SL/R230: SL500 #2 BAD out of the box..
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SL500 #2 BAD out of the box..
Well I guess someone is trying to tell me I should have bought something else..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Beverly Hills, CA
2003 E500, 2005 SL600
Originally Posted by lorinserbenz
Well I guess someone is trying to tell me I should have bought something else..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Tallahassee, Florida
2006 SL600, 2001 S500, 1996 SL320
Command Unit
Several people have had problems with the command unit. I have a new one coming, supposed to be here on the 17th. I had problems with the radio too, I could change stations, but the dash display would not change even though the station actually did change. Also sometimes the volume would get stuck and unable to be changed until the car was shut off and restarted. I also had the command turn itself off on a couple of occasions. The service people said there was some software upgrades, and the new command should fix these problems.
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'04 S430 4 Matic and '05 997
After a 6 year love affair (with the car) I traded in the SL for a 911. I wanted a new 500 or 55 but was put off by the poor quality of materials that 100 - 125 K buys you with MB.
In retrospect I wish I had traded it in long ago. The 911 is way more fun to drive.
In retrospect I wish I had traded it in long ago. The 911 is way more fun to drive.
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'04 S430 4 Matic and '05 997
These two cars are very different. Not only have I grown dissatisfied with MB quality control (and excuses) but also with their brute force approach to performance. Take an overweight car, put the largest displacement engine you can shoehorn into the engine compartment and call it a sports car? The 500 does not even come close to handling like one. The 911 is much more fun to drive. The 500 feels like it weighs a ton (precisely two) notwithstanding its reasonable performance. The 500 is much more luxurious but that doesn't make up for its lack of sportiness in my opinion.
Switiching to the 997 has been a most enlightening experience. No more SLs for me!
(BTW I'll keep my winter car, the S430 4 matic, as it performs as advertised. It's comfortable ,safe and full of useful technology. And it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't; namely fun to drive.)
Switiching to the 997 has been a most enlightening experience. No more SLs for me!
(BTW I'll keep my winter car, the S430 4 matic, as it performs as advertised. It's comfortable ,safe and full of useful technology. And it doesn't pretend to be something it isn't; namely fun to drive.)
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by tiggerfink
I really never thought of the SL500 as a sports car, to me it is a comfortable cruiser with a hard top convertiable.
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From: W Palm Beach, FL
2018 GLC43, 2021 VW Atlas
So Pilot20, where do you want me to start with Porsche's quality? I have had 15 Porsches since 1995. My last 3 Porsches were terrible. I had a 2001 996 Turbo that was in the shop quite a few times, a 2004 GT3 that had problems Porsche couldn't even figure out how to fix and had to buy back as a Lemon and a 2005 997 that had problems right from the delivery day. I finally got fed up when my dealer tried to screw me on trading it in for a 997S. I traded it in on a a new SL55 and couldn't be happier. It is a different type of car than the 997 but it's a welcome change for me.
I don't know where you heard that quality is better at Porsche but they have more than their share of problems too.
I don't know where you heard that quality is better at Porsche but they have more than their share of problems too.
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From: Pittsburgh,pa
2010 Range Rover S/C 2010 Land Rover LR4 HSE Lux Plus 2007 BMW R1200GS
Originally Posted by Tony FL
So Pilot20, where do you want me to start with Porsche's quality? I have had 15 Porsches since 1995. My last 3 Porsches were terrible. I had a 2001 996 Turbo that was in the shop quite a few times, a 2004 GT3 that had problems Porsche couldn't even figure out how to fix and had to buy back as a Lemon and a 2005 997 that had problems right from the delivery day. I finally got fed up when my dealer tried to screw me on trading it in for a 997S. I traded it in on a a new SL55 and couldn't be happier. It is a different type of car than the 997 but it's a welcome change for me.
I don't know where you heard that quality is better at Porsche but they have more than their share of problems too.
I don't know where you heard that quality is better at Porsche but they have more than their share of problems too.
Ageed...Wait till he learns about...RMS!!
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
What is a "bad gateway?"
Originally Posted by lorinserbenz
Well I guess someone is trying to tell me I should have bought something else..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
My second SL500 arrived and it was free of paint defects.. I was happy until I used the radio...
If I press more than one button in succession the radio reboots .....
the tech said the car has a bad gateway..<sigh>
I thought all the claims of MB's quality control being bad were just BS.. boy was I was wrong..
If it is not the Command unit what do they do to fix it?
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'04 S430 4 Matic and '05 997
Anecdotes may influence ones buying decisions but the truth is they are of little import in the long run. MB quality has reached a new low water mark and it sounds like some people are desperately trying to justify their purchase in spite of quality surveys which are below those of Hyundai. It amazes me reading these posts to see people complaining of poorly fitting roof panels on a 130 K car and it just gets brushed off as a manufacturing variance. The 500, which costs 95 K base has plastic covering the A pillar. The sun visor and vanity mirror would be an embarrasment in a Honda Civic. They have decontented the SL (and raised the price!) to an astonishing extent.
