SL500 or SL350

[dunk7]

Looking for opinions on buying either
an SL500 or SL350

My budget is max £20k

Am i walking into a world of pain
buying one that's possibly done
50k - 60K and is say 8 years old ?

[Gallen]

My fathers got an SLK350 (not the SL). However in regards to the 350's V6 engine, in a car the size of the SLK it makes for great performance whilst remarkably fuel efficient too. It has the AMG kit and the Exhaust sounds abso-*******-lutely amazing (One of the best sounding engine/exhaust notes we have had irrespective of vehicle!)

The SL is bigger - but certainly don't discount the 350 on grounds of performance. It's a lovely engine.

A drive of both the 350 and 500 would have to be on the cards!

Gallen.

[dunk7]

To be honest the performance is not a problem on either engine, i prefer the SL though looks wise but my main concern is buying one that's going to be getting on in years.

Thanks for the reply though

[PGN6]

For that money and miles you can get an SL55?

[BigBen]

PGN6 said:

For that money and miles you can get an SL55?

Exactly.

[dunk7]

PGN6 said:

For that money and miles you can get an SL55?

That doesn't really help answer my question but yes there's plenty of 55's for under £20k

[BigBen]

dunk7 said:

PGN6 said:

For that money and miles you can get an SL55?

That doesn't really help answer my question but yes there's plenty of 55's for under £20k

I don't think there are any big problems with either the 350 or 500 engines. The weak points / problems on the R230 SL include:

- Water leaking into the boot, I looked at a lot and they nearly all had some evidence of this. Relatively easy to fix if you are DIY minded. Seemingly beyond most dealers.

- Air suspension, which the 350 won't have but the 500 might (100% does? I am not sure I did not really investigate the jnr models). This is very expensive to fix and likes going wrong, on the other hand it is fantastic when it works.

Out of interest why not the 55 ?

Ben

[stats007]

ABC was an option on the 500, standard on the SL55. £1k a corner to replace the struts. SBC also an issue on these.

[S800VXR]

SL500 can and will have strut issues but whilst they work its very god, very expensive to fix though. 350 has normal coil suspension so no issues but you cant raise and lower the car like the 500.

If its a WE toy get a decent 55 and kep a slush fund! Same issues as the 500 but you will have fun between repairs.

As for roofs leaking, it cos SL owners are generally lazy fkers and dont clean and condition all the roof seals, just part open the roof and give everything a good clean and it will be fine! Rear window can also leak but again its a simple fix if you google it.

Back to the question, 350 probably a safer bet cost wise but it lacks the V8 sound! Search on me as I rebuilt one last year, used it for a 2500 mile trip to Monaco and the alps and it was brill.

[dunk7]

Thanks for all the info guys that's most helpful

I haven't ruled out the 55 which i do like, i'm just doing some research first so if i do go and buy one i don't get stung.

I didn't realise the SL500 had air suspension which i'm not really keen on, give me a spring and damper any day

Edited by dunk7 on Friday 19th April 10:40

[BigBen]

dunk7 said:

Thanks for all the info guys that's most helpful

I haven't ruled out the 55 which i do like, i'm just doing some research first so if i do go and buy one i don't get stung.

I didn't realise the SL500 had air suspension which i'm not really keen on, give me a spring and damper any day

Edited by dunk7 on Friday 19th April 10:40

I think one poster said ABC was an option on the 500 so you may find one without.

My SL55 already had Arnot re-built struts all round so I have no concerns about the ABC and it has been good as gold so far, touch wood.

[S1mon L]

Personally I would go for the 350 - lovely engine with all the power you really need. It sounds like, as you have ruled out the 55, this is going to be a little more of a cruiser? If so......500 for me drops in a kind of no man's land.....it wont be much quicker than the 350 and wont give you the raw power of the 55 AMG whilst hurting more on the fuel and servicing.......

Airmatic is a lovely thing to have and is superior to springs in most ways but does potentially come at a cost...go in with your eyes open as it sounds like you are doing and enjoy!!

I have an E500 which has a lovely engine but is a little pointless!

Edited by S1mon L on Friday 19th April 12:30

[stats007]

dunk7 said:

I didn't realise the SL500 had air suspension which i'm not really keen on, give me a spring and damper any day

Edited by dunk7 on Friday 19th April 10:40

It doesn't, it can have ABC which is hydraulic.

[BigBen]

I saw a pretty nice low miles 350 for sale whilst doing a challenge for the photo location game. Dealer located near St Neots. I can find the details if that is geographically of use to you

[Gallen]

It would be worth seeing if you could stretch slightly more....(of course utterly understandable if you don't want to)

- BUT This '08 looks nice!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-MERCEDES-BENZ-SL-CL...

[dunk7]

stats007 said:

It doesn't, it can have ABC which is hydraulic.

Yes sorry i'm up to speed now

[dunk7]

BigBen said:

I saw a pretty nice low miles 350 for sale whilst doing a challenge for the photo location game. Dealer located near St Neots. I can find the details if that is geographically of use to you

That's a bit out of my area but thanks for the heads up, there seems to be quite a lot of 350's with low mileage on the autotrader site sub £18k

[dunk7]

Gallen said:

It would be worth seeing if you could stretch slightly more....(of course utterly understandable if you don't want to)

- BUT This '08 looks nice!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-MERCEDES-BENZ-SL-CL...

That does look very nice but no matter what i end up getting i've set a budget of £20k max

Thanks for the link

I'm looking into leasing as well now, it makes a lot of sense in some ways but not sure i want to pay £10k + to have a new car for 2 years.

[Gallen]

leasing...

Mmm...
Business or private?
If the latter it seems (to me) to be chucking 10k away... (I've always struggled with that thought). What if circumstances change? Can you just sell it (or are you stung?).

[fourfoldroot]

What about this one?

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2013...