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Heatwave, that is some story! As a 12yo, I'll bet getting in and out of that car was "fun". I was in my mid 40's when I first got to drive a 300SL and even then I though the ingress/egress was a bit of a challenge.
BTW, thank you for your service to our country, sir!
Tell us about your maintenance experience on such a high mileage V12TT.
By the way, I just turned 73 in June and can still get in and out of my car fairly easily. It's the crawling under it that is getting more difficult.
My two Merc's keep me dedicated to staying trim for the required maintenance.
Bob
Well I'll be 64 in 3 weeks, retired (8 years ago) FAA (Air Traffic Control) & I don't wanna brag or jinx my car but I don't keep records. It's been almost nil.. Most expensive (2012) has been the shifter locking up & (2011) AC fan motor, 1500 each fan motor I should've done. Starter went out this summer & indy replaced for 650.00. I replaced radiator (500.00) & radiator fan motor (200.00). Right strut replaced in 2014 left strut started leaking this summer so I'll replace this month. Struts are 750.00 each. Repaired flaps in trunk maybe 60.00
Don't count oil changes, filters, belts & brake pads, seems like I had freon added once. Replaced rotors twice & calipers once
I'm still running original coil packs..
Car is 12 years old didn't drive for 5 years so my guess an average of 1500.00 a year in 7 years of use. Like I mentioned it's very little cost it's been towed twice
Thanks for your story. Good news for the SL600 wanna be's. As is the case in most of these forums, we only post when we have problems so actual successful ownership stories rarely get posted. Your maintenance experience I would consider very normal wear and tear.
Are you plans to drive the wheels off your car?? 187k and counting is wonderful. I am sitting on the sidelines rooting for you!
Love this discussion!
57 yo guy here.
Wanted an SL since I was a teenager.
Initially looked for R107. Found a '75 (the year of my 16th birthday, thought that would be really pretty cool), for sale at $6900, with 87K miles. Had it inspected at Mercedes dealer, and of course, it was leaking like a sieve from every seal, hose, gasket, etc.
My wife (God bless her) suggested we spend more to look for something newer.
Found a 2007 SL550 with 43K, and it was love at first sight.
I previously had an E350 coupe.
My primary car is a BMW 4SERIES Gran Coupe, which I love.
But the SL just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Great thread! Yes we all get older but driving an SL sure keeps the kid alive inside. I have the thrill of my high school hemi Satellite with all the comforts of a modern driving machine. Time to put the top down and head home from the office. Ya'll have a great weekend. Keep it between the lines and the rubber side down.
My body is younger than most here I am only 57 but the SL 500 has 130,000 miles on it, so that is older than most. My wife and I put 250 miles on it yesterday through Grand Canyon area in northern Pa. twisty roads and smooth pavement. My wife only gave me funny looks a couple of times after some 100 mph pluse passes and only looked at me side ways a couple of times in some of the corners. It was the perfect day with my wife and a car that handled well and perform well. I have ridden these same roads many times on my sport bike years ago. being able to still enjoy the roads and have a big smile on my face was priceless. I have often thought the problem with the forum is that it is the place to go when we have a problem and not often enough the place to go when we have a great day with our cars.... Yesterday was that day it is great to read the experiences of the other here who also get the same enjoyment as I do :}
On my daily drive, there is a certain exit ramp from the freeway that makes a flat and sharp right hand sweep onto an 8-lane highway. Normally, it's pretty busy so I have to "behave", but I went into the office much later today and the interchange was deserted. Given this rare opportunity, I decided I'd see just how fast I could take this curve. ABS was doing its job and keeping things artificially confident and flat. The problem is, my 70% worn Contis decided they'd had enough and sent up the white flag at the apex, at just over 80mph. In Sport/Sport mode, ESP is a bit more forgiving, meaning that it let my butt slide perpendicularly across two (thankfully empty) lanes of traffic before smacking it back in line. It was quite an exciting maneuver, but thankfully I was the only car on the curve. If not, I'd easily have taken out at least six fellow drivers and soiled my shorts.
