What is reliability like on a facelift R230 SL?
Discussion
Hi All,
One of the cars I'm looking at purchasing is, as the title suggests, an R230 SL - specifically the 2009 facelift.
Despite the 500s costing similar money, I'm looking at the 350 due to not having the ABC suspension as I've heard that's troublesome.
The budget is up to £20k although really I'd be looking to spend £15k or so - which seemingly gets me an example with 50k miles and a decent service history.
Are there any glaring issues I need to know about or are they generally pretty robust?
It'll be a daily driver - albeit my drive to work is literally 10 minutes or so but I would need to rely on it to start each day.
One of the cars I'm looking at purchasing is, as the title suggests, an R230 SL - specifically the 2009 facelift.
Despite the 500s costing similar money, I'm looking at the 350 due to not having the ABC suspension as I've heard that's troublesome.
The budget is up to £20k although really I'd be looking to spend £15k or so - which seemingly gets me an example with 50k miles and a decent service history.
Are there any glaring issues I need to know about or are they generally pretty robust?
It'll be a daily driver - albeit my drive to work is literally 10 minutes or so but I would need to rely on it to start each day.
I’ve got one; I previously had a 2002 R230 SL500 and it nearly broke me (see PH posts of yore) as it was utter garbage. I bought it at six years old, 51k with full MBSH and I used to cringe when I started it, wondering what Red error message would be displayed.
Anyway almost exactly two years ago I bought a 2009 SL350 from a retired old gent - lovely chap, and the car has been everything the 500 should have been and more. It’s been fantastic and not one thing has gone wrong with it. It had 90k on it and was full MBSH and I paid 10k for it (private sale, see). I’d budgeted 20k for one but when I went to view it I thought why spend more? It’s only lacking the pano roof. It’s verging on throwaway money for that. It’s got the “sports pack” too, which I think is bumpers/ skirts(?).
I had bad experiences with the abc on the 500 so the coil springs make me very happy. This one has 19s and the ride is lovely. At 315bhp it’s more powerful than the older 500 with its 306, lighter too. 7 speed box, I see 35mpg on a motorway run which is bonkers.
Just check the usual warning areas - boot leaks and seals etc. mine is just like a big SLK so seems cheap enough to maintain at my local Merc indie (who can update the digital service record). They appear to be a lot more reliable than the pre facelift, which personally I’d avoid. I even took mine to Germany and had a detachable cycle rack adapter fitted (basically a tow bar) which makes it the ultimate holiday bus.
Apart from the rear wings and the roof panel they’re aluminium bodied and I think the subframes are magnesium so no worries there. Front shock lower ball joints can wear - but they’re peanuts compared to ABC units.
I’d really, really have liked a pano roof, but I couldn’t argue with my car only costing 14p so had to let that one slide.
I personally cannot think of a better, nicer car for the money. They’re daft value.
The tax on them is nasty though - they’re in the £700 bracket which is crazy, but insurance is cheap at £260. I suspect the VED is what makes them so cheap.
Apart from servicing (two, one at £150 and one at £228) I’ve replaced the front discs, rear callipers and all the pads which was around £450 all in (est) but I had to use a Foxwell computer to enable/disable the brake by wire SBC and bleed it.
You can get a Tune2Air Bluetooth thing that plugs into the media interface in the armrest so you can listen to your bangin’ choons and Waze.
I’d recommend the air scarf although it might be standard. Mine also has a fold up air deflector - these are nice to have as they’re about a billion quid.
Gratuitous pic of mine. The wheels I got when I got the car - they’re genuine, brand new (but old, still boxed) “Incenio” 19” for the car from the original brochure. The AMG wheels I got with the car had all suffered cracks and welds. I got these lovely new ones from alloy wheels direct in Germany for a ridiculous £790 delivered. Sold the knackered AMG jobs for more than that on eBay - and these new ones are much nicer.
Nice wedge of service history….
