SL/R230: Considering a 2009 SL550
Good deal?
many prices 'out there.'
While you are not mentioning packages (AMG wheels?, S01 premium, parktronic? Panorama?)
$43 w/CPO seems a 'fair price' IMO
Best of luck
I thought it was a fair deal as well but being this will be my first SL, wanted to get thoughts from this forum. Moving ahead.
Your deal sounds like a great deal. Get the car. I can't keep the smile off my face, such a beautiful, well handling, awesome car
and it's really really fast. I can't believe that there are models with more power beyond the 550.
The key is that you have warranty left !
I got my 2009 SL last October and while the warranty was good until March 2013
I had only 2000 miles left (basically I was done just before Christmas).
Our local dealer has free courtesy inspections, so here is what I did as soon as I bought it:
- I got a couple of nice Cuban cigars and was taking a chance that my rep
would be a guy that lights up a cigar here and then. (I was lucky he was !)
- when I introduced myself I told hem that I have only 2000 miles left and that I would
REALLY appreciate (wink-wink) if the mechanic went over the car very carefully and
addressed all problems so they can be taken care off while the car is still under warranty.
I specifically voiced my concern about ABC, and suspension in general. I told the advisor
that when I am backing our of the garage the power steering is making a VERY subtle
noise when turning the wheel and I also feel a gentle clunk when my car comes
off my driveway on to the road. I told him that both of these symptoms are VERY subtle
and very well they could be normal, but "I was just telling him to be on a safe side" as
this was was first MB and did not know what to expect.
He assured me that everything would be thoroughly checked.
I ended up with a brand new ABC/tandem pump, new engine mounts, new tranny mounts,
new rear differential seals, new trunk locking mechanism and new shade on my
panorama roof. All this would cost me 'easily' $8,000 - $10,000 !!
(After I visited the dealer and they did the ABC pump, trunk and the mounts - I took
my car to an independent mechanic and had him go again over the WHOLE CAR 'again'
one week before my warranty expired. It was him who found some problems
with my sun shade as well as some misting on the rear differential.
I took it then to my MB dealer again and all was fixed it under warranty).
I am very happy that I bought the car with some warranty left. These are all very
common problems that happen with SL's and its not a matter of IF but WHEN.
Hope I should be good for a while now. My only out of pocket expenses thus far
are a 'set of new wheel bolts and two OEM tire pressure sensors'.
Congrats on your car but get it THOROUGHLY checked (and I really would take it
to multiple places - well worth it) before the warranty runs out.
Last edited by MilosM3; Jan 18, 2013 at 10:04 AM.
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