Fixer upper SL500 anything here a major red flag

[DSLiverpool]

Failed MOT it’s 1994 R129 pre facelift

Assume roof works but won’t know till Monday

This list was on the seat (car was locked)

It’s done 160k

[Scrump]

Tje aftermarket cats and an emissions failure would be the worrying item for me.
Maybe a set of OE cats would fix it, but at what cost? What if the OE cats don’t fix it?

Maybe the car failed on emissions and the aftermarket carts were fitted in a failed attempt to fix it, could be something serious.

[DSLiverpool]

It’s passed a few mots with those cats but I’d put new ones on.

This is what it actually failed on.

Repair immediately (major defects):
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (3.4 (b) (ii))
Offside Front Position lamp not working (4.2.1 (a) (ii))
Nearside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
Offside Front Brake hose excessively deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
Exhaust carbon monoxide content after 2nd fast idle exceeds default limits (8.2.1.2 (b))

[Jordie Barretts sock]

I suppose the question is 'how cheap is it?'

Only you can decide how much you want to spend.

[DSLiverpool]

I’m waiting to be told - I have a figure. I’ve seen a nice similar one with MOT for £10k on AT I’d expect half that

[DS129]

Emissions might be a problem but other bits are not too bad.
Big question is how does it drive ? Lots of other things could be wrong and not show on a MOT

[eldar]

I suspect the working or not of the roof is pretty significant.

[Venisonpie]

DSLiverpool said:

I’m waiting to be told - I have a figure. I’ve seen a nice similar one with MOT for £10k on AT I’d expect half that

It would need to be < £5k to take a punt on a leggy non MOT version for me.

[DSLiverpool]

£5500 they want which I might pay if it passes an MOT but then they’d want more I guess.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

That's strong money, I reckon.

[E63eeeeee...]

Assuming the emissions fix is straightforward, which is the key gamble here, it wouldn't be the money that would put me off, but it's a lot of work for a very leggy car and I bet there's more stuff that's not on the list. I suspect it would be hard to sell on too, if that matters, not least with that lot in the MOT history.

[Mercdriver]

Not exactly a much loved car is it? Too many things ignored and not repaired.

I would stay well clear, they are regularly advertised and on auction sites.


Too much money IMO, if you get a problem with the suspension, air or hydraulic? It will be a large bill.

Look elsewhere for a better one

[DSLiverpool]

Cheers guys

[PositronicRay]

A few yrs ago I acquired a 320, reasonable shape, poor history and towards the lower end of the market.

By the time I finished, the car stood me more than buying a decent one in the the 1st place. But still poor history.

[Mercdriver]

+1 bought a CL500, loved the car but got fed up dipping into wallet

[PositronicRay]

Mercdriver said:

+1 bought a CL500, loved the car but got fed up dipping into wallet

The trouble is they wear the miles well, until they don't. Then you have years of maintenance to catch up on, some bits get expensive too.

Many owners are reluctant to spend ££££s on sub £6k cars.