So I can’t recommend these highly enough, they’re meant to be much better than the original R230, they look much fresher. I think my experience with this is some kind of divine compensation for the horrors I experienced with the SL500.
Anyway almost exactly two years ago I bought a 2009 SL350 from a retired old gent - lovely chap, and the car has been everything the 500 should have been and more. It’s been fantastic and not one thing has gone wrong with it. It had 90k on it and was full MBSH and I paid 10k for it (private sale, see). I’d budgeted 20k for one but when I went to view it I thought why spend more? It’s only lacking the pano roof. It’s verging on throwaway money for that. It’s got the “sports pack” too, which I think is bumpers/ skirts(?).
I had bad experiences with the abc on the 500 so the coil springs make me very happy. This one has 19s and the ride is lovely. At 315bhp it’s more powerful than the older 500 with its 306, lighter too. 7 speed box, I see 35mpg on a motorway run which is bonkers.
Just check the usual warning areas - boot leaks and seals etc. mine is just like a big SLK so seems cheap enough to maintain at my local Merc indie (who can update the digital service record). They appear to be a lot more reliable than the pre facelift, which personally I’d avoid. I even took mine to Germany and had a detachable cycle rack adapter fitted (basically a tow bar) which makes it the ultimate holiday bus.
Apart from the rear wings and the roof panel they’re aluminium bodied and I think the subframes are magnesium so no worries there. Front shock lower ball joints can wear - but they’re peanuts compared to ABC units.
I’d really, really have liked a pano roof, but I couldn’t argue with my car only costing 14p so had to let that one slide.
I personally cannot think of a better, nicer car for the money. They’re daft value.
The tax on them is nasty though - they’re in the £700 bracket which is crazy, but insurance is cheap at £260. I suspect the VED is what makes them so cheap.
Apart from servicing (two, one at £150 and one at £228) I’ve replaced the front discs, rear callipers and all the pads which was around £450 all in (est) but I had to use a Foxwell computer to enable/disable the brake by wire SBC and bleed it.
You can get a Tune2Air Bluetooth thing that plugs into the media interface in the armrest so you can listen to your bangin’ choons and Waze.
I’d recommend the air scarf although it might be standard. Mine also has a fold up air deflector - these are nice to have as they’re about a billion quid.
Gratuitous pic of mine. The wheels I got when I got the car - they’re genuine, brand new (but old, still boxed) “Incenio” 19” for the car from the original brochure. The AMG wheels I got with the car had all suffered cracks and welds. I got these lovely new ones from alloy wheels direct in Germany for a ridiculous £790 delivered. Sold the knackered AMG jobs for more than that on eBay - and these new ones are much nicer.
Nice wedge of service history….
So I can’t recommend these highly enough, they’re meant to be much better than the original R230, they look much fresher. I think my experience with this is some kind of divine compensation for the horrors I experienced with the SL500.
Many thanks for such a detailed response - I was already swaying towards an SL than other options I'm considering but now I am pretty much set on one.
You've also opened my eyes up to the prospect of a higher mileage example - I suspect I'll lose much less in depreciation, too.
They really are tremendous value and offer so much car for the money and definitely overlooked. Even when new they didn't seem that common.
My dad actually replaced a 2005 SL55 AMG with a facelift SL350 and whilst occasionally he missed the noise and power of the supercharged V8, on the whole he still loved the car.
I am pretty sure the airscarf is a factory option – but thanks for the tip on the Wind Deflector. I assume that every car came with one but they’ve just been lost over time?
You've also opened my eyes up to the prospect of a higher mileage example - I suspect I'll lose much less in depreciation, too.
They really are tremendous value and offer so much car for the money and definitely overlooked. Even when new they didn't seem that common.
My dad actually replaced a 2005 SL55 AMG with a facelift SL350 and whilst occasionally he missed the noise and power of the supercharged V8, on the whole he still loved the car.
