Mercedes SL350

[gmint24]

Good morning,

Looking for some advice, currently scouring the market for a Mercedes SL350.

Now my budget will allow me a MY 2002 - 2005 model but was wondering if they suffer with the same ill-fated rust issues that other Mercedes of this era suffered?

Thanks in advance

[Monkeylegend]

I have a 2004 car with no rust issues but it has been garaged all it's life and fairly low mileage.

I suspect cars that have been outside most of their life and maybe lead a harder life, would need to be looked at carefully, particularly round the wheel arches and the bottom edges of the wings at the rear of the doors.

Water ingress is probably a bigger issue on most if not garaged, the boot seals of that era are not watertight and let water into the boot where Mercedes in their wisdom installed quite a bit of electrical gubbins which operate the roof mechanism and the PSE pump.

[sparks_190e]

They rust, sills and arches. And underneath. A late 2004 model onwards should be okay.

[RobIpswichUK]

I've had mine for 4.5 years and they do have some issues with the rear arches when they live outside, I had the rear arches refinished a couple of years ago. Nothing horrendous.
Bigger issue is the roof seals, as they can cost a lot to sort if water gets in. Mine are original and in super condition.
Still one of the prettiest cars of the last 20 years (that and the F355), and I'll be sad to see it go.

[MercedesClassic]

Rob your car looks great. My original SL of R230 vintage was an SL500 in Jasper blue with those alloys plus AMG kit. Looked amazing, especially under petrol station florescent lighting it turned a purple hue. Such a good colour. Interior was Alpaca grey again was excellent. Pity the car overall was awful.
It had all the known faults then some.
Current SL55 is black on black isn't as captivating. Has also had issues but not as many. Yet, hopefully never.