Ken Silver

After owning a number of luxury and relatively newish cars that gave me no mechanical bother - including 4 other SL's, things have changed.

I've just bought a 12 year-old SL350 with 55k miles intending to use it as a cheap runaround, but it's turned into a project car.

So far, in my 3 weeks of ownership I've fixed a lot cosmetically and replaced tires, repainted the hood, fixed dents and curbing and it looks really good now.

But it has had these mechanical problems:

- Trunk soft close only works intermittently.
- Crank angle sensor needs replacing (fixed).
- Oil leak in cooler above fan belts (fixed).
- Seat belt tensioner clicking.
- A small number of other minor SDS errors that as yet haven't affected daily running, but might.

The previous owner had a lot of unspecified work done on the roof which is good for me, and of course being a non-ABC model was a real advantage too. The rest of car appears sound and it hasn't even had an accident repair, no water in the boot... all those kind of things we look for are good.

Based on that info, I bought it knowing that I'd have some minor problems, but not enough to stop it being a nice little round town driver, doing under 2-3k miles a year.

But these issues above have come up and I'm wondering when it's going to end, and whether I'll ever get a reliable run from it.

Surely I'll get to a point where all the niggly problems are finally fixed. But when?

The whole point was to avoid what I've done in the past, having a $100k car sitting in my garage just to be driven to the supermarket and back. But it seems I'm going to have ongoing problems with an older car no matter what.

Are these older models a financial sinkhole?

Can anyone with a similar experience reassure me that eventually I'll be able to rely on it without spending a fortune?

El_Toro_33809

I've heard people talk both ways about the R230's. I think the main gripe is the ABC, which as you mentioned, you don't have to deal with.

Seeing that you just purchased it, I'm sure you were expecting to have to do things to freshen it up (fluids, filters, belts, etc.). Do you enjoy doing the work yourself? It can be fulfilling in addition to saving you money.

Tim

Ken Silver

Well, I've never had to do any work on them, that was the point of getting high-end cars back then.

But I've figured it out...

With a $100k+ car, depreciation can be $10k and more a year. My SL350 cost $25k, but after 12 years has reached a low depreciation peak and certainly will not cost anything like $10k a year to fix and service.

So for the small aesthetic disadvantage of running an older model, I'm financially ahead. I'll just suck it up, as they say.

BlownV8

A 230 SL without ABC would not be all that expensive to own.

Ken Silver

Yes. And I have to remember that few owners step up on these forums to tell how great their car runs, so the majority are the problems and fixes.

All my 4 other SL's - one an R230 SL600 too - have been problem-free. This SL350 is a learning curve I have to take, but it's an interesting one nonetheless.

Ghostty

My friend, it will come to an end.

But, from what you're saying, I get a picture of the previous owner not taking care of the car at all... and that's what you get when you don't - quite of problems like that. The car it's quite whimsical (if Google translated right) - you take good care of her - pleasure to own it. You let it down - gives you a pain in the rear! I'm pretty sure when you'll fix all the issues and do the usual maintenance on the car - it will be a pleasure to drive. Keep in mind that's it's a 12 yo car, and rubber parts and stuff like that get old.

Since you're doing most of the work yourself - enjoy the time fixing and getting to know the car. So I'll ask you if mine will break down 55k on the odometer it's nothing for a Mercedes-Benz.

Regards,
Ghostty

Ken Silver

I think the multiple previous owners took care of it, but later on because of the age it was not serviced at a Mercedes dealer or even a specialist independent. My guy said that some o-rings were not replaced when the filter was done. An expert shop would know that.

But the car has good bones with none of the big problems I've been told to look out for, and so these issues should be fixable and give me a couple years of further worry free running, I hope.

Yes, that's what happened with the oil cooler seals. The indie said they were hardened and cracked which caused the small leak. They have been replaced now, and one more item ticked off the worry list!

El_Toro_33809

Another thing to think about, although you mantioned owners coming on and talking about the car being trouble free, most have sought out the forum to ask about problems they have come across and learn of fixed. No telling how many haven't had "a care in the world ".

BlownV8

Anyone that owns a MB and says it is trouble free:
A. Owned for a very short time
B. Purchased brand new and got rid of it after 30k miles
C. Is the luckiest SOB on the planet.

Every MB I've ever owned has had some issues. The E's I've owned were relatively cheap to maintain but not built as tight as my 164GL. The GL has had more issues but I feel it could go another 200k miles and still be tight and fun to drive. The S class coupes - forgetaboutit. Way too costly. The SL - not too bad but definitely not trouble free either.

Heatwave

Mercedes ownership ... kinda like being married to Marilyn Monroe.

Ken Silver

Yes, A and C applies to me. I don't keep my cars for more than a year or two at the most.