SL/R129: Seeking a little buying advice for a 2002 SL500
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 457
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asdas
Seeking a little buying advice for a 2002 SL500
Hello all,
I'm in the market for an R129 and am looking at a 2002 with about 75k miles on it, and it looks to be in really good condition.
It is black with ash interior. Regular black hardtop, sport package with AMG bodystyling.
Assuming it has an excellent or outstanding rating, what would any of you figure this car is worth buying at a used car dealership?
I've been looking at edmunds, nada, and KBB, but they are all over the place. KBB and Nada prices it at around $20k, which I think is nuts. Edmunds shows about $16k, which is more reasonable, but I think in this market, for a 10 year old car, even $16k is a bit much.
So what do you in this forum think would be a fair offer?
I'm in the market for an R129 and am looking at a 2002 with about 75k miles on it, and it looks to be in really good condition.
It is black with ash interior. Regular black hardtop, sport package with AMG bodystyling.
Assuming it has an excellent or outstanding rating, what would any of you figure this car is worth buying at a used car dealership?
I've been looking at edmunds, nada, and KBB, but they are all over the place. KBB and Nada prices it at around $20k, which I think is nuts. Edmunds shows about $16k, which is more reasonable, but I think in this market, for a 10 year old car, even $16k is a bit much.
So what do you in this forum think would be a fair offer?
Last edited by brauhaus313; Jan 2, 2012 at 10:25 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Eastern Kansas
94 SL 600, 98 993, 89 XJS Conv., 85 Daimlier Princess 16 Hybrid Lincoln 16 Chevy crewcab
Every MB I have owned was a great car once. Time and rust never stop.
Are you a motor guy? Do you have more money tucked away for a rainy day? Do you have a Benz mechanic as your best bud?
Have fun, get what you want, don't live with an expectation of a cheap car. The price you shell out is the tip of the Iceberg. A full history will at least give you the list of what has happened.
Are you a motor guy? Do you have more money tucked away for a rainy day? Do you have a Benz mechanic as your best bud?
Have fun, get what you want, don't live with an expectation of a cheap car. The price you shell out is the tip of the Iceberg. A full history will at least give you the list of what has happened.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 457
Likes: 61
asdas
I'm willing to spend for a good specimen, but it's getting difficult. Even ones priced above market for my area are quite rough.
As far as the buying price being the tip of the iceberg, I hear and read so many conflicting things I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, having owned several german cars of other makes and doing all the maintenance myself, including replacing an engine, I think I can tackle most common things that could go wrong with the SL500 and M113 engine. At the very least, the M113 doesn't seem to be a ticking time bomb like some other german engines I've had to deal with.
As far as the buying price being the tip of the iceberg, I hear and read so many conflicting things I don't want to think about it anymore. I'm fairly mechanically inclined, having owned several german cars of other makes and doing all the maintenance myself, including replacing an engine, I think I can tackle most common things that could go wrong with the SL500 and M113 engine. At the very least, the M113 doesn't seem to be a ticking time bomb like some other german engines I've had to deal with.
