Merc SL (the 90s ones) talk to me.
Discussion
Looking for a car for weekdend cruising and the occasional trip around the UK.
Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
Get a SL 500 - V8. They are seriously fast even by today's standards. 0-60 mid 5s. 322hp or so IIRC.
If I had room for another classic one of these would be in my garage. They seem amazingly cheap.
Lots to read here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm
If I had room for another classic one of these would be in my garage. They seem amazingly cheap.
Lots to read here: http://www.kenrockwell.com/sl/index.htm
They're a lot of car for the money, but sadly they've fallen into the hands of would-be recereational pharmaceutical salesmen around here. The older (slightly rounded off) SLs seem that little bit classier as a result:
There's a coupe just down the road from where I park my bike and it gets an admiring glance every time I pass. Not sure I'm old enough for one yet though.
There's a coupe just down the road from where I park my bike and it gets an admiring glance every time I pass. Not sure I'm old enough for one yet though.
the 90s SL is a classic - was made for donkeys years because it was so good. Not sure of the drug dealer image, i've never seen any like that. They hold their value well, wouldnt be surprised if good ones start rising again.
not a sporty ride by any stretch of the imagination though - think waft.
not a sporty ride by any stretch of the imagination though - think waft.
They're a bit more "old money" than drug dealer around here. See plenty of old boys crusing around Cheshire in them.
I'm 39, so not really old enough, but what the hell. I need to get rid of the 335i as I'm not using it enough and fancy something near depreciation proof, but still reliable for meetings, smart days out etc. These look ideal.
I have a snotter for other stuff.
I'm 39, so not really old enough, but what the hell. I need to get rid of the 335i as I'm not using it enough and fancy something near depreciation proof, but still reliable for meetings, smart days out etc. These look ideal.
I have a snotter for other stuff.
Ken Rockwell said:
Driving the SL500 is salvation. Behind the wheel your life is perfect.
The SL500 is a masterpiece of beauty, power, smoothness, safety and convenience which cannot be put into words by any living poet.
Wow, they sound awesome! The SL500 is a masterpiece of beauty, power, smoothness, safety and convenience which cannot be put into words by any living poet.
Seriously though, I'd agree that prices will begin to rise at some point as the image improves. Look at the preceding R107 SL - they were a bit naff at one point, a bit 'Dallas' but they go for good money these days.
Wadeski said:
Not sure of the drug dealer image, i've never seen any like that.
Be thankful you're not in North London. Anything remotely prestigious is used as a symbol of bling around here I'm afraid. There are stacks of cars I'd happily own elsewhere in the country that take on a slightly more dubious image round here. Anything cheap but imposing is jumped on by, well, cheap people who want to be seen as imposing...Excellent cars, I should know, I have one. Useable all year round with the hardtop, well built and quality everything. Don't bother with anything other than a 500, the fuel consumption is only marginally worse than the 320's but the performance more than makes up for it. They do drink though, mid 20's return on mine, less if really going for it as they do weigh 1.75 tonnes, but can shift and surprise many of todays 'fast' cars. They are not sports cars though as they do wallow a bit and get flustered in really twisty bits if you're going a tad fast.
Early cars had wiring loom issues, though they should all be sorted by now. Look for cars with original wheels and decent tyres, they don't like cheap rubber, and are sensitive so it's worth £50 to get the suspension set up properly, i.e. not at Kwik Fit. Parts, especially bodywork, bumpers etc, is expensive. Always check the soft top open and closes a few times. All came with a hardtop and wind deflector, panoramic hardtops on post '96 are lovely and make for a light and airy interior, worth getting if you can. Look for rust on arches and hardtop C pillar, though they are generally not bad for rust.
Facelifted twice, in '96 and '98 (I think) and I prefer the slightly more rounded look of the later cars. Engine output dropped to about 300bhp around '96 too, but no major issues with either, as long as well looked after. Maintained at in indy for about £500 a year and you should be fine. Worth spending a bit more on a good one and it'll last you years, without losing much, if anything, on it.
ETA: I don't know this guy, but he's on MBclub.co.uk and his car is on here for sale.. Looks good, though the ADS system is expensive to fix if it goes wrong.. http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1831221.htm
Oh yeah, heated seats which were an option, are nice too
Early cars had wiring loom issues, though they should all be sorted by now. Look for cars with original wheels and decent tyres, they don't like cheap rubber, and are sensitive so it's worth £50 to get the suspension set up properly, i.e. not at Kwik Fit. Parts, especially bodywork, bumpers etc, is expensive. Always check the soft top open and closes a few times. All came with a hardtop and wind deflector, panoramic hardtops on post '96 are lovely and make for a light and airy interior, worth getting if you can. Look for rust on arches and hardtop C pillar, though they are generally not bad for rust.
