RE: The Brave Pill | Mercedes SL500 (R230)
Discussion
A1VDY said:
You really don't need a 5litre merc to drive across Europe in. I've just driven to the czech Republic, across to Poland and back to the UK in a new transit and got out of that with no aches or pains. Return journey was done in one hit back to the UK, a fair bit longer than 10hrs at an average of 39mpg.
On many other threads having the 'need' for big power cars to do Europe iis ridiculous..
You can do it in any van , posting about it on a thread about old MB SL’s is pretty pointless imho.On many other threads having the 'need' for big power cars to do Europe iis ridiculous..
pwd95 said:
Monkeylegend said:
I love mine and am still waiting for the bork factor to kick in. Mine is only the lowly 350 with standard suspension though.
Ditto. Just bought my 3.7 absolutely love it. No balancer shaft issues (later 350) & no hydraulic suspension issues......
Have replaced the starter battery, not expensive and a crank position sensor, again not expensive, in 3 1/2 years and that's been it so far, and insurance is less than £200 fully comp.
Definitely a high water mark regarding MB styling of sports car. Everything that superceded it looked badly styled and proportioned with excessive overhangs.
Surprised they never made it with the 350 diesel engine, as for long distance cruising 700+ miles from a tank would be fantastic.
Great grand tourers indeed, with the aforementioned problems.
IIRC, the early models had the 5 speed gearbox, and the 7G came in 2005 onwards?
Would love an SL55 AMG.
An R129 is much more solid and less to go wrong, but even parts on those are becoming expensive and agree, the R230 is in a different league when it comes to the drive.
IIRC, the early models had the 5 speed gearbox, and the 7G came in 2005 onwards?
Would love an SL55 AMG.
An R129 is much more solid and less to go wrong, but even parts on those are becoming expensive and agree, the R230 is in a different league when it comes to the drive.
Edited by pSyCoSiS on Tuesday 25th June 14:55
This is my real brave bill a 2009 R230 SL63 AMG with the Performance and Carbon packs. It’s my daily driver and just based 75000 miles.
After 4 years of ownership and it’s 10th Birthday I treated her to a restoration over winter.
All the roof rams and pump went to the US for a $800 refurb, total cost £1250 fitted! Hopefully won’t need doing again.
Other R230 cheaper Fixes:
Front and rear valve blocks for the ABC system are listed at around 2 grand EACH. Its the seals that always fail, but are not available via Mercedes, but are available 'aftermarket' for 60 quid a set and fitted within a couple of hours for anyone half competent with a spanner.
ABC/Tandem pumps are again listed by dealers at between £1500-£2000. Its a LUK pump. ECP will supply exactly the same pump with exactly the same part number for ~ £750, or refurbished pumps are available for ~ £350 from a number of suppliers.
I also used the opportunity to do all the ABC lines and updated the satnav.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I partly disagree, except for the etch-a-sketch navigation on the pre 2004 model the interior is a really nice place to be. Leather everywhere to the touch (even the roof lining) and an alcantara driving zone on the SL55.However new high end Mercedes are in a different league interior wise, but for the era nothing springs to mind that stands head and shoulders above the R230.
It's very tempting to buy one of these and risk having a great summer in it, with the decision to scrap or sell it for much less than it is "worth" when the summer has passed, being the worse case scenario. I saw some earlier, a black one for 6k and a blue one for 4k. The black in particular looked lovely.
Take the resonators out (or pull an exhaust valve fuse, whichever is applicable for this model) to give it some growl at low speeds without being OTT, and maybe even spend a grand renewing the suspension for wafting capability...and just enjoy for 6 months.
Hmm
Take the resonators out (or pull an exhaust valve fuse, whichever is applicable for this model) to give it some growl at low speeds without being OTT, and maybe even spend a grand renewing the suspension for wafting capability...and just enjoy for 6 months.
Hmm
I had a 2002 R230 with the 5.0 V8.
Looked beautiful but utterly and totally dreadful.
Took it from 52000 to 102000 miles in 3 years, it cost me £18000 in bills (yes, eighteen thousand) and I lost £11K on the car. Worst car I have ever owned by a country mile. It was all full MB main dealer history. When I got into the car and pressed the start button I would be cringing as I wondered what error the display would throw at me. It was incessant. Only thing that never gave me grief was the roof.
Early examples of these are getting to be shed money but bear in mind that the simplest fault will write the car off.
I'd go for a later model 350, much better bet and no slower.
Looked beautiful but utterly and totally dreadful.
Took it from 52000 to 102000 miles in 3 years, it cost me £18000 in bills (yes, eighteen thousand) and I lost £11K on the car. Worst car I have ever owned by a country mile. It was all full MB main dealer history. When I got into the car and pressed the start button I would be cringing as I wondered what error the display would throw at me. It was incessant. Only thing that never gave me grief was the roof.
Early examples of these are getting to be shed money but bear in mind that the simplest fault will write the car off.
I'd go for a later model 350, much better bet and no slower.
Don't agree with much of the article.
Owned my 2006 SL55 for over 2 years after a period of many other Supercars and Sportscars.
Mine has been pretty reliable - yes, i've only had the ABC pump replaced - a bargain @ £1250. I mean "a bargain" with all sincerity as if you've run any type of high end cars previously (the SL55 was six figures when new), you'll know that £1250 is chickenfeed compared to the bills that you can absorb in comparison to Ferrari's, Porsche, Lambo etc My BiL has spent over £20k in the last three years on his Ferrari 348
Anyway, after a short spell in an F-Type V8 which was depreciating like a stone (and didn't feel as quick as the 55), i cannot think of a better GT car for sub £40k than an SL55. Roof down motoring, one of the most iconic V8's that went onto power the McLaren SLR, "relatively" cheap to maintain and run and still goes like stink even by modern standards.
