SL purchase - daft idea?
Discussion
Looked at a couple of SLs earlier on the spur of the moment - both looked lovely but slightly wary that these were expensive cars so may come with expensive bills.
https://www.centurycars.online/used-mercedes-benz-...
https://www.centurycars.online/used-mercedes-benz-...
Would be a car that I did circa 5,000 miles a year in - is one of these going to be ludicrously expensive to own - insurance costs are good and from what I have seen servicing costs don't look too bad.
https://www.centurycars.online/used-mercedes-benz-...
https://www.centurycars.online/used-mercedes-benz-...
Would be a car that I did circa 5,000 miles a year in - is one of these going to be ludicrously expensive to own - insurance costs are good and from what I have seen servicing costs don't look too bad.
I would very much favour the later car. Looks totally unmolested. The older car, not so much.
Also, the later car will have benefitted from some fixes to problems that affected the older cars - eg redesigned boot seals.
If you are looking for the easiest life, it would be a lot better if the car has a conventional suspension rather than hydraulic (ABC).
Offhand I don’t know if 500s all came with ABC or not.
I’d also just check the service history is all present and correct. It really ought to be at that low a mileage.
Also, the later car will have benefitted from some fixes to problems that affected the older cars - eg redesigned boot seals.
If you are looking for the easiest life, it would be a lot better if the car has a conventional suspension rather than hydraulic (ABC).
Offhand I don’t know if 500s all came with ABC or not.
I’d also just check the service history is all present and correct. It really ought to be at that low a mileage.
Both those have ABC so you could be in for a world of pain if you get a bad one - roll the dice. (I had a “bad one” and continual repairs to it over three years cost more than even the more expensive of those cars).
I’d not touch the earlier car, too much to go wrong, the later car at least should benefit from upgrades. Or better still go for the facelifted model which has even more.
Instead of the first one you could always go for a later SL350 - only a V6 but more powerful at 315bhp, 7 speed and no cursed ABC. I personally see no benefit in ABC - any benefit there might be is totally eclipsed by cost.
They’re aluminium bodied except the back wings and roof pillars. The rear wings on older ones rust. Subframes and door frames are magnesium.
I’d not touch the earlier car, too much to go wrong, the later car at least should benefit from upgrades. Or better still go for the facelifted model which has even more.
Instead of the first one you could always go for a later SL350 - only a V6 but more powerful at 315bhp, 7 speed and no cursed ABC. I personally see no benefit in ABC - any benefit there might be is totally eclipsed by cost.
They’re aluminium bodied except the back wings and roof pillars. The rear wings on older ones rust. Subframes and door frames are magnesium.
Dog Star said:
Instead of the first one you could always go for a later SL350 - only a V6 but more powerful at 315bhp, 7 speed and no cursed ABC. I personally see no benefit in ABC - any benefit there might be is totally eclipsed by cost.
Just so the OP is clear, don't go for a pre-2008 SL350 with the M272 3.5 litre engine unless you know what its status is regarding the balancer shaft sprocket problem.trevalvole said:
Just so the OP is clear, don't go for a pre-2008 SL350 with the M272 3.5 litre engine unless you know what its status is regarding the balancer shaft sprocket problem.
I recently bought a 2010 3.5 which is the 315bhp model; it’s more powerful than my old SL500 and I swear sounds better. It’s also surprisingly good on fuel - on a motorway run it’s better than Mrs DSs SLK200. I’d take a look at the 350s OP - 18k should easily get you one of the very last of the R230s on a 12 plate.
That later model in the first link - says it’s a 5.5l - is that right? Is it not 4977cc (or similar)?
Dog Star said:
I recently bought a 2010 3.5 which is the 315bhp model; it’s more powerful than my old SL500 and I swear sounds better. It’s also surprisingly good on fuel - on a motorway run it’s better than Mrs DSs SLK200.
I’d take a look at the 350s OP - 18k should easily get you one of the very last of the R230s on a 12 plate.
That later model in the first link - says it’s a 5.5l - is that right? Is it not 4977cc (or similar)?
It will 5.5 litres - the M273 DOHC VVT V8 replaced the M113 SOHC V8 in the SL500 in 2007 and is the V8 equivalent of your engine (though given the power of yours, I suspect it has direct injection which I don't think the later advertised SL500 has). Early ones may have some minor sprocket problems, but as 90 degrees is the correct angle of vee for a V8 I don't think it has balancer shafts. I recall something about the ECU cooking as it is sat in the middle of the vee.I’d take a look at the 350s OP - 18k should easily get you one of the very last of the R230s on a 12 plate.
That later model in the first link - says it’s a 5.5l - is that right? Is it not 4977cc (or similar)?
Early R230s were not galvanised.
The roof mechanism will inevitably leak at the C-pillars at some stage because there is a design flaw.
ABC is particularly failure prone.
SBC issues have largely become understood by the specialist support network but it’s still a weird, over complicated system.