My loyalty has to be earned. I'm no longer going to be giving my money to a car company that treats its customers like idiots.
My loyalty has to be earned. I'm no longer going to be giving my money to a car company that treats its customers like idiots.
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Originally Posted by LovinSL600
What is a "bad gateway?" Is this the Command unit? If so, why not take the good one out of the previous car?
If it is not the Command unit what do they do to fix it?
If it is not the Command unit what do they do to fix it?
The dash lights also went out will I was driving the car and there is a very annoying ticking sound that sounds like its coming from the trunck.
This one goes back today... I am not accepting it...
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by lorinserbenz
I think the gateway is where the car processes all the information from the comand.
The dash lights also went out will I was driving the car and there is a very annoying ticking sound that sounds like its coming from the trunck.
This one goes back today... I am not accepting it...
The dash lights also went out will I was driving the car and there is a very annoying ticking sound that sounds like its coming from the trunck.
This one goes back today... I am not accepting it...
Good luck.
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Posts: 59
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From: W Palm Beach, FL
2018 GLC43, 2021 VW Atlas
Are you really comparing the SL interior to the Porsche's? Nothing is cheaper looking than the plastic-looking dash on a 911. I had more squeeks and rattles and loose fitting interior pieces in my 996 Turbo that I thought I was in a Neon. Is the Porsche still one of the best cars in the world to drive? Hell yeah! The GT3 was definitely the most fun car I've owned(when it wasn't in the shop). From my experience Porsche is not one of the most problem free cars though.
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From: Ponce Puerto Rico
SL500 2003 previous/ E350 2007 actually
Originally Posted by pilot20
After a 6 year love affair (with the car) I traded in the SL for a 911. I wanted a new 500 or 55 but was put off by the poor quality of materials that 100 - 125 K buys you with MB.
In retrospect I wish I had traded it in long ago. The 911 is way more fun to drive.
In retrospect I wish I had traded it in long ago. The 911 is way more fun to drive.
Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 245
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From: Pittsburgh,pa
2010 Range Rover S/C 2010 Land Rover LR4 HSE Lux Plus 2007 BMW R1200GS
Originally Posted by pilot20
Anecdotes may influence ones buying decisions but the truth is they are of little import in the long run. MB quality has reached a new low water mark and it sounds like some people are desperately trying to justify their purchase in spite of quality surveys which are below those of Hyundai. It amazes me reading these posts to see people complaining of poorly fitting roof panels on a 130 K car and it just gets brushed off as a manufacturing variance. The 500, which costs 95 K base has plastic covering the A pillar. The sun visor and vanity mirror would be an embarrasment in a Honda Civic. They have decontented the SL (and raised the price!) to an astonishing extent.
My loyalty has to be earned. I'm no longer going to be giving my money to a car company that treats its customers like idiots.
My loyalty has to be earned. I'm no longer going to be giving my money to a car company that treats its customers like idiots.
Fine, go away...
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Maybe you are both right?
Originally Posted by PA500SL
Fine, go away...
While at the present time
I absolutely love my 2005 SL600 and emotionally I would never get any other car. The other part of the brain has to be thinking that yes it is a great car BUT, there is no question the cars reliabilty and their customer satisfaction ratings have plummeted to the floor and are at a new all-time low.You are both right.
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From: Ponce Puerto Rico
SL500 2003 previous/ E350 2007 actually
Your words made sence but we are talking about the reliablity of the porsche's that is not so distance of the MB, acording to the experience of the fellow members and the comments of my friends.
Last edited by carlosfernandez; Mar 14, 2005 at 07:47 AM.
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'04 S430 4 Matic and '05 997
Originally Posted by carlosfernandez
Your words made sence but we are talking about the reliablity of the porsche's that is not so distance of the MB, acording to the experience of the fellow members and the comments of my friends.
Being a shill for MB is definately not the way to goad them into improving their vehicles. I would think that someone shelling out 100 K or more for a vehicle would have higher standards than this. Otherwise it seems to me these people have more money than brains.
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From: Phoenix, AZ
2007 CL600
I've had very few problems with my SL600 and would buy another one. The fun factor and "pimpinality" of the car far outweigh the few quality problems I've experienced.
Also, Keep in mind that an SL500 is a completely different car than a 600. I'd rather have a CPO 600 over a new 500 and considering the depreciation that comes with the V12s, they may be priced about the same. 500s are nice, but I had mine only 2 months before I dumped it.
MBs do have their technical failings (just ask me about my CL); however, I can't find anything out there that offers the same balance of performance, price, convenience and style.
Also, Keep in mind that an SL500 is a completely different car than a 600. I'd rather have a CPO 600 over a new 500 and considering the depreciation that comes with the V12s, they may be priced about the same. 500s are nice, but I had mine only 2 months before I dumped it.
MBs do have their technical failings (just ask me about my CL); however, I can't find anything out there that offers the same balance of performance, price, convenience and style.