Facelifted twice, in '96 and '98 (I think) and I prefer the slightly more rounded look of the later cars. Engine output dropped to about 300bhp around '96 too, but no major issues with either, as long as well looked after. Maintained at in indy for about £500 a year and you should be fine. Worth spending a bit more on a good one and it'll last you years, without losing much, if anything, on it.
ETA: I don't know this guy, but he's on MBclub.co.uk and his car is on here for sale.. Looks good, though the ADS system is expensive to fix if it goes wrong.. http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1831221.htm
Oh yeah, heated seats which were an option, are nice too
Edited by Nuisance_Value on Thursday 26th August 13:36
Cracking cars. Same chassis and mechanics as the w140 s-class, so parts are plentiful and usually quite cheap.
Go post '96 if you can as they face lifted, added features and fixed several problems. Also, early ones will have 4-speed auto, which although stronger than the later 5-speed, does not give such relaxed cruising. Gearboxes are the only real weak link. Make sure it engages quickly and smoothly between reverse and drive.
Pre-96 cars also had a biodegradable wiring loom (no, really!). The outer sheath of the wires crumble causing all manner of electrical problems, especially the top engine loom.
Other than that, bomb-proof cars. Unless you need the power/sound of the eights or twelves, the SL320 6-pot is lovely smooth and revvy engine that will give over 25mpg on a run.
Go post '96 if you can as they face lifted, added features and fixed several problems. Also, early ones will have 4-speed auto, which although stronger than the later 5-speed, does not give such relaxed cruising. Gearboxes are the only real weak link. Make sure it engages quickly and smoothly between reverse and drive.
Pre-96 cars also had a biodegradable wiring loom (no, really!). The outer sheath of the wires crumble causing all manner of electrical problems, especially the top engine loom.
Other than that, bomb-proof cars. Unless you need the power/sound of the eights or twelves, the SL320 6-pot is lovely smooth and revvy engine that will give over 25mpg on a run.
Edited by Utterpiffle on Thursday 26th August 13:20
E31Shrew said:
Oh ...check the central locking works OK. Seem to recall mine had some vacumn air system
Yeah they do, always a good idea to run the engine if you're locking/unlocking a bit as it recharges the system back up. Also forgot to mention the front end is a sod for stone chips, as is the windscreen so check the screen for cracks. As has been said, check gearbox for smooth shifts, especially when selecting drive, there should be no heavy clunk. Quite a few were fitted with phone cradles, so expect to see filled in holes in the centre console, and also Clifford alarms which are now causing some problems, might make the difference between choosing one car over another. cheadle hulme said:
Looking for a car for weekdend cruising and the occasional trip around the UK.
Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
Nice, a friend had a 500SL. But I preferred my V12 XJ-S if honest and think its Jaguar that I'd still head too.Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
Nuisance_Value said:
Lots of good stuff. http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1831221.htm
Thanks for that (and others who replied). That one seems to have been for sale for a while, considering it looks mint and the history.cheadle hulme said:
Looking for a car for weekdend cruising and the occasional trip around the UK.
Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
That car looks lovely!!!Will not get used for commuting or hooning. These have caught my eye. Are they from Mercedes' good or bad era?
They have a certain style and look very smart, almsot classic now.
Pretty much lost all the money they will I'd have thought too. £6k seems to pick up a tidy mid nineties one, like this
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1985650.htm
Any advice? I'm quite happy to budget for maintenance as depreciation will be minimal.
Nuisance_Value said:
E31Shrew said:
Oh ...check the central locking works OK. Seem to recall mine had some vacumn air system
Yeah they do, always a good idea to run the engine if you're locking/unlocking a bit as it recharges the system back up. Utterpiffle said:
Nuisance_Value said:
E31Shrew said:
Oh ...check the central locking works OK. Seem to recall mine had some vacumn air system
Yeah they do, always a good idea to run the engine if you're locking/unlocking a bit as it recharges the system back up. E31Shrew said:
Utterpiffle said:
Nuisance_Value said:
E31Shrew said:
Oh ...check the central locking works OK. Seem to recall mine had some vacumn air system
Yeah they do, always a good idea to run the engine if you're locking/unlocking a bit as it recharges the system back up. Utterpiffle said:
E31Shrew said:
Utterpiffle said:
Nuisance_Value said:
E31Shrew said:
Oh ...check the central locking works OK. Seem to recall mine had some vacumn air system
Yeah they do, always a good idea to run the engine if you're locking/unlocking a bit as it recharges the system back up. Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff