SL/R230: Thinking about getting an '03 SL500... opinons wanted
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From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
Thinking about getting an '03 SL500... opinons wanted
A friend of mine works at an indie Mercedes shop and gave me a call because they have a black/charcoal int. '03 SL500 in there getting some extended warranty work taken care of (believe it was something w/ the ignition switch). I was mainly looking at '00-'02 E55s and '03+ E500s prior to this. I checked out the car a couple of days ago and took it for a test drive and really like it. It's got 58k miles on it and is extremely clean. It's a one owner car and the guy is in his early 60s and it hasn't been beat on (and it shows). The car has only been serviced/worked on by Stead Mercedes in Walnut Creek, CA and my friend's shop. The only reason he's selling it is because he just bought another luxury car of some sort. He's asking $28,000 but my friend and his boss think I could probably get it for $24,000-$25,000. I'm currently waiting to hear back from my bank regarding a loan and my insurance company.
I'm mainly worried about if I can actually afford to own this car. I've done some reading on here and have seen a lot of the you need a warranty and you don't need a warranty type posts. Since my friend works at an indie shop i get parts at his cost plus a little extra (5%-10%) and almost free labor (what I decide to pay him). His boss is ok with him doing side jobs for me. I can handle the payments no problem, but am a tiny bit hesitant of any issues that may come up. This car would be my daily driver (7 miles each way to work) but I do have another vehicle so I could deal with downtime if needed.
Opinions? Should I go for it if the price is right or am I a dumbass for even thinking about doing this?
I'm mainly worried about if I can actually afford to own this car. I've done some reading on here and have seen a lot of the you need a warranty and you don't need a warranty type posts. Since my friend works at an indie shop i get parts at his cost plus a little extra (5%-10%) and almost free labor (what I decide to pay him). His boss is ok with him doing side jobs for me. I can handle the payments no problem, but am a tiny bit hesitant of any issues that may come up. This car would be my daily driver (7 miles each way to work) but I do have another vehicle so I could deal with downtime if needed.
Opinions? Should I go for it if the price is right or am I a dumbass for even thinking about doing this?
Last edited by Strigoi; Apr 14, 2011 at 09:03 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: New Jersey
2014 S550 4matic 2003 SL500 2009 CLS550 2008 CLK350 2002 L320 2006 E350
they will cost you
A friend of mine works at an indie Mercedes shop and gave me a call because they have a black/charcoal int. '03 SL500 in there getting some extended warranty work taken care of (believe it was something w/ the ignition switch). I was mainly looking at '00-'02 E55s and '03+ E500s prior to this. I checked out the car a couple of days ago and took it for a test drive and really like it. It's got 58k miles on it and is extremely clean. It's a one owner car and the guy is in his early 60s and it hasn't been beat on (and it shows). The car has only been serviced/worked on by Stead Mercedes in Walnut Creek, CA and my friend's shop. The only reason he's selling it is because he just bought another luxury car of some sort. He's asking $28,000 but my friend and his boss think I could probably get it for $24,000-$25,000. I'm currently waiting to hear back from my bank regarding a loan and my insurance company.
I'm mainly worried about if I can actually afford to own this car. I've done some reading on here and have seen a lot of the you need a warranty and you don't need a warranty type posts. Since my friend works at an indie shop i get parts at his cost plus a little extra (5%-10%) and almost free labor (what I decide to pay him). His boss is ok with him doing side jobs for me. I can handle the payments no problem, but am a tiny bit hesitant of any issues that may come up. This car would be my daily driver (7 miles each way to work) but I do have another vehicle so I could deal with downtime if needed.
Opinions? Should I go for it if the price is right or am I a dumbass for even thinking about doing this?
