Discussion
This. I've had far less exciting cars bork out with problems as costly as mentioned above. Look for one that has aleady had these things resolved if you're worried. They are fabulous value. 
Went out in mine yesterday. A combination of brutal power with limo ride comfort. Just buy a good one, do your homework.
Brake disks and pads - look for recent change if possible.
Get a watering can or hose to test the boot seals my boot is dry
Make sure everything works and there are no broken switches as replacements can be expensive
Check ABC by using the lift button and at each of the 3 heights check the arch to tyre gap is the same
Check wheel arches for corrosion on earlier models 2002-2004
Check supercharger pump is not on the way out by several short bursts slow down and repeat if you get limp mode then the pump is on the way out. Not expensive to fix and well documented.
I have got the panoramic roof as well it is well worth having. The AMG leads dealers to add a special tax to everything.
Brake disks and pads - look for recent change if possible.
Get a watering can or hose to test the boot seals my boot is dry
Make sure everything works and there are no broken switches as replacements can be expensive
Check ABC by using the lift button and at each of the 3 heights check the arch to tyre gap is the same
Check wheel arches for corrosion on earlier models 2002-2004
Check supercharger pump is not on the way out by several short bursts slow down and repeat if you get limp mode then the pump is on the way out. Not expensive to fix and well documented.
I have got the panoramic roof as well it is well worth having. The AMG leads dealers to add a special tax to everything.
I bought an '03 plate two weeks ago for very sub-20k and am planning to use it every fine day until the winter. Within the last 9 months this car has bills for £7k just on suspension components and having done some googling and forum scanning I think I could have remedied all the faults (which could possibly have been just 1 fault poorly diagnosed) for around a fifth of that cost had it have occurred within my ownership.
I echo the comments above about leaking seals etc but even if it feels a little damp from a recent shower or wash, check under the carpets for corrosion. A jet wash can push water under seals that rain may never have. If its all tidy inside then you can rejuvenate the rubber seals quite easily with a drop of tyre shine once you've cleaned all the muck out.
I echo the comments above about leaking seals etc but even if it feels a little damp from a recent shower or wash, check under the carpets for corrosion. A jet wash can push water under seals that rain may never have. If its all tidy inside then you can rejuvenate the rubber seals quite easily with a drop of tyre shine once you've cleaned all the muck out.
As ever had mine 2 years and a reversing sensor has gone - that's it. Last service was an A Mercedes charged me under £200.
Amazing value but needs to be louder - it's not as sexy sounding as a cls55 I had.
Picture in my profile (its not silver, it hasn't got turbines)
Amazing value but needs to be louder - it's not as sexy sounding as a cls55 I had.
Picture in my profile (its not silver, it hasn't got turbines)
Edited by DSLiverpool on Saturday 4th May 09:39
Please take a look at my profile for maintenance costs. Recently one of the rear abc shocks had a slight leak resulting in an MOT fail. With a very talented engineering friend of mine we were able to replace the unit at a fraction of the cost (£400 in total vs Mercedes Benz at £1400).
The car is immense, travelled to see a client today and eventhough the car is getting on a bit I really enjoyed the 200+ mile trip today.
The car is immense, travelled to see a client today and eventhough the car is getting on a bit I really enjoyed the 200+ mile trip today.
Sold my Tuscan and bought a 500SL 7 months ago. Fantastic car but at 306bhp wasn't as exciting so have sold it to my brother and bought a SL55. From the little I have driven it it has the limousine qualities of the 500 and the excitement of the Tuscan without the drawbacks - awesome car but it has 20" black wheels which I don't like. Looking for genuine AMG wheels or will respray.
The suspension is the main expensive bit, and it can be very very expensive if (when) it goes wrong. I have had mine a year and it has not really cost me a lot to run, costs have been:
- 2 x rear tyres at about £700 the pair
- 1 x xenon headlight ballast £70 diy job
- 1 x fog light £40 secondhand diy job (you can buy the lenses for cooking SLs individually, but the AMG ones can only be bought as a complete unit despite them being the same item with a different lens)
- B service due shortly which I guess will cost but I will save by doing the charger belts etc before taking it in.
In short get one as soon as you can they are chuffing ace
Ben
- 2 x rear tyres at about £700 the pair
- 1 x xenon headlight ballast £70 diy job
- 1 x fog light £40 secondhand diy job (you can buy the lenses for cooking SLs individually, but the AMG ones can only be bought as a complete unit despite them being the same item with a different lens)
- B service due shortly which I guess will cost but I will save by doing the charger belts etc before taking it in.
In short get one as soon as you can they are chuffing ace
Ben
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