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I'm looking at a few low mileage R230s. Both are triple black. One is a 2006 SL500 w/ 42,000 miles, clean Carfax and serviced at a Mercedes Dealership. The other is a 2008 SL550 w/ 48,000 miles also with a clean Carfax and MB serviced. I looked at the ABC fluids and they are clean and green. (Just in case, whichever car I buy I'll have the ABC flushed and a new filter replaced.) Aside from that both cars look great and drive smoothly. The 550 has more power which is nice but the 500 is no dog, especially when I get rolling and give it the beans.
I'm all thumbs when it comes to working on cars but I have a great indy that has worked on my R129. His prices are very fair and I can supply my own parts.
Sorry for the long post. My question is that the price difference between the cars is close to $10 grand. I'm coming off a very low mileage R129 SL500 and the new car will also be a garage queen. It will be driven approx. 3 to 4 thousand miles a year. So, what do you guys think? Is it worth it to save the bucks and buy the 2006 SL500 or stretch the kid's college fund and buy the SL550. Thanks ahead for your thoughts.
BTW, both of these cars look like this............
55/600/65 are the only ones worth owning. The maintenance costs will not be that much different between them and the 500/550 are just not worth the trouble.
My question is that the price difference between the cars is close to $10 grand.
A '500 is basically just as good a car as a '550. Unless you simply must have more power than the 500 offers, then it would be my choice. And if you do want more power, then I would skip the '550 and go for a '55.
Also, if this is an early 2008 model, then it is subject to the same premature timing chain idler gear wear that afflicts 2007s. Rodney ("Rudeney") over at Benz World .org knows the VIN cutoff for the 2008 model year. I'd duplicate the post you made here on their 230 forum.
Both cars are nice for a $10 difference I’d go for the 500. If you really need speed like someone on this thread stated get a vette or mustang as they’re cheap to tweak to some very high performance numbers. It always kills me when fellow Harley riders say they put $8-9K into their motor for more power and I tell them you could have stayed stock and buy a used hyabusa or R1 and still saved $6K. It’s not about speed it’s about what you want, very few places you can really get to the top end anyway.
I went with a 2011 550 because I wanted a hard top convertible that was sporty and has all of the modern tech to listen to tunes or use the phone through as well. These cars are not the maintenance nightmares (all cars have issues) that many would like you to believe, ABC system is pretty unique and gives a quality ride. I love mine but I have a lift and maintain everything I own. Get what you’re drawn to, this is an emotional purchase, not logical 😉
Last edited by danaw007; 04-07-2020 at 11:41 PM.
Reason: Additional
i was debating on same question when i bought my SL500. I was looking at a 55 vs 500. it was also 10k+ in price difference. I decided to go with a 500. It's more than enough for the driving i do. Would i feel better driving a 55? Maybe. Do i regret buying a 500? No. Agree with sivikvtek, 10k buys you a lot of parts and service. Considering you'll make it a garage queen - save the money.
WOW, I guess my 2005 SL500 with 25K miles in perfect condition with ZERO problems in several years of ownership is not worth owning.
I will need to remind myself of that every time I read about people with problems on their 55/600/65 cars
A car with 25k miles should not have any issues. Won't matter if 55/600/65 the results would be the same. Now, drive that car for 100k miles and report back. The point is that it won't be trouble free regardless of the engine. To me, no 230 SL is worth owning if it doesn't have 600+ hp. It's just not worth the pain and aggravation. There has to be a return and having a car that looks good is not enough.
. To me, no 230 SL is worth owning if it doesn't have 600+ hp. It's just not worth the pain and aggravation. There has to be a return and having a car that looks good is not enough.
Funny, i bought it because of the looks and the hardtop convertible ( was looking at a BMW M6 before the SL)
But now that I’ve owned it for a few months, I realize there is so much more that make these special cars besides powertrains.
I love love love how the folding hardtop really gives a legitimate coupe or convertible experience. I love the visibility with the top up and the open/airy feel thanks to the open space behind the seats.
The styling is timeless and interesting regardless of whether the top is up or down.
Based on my experience, the 500/550 cars must be an amazing value as long as the buyer understands what they are getting themselves into. With that being said, I don’t regret buying a V12 for one second
I'm looking at a few low mileage R230s. Both are triple black. One is a 2006 SL500 w/ 42,000 miles, clean Carfax and serviced at a Mercedes Dealership. The other is a 2008 SL550 w/ 48,000 miles also with a clean Carfax and MB serviced. I looked at the ABC fluids and they are clean and green. (Just in case, whichever car I buy I'll have the ABC flushed and a new filter replaced.) Aside from that both cars look great and drive smoothly. The 550 has more power which is nice but the 500 is no dog, especially when I get rolling and give it the beans.
I'm all thumbs when it comes to working on cars but I have a great indy that has worked on my R129. His prices are very fair and I can supply my own parts.
Sorry for the long post. My question is that the price difference between the cars is close to $10 grand. I'm coming off a very low mileage R129 SL500 and the new car will also be a garage queen. It will be driven approx. 3 to 4 thousand miles a year. So, what do you guys think? Is it worth it to save the bucks and buy the 2006 SL500 or stretch the kid's college fund and buy the SL550. Thanks ahead for your thoughts.