I'm mainly worried about if I can actually afford to own this car. I've done some reading on here and have seen a lot of the you need a warranty and you don't need a warranty type posts. Since my friend works at an indie shop i get parts at his cost plus a little extra (5%-10%) and almost free labor (what I decide to pay him). His boss is ok with him doing side jobs for me. I can handle the payments no problem, but am a tiny bit hesitant of any issues that may come up. This car would be my daily driver (7 miles each way to work) but I do have another vehicle so I could deal with downtime if needed.
Opinions? Should I go for it if the price is right or am I a dumbass for even thinking about doing this?
Last edited by la22bay; Apr 14, 2011 at 10:58 PM.
Thread Starter
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From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
That's kind of what I was afraid of. Since you're showing dealer costs, is it really that bad without the labor? I realize parts are expensive, but do the big dollar problems show up often or is it mainly just the small stuff that's a few hundred here and there that adds up?
I'm really on the fence about this. I'm also considering CTS-Vs or a C5 Z06, which are a little more in my price range.
I'm really on the fence about this. I'm also considering CTS-Vs or a C5 Z06, which are a little more in my price range.
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03 SL500
If you are worried about the payments on $25k and you don't get a warranty, you won't be able to afford this car.
Let's say that all labor was free. You are still going to pay $1200 for one shock that goes bad, or $2000 for a brake computer chip or $2300 for a malfunctioning command unit. What happens if the roof doesn't go down or up one day. Sure your friend may fix it for free, but he'll still have to charge you the $2000 in parts.
I had mine 2 years, paid $2400 for the warranty and it had about $10,000 in warranty repairs.
Let's say that all labor was free. You are still going to pay $1200 for one shock that goes bad, or $2000 for a brake computer chip or $2300 for a malfunctioning command unit. What happens if the roof doesn't go down or up one day. Sure your friend may fix it for free, but he'll still have to charge you the $2000 in parts.
I had mine 2 years, paid $2400 for the warranty and it had about $10,000 in warranty repairs.
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From: New Jersey
2014 S550 4matic 2003 SL500 2009 CLS550 2008 CLK350 2002 L320 2006 E350
That's kind of what I was afraid of. Since you're showing dealer costs, is it really that bad without the labor? I realize parts are expensive, but do the big dollar problems show up often or is it mainly just the small stuff that's a few hundred here and there that adds up?
I'm really on the fence about this. I'm also considering CTS-Vs or a C5 Z06, which are a little more in my price range.
I'm really on the fence about this. I'm also considering CTS-Vs or a C5 Z06, which are a little more in my price range.
Last edited by la22bay; Apr 15, 2011 at 07:48 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 3,249
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From: Richmond, CA
2001 E320 Wagon, 2006 LBZ Silverado, 2007 E63 (sold), 2001 E55 (sold)
You guys all have very valid points. I think at this point I'm going to go ahead and pass on it. Thanks.
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Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Louisiana
2005 SL500
Wow, where did you find an amount that small for the COMAND unit? I just had to get mine replaced (was rebooting a lot, then finally just died) and it cost about $5600. About $5K of that was just the unit! Thank god it was covered under my Easy Care warranty. Whew!
-Rook3300
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Rook3300, you spent 5k for the Unit?
This is one of the only authorized repair vendors in the U.S. 495 covers a complete rebuild:
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/ca.../Mercedes-OEM/
This is one of the only authorized repair vendors in the U.S. 495 covers a complete rebuild:
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/ca.../Mercedes-OEM/
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Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
2005 SL500
Rook3300, you spent 5k for the Unit?
This is one of the only authorized repair vendors in the U.S. 495 covers a complete rebuild:
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/ca.../Mercedes-OEM/
This is one of the only authorized repair vendors in the U.S. 495 covers a complete rebuild:
http://www.midwestelectronics.com/ca.../Mercedes-OEM/
Thanks for the link but all those units are from older cars. I've got a newer unit in my 2005 SL500. Their website didn't specify if they work on newer units. If I couldn't have the replacement through my warranty, I would have been all over something like this but everything's a-ok now.
-Rook300
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 244
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From: Louisiana
2005 SL500
