PHYBENZ

any problems with them? Enjoying them? would like to here some owner's comments.... Probelems, likes, dislikes, stories.. anything....

giffSCPA

Well, after 4,000 miles I find the SL 500 (Launch Edition) better each day. It does everything I have expected. Braking system is great! Gas mileage is as expected. The headlights are really great. No problems so far.

The car really attracts a lot of attention wherever it is parked--and on the road when driving slowly enough to be noticed.

The only minus is the FM reception (poor). I live in a mountainous, rural area of Pennsylvania, and has been a problem on all cars--hence the reason for the CD changer.

Over the years I have owned 220Seb, 300SEs, SLK230--and NOW the SL500 -it is TOPS!

Giff Albright of State College, PA (home of pennState University)

giffSCPA

Mark - The FM reception is a problem because in the SL the antenna is in the windshield-- the problem was NOT as bad in the other Mercedes because the FM signals were picked up by a better located antenna system--sorry if I caused misunderstanding!

I would have expected that the SL reception would be better than my former 1993 300SE sedan, but it isn't!--Giff Albright in the Allegheny Mountains of Central pennsylvania.

rennrcr

i did have one minor electrical glitch - Distronic light came on...went to the dealership and it was squared away quick

W210

Drove a 2002 Odyssey with the huge antenna, poor FM reception, drove the 2002 Audi A4, same problem. For my area, FM reception is an issue not only for MBs.

bkushner

Well I just hit 3000 miles on my launch. I've been dealing with noisy breaks which mercedes tells me there is no fix. Also had the ABC module burn out at 2000 miles and had to have it ordered so lost use of the car for 3 days and Ive had the smell of burning antifreeze whenever the car gets real hot, service can't find the cause.

giffSCPA

WELL I have over 5200 miles (combo city and hiway) on Launch Edition SL 500.
Still no problems, for which I am most pleased--------It seems to drive better each day, particularly with regard to "body control" features at medium and high speed ------maybe I am just getting used to the action of the computer control.
'Nice write up in Sunday NY times re SL 500, and in a recent British Car Magazine. --classed---"Best Roadster"- Giff Albright, State College, PA

uag

About 1200 miles. I have problems with bad odor coming from air vents (when sitting for a while) just before the ac compressor kicks in-- I get low gasoline readings from fuel gauge and command when there is plenty of gas in tank -- NO FIX YET

hwt1964

Weird "moaning" sound.

<ok...no smart comments from the peanut gallery>

Has anyone else noticed a weird "moaning" or "groaning" sound that happens from time to time? I'm not sure if it has something to do with the exhaust tuning, or if it is a transmission thing, although I suspect the exhaust.

theboogers

the one of the moaning sounds is from the vacum pump? or air pump? that i can here when the car is sitting still without the engine running. i thought this was for central locking etc. the other moaning sound is from the people watching the car go by.

FloridaSLGuy

Picked up my new SL on Monday. The car is great but I have a defect on the dashboard. It is lumpy. Apparantly the adhesive did not stick so the leather/plastic is separating from the dash shell. The fix... a whole new dash which does not make me happy on a car with 30 miles on it.

This should have been caught during QA.

blueSL

That's got to be a big job to replace, plus the risk of rattles and squeaks. Definitely not the way to get started with your new SL.

vraa

when i pull the sun blocker, or whatever you pull down thats on the roof to stop the sun coming into your eyes when your on the passenger side right in front of the winshield the light doens't come on unless i hold it up.. on the drivers side i just open the mirror and the light automaticlly comes on.. has anyone experianced this?

giffSCPA

See 1st and 2nd positive reports above. Having owned the 2003 Launch edition SL500 for five months and driven over 6,000 miles (city plus long distance-) I find there are no problems whatsoever.-

Everything performs as expected and then some. People stop and comment on the beautiful color of the car - as well as the Launch Edition special 5 spoke wheels and the overall integrated design with the Designo Metallic--finish, and black leather interior, wooden trim steering wheel, etc.

I did just purchase the "official" Mercedes back compartment full width soft "suitcase"--which neatly utilizes the clever tie down strap system in the rear cabin compartment--looks very neat, and containes a very large amount of whatever----(can be heavy to lift when fully loaded but is easy to place and secure into back compartment cabin position.)