BTW, both of these cars look like this............
send me the VIN in PM and i'll run you a FULL history with everything known on the car from inside MB
Carfax is better than nothing but is not the inside info
i was debating on same question when i bought my SL500. I was looking at a 55 vs 500. it was also 10k+ in price difference. I decided to go with a 500. It's more than enough for the driving i do. Would i feel better driving a 55? Maybe. Do i regret buying a 500? No. Agree with sivikvtek, 10k buys you a lot of parts and service. Considering you'll make it a garage queen - save the money.
Regards
Agree with this also. Definitely don’t think a two year newer 550 is worth worth $10k over a 500. And the 500 might be more reliable too.
Thanks to everyone for their thoughts. It looks like it will be an SL500. I don't drive that much and, having owned a a SL500 r129, I am familiar with the 500 engine. It's fast enough for my needs and has been proven to be practically bullet proof.
So, before I sign off, I found a 2004 SL500 w/ 44,000 miles, good MB service records, clean Carfax and two long time owners. The price is very attractive @ approx. $13,000.00. My question is there much of a difference between a 2004 SL500 and 2006 SL500? If not, then I may go for the 2004. Thanks for your input in advance.
@s.laz, all good advice above, although I do disagree with @BlownV8 's opinion that "55/600/65 are the only ones worth owning". Not trying to pick an argument with him as I think his logic is sound and I am envious of the 55/600/65 flavors. However, engine size and horsepower etc. are all personal preferences and you should get whatever meets your needs and wants within your budget. I found a 2008 SL550 that had all the options I wanted, was the color and condition I wanted, and was priced right! The SL550 horsepower meets my needs (any more and I would be dangerous or extremely hard on the car).
It looks like you have dismissed the SL550, but because I have a 2008 SL550, I thought I would offer my opinion.
I think you mentioned that the 04 SL500 was about $13,000 and the 08 SL550 was $10K more. If I understood correctly (let me know if I did not) that would put the 08 SL550 at about $23,000 and that seems high to me (although it sounds like it is in really good condition). I would think less than $20K would be more appropriate, but of course that depends on location, condition, timing, etc...
I would try to look closely at all 3 of the ones you are considering, confirm service history and condition, and then go with the one that has all the options you want, etc. within your budget.
I may have mentioned inaccurate prices for the cars. All of them have mileage in the 40,000 range with good service records. The asking prices are from dealers. They always ask for high prices. Once I decide on the car I want I'll negotiate a favorable price or just pass. Anyway the asking prices are:
2008 SL550 - $26,00.00 (Now revisiting this car I agree, it's overpriced by at least $4K to $5K.)
2006 SL500 - $16,500.00
2004 SL500 - $14,00.00 (I think I can get it for $13,00.00)
@s.laz Thanks for the pricing info. Again, I think that is high for the 08 SL550 (even with it being dealers). The pricing for the SL500s seems in line assuming everything else is in good shape. Just my opinion though...
Aside from some of the engine and transmission differences, the maintenance risks are probably about the same. Therefore I would look at the details (i.e. I wanted a pano roof, keyless go, AMG package was a plus, wheel and color combination, bluetooth (although you can add this somewhat easily with aftermarket Mr12Volt, etc.).
Good luck, and by all means let us know what you choose, and please post pics!
Pricing depends in which part of the country you are located. I live in Cali, so same year and mileage SL are easy 7-10k more expensive than in Florida / NY area ... So if he's looking at cars in different locations of the country - you need to factor that in.
Also damn the depreciation! I paid $26,500 for my 05 SL500 with 23k miles about 4 years ago. And that was among the cheaper ones on the market! I bought it from a private party. Dealers were asking easy 5k on top of that!
Now about the choices - since you're looking at the 04 vs 06 - check the trim levels and the options on the car. Some options become standard on later years, especially from 2006 on. Besides that - whichever you like more. That's a fair difference in price for 2 years - about 1k per year, not including the mileage. Let us know whichever you decide
Private party but I paid less than that for my 08 SL55, which had 60k miles. That SL550 is way overpriced IMO.
Anyways little reason to spend the extra cash if you don’t care much about the power — out of those cars I’d go with whichever SL500 I was more comfortable with from an options/maintenance/color perspective.
Private party but I paid less than that for my 08 SL55, which had 60k miles. That SL550 is way overpriced IMO.
@850csi I agree. I don't want to speak for @BlownV8 , but I suspect this was the logic for his comments on 55/600/65 SLs compared to the 500/550 SLs. When I bought my '08 SL550, if I could have found a decent 55/600/65 for mid to low $20s, I would have jumped on it! But again, I'm happy with the power I have, and respect my higher horse power friends...
The 550 is not bad but the 500 is underpowered. To each their own, the 55/600/65 will give many more smiles per hour and, as a car nut, that's why I choose higher performance cars. If I just want to drive, a base 230 SL does not make sense to me given the cost to maintain the 230 and ABC suspension.
04-07-2020, 07:24 PM