They are pleasing cars to own and use when they work, but I’d look at the simplest possible model to own - an SL350 without ABC (ABC was standard on all models except the V6 cars - SL350 and the rare SL300)
The roof mechanism will inevitably leak at the C-pillars at some stage because there is a design flaw.
ABC is particularly failure prone.
SBC issues have largely become understood by the specialist support network but it’s still a weird, over complicated system.
They are pleasing cars to own and use when they work, but I’d look at the simplest possible model to own - an SL350 without ABC (ABC was standard on all models except the V6 cars - SL350 and the rare SL300)
I can fully understand why dogstar gave up on his.
In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
twizellb said:
I can fully understand why dogstar gave up on his.
In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
What was the problem with the roof?In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
I haven’t heard many reports of mechanism failures, just seals.
fozzymandeus said:
twizellb said:
I can fully understand why dogstar gave up on his.
In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
What was the problem with the roof?In the three years I had mine I had the ABC manifolds rebuilt with new seals, the roof jammed and had to go to specialist ( cost £1300).
The braking system fired up a warning ( there is a number of brake applications that triggers it)
The petrol tank baffle came loose and that's a biggy, I put up with the rattle on less than a half full tank.
The final straw was the boot leaking as previously mentioned.
When there is no problem's they are a lovely thing no mistake.
We did the Alps, Rimini and along the Med and it was a pleasure.
They are a very complicated and ultimately flawed thing though.
I can Full understand people going for the 350 to try and limit any problems.
I haven’t heard many reports of mechanism failures, just seals.
I had to get it put back up manually until I could get someone to fix it, not an easy task in itself, ended up travelling 300mls to "Cayman Autos" who I can recommend by the way.
I’m quite well up on R171s and they’re very easy to work on and reliable. The non-ABC R230 is basically (from a spanner’s point of view) just a giant R171. The roof mechs are pretty far down my list of potential disasters.
My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
Dog Star said:
I’m quite well up on R171s and they’re very easy to work on and reliable. The non-ABC R230 is basically (from a spanner’s point of view) just a giant R171. The roof mechs are pretty far down my list of potential disasters.
My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
Oh yes I forgot about that that happened too!My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
I couldn't get it to move out of my garage, had to get the Merc lads to come to me to get it away.
I managed to get a replacement off ebay, only not plastic it was alloy.
Sold not long after.
twizellb said:
Oh yes I forgot about that that happened too!
I couldn't get it to move out of my garage, had to get the Merc lads to come to me to get it away.
I managed to get a replacement off ebay, only not plastic it was alloy.
Sold not long after.
Yes mine did this too. In the car park of a Mercedes main dealer!I couldn't get it to move out of my garage, had to get the Merc lads to come to me to get it away.
I managed to get a replacement off ebay, only not plastic it was alloy.
Sold not long after.
Dog Star said:
I’m quite well up on R171s and they’re very easy to work on and reliable. The non-ABC R230 is basically (from a spanner’s point of view) just a giant R171. The roof mechs are pretty far down my list of potential disasters.
My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
They have dispensed with the hydraulic systems and the vacuum systems in the R231. And the roof seals in a totally revised way. Since you can get an R231 for only a bit more than the newer R230 in OP’s list; I would spend a bit more and find one of those.My main worries are the SBC (should be covered), leaks (my car doesn’t see rain but I am religious about cleaning and lubricating the seals (stops R171s squeaking too) and water getting at SAMs and so on. Most of that is down to preventative maintenance. Oh and there are vacuum pipes too.
Oh - and I want to preemptively replace tgat plastic bit that breaks leaving you stuck in park.
fozzymandeus said:
Early R230s were not galvanised.
The roof mechanism will inevitably leak at the C-pillars at some stage because there is a design flaw.
ABC is particularly failure prone.
SBC issues have largely become understood by the specialist support network but it’s still a weird, over complicated system.
They are pleasing cars to own and use when they work, but I’d look at the simplest possible model to own - an SL350 without ABC (ABC was standard on all models except the V6 cars - SL350 and the rare SL300)
I’m fairly sure all R230s were galvanised.The roof mechanism will inevitably leak at the C-pillars at some stage because there is a design flaw.
ABC is particularly failure prone.
SBC issues have largely become understood by the specialist support network but it’s still a weird, over complicated system.
They are pleasing cars to own and use when they work, but I’d look at the simplest possible model to own - an SL350 without ABC (ABC was standard on all models except the V6 cars - SL350 and the rare SL300)
It’s a pretty big new process to introduce after production had started I would have thought.
swisstoni said:
I’m fairly sure all R230s were galvanised.
It’s a pretty big new process to introduce after production had started I would have thought.
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa...It’s a pretty big new process to introduce after production had started I would have thought.
fozzymandeus said:
swisstoni said:
I’m fairly sure all R230s were galvanised.
It’s a pretty big new process to introduce after production had started I would have thought.
https://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/index.php?threa...It’s a pretty big new process to introduce after production had started I would have thought.
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