Hello. Looking for some guidance relative to potentially purchasing a 2005 SL500. Ever since the first time I saw a SL500 in a Mercedes lot I have thought they were beautiful. When I have haunted Mercedes lots since the only car that stops me in my tracks is a R230. So after all these years of wanting one I drove a SL500 yesterday. I fully expected to not like driving it I expected it to feel heavy and character of the car being dominated by the engine. Instead I found it to be a car that was as nice to drive as to look at. So my desire for the car has increased further. My only inhibition is that potential operating costs could transform the ownership experience from joy to a nightmare.

The car in particular is a very clean one owner 2005 sliver over black SL500 with 41K miles and a clean car fax. The carfax shows that the car was properly maintained by the local Mercedes dealer.

As far as technology I didn't note whether the car had bluetooth or built in ipod connection. Did they have that available in 2005?

What would be a fair price for the car?

I know that these cars are notoriously expensive to maintain. This board does seem to have folks that are willing to turn their own wrenches in order to minimize ownership cost. I am able to do some of my own work. I have done work as extensive as replacing clutches and cylinder heads, but nothing beyond that and I don't have the star diagnostics. I would rather pay more up front and avoid repair costs down the road. Which leads to the next question.

How much should I budget for maintenance costs? What fuel mileage are people getting with the SL500s , SL550's?

Would I be better off getting a SL550 from an operating cost basis. Is the SL550 a more reliable or a better built car? know that the engine is more powerful but the 500 engine doesn't have the intermediate shaft issue that the 550 does. Did the SL550 abandon SBC?


Thanks in advance.

 

Hi MBNUT1

I'M considering a used SL purchase too so anxious to see replies. Same concerns about maintenance costs and choosing this car over a brand new or used BMW or Jag.

 

I would expect 2-3000 for maint and repairs a year. get an extended warranty. its worth the 5 grand! Also plan on taking it into the shop every 2 months to get something fixed. This has been my experience in the past 2 years. The car drives so damn nice I cant bring myself to get rid of it. I do a lot of the minor repairs myself as well. it is an expensive car to own. No Bluetooth on 2005. I don't know much about this but it seems a 2007 has less issues. most of the post I read are 2003-5 with the issues

 

Thank you kindly for your response

 

2003 and 2004 are more troublesome than the 2005 and 2006 models. Battery issues, archaic CD based navigation are the main aggravations. By 2007, things were sorted out, but I like the look of the older ones better. If you have some DIY skills, repairs aren't that bad, but if not, those costs are pretty accurate.

 

Agreed. I've changed my brake rotors/pads, replaced all 4 ABC Accumulators, rebuilt the ABC valve blocks and flushed the ABC fluid in my '05 SL55. Granted I've been working in motorsports/restoring cars most of my adult life but I've found the R230 to be easier than expected to work on. At the least with a good Indy I believe these cars can be quite reasonable to own these days.

 

Thanks guys! I really would like to own one once in my life. Pretty sure I could handle things like strut or accumulator replacement. Any thoughts on a fair price?

 

If you can handle routine maintenance and repairs like ABC maintenance and repairs and these cars become much more affordable to own. Genuine Mercedes parts can be purchased online for less than half what your local dealer likely charges it's walk in customers.

With these cars service history is a big plus and adds to the value when being sold. Carfax will show some maintenance at dealers and some Indy's but nothing beats thorough records from the seller.

I bought my 2005 SL55 the end of July this year. I paid $23,900. One female owner car from Phoenix. 96,000 miles in immaculate condition.

When I was looking it looked like 2003 and some '04 SL500's could be had for the $18,000 - $20,000 range. some '04's and '05 SL500's were in the $21,000 - $22,000 range.

For SL55's it seemed '03 and some '04's were around $20,000 to $22,000 and some '04's and '05's were in the $23,000 to $25,000 range.

