fine. Anyone any idea why? Took hours to cool. Not looked at it today. Still annoyed.
Anyway I digress as usual. That's a great colour and spec. The pan roof and wind deflector are great options. Get the roof down and enjoy the Easter weather.
Oh if he's not already a member get him signed up to Mercedes Club. Good mag, club events and MB discounts! Useful to have.
Cheers
Ah glad he's taken you out in it and I agree they are well cosseted from turbulence. Mine has back box deleted from exhaust do although it sounds better it's a bit of a conversation killer on the move.
The heater is great in them plus the heated seats means on a cooler day you can get the roof down.
Hopefully he'll throw his old man the keys soon. Yeah the club price I think is only £35 or 45 per annum and gets me discount on my classic insurance. For him could mean a good saving.
Thank Toni for your reply. Funny I'd read somewhere that AGM batteries were the preferred choice. My Indy fitted them both. I've been moaning looking them replaced as they're no better than the old ones.
I might take the car a spin tomorrow to see how they behave but I'm concerned it might explode or ignite.
My mates tell me to sell all 3 buy 1 fully functioning car.
Seriously tempted!
No fun in that!
The heater is great in them plus the heated seats means on a cooler day you can get the roof down.
Hopefully he'll throw his old man the keys soon. Yeah the club price I think is only £35 or 45 per annum and gets me discount on my classic insurance. For him could mean a good saving.
Thank Toni for your reply. Funny I'd read somewhere that AGM batteries were the preferred choice. My Indy fitted them both. I've been moaning looking them replaced as they're no better than the old ones.
I might take the car a spin tomorrow to see how they behave but I'm concerned it might explode or ignite.
My mates tell me to sell all 3 buy 1 fully functioning car.
Seriously tempted!
No fun in that!
Beautiful machines.
Might be worth considering getting a full STAR diagnosis done due to the age and complexity of the vehicle, just to be aware of any likely gremlins.
This one will have the SBC braking system, which means there is an electrohydraulic pump with a pre-determined life. Cost me around £1500 at an indy specialist last year, £3000 quote from main dealer. Not the end of the world but if your son is someone who likes to ringfence a borkage fund, it's worth knowing. Also worth looking for an invoice in the paperwork in case it's already been done!
Might be worth considering getting a full STAR diagnosis done due to the age and complexity of the vehicle, just to be aware of any likely gremlins.
This one will have the SBC braking system, which means there is an electrohydraulic pump with a pre-determined life. Cost me around £1500 at an indy specialist last year, £3000 quote from main dealer. Not the end of the world but if your son is someone who likes to ringfence a borkage fund, it's worth knowing. Also worth looking for an invoice in the paperwork in case it's already been done!
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