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Hi All!
New to the Forum (this is 1st post) so forgive my Noobishness!
Looking to buy my wife her dream car, an SL 500 preferably Red (any color BUT Black or Silver).
Trying to spend no more than $22K. Searches are turning up cars from 2003 to 2012, with the mileage ranging from 45K on an '03 to 59K on a 2012.
Read the Buying Guide post on this forum which helped ID mechanical systems to check, without regard to year. But I'm wondering if the accumulated wisdom has identified any particular years as troublesome and worth avoiding. (For example, in the Corvette World, 2013 427s are notorious for valve guide failures, 2001s often have issues with poorly seated rings and original 1968s have many "new model" issues)
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Bill Bloyer
2003 may be the best year for the SL500, since this is the only year which has the robust 5-speed automatic transmission. 2007 SL550s have an issue with an idler gear that wears out prematurely. Rodney ("Rudeney") has written about this in detail and cited the exact range of VINs affected.
I suggest test driving an SL55. All years are probably more or less equal.
The lady might prefer the smoothness of an SL500 over the overall stiffer SL55.
I own both models and can discern no difference in the ride quality. That said, the '55 has different struts and possibly software as well, so it should be different in some way.
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
The car you were referring to is a toy, Maisto 1:43. Gets me through the winter while big bro has to stay inside. Now don’t tell me you knew this all along .
The car you were referring to is a toy, Maisto 1:43.
Whether it is a toy or an apple is immaterial. If a U.S. SL500 is similar in color and non-metallic, then it is probably Mars Red.
I have two Maisto cars. One appears identical to the car you show, though if yours is c. 9" long like mine, the scale is 1/18 -- not 1/43. My other toy is color "Orion Blue" and has the roof closed. .
Last edited by bobterry99; Dec 16, 2019 at 02:36 PM.
@Cardinal Flyer I'm certainly no expert, but I have an 2008 SL550 and experience with the "normal" issues with the R230. I'm sure there are some significant differences between the years (i.e. 5 speed transmission vs 7 speed, and idler gear as mentioned by BobTerry and others), but it is my opinion that these differences wouldn't greatly impact my decision on a particular year being bad or a year to avoid... It is my opinion that the critical issues with these cars are not necessarily dependent on a certain model years, but whether or not those "normal" issues have been addressed in that particular car.
The point is that I would look for an R230 that is in the mileage range and age/condition that you want, with the options/colors and engine (500/55/600/65) you want, and a price that you are willing to pay. BUT, more importantly, be aware and prepared for the potential "normal" issues:
ABC system (leaks, accumulators/dampeners, pump, etc.)
SBC system (hopefully warranty?)
motor mounts (they can just fail with age)
vario roof issues (noises, hydraulic leaks, flaps, other failures, etc.)
camshaft magnets and sensors (easily replaced for not too much $$$)
I'm sure there are other common issues, but this is a short list.
MBZ uses two names for their colors. One is the "marketing name" and the other is the internal name. The marketing name for "Fire Opal Red" is "Mars Red", color code 590. Note that there have been a lot of problems with failure of Mars Red paint - search the web and you will find lots of unhappy owners.
MBZ uses two names for their colors. One is the "marketing name" and the other is the internal name. The marketing name for "Fire Opal Red" is "Mars Red", color code 590. Note that there have been a lot of problems with failure of Mars Red paint - search the web and you will find lots of unhappy owners.
Thanks for the info Rudeney!
This Noobie was beginning to wonder if there were any valid sources for facts on these cars.
I can't see any evidence of a re-paint on the SL 500 we bought, and doesn't appear to have faded at all. 1-owner, low miles, and looks like it was always garaged so all I can do is hope I won't have problems, at least for a long time!
2005 R 230 SL350 (M112 3.7). Sold the 1966 W113 230SL recently
My daily driver is a red VW Passat. The red has a tendency to fade in intense sunlight. Regular waxing (in a car wash) seems to preserve the colour well. And, at least in my country, a professional polish treatment is cheap. Result: bling bling.
My daily driver is a red VW Passat. The red has a tendency to fade in intense sunlight. Regular waxing (in a car wash) seems to preserve the colour well. And, at least in my country, a professional polish treatment is cheap. Result: bling bling.
i just bought this year a 2003 sl500 firemist red, with 28000 miles on it... only reason i buy a certain Mercedes is the service history, this car was a garage queen and has never seen snow or rain always look at the history.. (one owner factory dealer maintained) there are still unicorns hiding out there if you can find one that was driven 1500 - 2000 miles a year to the country club you will have years of fun, if it still smells new and you can do the maintenance its a incredible car, plenty of power and a great roadster... take your time an do the research
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
The car you were referring to is a toy, Maisto 1:43. Gets me through the winter while big bro has to stay inside. Now don’t tell me you knew this all along 
.
Yes Sir! 
