Potential SL purchase, confused!

Potential SL purchase, confused!

Author
Discussion

Andy G Bmth

Original Poster:

4,977 posts

236 months

Thursday 22nd May 2008
quotequote all
Hi Thinking of purchasing a 2003-2005 SL to replace my Z4 but not sure whtehr to go for the 350 or the 500.

The specs appear to vary massively depending on the car, what are the desireable options and what do they do. Also there appears to be 3 different types of auto gearboxes - what are the differences?

any information greatly received

cheers

Andy

Howitzer

2,857 posts

223 months

Thursday 22nd May 2008
quotequote all
Firstly, only the SL500 has the correct number of cylinders and is a truly fantastic engine.

Dave!

anonymous-user

61 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
quotequote all
Howitzer said:
Firstly, only the SL500 has the correct number of cylinders and is a truly fantastic engine.

Dave!
Agreed! Also 500 has air suspension which was optional extra on the 350!

Andy G Bmth

Original Poster:

4,977 posts

236 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
quotequote all
whats the best gearbox to go for as there is different auto boxes.

is linguatronic worth going for?

markbe

1,755 posts

233 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
quotequote all
Andy G Bmth said:
whats the best gearbox to go for as there is different auto boxes.

is linguatronic worth going for?
Hi Andy, all gearbox's are 5speed auto until 2006 when the 350 and 500 got 7speed Jobie's.
2006 cars £43000 up. If you want real power with all the extras mine is available at late £40's.

Important extras are Pan roof, 18" alloys, Command [on pre 2004 cars],
Key-less go,Phone prep, many others are helpful such as Bose, 6cd, tv, ling, amg kit,
multi contour seats, etc.
Colour is important, Dark blue, white and red should be avoided.

Mark.

Edited by markbe on Friday 23 May 15:33

khushy

3,967 posts

226 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
quotequote all
ONLY GET ONE WITH A MERCEDES WARRANTY - otherwise you may live to regret it - there is more technology on an SL500 than the original Space Shuttle!!!

Suspension units - c£1500 per corner
Fuel Tank - c£2000

Most Mercs are pretty bullit proof - our Warranty runs out in 2 weeks time - just thinking about renewing it @ £1400 for the next 12 months - yesterday something came loose in the fuel tank - apparantly a well-known (but not common) fault - Mercedes quickly agreed to sort it under Warranty - but in 4 weeks time without a Warranty I would have been devastated!!!!

They maybe chgeap to buy now - but if something does go wrong - they will hang you out to dry!

khushy

Deva Link

26,934 posts

252 months

Friday 23rd May 2008
quotequote all
Might be worth asking on here: http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/index.php - there are a few SL owners. Search for it by the model number (R230).

paoloh

8,617 posts

211 months

Wednesday 28th May 2008
quotequote all
Do NOT buy a 350, a bit gutless for weight of car.
MUST have Mercedes warranty or be prepared to remortgage when it goes wrong and it WILL.
Liguatronic is fun but only when taking women out for the first time.....

davidn

1,028 posts

266 months

Wednesday 28th May 2008
quotequote all
I'll second the phone prep as a must have option, I've got pretty much everything else but that and am getting quotes around £2K to retro fit. I think it was only a £200 odd option at build stage, so must have been a right tight wad who spec'd the car unless they just didn't like phones of course. At that price I'll live without it.
If you're buying without warranty get the air con checked over thoroughly, leak test etc. I didn't and it's leaking, £400 down and still not fixed so looks like a dash out job circa £1,500 to change the condenser.
Oh and as to which to go for, 500 as a minimum but if you can manage the extra for a 55 I doubt you'll regret it.
David

marc.l

822 posts

232 months

Wednesday 28th May 2008
quotequote all
khushy said:
ONLY GET ONE WITH A MERCEDES WARRANTY - otherwise you may live to regret it - there is more technology on an SL500 than the original Space Shuttle!!!

Suspension units - c£1500 per corner
Fuel Tank - c£2000

Most Mercs are pretty bullit proof - our Warranty runs out in 2 weeks time - just thinking about renewing it @ £1400 for the next 12 months - yesterday something came loose in the fuel tank - apparantly a well-known (but not common) fault - Mercedes quickly agreed to sort it under Warranty - but in 4 weeks time without a Warranty I would have been devastated!!!!

They maybe chgeap to buy now - but if something does go wrong - they will hang you out to dry!

khushy
Just took out an extra 2 years warranty on my E55 @ 26,000 miles, car came with 1 year Merc warranty so now coverd with full waranty until 2011 or 100k miles so 74,000 miles worry free miles.Absulute total bargin at £1,750