150shot

Posed this question as well, there is an option from VRP for paddles. Someone tried them but install was very hard..no one else had feedback.

JackStraw

Standard on 55 and 65, but not the 600. To get the shift buttons on the 600 in 2005, you had to order the Sport package. I was tempted, but back then you had to take the 5-hole starfish wheels with the Sport package, and I liked the standard 600 wheels more. Also my 600 came with a heated steering wheel, and that was incompatible with the buttons.

I bought it and never looked back. If I'm in the mood to shift manually, I use the stick.

mikeinsf

I'm really ~not~ a fan of those spinning starfish wheels either. Good choice.

Bam Bam

Hi, Iam looking to invest into a SL500 myself. I couldnt afford it when it was priced for $90, 000. But I have seen some for $30,000 which puts it in my price range.

I want to ask, if a lot of people who own the 2003 SL500 are happy, then should the mileage on the engine be a bigger concern rather than the year of the car?

I want to get this car as soon as I can, 10 years from now the fifth generation SL500 will still be a very nice car. So I dont know if I should just wait and save my money until a 2004-2005 SL500 drops in price, or try to look for a 2003 SL500.

Also, after you get and inspection from a MB dealer, should I ask if I can purchase warranty or extended the warranty?

mikeinsf

In December I got my 2005 with 45k miles for $33k, CPO with warranty extended a year. An '05 is not out of your price range, you just need to hold out and look a little harder. Play hardball, play dealers off each other, they need you right now, and the right dealer will drop the price to make a deal happen if they have a car in inventory they can do it with. You also will probably have to "settle" for one with a light options list. Oh boo hoo.

Bam Bam

How much did it cost you to extend the warranty for a year?

Keng1

Mike: Dammm $33K is a great deal.

Bam Bam: Just be aware that repair costs and parts on the car are really high. I think it cost me $2K to get my brakes replaced at the stealership a few years back.

I had a 2003 and I loved it. Had tons of problems though and it was constantly in the shop.

Funny about the paddles. I have to use mine since the M6 does not have a real auto and miss the simplicity of the SL's transmission. Point the car in the direction you want to go and hit the gas.

Bam Bam

Did you have warranty? All four brakes were replaced? how often do you have to replace the breaks?

If you have warranty for certain parts does the dealership cover all the labour costs?

If your SL was always in the shop, then why do some people say that a lot of people are happy with their SL500? Well other than the fact its a really nice car.

mikeinsf

I could have paid $32k for non-CPO and 6 mos left on factory warranty.
I opted for $33k with CPO and factory warranty extended one year, so 18 mos left on warranty.

I will certainly be shopping for an exclusionary extended warranty next year.

Bam Bam

so mike your warranty, it covers a lot of repairs? If a part needs to be replaced, like strut bars for ABC lowering thing, or like seals for leaky trunks, or shifter for shifters being stuck in park, does MB cover the cost of parts, or the warranty only covers labour?

velvet fog

Factory warranty covers everything. CPO extension pretty is pretty much the same as the initial factory warranty except the CPO does NOT cover diagnostic costs if the problem is not covered by warranty. I can't really think of a good example but that's how it was explained to me.

Bam Bam

Oh so if there is a problem with your SL and you take it in for a check up and they run diagnostics, and the repair is not covered by your warranty they can charge you for the diagnostic?

mikeinsf

Factory warranty covers everything, even a pretty decent late-model loaner car if you need one.

mlandis

The loaner part may have to do with the dealership -- I bought my car in Walnut Creek, but live down in L.A. The dealer I go to -- Fletcher Jones in Newport Beach -- will cover a rental up to $50, but a C300 goes for $70, so you end up paying some more. They'd probably cover everything if I had purchased the car from them, though.

Bam Bam

the DVD navigation in the 05 SL500 is it that more special then the CD navigation in the 03 SL500? Iam guessing the screen would like nicer, but cant you just install a car deck that comes with a really nice DVD screen?

How is the wear and tear on these SL500, do they wear down really fast, and thats why the vehicle is always in the MB dealership? People often say these vehicles spend a lot of time in the dealership, is that because they have warranty on them and their owners like to get good value for their warranty by sending them into the dealerships to get checked often?

Iam hoping these SL500 dont spend a lot of time in the dealership because problems constantly pop up a lot.

If you bought an SL500 with warranty and no major problems at all, then it should not be exspensive to maintain because the labour and costs are covered in the warranty and the SL500 was already in good condition at the time of the purchase?

Bam Bam

I woud like to know how much would you have to spend on repairs if you have a SL500 that has warranty. Roughly how much per year? Assuming that you have the best warranty that covers bumber to bumber.

If you have warranty from bumber to bumber then the repairs, parts and labour should cost you very little right?