On my daily drive, there is a certain exit ramp from the freeway that makes a flat and sharp right hand sweep onto an 8-lane highway. Normally, it's pretty busy so I have to "behave", but I went into the office much later today and the interchange was deserted. Given this rare opportunity, I decided I'd see just how fast I could take this curve. ABS was doing its job and keeping things artificially confident and flat. The problem is, my 70% worn Contis decided they'd had enough and sent up the white flag at the apex, at just over 80mph. In Sport/Sport mode, ESP is a bit more forgiving, meaning that it let my butt slide perpendicularly across two (thankfully empty) lanes of traffic before smacking it back in line. It was quite an exciting maneuver, but thankfully I was the only car on the curve. If not, I'd easily have taken out at least six fellow drivers and soiled my shorts.
That's why they used to put buttons on the seat cushions
I think it's time for new tires. By the tread depth, the Contis have about 30% left, but they are getting really slippery. I noticed today, making a left out of my neighborhood onto the highway, I got some slippage. I've never been a big Conti fan, I think I'll look at some Michelins.
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
Hello Goodbye SL
I’m 62 yrs young. Having that sorted out, here’s the story. After 20 years of sheer fun with our 1966 230SL I wanted more comfort and less ‘work’ with soft- and hard tops. Still haven’t sold the Pagoda and I must say it’s going to be tough to let go.
As an R 230 (SL350, ABC trouble scared me off) newbie I feel like being driven around in style, rather than me kicking the car around, like the happy revving Pagoda. Well, that’s what I wanted, didn’t I.
Reading posts on this site I find myself in a somewhat different mood than many: still very impressed with the multi generation jump, the silence, the confidence and the reassurance the car exudes.
The Bose sound system is disappointing.
This thread is has me missing my baby even more... Just a few more weeks (hopefully) until this winter weather is over and she comes out of storage.
You poor guys and your snow and Nor'easters. How sad that you must store your cars. I drive the SL year round and rarely go more than a few weeks without dropping the top.
You poor guys and your snow and Nor'easters. How sad that you must store your cars. I drive the SL year round and rarely go more than a few weeks without dropping the top.
but that was what 4matic was invented for. Makes it all the sweeter when it the weather clears and you can drive the toys.
Heat wave, I've seen most of the sights you originally spoke of. Were you actually able to get by the gate for Trinity Site?
It's usually closed.
and at the ripe age of 72 one day after after my birthday last August the eye of hurricane Harvey came within 4 miles of the house and a tornado spun off by the storm took down the house and 2 MB's that where stored safely inside (see pictures) The boat in the nearby marina survived the 160 MPH winds with minor cosmetic damage on the out side from the boat docks
SL55 and S55 lost during Harvey
Boat after 160 Mph blew away the roof of the covered slip
With less time needed to maintain this I can focus on the MB's
Lucked out with the new place and some lifts
roof that got torn down and it has been our home until January 2018.
So with all the changes going on we're selling the boat and thereby are parting with the associated maintenance of it and are focusing on the new house which happens to have an 1800 sq/ft garage 2 lifts and 2 MB's AMG's so I'm planning some road trips this year to celebrate and enjoy the cars.
Well, I guess my age is right in line. I’m 72, and I told my better half that the Mercedes was my “bucket” car, so off I went to find the best deal i could find and wound up with a 2011 SL550, without doing due diligence on potential problems till after I bought the car, which was totally out of character for me, but I got caught up in the excitement like a 19 year old kid. This was 5 months ago. It has 37k miles and car fax shows regular maintenance and the PPI showed everything was in great shape. After the fact, I began reading this forum and got a little nervous about ABC, and other problems, but have since come to realize that with proper maintenance I will not be so concerned and just enjoy the ride. Funny thing, about 20 years ago, I told my better half my bucket car was a 1995 red corvette, which I still have and both are crammed side by side in the garage. I’m saving the vette for my grandson when he graduates from college, but it appears I might have both for longer than I planned. My improved confidence in the reliability of the R230 has come from reading this forum. While I’m not totally inept at working on cars I can’t begin to do all the repairs the people on this forum do, but I can do oil changes and I believe I can flush the ABC system and change the filter. I worked for a major tire and service retailer for more than 30 years, so while I’m not a mechanic, Ive been around the business, so I’ve got some automotive knowledge. I want to thank all on this forum. You provide s lot of useful info
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Really enjoyed this thread!
