A110S - out, R230 350SL in
Discussion
With my much loved A110S and waiting to begin its journey down to New Zealand it was time to enact the grand plan
Had enough of monthly payments and much as I loved the A110S I felt we had come to the end of the road, had lots of fantastic drives, made the changes I wanted to make to it.
Re-evaluated life recently, leaving employment and becoming a freelancer and really starting to live a simpler, less stressed life.
Wanted to release some equity, end the monthly payment cycle so a hard budget of 38k was set.
Still plenty of interesting cars to choose from but needed to compliment cars we already have - a new to us C43 convertible that we love and an early R53 MINI which is huge fun.
Do not do many many miles and only son is hardly ever here so practicality was not a major consideration.
Cars on the initial list:
BMW E63 630i - ideally pre-facelift to get the N52 rather than the N53 - had an E64 650 before and loved it, thought a coupe with the smaller engine would be different enough but struggled to find one I liked
R58 MINI Coupe JCW - always liked the oddball looks but probably too close in spirit to the R53
Audi TT Mk1 V6 manual - found a good one but was going in for a repaint due to general "red" fade and the potential for it to be not to my standards meant I walked away
Audi S5 manual - scarce and most had done big mileages and OH said she thought they looked a bit "boring" - a V8 with a manual appealed to me but in other respects a bit too close to the C43
Ended up looking at R230 Mercedes SL's. Always loved the design and after some digging around decided a 1st facelift SL350 would tick the boxes - not noticeably slower than the early SL500 R230 and without the complication of the ABC suspension.
Reassuring to see many with very high mileages but I was looking for a car with lower miles and that proved to be a real struggle.
Stumbled across on for sale on Ebay - seemed like a genuine car so put an offer in (classified ad with Best Offer option) - declined as it was a cheeky offer (what I wanted to pay rather than what I thought it was worth but a deal was quickly reached.
Trip down to Kent yesterday and car was exactly as described - as pristine a 2006 car could ever be, 52k miles, full history, not been out in the rain for 10 years and only covered 4k miles in that time.
Lots of paperwork to support the stamps in the service book so money transferred a cup of tea whilst sorting the paperwork and then headed back to Shropshire, car drove faultlessly and surprisingly delivered 32mg.
Not a squeak or rattle to be heard, absolutely everything works, only negative was no Bluetooth - fortunately the car was ordered with the Bluetooth clip in the central console so £140 later I have ordered a genuine MB Bluetooth module that simply clips in and gives (allegedly) full phone connectivity including music streaming. To be honest, i only need the phone functionality, anything else it may do will be a bonus.
This is what £7500 buys you in the world of old SL's.
Plans - bit of cleaning, oil and filter change and then enjoy some leisurely cruising over the border into Wales through a blisteringly hot summer (I can dream)
Had enough of monthly payments and much as I loved the A110S I felt we had come to the end of the road, had lots of fantastic drives, made the changes I wanted to make to it.
Re-evaluated life recently, leaving employment and becoming a freelancer and really starting to live a simpler, less stressed life.
Wanted to release some equity, end the monthly payment cycle so a hard budget of 38k was set.
Still plenty of interesting cars to choose from but needed to compliment cars we already have - a new to us C43 convertible that we love and an early R53 MINI which is huge fun.
Do not do many many miles and only son is hardly ever here so practicality was not a major consideration.
Cars on the initial list:
BMW E63 630i - ideally pre-facelift to get the N52 rather than the N53 - had an E64 650 before and loved it, thought a coupe with the smaller engine would be different enough but struggled to find one I liked
R58 MINI Coupe JCW - always liked the oddball looks but probably too close in spirit to the R53
Audi TT Mk1 V6 manual - found a good one but was going in for a repaint due to general "red" fade and the potential for it to be not to my standards meant I walked away
Audi S5 manual - scarce and most had done big mileages and OH said she thought they looked a bit "boring" - a V8 with a manual appealed to me but in other respects a bit too close to the C43
Ended up looking at R230 Mercedes SL's. Always loved the design and after some digging around decided a 1st facelift SL350 would tick the boxes - not noticeably slower than the early SL500 R230 and without the complication of the ABC suspension.
Reassuring to see many with very high mileages but I was looking for a car with lower miles and that proved to be a real struggle.
Stumbled across on for sale on Ebay - seemed like a genuine car so put an offer in (classified ad with Best Offer option) - declined as it was a cheeky offer (what I wanted to pay rather than what I thought it was worth but a deal was quickly reached.
Trip down to Kent yesterday and car was exactly as described - as pristine a 2006 car could ever be, 52k miles, full history, not been out in the rain for 10 years and only covered 4k miles in that time.
Lots of paperwork to support the stamps in the service book so money transferred a cup of tea whilst sorting the paperwork and then headed back to Shropshire, car drove faultlessly and surprisingly delivered 32mg.
Not a squeak or rattle to be heard, absolutely everything works, only negative was no Bluetooth - fortunately the car was ordered with the Bluetooth clip in the central console so £140 later I have ordered a genuine MB Bluetooth module that simply clips in and gives (allegedly) full phone connectivity including music streaming. To be honest, i only need the phone functionality, anything else it may do will be a bonus.
This is what £7500 buys you in the world of old SL's.
Plans - bit of cleaning, oil and filter change and then enjoy some leisurely cruising over the border into Wales through a blisteringly hot summer (I can dream)
ITP said:
A lot of car for the money there.
Rear wheels look small though, obviously they are not standard from new but I think the rears should be bigger than the fronts? Maybe different sizes were an upgrade.
