SL/R230: Thinking about buying 03 SL500.. is it a good buy??
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Newbie
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2
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sl500
Thinking about buying 03 SL500.. is it a good buy??
I am thinking about buying a 03 SL500 with 40k miles for $23.5K?? non-sportpackage...
I've heard that 03 SL500 is hard and $$$ to maintain...
one more thing.. the car i want to buy has brake fluid warning light.. is this common problem on all the SLs? please advise... thanks
I've heard that 03 SL500 is hard and $$$ to maintain...
one more thing.. the car i want to buy has brake fluid warning light.. is this common problem on all the SLs? please advise... thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 1
From: somewhere between Tallahassee and Davie, FL depending on the day :-p
2003 sl500
if there are ANY issues at all with this vehicle, i would personally say 23.5 is too high and you should shop around a little more. that and i cant say brakes are something id want to have to mess with upon buying a car (its money to fix and not somethign you want to drive around not working properly). interestingly enough, ebay isnt a bad place to start, a lot of dealers are listing their vehicles on there lately and you can narrow it down to price range and xx miles from your location. you wont have an issue finding a GREAT 03 for 23.5 or under. if you got a little more $$ you might even be able to swing a 55 amg.
I own a 2003 sl500 with 80,000 miles on it now. its not harder to maintain than other other vehicle, parts and labor are just more. I do recommend an extended warranty, jsut in case.... it just saved me on an a/c repair.
I own a 2003 sl500 with 80,000 miles on it now. its not harder to maintain than other other vehicle, parts and labor are just more. I do recommend an extended warranty, jsut in case.... it just saved me on an a/c repair.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: In a VAN down by the river
His wifes head hard into the headboard nightly!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to repair, and maintain. go se how much average servic is, plug change, brakes, struts...g/l
if u got lights on already STAY AWAY!
if u got lights on already STAY AWAY!
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 828
Likes: 1
From: Northern VA
SL 500
If you are buying the SL as a daily driver, don't purchase it without a warranty. They are costly. My yearly repair bills usually come to $3K which includes maintenance. And I don't even drive it daily. Luckily I have an extended warranty, so I am good to go. If I didn't have an extended warranty, the car would not be in my garage. Honest truth.
It's a blast to drive, but it's costly to maintain. The suspension really is questionable, you need to your homework to make sure the car has been ABC flush and maintained, else, it will be need to be replaced around 50K mark. Just do a search on the forums, and learn for yourself. Also make sure all the recalls are done, and technical bulletins for fixes, etc.. before u purchase.
If this will be a weekend car, then, bargain and get a better deal. Tons on the market, you should be fine.
It's a blast to drive, but it's costly to maintain. The suspension really is questionable, you need to your homework to make sure the car has been ABC flush and maintained, else, it will be need to be replaced around 50K mark. Just do a search on the forums, and learn for yourself. Also make sure all the recalls are done, and technical bulletins for fixes, etc.. before u purchase.
If this will be a weekend car, then, bargain and get a better deal. Tons on the market, you should be fine.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
From: Jupiter, Florida
2005 E55, 2004 E55(sold), 2001 Viper GTS, 2006 Viper VOI9, 1994 ZR-1 Corvette 2009 Viper ACR,
Im looking for the same car for my mom, and cant find ANY in that range.. All are upper 20's... Now to be fair, I AM looking for a sport package and MAGMA Red specific.. But $23k sounds like a steal to me..
I have one at $28k Im getting ready to pull the trigger on... Now you have me second guessing myself.. She REALLY wants the aport package though. It changes the entire look of the car..
I have one at $28k Im getting ready to pull the trigger on... Now you have me second guessing myself.. She REALLY wants the aport package though. It changes the entire look of the car..
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
SL55, C350 & ML320
Sport Package does make a very nice appearance in the front and rear Spoilers.
The Shifters located on each side of Steering wheel are similar to Porsche Tiptronic.
The Active Body Control Sport setting really does make a difference on lean angle when pushing the car in corners.
This is still no sports car but it is a really nice GT car.
2003 Model year is the 1st year the R230 was introduced and there seems to be more problems associated with this year.
Ian
The Shifters located on each side of Steering wheel are similar to Porsche Tiptronic.
The Active Body Control Sport setting really does make a difference on lean angle when pushing the car in corners.
This is still no sports car but it is a really nice GT car.
2003 Model year is the 1st year the R230 was introduced and there seems to be more problems associated with this year.
Ian
Last edited by flyjets01; Apr 19, 2010 at 06:02 AM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
From: Hot part of Texas
2005 SL500, 2000 S430, 1999 C2, 1995 E300D
Sport package
For MY 2003-06 the quickest way to tell the sport package equipped SL is from the front bumper that has three wide trapezoidal air intake openings instead of one long oval opening on the non-sport models.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
SL55, C350 & ML320
Attached is a SL500 front that has the Sport Package.
If your Bumper looks like this then you most likely have the sport package.
There is also a web site that you can put the VIN number in and it will tell you the options on the vehicle.
http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng
Ian
If your Bumper looks like this then you most likely have the sport package.
There is also a web site that you can put the VIN number in and it will tell you the options on the vehicle.
http://old.mbclub.ru/mb/vin/?lng=eng
Ian