I think they represent cracking value for money and why i can't think of anything that could replace it for the money
Owned my 2006 SL55 for over 2 years after a period of many other Supercars and Sportscars.
Mine has been pretty reliable - yes, i've only had the ABC pump replaced - a bargain @ £1250. I mean "a bargain" with all sincerity as if you've run any type of high end cars previously (the SL55 was six figures when new), you'll know that £1250 is chickenfeed compared to the bills that you can absorb in comparison to Ferrari's, Porsche, Lambo etc My BiL has spent over £20k in the last three years on his Ferrari 348
Anyway, after a short spell in an F-Type V8 which was depreciating like a stone (and didn't feel as quick as the 55), i cannot think of a better GT car for sub £40k than an SL55. Roof down motoring, one of the most iconic V8's that went onto power the McLaren SLR, "relatively" cheap to maintain and run and still goes like stink even by modern standards.
I think they represent cracking value for money and why i can't think of anything that could replace it for the money
Edited by Candellara on Monday 24th June 13:18
Edited by Candellara on Monday 24th June 13:19
I bought one new, a Brabus something or other, a pimped SL55 (back in the day when I had money, which I don't now, partially because I bought stupid things like this 
)
It was pretty awful then. The suspension had a habit of giving up the ghost when the road got a bit twisty. On calling the dealership whilst my car was resting on it's wheel arches I was told it can do that after enthusiastic driving and that I should "turn it off and turn it back on again".
I'd buy one again however, but with a broken roof, I always thought I looked a bit of a knob with the roof down
)It was pretty awful then. The suspension had a habit of giving up the ghost when the road got a bit twisty. On calling the dealership whilst my car was resting on it's wheel arches I was told it can do that after enthusiastic driving and that I should "turn it off and turn it back on again".
I'd buy one again however, but with a broken roof, I always thought I looked a bit of a knob with the roof down
A1VDY said:
You really don't need a 5litre merc to drive across Europe in. I've just driven to the czech Republic, across to Poland and back to the UK in a new transit and got out of that with no aches or pains. Return journey was done in one hit back to the UK, a fair bit longer than 10hrs at an average of 39mpg.
On many other threads having the 'need' for big power cars to do Europe iis ridiculous..
you certainly don't need a 5L Merc.....I'm driving through South America, Colombia to Uruguay in a 1959 VW Bus. F'ING BLEEDING SLOW, though. On many other threads having the 'need' for big power cars to do Europe iis ridiculous..
Done 3000KM in nearly 3 months, not even half way through Colombia yet
www.mundo-kombi.com
sr.guiri said:
you certainly don't need a 5L Merc.....I'm driving through South America, Colombia to Uruguay in a 1959 VW Bus. F'ING BLEEDING SLOW, though.
Done 3000KM in nearly 3 months, not even half way through Colombia yet
www.mundo-kombi.com
Off topic but ....Done 3000KM in nearly 3 months, not even half way through Colombia yet
www.mundo-kombi.com
I’m intrigued having looked at your site. I imagine you have a few tales to tell about the journey that got you to where are you now.
Good luck and enjoy !
Its not by comparison with modern Mercs that the interior feels a bit low rent - but with the interior of the 129 which puts both the 230 and its modern successors to shame. Although, I might be in a minority, I think the 129's styling has aged really well, whereas the Mercs from the 230's era all look a bit blobby to me. I will admit that the front overhang on the 129 does make it a bit tricky to park in tight spaces though.
The R230 still looks great, as does the R129, but that is of its time - very much a 1990s statement, which is fine (I realise it was designed and released in the 80!) but the 230 manages to be free of any era and almost looks timeless.
I think the poster complaining about the interior is perhaps confusing lesser Mercs of the same era. Yes, some of the switchgear is a bit flimsy - window switches and stalks etc. - but it's not an early 2000 A-Class and remember how much these cost to buy new - even the 350 was over £60k.
The 'sweet spot' R230 is the 2004-05 SL 350 with the updated interior and nav system but still with the 3.7 V6, 5g
Box and standard suspension. 2006 got the M272 with balancer shaft issues and a 7g box although they cover certain serial numbers affected - and any issues may have already been sorted - its best to plump for the older engine IMO. Also don't make the mistake of going for a 350 just to avoid ABC and find it was spec'd as an option!
I'm probably in the minority but I also like the later facelift - yes, it looks grafted on, but makes it more modern looking. There's also the the curio SL 300; which is still the M272, but should be fine if it's the later one. It gives better economy, slightly less performance - though broadly similar to the early 3.7 - and is under the £500+ odd p.a. RFL. Some good Sport and LimitedEdition models later on too.
I think the poster complaining about the interior is perhaps confusing lesser Mercs of the same era. Yes, some of the switchgear is a bit flimsy - window switches and stalks etc. - but it's not an early 2000 A-Class and remember how much these cost to buy new - even the 350 was over £60k.
The 'sweet spot' R230 is the 2004-05 SL 350 with the updated interior and nav system but still with the 3.7 V6, 5g
Box and standard suspension. 2006 got the M272 with balancer shaft issues and a 7g box although they cover certain serial numbers affected - and any issues may have already been sorted - its best to plump for the older engine IMO. Also don't make the mistake of going for a 350 just to avoid ABC and find it was spec'd as an option!
I'm probably in the minority but I also like the later facelift - yes, it looks grafted on, but makes it more modern looking. There's also the the curio SL 300; which is still the M272, but should be fine if it's the later one. It gives better economy, slightly less performance - though broadly similar to the early 3.7 - and is under the £500+ odd p.a. RFL. Some good Sport and LimitedEdition models later on too.
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