2001 500SL with 58 K miles. Any issues to look for ? Thanks

 

I consider the SL500 to be the last of the PanzerWagons - built like a tanks using proven technology. I had a 2002 SLK and it was a huge disappointment - the Chrysler marriage really brought down the MB marque.

I bought a 2000 SL500 and have been really happy. Bullet-proof, solid and (so far) reliable. I'm not aware of any trouble areas but check all electrical items - make sure all items work. The engine/gbox are know to be reliable but do need maintenance. Check the diff for leaks.

If the all items work on the car and you have maintenance records then I'd say go for it.

 

While the R129 SLs are generally very reliable there are things to watch out for. One example is the Seals for the soft too hydraulics. If they have not failed yet they will fail in the future. Super cheap parts to replace but the labor is the gotcha. there are 11 hydraulic cylinders in that car and if one seal fails you'll need to do them all.

 

I agree with that statement with the stipulation that they are the original parts. However, if looking at a car with no service history it is not unlikely that some of the top hydraulic components have been renewed in recent years.