This was just my experience. The cars in these ranges looked to be in very nice condition. I did look at a '04 Sl55 with about 75,000 miles for $19,000 but, it was in a little rough shape with some issues (mostly minor but still).

I found mine on Ebay. I also had good luck searching Craigslist, cars.com and autotrader.com. There were a few at local dealers but, most seem to ask a little too much for these cars. I found what seemed like better deals through private listings.

A pre-purchase inspection is highly recommended by a good knowledgeable Indy if this is your first SL. As it sounds like you are mechanically inclined ask if they will let you sit in on the inspection and maybe they can explain some of the systems like ABC and point out things to look out for to you, especially while the car is on the lift.


Hope this helps,

 

To answer some of your other questions I believe a 550 may be more reliable by virtue of being a little newer. The '04 and '05 500's and 55's seem to be quite reliable overall. I also believe that even the '03s that had a bit of a bad rap for unreliability have likely largely been sorted by now.

All the R230 V8 engines seem to be dead reliable whether it be a 500, 550 or supercharged 55 engines. I also believe transmission issues are fairly rare as well. In the SL500 a 5 speed transmission was standard in '03 then went to a 7 speed in '04. All SL550's are 7 speeds. Sl55's remained 5 speeds until I believe '08.

My '05 SL55 is getting about 20mpg with 75% interstate/ 25% surface streets.

 

For a fair price I think if you could get the 41k '05 for $23,000 or maybe $24,000 you'd be doing well. This is of course quite subjective. At a dealer I bet they're asking $27,000 to $28,000?

Is this a keyless go and/or panoramic roof car? These seem to be the most sought after options. Distronic and Parktronic add a bit to the value as well. I wish mine had the Sirius module. That's going to cost me several hundred to add.

 

vtvette,

Thanks for all the great responses!

Like I said I would really like to own one once.

On the price it is a BMW dealership and they are asking like 31.5. I told them I would consider 25k (which is in line with your pricing). They told me that they didn't have that much mark up in their cars. I told him then they paid way over KBB trade-in. He said they used Manheim. Which I wish I could get numbers for. The car is in nice shape but I will just wait. As we head into winter they may well change their tune. The car has been well maintained so I feel as comfortable buying this one as any.

 

Just don't ever, ever take your car to a Merc Dealership unless you have a warranty or unlimited funds. I have owned a SL500, 2005 yr, for 6 months. Paid 20K and have spent 8K so far with another 4k remaining. Merc Dealerships want about double what you will spend elsewhere. I have a repair shop giving one year warranty on parts and labor. Hard to beat.

Good luck

 

I have really enjoyed this thread.


I am in the same boat, want an SL500 or SL550. My worry has revolved around the ABC system. Please critique my research:
1) On SL500's ABC problems decreased significantly on late 04 and newer models 05/06.
2) Have read there were changes to the ABC system in late 05 and 06, but no one has said exactly what they were.
3) There seem to be fewer problems reported on the SL550's, not sure why, unless it is lower mileage. I wonder if MB tried to make some improvement to the ABC system. I wonder if they are identical or indeed changed in some way.
4) The ABC system will fail, it's just a matter of mileage, around 50-60,000 seems to be the beginning of problems. Don't know whether this applies to SL550's.
5) Flushing the system seems to be a neglected maintenance item that seems to add some life to the system.


I have located a 06 SL500 with 19,000 miles, clean car with clean car fax. They are asking $40,000 which I believe is about $8 to $10,000 high.


I was convinced that the SL500 was smaller than the SL550 but found they are identical in length, width, and height. The only dimension I could find that was different is in hip room with the SL550 being a couple inches wider. Still, I somehow like the way the SL500's look over the SL 550.


Rather than an extended warranty, I am focusing on trying to find a good independent in my Springfield Mo. area. Never much believed in extended warranties but maybe that should change, any recommendations on a company? Have been told to expect $1200 to $1400/year.


Please critique my comments.