Dog Star said:
You can get a Tune2Air Bluetooth thing that plugs into the media interface in the armrest so you can listen to your bangin’ choons and Waze.
There are some aftermarket head units you can buy that replace the aging factory system. Not just the horrendous £200 cheap Chinese ones that replace the entire unit with a screen, but ones designed specifically for the car that mirror the same design - but also include a modern infotainment with car play/android auto - so that's what I plan to buy. Something like this, although there are other options available. Dog Star said:
I’d really, really have liked a pano roof, but I couldn’t argue with my car only costing 14p so had to let that one slide.
I’d recommend the air scarf although it might be standard. Mine also has a fold up air deflector - these are nice to have as they’re about a billion quid.
I didn’t realise these were an option – assumed it was standard so I’ll be sure to look out for this as I’d love it. I’d recommend the air scarf although it might be standard. Mine also has a fold up air deflector - these are nice to have as they’re about a billion quid.
I am pretty sure the airscarf is a factory option – but thanks for the tip on the Wind Deflector. I assume that every car came with one but they’ve just been lost over time?
I wouldn’t worry too much on the mileage - I do about 5k a year now and it’s mostly holidays, so it’ll be ages before it makes big miles.
Headunit replacement - trouble with doing that is that (and this might sound daft as you lose the little g
Digital clock in the dash and the linguatronic ( that I have never ever used. Errrr. ).
Headunit replacement - trouble with doing that is that (and this might sound daft as you lose the little g
Digital clock in the dash and the linguatronic ( that I have never ever used. Errrr. ).
Dog Star said:
I wouldn’t worry too much on the mileage - I do about 5k a year now and it’s mostly holidays, so it’ll be ages before it makes big miles.
Headunit replacement - trouble with doing that is that (and this might sound daft as you lose the little g
Digital clock in the dash and the linguatronic ( that I have never ever used. Errrr. ).
Losing the clock would be a shame actually. That's a good point... I think it's worth the added functionality of a modern infotainment system- namely android auto.Headunit replacement - trouble with doing that is that (and this might sound daft as you lose the little g
Digital clock in the dash and the linguatronic ( that I have never ever used. Errrr. ).
Supposedly the steering wheel controls would still work - if they didn't, it would be a no-go for me.
But I also hate the feeling of missing out in features
Although I don't car for the linguatronic.
TR4man said:
If you are wanting to avoid the high VED, you could even consider an SL300 which comes in at a more reasonable £395. However, finding an SL300 might be a problem as they do seem to be very rare and I’m not sure if there is a noticeable lack of performance compared to the SL350.
Thanks, I didn't know the 300 existed - although with 227bhp I think I'll take the higher VED.Previous SL 500 owner here. 2009.
I had loads of electronics failures. Bought approved. Everything fixed under Merc warranty. Gave it up when I could no longer renew the warranty after 10 years old. Engine was great though!
Heated seat base. They fail as people kneel on them to get stuff out of the back and it breaks the element.
Aux battery - very common
Brake switch relay
Boot relay - closure
Boot relay - opening
Roof - hydraulic pump replacement - very common
Fan unit in instrument cluster
PSE central locking pump - very common
Rear window seal
Suspension strut ball joint issue - very common
Guesstimating that at £6.5k parts plus main dealer labour. Dunno £8 or £9k.
I had loads of electronics failures. Bought approved. Everything fixed under Merc warranty. Gave it up when I could no longer renew the warranty after 10 years old. Engine was great though!
Heated seat base. They fail as people kneel on them to get stuff out of the back and it breaks the element.
Aux battery - very common
Brake switch relay
Boot relay - closure
Boot relay - opening
Roof - hydraulic pump replacement - very common
Fan unit in instrument cluster
PSE central locking pump - very common
Rear window seal
Suspension strut ball joint issue - very common
Guesstimating that at £6.5k parts plus main dealer labour. Dunno £8 or £9k.
