SL-Class (R129) 1990-2002: SL 280, SL 300, SL 320, SL 500, SL 600, SL 60 AMG

SL/R129: 2001 SL500 "Designo"

Old Jan 22, 2006 | 01:25 AM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
2001 SL500 "Designo"

Looking to buy gently used 2001 SL "Designo" in slate blue with the two color blue interior.

Anybody have stats as to how many of that style were made? I know the Silver Arrow 2002 sl only came as 1000 500SL and 100 600SL but I can't find any stats advertised on the designo edition sl.

Chuck
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Old Jan 22, 2006 | 05:25 AM
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Mommy drives a '93 Opel Astra
as far as I know there was no special desingo edition in the US. I think designo was an option for every model.
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Old Jan 23, 2006 | 01:23 PM
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SL500 2001 Formula 1 Edition;
I have a 2001 designo (Silver w/black & Silver interior). So, there were at least two made. The other differences that I seem to have noted are the "SL" badges on the front quarters above the vents; a machined dash; no wood in interior, but silver panels instead; vented seats; and two-tone leather steering wheel. I have not seen the badges on any other SL except maybe the Silver Arrow.

Does the car you posted about have the "SL" symbol? Please post pictures of the car. On another post you said you purchased it. Did you in fact buy it or was it just a test drive?



Oh . . . I have not seen any blue ones here in So. Cal. Given that designo was something like a $5,000 or more option, I think not that many people opted for it.
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 11:17 PM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
Paid for and drove away with slate blue Designo, 33033 miles, 2001 SL500. Avail in Phoenix. Dealer first had to replace Air Mass Sensor to get rid of code and put on new shoes all the way round. $34.5K out the door, not counting sales taxes I have to pay NV when registering.

Let me get it all polished and washed before pix pls.

Chuck
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 06:21 AM
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'99 SL600 Sport
congrats!
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 01:44 AM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
Just a few quick pix, nothing fancy. First ones shot enroute home. Chuck :p
Attached Thumbnails 2001 SL500 "Designo"-5b_4.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-28_4.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-93_4.jpg  
Attached Images  
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:26 PM
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SL500 2001 Formula 1 Edition;
Very nice, and you got a GREAT deal.

I paid almost $40,000 for my 2001 designo, with tax, license, etc. with 42,000 miles -- BUT mine still had 2 years left on the Starmark 100,000 mile warranty. You might want to check if yours does. Just call the VIN into a MBZ dealership service department, and they can tell you. I got about $3,000 work done on warranty AFTER I bought my baby.

I can't tell from the photos . . . Sport suspension? AMG wheels/body work? Vented seats? CD changer? Anything else?

Oh, one more thing: Are your rotors drilled? Mine has drilled rotors, and I am not sure if they are factory or aftermarket.

So, congratulations. You will love your new baby.
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Old Feb 2, 2006 | 01:34 PM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
at to the options, not with a/c seats or the automatic lumbar or drilled rotors. Unless somebody actually bought the rotors and calipers which MBZ provided as standard to the 2002 Silver Arrow or the 2000-2001 SL600 -- including the SL600 Designo editions -- they're most likely aftermarket.

Was thinking about changing the next time I have to change rotors, but from all I read don't know that the cost will be balanced by appropriate performance increase.

Like you I already confirmed there's a remaining extended warranty to Jan 08, although the seller didn't advertise it or attempt to charge more.

Only issue I have is the brakes just have an exceedingly long "pedal" and that's being checked next week -- just to make sure the master cylinder or some other non-consumable part (like calipers) haven't gone bad.

Chuck
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Old Feb 2, 2006 | 05:30 PM
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Mercedes-Benz
Originally Posted by c4791p
at to the options, not with a/c seats or the automatic lumbar or drilled rotors. Unless somebody actually bought the rotors and calipers which MBZ provided as standard to the 2002 Silver Arrow or the 2000-2001 SL600 -- including the SL600 Designo editions -- they're most likely aftermarket.

Was thinking about changing the next time I have to change rotors, but from all I read don't know that the cost will be balanced by appropriate performance increase.

Like you I already confirmed there's a remaining extended warranty to Jan 08, although the seller didn't advertise it or attempt to charge more.

Only issue I have is the brakes just have an exceedingly long "pedal" and that's being checked next week -- just to make sure the master cylinder or some other non-consumable part (like calipers) haven't gone bad.

Chuck
sounds like its time for a brake fluid flush and new pads and rotors.
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Old Feb 3, 2006 | 07:36 PM
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i like to ride my bike
wuu that car looks hot in that colour. I like the dark wood in the car
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Old Feb 4, 2006 | 12:19 PM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
Originally Posted by F_Porsche
wuu that car looks hot in that colour. I like the dark wood in the car
Thanks. It's a killer color combination. The only other one's I've seen it in are the 2002 Silver Arrows. Now the Silver Arrows do have a neat add on that I'll have to buy some day. Like the 600SL they have the wood sliding cover over the cup holders and wood frame instead of pleather up around the cup holder and under the armrest.

I Need to pass along a couple more pix, expecially ones of the seats and doors. Like I said earlier, my wife was all set for a silver car or at least one in "desert silver" (champagne like my '67 250?) but saw one like ours driving down the street, chased it home and called me from her cell phone.

Didn't realize how hard this color is to find. You can find a lot of the Black Designo versions for sale (black leather seating with red inserts and red inserts on the doors) that have the carbon fiber console & etc intead of wood. But since I found this one, I've found only one other for sale (in Texas) and it went in a day after the advertisement hit cars.com.

Best thing is that my wife is happy. I got my dark car, not black but an unique sort of dark color, and she's happy. As they say "a win-win situation." Didn't hurt as well that the seller didn't realize the two year balance on the MBZ Starmark warranty could transfer with the car.

Chuck

Last edited by c4791p; Feb 4, 2006 at 12:24 PM. Reason: left out some comments and found out I couldn't speell
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Old Feb 4, 2006 | 12:32 PM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
Brake Pad Brand Name, Suggestions?

Originally Posted by Kar don
sounds like its time for a brake fluid flush and new pads and rotors.
Same thing I thought. The display says B Service is due nearly 5K Miles from now and MBZ replaces the brake fluid as part of that service, but from what I can tell charges 2 arms and your youngest child for labor to just to replace pads. I can imagine cost to replace F&R pads and 4 rotors.

I've always changed out my own pads before and even flushed and refilled brake fluids, but I think this time I'll do the pads and rotors and let them do a complete B service.

Does anyone have recommendations on Brands for the brake pads. The places I deal with now offer so many alternatives but won't go out on a limb to recommend one over the other.

Last edited by c4791p; Feb 4, 2006 at 12:32 PM. Reason: smiley didn't work
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Old Feb 6, 2006 | 12:40 AM
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2001 SL500, designo blue and 2004 C320S
More Pictures of 01 Designo

Originally Posted by F_Porsche
wuu that car looks hot in that colour. I like the dark wood in the car
As promised, here are a few more pictures.
Attached Thumbnails 2001 SL500 "Designo"-a9_4.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-photo_020406_001.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-photo_020406_002.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-photo_020406_009.jpg   2001 SL500 "Designo"-photo_020406_010.jpg  

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Old Jan 17, 2009 | 02:38 PM
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2001 SL500 F1 Edition
Hey mebeJoe,

I think you have a F1 Edition...one of 20 made in 2001 for the return of Mercedes to the F1 world.

See here:

http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/NL08...0_Formula1.htm

Cheers!

Oh BTW, we have one as well.
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