SL/R231: Suggestions/Advice Please
08-08-2018, 12:43 PM
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Honda Civic Si
Suggestions/Advice Please
It is just an assumption, but I have a feeling that many members here may have been in the same position that I am in now. I am at a point in my life where I am ready to reward myself and buy a car that I always wanted. In this case, it is a Mercedes SL. For many reasons, I have grown fond of the SL Class going back to the 450 & 560 models. I do not mind buying used (CPO or otherwise) and have decided that the oldest I will go is 2015 model year with under 15,000 miles.
Any advice on things like model years, packages and special editions to stay away from? In my research, I have found plenty of postings with excellent advise, such as the posts in the thread started by DaveSol and I am looking to get some more. Thank you.
Any advice on things like model years, packages and special editions to stay away from? In my research, I have found plenty of postings with excellent advise, such as the posts in the thread started by DaveSol and I am looking to get some more. Thank you.
08-08-2018, 01:37 PM
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2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
The cars on the second hand market are SO similar, it’s just nuts. Black, white or gray, 99% without the one option that is truly wonderful: ABC. I would also insist on Premium Pkg., Driver’s Assistance Pkg. and the upgraded/Nappa interior. Other than low miles, no accidents or paint work, smoke free & with a factory or high quality aftermarket warranty, about the only other thing I would say is to watch out for cars from Texas or Florida, as there are a lot of hurricane damaged cars out there that now look & smell like brand new. I would personally stay away from cars with non OEM wheels, or any with 20” wheels, but that’s just me. Good luck!
Last edited by Streamliner; 08-08-2018 at 01:40 PM.
08-08-2018, 03:51 PM
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The hurricane cars was something I was thinking about during the last hurricane in Florida. I was thinking of all of the high end vehicles and the nightmares regarding electronics in the future. Other than the obvious signs of water damage is there something that needs to be documented (as in Carfax)?
08-08-2018, 09:09 PM
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2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
Agree with Streamliner on the options. We went the CPO route, a three year old (at the time) 2013. I used the MB CPO inventory search with my parameters, and cross referenced that through CarGurus when I would locate a potential match. Took me about 90 days to get the color option that we wanted, but it was worth it. Ensuring that you have the service records, and having the CPO warranty certainly eases the process. Happy hunting, and enjoy the experience of buying and then driving the SL.
08-09-2018, 01:55 AM
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2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
The hurricane cars was something I was thinking about during the last hurricane in Florida. I was thinking of all of the high end vehicles and the nightmares regarding electronics in the future. Other than the obvious signs of water damage is there something that needs to be documented (as in Carfax)?
08-09-2018, 09:30 PM
#6
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Here's the link to the official Mercedes CPO website. This is a great place to start your search.
Navigate your way to the SL's and drop in your zip code. You will need to hit "Load More Vehicles" at the bottom of the page until the SL's roll up. It will state :SL Roadsters. From there its SL400, SL550, AMG SL 63, SL450 and a couple of others.
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/cpo/inventory
Navigate your way to the SL's and drop in your zip code. You will need to hit "Load More Vehicles" at the bottom of the page until the SL's roll up. It will state :SL Roadsters. From there its SL400, SL550, AMG SL 63, SL450 and a couple of others.
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/cpo/inventory
Last edited by Surfer Dude; 08-09-2018 at 09:31 PM. Reason: .
08-10-2018, 03:11 AM
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I have a search bookmarked on AutoTrader for CPO '17 SL450s. A nice looking red one with under 900 miles on it just popped up, but there are three problems with it. It has the standard interior (no Nappa), it doesn't have ABC, and...it's in Houston.
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08-10-2018, 03:16 AM
#8
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Here's the link to the official Mercedes CPO website. This is a great place to start your search.
Navigate your way to the SL's and drop in your zip code. You will need to hit "Load More Vehicles" at the bottom of the page until the SL's roll up. It will state :SL Roadsters. From there its SL400, SL550, AMG SL 63, SL450 and a couple of others.