Penguinracer said:
One of the main issues with the ABC suspension is a lack of maintenance - fluid changes, hose inspections & fluid flushes.
It’s the “set & forget” approach to ABC which causes problems,
When properly maintained & working, it is quite remarkable.
I try and remember to exercise mine too plus ideal for some of the more severe speed bumps around London.It’s the “set & forget” approach to ABC which causes problems,
When properly maintained & working, it is quite remarkable.
Having had both ABC and this current normally suspended SL I really cannot see the point - it may indeed be a bit better, but the normal suspension is still very nice indeed, and I honestly cannot see that the small improvement (if any, in normal use) warrants the risk, expense and inspection, flushing, servicing malarkey. Because it doesn’t.
I think ABC’s main benefits are with a fast , heavy car, allowing a good compromise between ride comfort & suspension control for performance driving.
For my application, three CL600’s with Quaife diffs & Kleemann remaps to 650 bhp / 1050 Nm & delimited, the ABC system pays for itself.
For my application, three CL600’s with Quaife diffs & Kleemann remaps to 650 bhp / 1050 Nm & delimited, the ABC system pays for itself.
Penguinracer said:
I think ABC’s main benefits are with a fast , heavy car, allowing a good compromise between ride comfort & suspension control for performance driving.
For my application, three CL600’s with Quaife diffs & Kleemann remaps to 650 bhp / 1050 Nm & delimited, the ABC system pays for itself.
I've not driven an R230 on standard suspension so can't comment but do agree the ABC particularly on fast A roads keeps the car very flat. I'd be interested in driving some cars with smaller wheels - mine is on 19" AMG's and am sure they compromise ride quality which is genrall good but a bit lumpy over urban stuff.For my application, three CL600’s with Quaife diffs & Kleemann remaps to 650 bhp / 1050 Nm & delimited, the ABC system pays for itself.
Thanks for you inputs, all.
Whilst I would love the added horsepower and torque that come with the V8 in the 500, ultimately this is supposed to a be a sensible, reliable, cheap to run daily driver – which of course I don’t really expect the SL to be – but not having to worry about the ABC and the generally simpler spec of the 350 is much more reassuring.
I’m ready to purchase now – but with an upcoming holiday in just over a week I was going to hold off for another month.
There is a seemingly nice example currently for sale in Glasgow on AT for £12,000. It’s red, FSH, well spec’d and only 50k miles.
Being based in Scotland, I can’t help but think of rusty parts and corrosion.
Am I being silly?
Everything in the south where I am based is much more expensive. I’ll travel for the right car…
Whilst I would love the added horsepower and torque that come with the V8 in the 500, ultimately this is supposed to a be a sensible, reliable, cheap to run daily driver – which of course I don’t really expect the SL to be – but not having to worry about the ABC and the generally simpler spec of the 350 is much more reassuring.
I’m ready to purchase now – but with an upcoming holiday in just over a week I was going to hold off for another month.
There is a seemingly nice example currently for sale in Glasgow on AT for £12,000. It’s red, FSH, well spec’d and only 50k miles.
Being based in Scotland, I can’t help but think of rusty parts and corrosion.
Am I being silly?
Everything in the south where I am based is much more expensive. I’ll travel for the right car…
TREMAiNE said:
There is a seemingly nice example currently for sale in Glasgow on AT for £12,000. It’s red, FSH, well spec’d and only 50k miles.
If this particular car is painted in the colour that M-B have called Fire Opal or Jupiter Red at various points then it's worth being aware that there have been some documented issues with lacquer peel on cars finished in this colour (it's a paint issue so not model specific). Mercedes have resprayed cars under warranty, but obviously only if the paint is original. More info and photos of the issue in this thread: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
You can also do a Google search for 'Mercedes fire opal red problems'.
Obviously this particular car is likely to be fine but I would still ask the question as to whether paint is original and if any panels were resprayed under warranty.
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