They are 19" - no way you can go bigger without totally destroying the ride, standard were 17"Rear wheels look small though, obviously they are not standard from new but I think the rears should be bigger than the fronts? Maybe different sizes were an upgrade.
Edited by ITP on Thursday 2nd April 22:27
Lovely car that OP, I am a big fan of the SL of this era. My other half had one as a daily car for about 18 months. They can be a bit fragile but they are definitely worth it though.
Without being a typical PH doom monger, do check if yours falls into the whole balance shaft issue era. Ours did and we had to get rid. It's a fairly hefty job to get done but worth it with a low mileage example like this one. Fingers crossed it doesn't fall into this or you've checked already.
Either way, lovely car OP!
Without being a typical PH doom monger, do check if yours falls into the whole balance shaft issue era. Ours did and we had to get rid. It's a fairly hefty job to get done but worth it with a low mileage example like this one. Fingers crossed it doesn't fall into this or you've checked already.
Either way, lovely car OP!
Andy665 said:
ITP said:
A lot of car for the money there.
Rear wheels look small though, obviously they are not standard from new but I think the rears should be bigger than the fronts? Maybe different sizes were an upgrade.
They are 19" - no way you can go bigger without totally destroying the ride, standard were 17"Rear wheels look small though, obviously they are not standard from new but I think the rears should be bigger than the fronts? Maybe different sizes were an upgrade.
Edited by ITP on Thursday 2nd April 22:27
Looks like a good buy. I recently sold my SL55 but kept an SL500 (R230) and SL320 (R129).
The performance will be perfectly adequate. These are wonderful cruisers not designed for chucking about. The first thing to check, especially if it's true this car hasn't been outside, is that the boot is watertight. If it isn't, you risk a world of pain with the PSE pump.
The performance will be perfectly adequate. These are wonderful cruisers not designed for chucking about. The first thing to check, especially if it's true this car hasn't been outside, is that the boot is watertight. If it isn't, you risk a world of pain with the PSE pump.
True. They are great relaxing cars. Don’t underestimate their complexity but if looked after and receive a little cosseting they can be very rewarding. I have had mine for 18 months and it’s currently up for sale. I have mixed feelings about selling because she is such a pretty thing. Yours looks great. I wish you well with it.
Unreal said:
Looks like a good buy. I recently sold my SL55 but kept an SL500 (R230) and SL320 (R129).
The performance will be perfectly adequate. These are wonderful cruisers not designed for chucking about. The first thing to check, especially if it's true this car hasn't been outside, is that the boot is watertight. If it isn't, you risk a world of pain with the PSE pump.
Boot is bone dry. Had a new PSE pump about a year ago. Will be cleaning and lubricating all rubber seals this weekend and doing the 10mm tube hack into the boot rubber seals jointThe performance will be perfectly adequate. These are wonderful cruisers not designed for chucking about. The first thing to check, especially if it's true this car hasn't been outside, is that the boot is watertight. If it isn't, you risk a world of pain with the PSE pump.
TR4man said:
That looks a great car for the money and so stylish too, but the VED would make me want one a couple of years older.
I was specifically looking for a 2006 on facelift car so that kind of ruled out the lower tax bracket cars, fortunately man maths stepped in and balanced it all out with insurance only being £127 after Top Cashback £36 cashback - combined tax and insurance therefore cheaper than the A110S.Bit of cleaning this afternoon. Car has been so well looked after that this is a long way from needing a deep clean.
First job on the list was to check the front and rear drain holes, as I expected all were completely clear.
Underbonnet clean and apart from 6 rusty headed screws / bolts (which will be replaced next week), pretty much factory fresh.
Interior clean, something I will always do regardless of how clean it is, I prefer to know that any surface I am touching is clean - again, very little to do other than a wipe over.
Quick wash and wheels de-iron contaminated and its decently clean.
Jobs to do:
Couple of marks on two wheels but being diamond cut I will probably leave them until the end of the summer and get them refurbished when I out the winter wheels on.
Bluetooth module to be clipped into the armrest cradle and hope that gives me the functionality I need.
Not been serviced for 2 years but that was less than 1,000 ago and oil is absolutely pristine, may just do it anyway for something to do.
Some lovely old school things I noticed, writing on brake fluid reservoir recording last time it was replaced, same with the batteries - really shows how well it has been cared for
Pretty much unmarked drivers seat
Love a clean door shut
With soon to depart A110S - fabulous car but rather have the SL and £42k back in the bank
First job on the list was to check the front and rear drain holes, as I expected all were completely clear.
Underbonnet clean and apart from 6 rusty headed screws / bolts (which will be replaced next week), pretty much factory fresh.
Interior clean, something I will always do regardless of how clean it is, I prefer to know that any surface I am touching is clean - again, very little to do other than a wipe over.
Quick wash and wheels de-iron contaminated and its decently clean.
Jobs to do:
Couple of marks on two wheels but being diamond cut I will probably leave them until the end of the summer and get them refurbished when I out the winter wheels on.
Bluetooth module to be clipped into the armrest cradle and hope that gives me the functionality I need.
Not been serviced for 2 years but that was less than 1,000 ago and oil is absolutely pristine, may just do it anyway for something to do.
Some lovely old school things I noticed, writing on brake fluid reservoir recording last time it was replaced, same with the batteries - really shows how well it has been cared for
Pretty much unmarked drivers seat
Love a clean door shut
With soon to depart A110S - fabulous car but rather have the SL and £42k back in the bank
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