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/cpo/inventory
Navigate your way to the SL's and drop in your zip code. You will need to hit "Load More Vehicles" at the bottom of the page until the SL's roll up. It will state :SL Roadsters. From there its SL400, SL550, AMG SL 63, SL450 and a couple of others.
https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/cpo/inventory
OK, I take that back. I clicked on "CPO" at the top of the main site's home page and got the 2015 limit.The link listed here just locks up for me.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; 08-10-2018 at 03:19 AM.
08-10-2018, 01:49 PM
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Once you get to the CPO section of the MB website, click on Certified Pre-Owned, next click on Search CPO inventory; when the listing of models populates, scroll down the page and click on Load More Vehicles; continue to Load More Vehicles until you get to the SL Roadster model, click on that and use the slide bars under the Year and Price to narrow your year search; I just looked at 2013 ~ 2016 and it displayed 50+ of the SL400 and of the SL550. You can refine the search to your zip code, or a radius; as well as selecting color and mileage. Hope that helps.
I also plugged in the zip for Milwaukee and got twenty plus cars within 500 miles. I live in Nashville and ended up getting my 2013 in Bentonville Arkansas! But I saved a good bit of cash by broadening my search and seeing what length of time each of those cars had been sitting on the lot, which you can get via CarGurus.com.
I also plugged in the zip for Milwaukee and got twenty plus cars within 500 miles. I live in Nashville and ended up getting my 2013 in Bentonville Arkansas! But I saved a good bit of cash by broadening my search and seeing what length of time each of those cars had been sitting on the lot, which you can get via CarGurus.com.
Last edited by TennesseeZ4; 08-10-2018 at 01:55 PM.
08-12-2018, 12:58 AM
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I just checked CarGurus and they have exactly four CPO 2017 SL 450s listed...nation wide. That's 50% less than AutoTrader. I always search nation-wide, as I don't mind traveling for the right car and I wouldn't want a car that had been driven in the salt belt during the winter. I tend to zero in on cars from the southwest. I used to include cars from Texas, but not any more.
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; 08-12-2018 at 01:03 AM.
08-12-2018, 10:19 AM
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I just checked CarGurus and they have exactly four CPO 2017 SL 450s listed...nation wide. That's 50% less than AutoTrader. I always search nation-wide, as I don't mind traveling for the right car and I wouldn't want a car that had been driven in the salt belt during the winter. I tend to zero in on cars from the southwest. I used to include cars from Texas, but not any more.
08-12-2018, 10:28 AM
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2019 E450 wagon: 2019 BMW 430i: 2013 Chevy Traverse: (departed)2013 SL550 & 2019 E450 cab
As I noted in my posting, my reference to CarGurus is to find a car via the MB CPO site, then cross reference it through CarGurus to see how long it has been in inventory, as well as what pricing changes have been made. With that information it allowed a bit more leverage in the negotiation process with the MB dealer.
08-12-2018, 04:34 PM
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After Hurricane Harvey there were 3 main storage areas around Houston that totaled 650 acres. The one near my area West of Houston was completely full and they had huge fork lifts stacking the cars two high in places. A month or two later as the insurance adjusters marked the cars they started hauling them off on car carriers and flat semis. I do not know why folks believe all these vehicles are still in Texas. Buyer beware in any state.
As I noted in my posting, my reference to CarGurus is to find a car via the MB CPO site, then cross reference it through CarGurus to see how long it has been in inventory, as well as what pricing changes have been made. With that information it allowed a bit more leverage in the negotiation process with the MB dealer.
08-12-2018, 09:11 PM
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Sorry Dr. M, didn't mean to come across that way. I just find it a useful tool for negotiations. We just bought my wife a Honda Accord Hybrid and used CarGurus to save a good bit of cash. Good luck in your search, the SL is a marvelous motorcar.
