2003 SL5 Launch Edition - how many were made??

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Dec 21, 2010 | 04:06 PM
  #1  
i've been reading through posts since i'm expecting delivery of one for the wife. i've seen 500 and 1500 units made for the us posted here and on the web. does anyone know how many is it? should i be leary since this was the launch edition, i hoping any bugs would have long been worked out by now. haven't seen the color in person, don't know if the silver green is closer to the latest toyota colr, the bamboo on the lexus rx or thr stone color on my wifes jeep. anything else i should be aware of on this launch edition?
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Jan 3, 2011 | 08:09 PM
  #2  
If its a special edition than on the door jamb it should read which number it is. For example lets say it is number 58, it would read 58 of 500 or 58 of 1500; respectively.

I don't know about the launch edition itself, but I guess it would be susceptible to most of the 2003 issues. Plastic piece in the gear selector can brake off, leaving your car stuck in park, forcing you to open the selector and replace or remove part. Check for leaking hydraulic fluid from ABC system. Check for vaccum pressure from rear trunk compartment and that all vacuum functions work, power closing trunk, seat massagers, etc. These cars can be gremlins if not properly maintained, I would recommend bringing it to a mechanic to get it fully insepcted. The extra money now is much cheaper than the potential repair bills later on a r230. Check health of the rear accessory battery as it is probably older, check health of main starter battery as well. Edit: Also, this car uses fuses for everything, there is the main box behind the passenger seat in the storage area, and I believe a secondary one in the engine bay (or I could be wrong, it might be in the trunk box)
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Jan 3, 2011 | 08:22 PM
  #3  
i contacted mb and they told me 2000 were made.
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Jan 12, 2011 | 03:27 AM
  #4  
You believed the dealer?
Quote: i contacted mb and they told me 2000 were made.
That definitely means it's incorrect!


I have one myself and I have read that there were 500 made.
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Jan 12, 2011 | 08:31 PM
  #5  
i contacted
MERCEDES-BENZ Classic Center

http://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/herita...enter/overview

this is what they sent me. you can see it says quantity 2000.
i asked them for a vin sequence to see if i could find out where mine was in line. they could tell me nothing.
after looking on ebay and other classifies where i could find vins, mine seems to be a latter number.
not sure if they were all made at one time with the vin's coming one after another or they would slip a few in here and there.

2003 SL5 Launch Edition - how many were made??-sl500launch1.jpg

2003 SL5 Launch Edition - how many were made??-sl500launch2.jpg


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Jan 12, 2011 | 09:00 PM
  #6  
I worked at a M-B dealer in Houston when they launched the "new" designo colored launch edition SL500's. We bought back the first 2 sold and re-sold them as low mileage used cars for $100k..........yes $100k............OVER original MSRP and all sold quickly due to super high demand.
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