One real forthcoming challenge coming in four months (mid November) will be to see how it performs with appropriate snow tires on all four wheels.- for 12 month use in the Allegheny Mountains of Nort Central Pennsylvania

Nothing else to report Giff Albright, State College, PA

northbenz

Are studded tires allowed in State College? I've been told that the only 17" studded tires available would have to be imported from one of the Scandinavian country tire makers and that as to 18" studded snow tires such an animal just doesn't exist. Hope you got the stock wheels. The designo SL500's and SL55's with their 18" wheels seem to be out of luck.

There are some tire compounds that approach the effectiveness of studs so that may another alternative, but again I believe they are only made up to the 17" size.

Would be interested in hearing what others have learned who may have researched the subject of performance sized snow tires.

blueSL

Yeah, I think the bag is a good idea, puts to bed any ideas that the trunk isn't big enough with the roof down. Don't think you can keave the car with the roof down and that is the back, isn't it or its contents likely to go walkabouts?

What's the quality of the bag like and how much to they cost?

As for the snow tires thing, my current SL is hopeless in the snow, never tried it with snow tires or studs though.

giffSCPA

In answer to ?? above--The back seat SL bag is described and available on www from MBUSA / and from brochure I received from MBUSA - costs over US$330.00 dollars.

It is not leather, but a durable "strength fabric"- high quality soft side luggage. I don't see the theft problem an issue with top down-- becaue I usually won't use on short trips--and on long long trips would take bag out and into hotel, etc.,and/or put top up.

GIFF Albright

giffSCPA

re Question above ---MY MB dealer had researched the snow tire and spare wheels issues (at my insistance before purchase of car)with the experts at tirerack prior to my purchase of car in March 02--seemed that there would be no problem for my Launch Edition SL 500 (I do not use studded tires) Giff Albright of State College, PA

northbenz

blueSL - Is your current SL the new SL500 MY2003 which has only been out since March of this year? If so, did you get to try it out on snow? What about the traction control, did it make any difference?

giffSCPA

Re question above - I picked up my 2003 SL500 (Launch Ediition)-special wheels) 5 months ago on March 13, 2002. For some reason, in State College PA, this past winter was warmer and had less snow than usual so it has never been driven on snow/ice YET.

I had both a 1993 300SE and a 1998 SLK--concurrently, now both traded, and did use 4 wheel snow tires on both those vehickes. No problems in past 8 years; but with the SLK, the low ground clearance became a problem with hitting "ice chunks" at driveway entrances, and cross street intersections, where the plowing crews don't clear the snow/ice completely. SO, I had a clearance problem, not a Traction problem. Without snow tires, the SLK would be useless w/o snow tires. By snow tires I so not mean "all season" but bona fide snow tires without metal studs.

I've had good experiences with both Gislavid (swedish) and the more common (soft rubber) type snow tire treads. Tread mileage (useful) was not that good as I expected. GIFF Albright of State College, PA

2003G55

My SL has a very noisy sloshing sound coming out of the gas tank area that is quite noticeable when driving very slowly. I have been told there will be a service bulletin regarding this and they will develope baffles for inside the tank. I don't know if the entire tank gets replaced. I think that models built after July will have this modification in place.

I have the same clicking sound that comes out of the engine compartment that others in this thread have noted.



The Launch Edition Designo Silver really changes color in different light. I thought it was a true silver in the dealers flourescent lit garage. It turns a pea colored silver green in the evening which I don't really care for. I have a brilliant silver with berry SL55 ordered as a fix.

blueSL

northbenz:

No, I was referring to my 129, which just sits there and spins one wheel in the snow. The new car I am sure will be much cleverer. I do not have an R230 yet. Sorry for the confusion.

2003G55:

I saw the launch color listed on ebay and posted "worst color?" on this board without realising it was the launch edition color. I'm surprised they used it as a launch color. Like you, I'm going for brilliant silver, berry red SL55. My friends have joked that I lack imagination because that's what's featured in a lot of the show pictures and brochures but after making a few bad decisions on car color before, I thought I'd play safe(r).

Doody

[[[I have a brilliant silver with berry SL55 ordered as a fix.]]]

LOL.

that's a mighty expensive "fix" ;-)

doody!

vraa

so i take it no one has my problem! lol