I have been reading and following threads here and on BenzWorld for several months, although I have just registered. Was seriously considering an E series model, however the concerns about maint. & reliability are just too great w/that model.

Have you owners had similar problems with the 03 & 04 SL's that you could advise me to do further research on in forum? It looks like many issues are confined to the E & S series and I think I will hang on to my other sedan as a daily driver. I do have a weekend 2-door that I was considering the sale of and the SL came to mind as a replacement....its beautiful but I don't want the consistant problems that occur w/some of the other MB products. I don't write these things to insite flames but the Lexus and NSX I currently own are basically trouble free, The MB cars have caught my eye over the past 2 years as the best looking rides available IMO after the recent re-designs.

Thanks in advance.

 

Not had a single problem in 4,500 miles.

Great looking car, a few design and option issues, but all in all a very fine motor. Go for it!

 

I've had my 04' SL500 for just over three months and have 5,400 miles. The only issue I had was that my psngr door needed to be re-oiled from squeeking; we've had VERY LOW temperatures in the North East over the past few days (low of 2 degrees at night). Other than that, the ownership experience has been AMAZING. I have no interior noises, car rides great, NOTHING mechanically or electronically has gone wrong, etc... and it has performed beautifully in these freezing temperatures over the past few days.... I have two friends with E classes...an 03 and 04 E class and they have not taken there car into Benz for any mechanical matter. Another colleague with an early build E-500 (November 2002) has had a few technical malfunctions that seem to have been addressed in the E-Class from May 2003 forward. If you can step up to the price of the SL, it is DEFINATELY worth it and ownership is a pleasure!

 

I have/ drive daily/ a very early 2003 SL 500 "LAUNCH EDITION" (Mar '02) for over 22 months with 22,000 miles--both very short local, and long distance/ Interstate miles--and have had only one very minor item. (seat belt indicator/tightener switch needed to be replaced--no inconvenience). --including cold weather driving at 0 deg F This morning!

I've had NEW Mercedes since 1962, including "late models" like 1991 300SE, 1993 300SE (120,000 miles), a very early/first local delivery/ model 1998 SLK 230), and now the first local delivery/ 2003 Launch Edition SL 500. In my limited experience, quality (no mainteneance headaches) has improved in 40 years to the point that I would say my 1998 SLK, and 2003 Launch Edition SL 500 were as good as they can make them! --NEVER ANY problems with very complex retract. roof systems on last two VERY early edition cars.

Giff Albright, in the Allegheny Mountains of Pennsylvania--

 

Go for it.

This is coming from the Lexus boy too.

 

Had mine since Nov and only is is a right drift. Dealer plans to install a "kit" once it is received from Germany. Our 2004 E500 received in Dec has similar issue.

 

I've had my 04 SL500 for 3 months now and have 1900 miles on it. The car is almost perfect (I have a rattle in the driver side window). If you can afford it, buy it. It's also one of the best-looking cars on the road.

 

If you can afford the SL, go for it, and keep your current car as the daily driver. It does seem that the SL has less issues than some of the other MB models. There have been various issues with the E, and a lot of them are related to the COMAND system.

 

No problems in just over 5000 miles