07 SL350 - finally decided - few questions please

[DickusMaximus]

Hello folks,

After a (very) lengthy search I've finally decided on my next car - a facelift W230 SL350

I have some general questions and some specific ones please

General:

Other than water in the boot is there anything I should check?

Is it easy to fit a Dension 500? I think there's an Aux In in the glove box and I'll check tomorrow on a test drive that's booked in but bluetooth would be better

Specific:

I'm test driving this car tomorrow -

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

...which looks very tidy and service history is main-dealer MB all the way and one owner.

It does need two new front tyres and this was the only item on the last *two* MOTs - why? If someone can afford to run an SL wouldn't they put new boots on (5000 miles since last MOT)

Also, there are no bills at all - nada. Would that be a cause for concern? I've bought and sold dozens of high-end motors and there's always been *something* wrt bills

Finally, at 15,500 there are others for less. There's a facelift with the same mileage for just 11,500 (!) and it's close to me too - seems a huge difference

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2014...

Other cars now discounted were:

SL500 - worries over bills / air suspension
XK8 - love Jags but no way to fit a Parrot to an 07 XK (I have a parrot on an XJ and it's fine)
987 - had a 986 and 996 so a change needed
Z4M - too small (the first thing I'm doing in September is 4000 miles / 3 weeks in Europe with my father and we're both big chaps)
SL55 AMG - too small

Thank you

Richard
West Sussex

[carcrazypop]

Hi, I've been recently searching for a R230 SL350 and found it quite scary. I went to see a one owner 2004 car at a Dealer with just 42k miles; the car itself looked in good condition but history was patchy and I didn't get a good 'feel' about the dealer. I was tempted by the car but I decided to look at the V5 and find the original owner & address and with a bit of googling found his tel.no. I decided to give him a ring as I certainly wouldn't mind if someone rang me about a previous car and I'm very glad I did; the guy was really helpful & pleasant but his experience with the car had been quite bad, he described it as a 'Friday' car, problems included roof mechanism which needed new roof and leaking boot causing pump to blow on frequent occasions even after having new seals fitted. He said he only kept the car so long because he loved it when running fault free, and he actually replaced it with a new SL ! Anyway, if you can find contact info for the previous one owner, I'd certainly give him a ring.

Following on from that one, I travelled many miles going to see some dealer cars & private ones; they were all described as immaculate but believe me they were not, and many had been abused & maintained poorly.

In the end I went to see a Jan, 2006 3.7 car with just 14k miles privately; the seller was the 2nd owner who was very fussy & the first was an elderly couple who had hardly used it but had it regularly maintained. The car was a beauty and virtually as new, so after some negotiation on price I've bought it.

I love the car as it's a beauty, but be careful, there's some rubbish out there from both dealers & private sellers. If in doubt, walk away.

Good Luck.

[Julesprivate]

Just FYI the main big bills for a 500 are to do with the ABC suspension. I have one and have spent around £2500 this year on a new pump, hoses/pipes and oil. Other than that they are relatively reliable.

A "coilover kit" is available, I have just priced one up at £2500 including the necessary SL55 sway bars so TBH I'd be tempted with that if I weren't selling mine.

The SL350 is a lovely car, my wife has an SLK350 and with some small tweaks you can make it sound/drive lovely.

[Monkeylegend]

Research balancer shaft issues on the 350 petrol engine.

[DickusMaximus]

Excellent - thanks gents

I'll get the VIN, owner details and check the boot / roof etc at 1000

Looks like it may just be a case of seeing if it has enough oomf and I'm in

Thanks again,

Richard

[74merc]

The earlier SL350 has the M112 3.7 litre engine, which doesn't have the same balancer shaft problems as the M272 engine.

[Monkeylegend]

Model years 2004 to 2008 can be affected apparently.

[DickusMaximus]

Hi,

I've gone for the £11,500 one above and I'm thrilled - picking her up on the 10th

Next step - bluetooth

There's an iPhone 4 cradle plinking away with it's flashing blue light but I believe I need an MCar universal interface however the uk importer and US don't have any

Music is more important that phone so for my euro trip I'm going to strap down a £20 smart cube and use that :-)

When I return I think a Dension 500 and possible a CKS zorst and remap

Any views?

Took months to find this car and it's just down the road from me and after a long test and vin check etc I think it's a great deal

Richard