What is reliability like on a facelift R230 SL?
Discussion
TREMAiNE said:
But I also hate the feeling of missing out in features 
Although I don't car for the linguatronic.
I've had Liguatronic for 13 years and have never used it - I find it hopeless.Although I don't car for the linguatronic.
Since last year I've had an Android system with voice recognition (in an E Class) and that works much better.
It's really good for entering destinations in Google Maps.
carte blanche said:
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.
Thanks for the heads up. That is incredibly off-putting, even if the particular example I've seen is unaffected (yet). 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.
It's a very well-priced example so I won't rule it out, but given it's 350 miles away from me I won't prioritise it.
There are several much closer to me which still look good and aren't priced too badly. Plus they're from dealers so you get a degree of protection.
Looking online, the wind deflectors are only £2-300, so I am not fussed if I don't get one of those as I can easily obtain another - unlike the luggage rack for my Morgan, a £300 factory option that typically goes for £1,500 on eBay these days!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dRJBKAMKHA
Not sure if anyone has watched Iain Tyrrells youtube channel but it turns out in his fleet is an R230. Early 500 for which he had the ABC pump replaced but otherwise seems to have been ok.
Not sure if anyone has watched Iain Tyrrells youtube channel but it turns out in his fleet is an R230. Early 500 for which he had the ABC pump replaced but otherwise seems to have been ok.
Venisonpie said:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dRJBKAMKHA
Not sure if anyone has watched Iain Tyrrells youtube channel but it turns out in his fleet is an R230. Early 500 for which he had the ABC pump replaced but otherwise seems to have been ok.
I saw that and thought that he’s the ideal R230 customer - wealthy and with his own high-end car repair and restoration business. Not sure if anyone has watched Iain Tyrrells youtube channel but it turns out in his fleet is an R230. Early 500 for which he had the ABC pump replaced but otherwise seems to have been ok.
TREMAiNE said:
carte blanche said:
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.
Thanks for the heads up. That is incredibly off-putting, even if the particular example I've seen is unaffected (yet). 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.
It's a very well-priced example so I won't rule it out, but given it's 350 miles away from me I won't prioritise it.
There are several much closer to me which still look good and aren't priced too badly. Plus they're from dealers so you get a degree of protection.
Looking online, the wind deflectors are only £2-300, so I am not fussed if I don't get one of those as I can easily obtain another - unlike the luggage rack for my Morgan, a £300 factory option that typically goes for £1,500 on eBay these days!
FWIW I have the 2008 onwards >300bhp 3.5 V6 in an R171 SLK and it's a genuinely brilliant engine, it's hard to believe it's from Mercedes Benz the way it screams up to the red line in every gear. 90bhp/litre is pretty spicy for a naturally aspirated engine but it also has loads of torque everywhere.
I don't think you'd feel too short changed with it even in an SL, but I've driven the early cars with the 240bhp M112 V6 and they're pretty pathetic, and the 2006 - 2008 270bhp quad cam M272 3.5 has well known issues with the drive to the balancer shafts so is best avoided.
My friend was a Mercedes master tech for years and absolutely hates the R230 in every guise, from the first to the last, they break out in cold sweats every time I start looking at one
GeniusOfLove said:
My friend was a Mercedes master tech for years and absolutely hates the R230 in every guise, from the first to the last, they break out in cold sweats every time I start looking at one
Lol, go on send him over the edge! 6000 miles in 9 months and mine is still faultless, the longer this goes on the more nervous I might get.
Venisonpie said:
Lol, go on send him over the edge!
6000 miles in 9 months and mine is still faultless, the longer this goes on the more nervous I might get.
Two years in on mine and same thing. Beyond changing all the discs and pads a couple of months ago and obviously two services it’s been faultless (except there’s a tiny oil leak from the top rear of the engine when it’s parked up). Brakes are just service items so don’t count. 6000 miles in 9 months and mine is still faultless, the longer this goes on the more nervous I might get.
I need to fix that leak I guess.
It’s a fantastic car. My gen 1 R230 SL500 in comparison was garbage.
The facelift models look a lot more modern and sharp now - it’s not obvious at first glance if they’re an R231. The old peanut lights are looking dated now.
Dog Star said:
Two years in on mine and same thing. Beyond changing all the discs and pads a couple of months ago and obviously two services it’s been faultless (except there’s a tiny oil leak from the top rear of the engine when it’s parked up). Brakes are just service items so don’t count.
I need to fix that leak I guess.
It’s a fantastic car. My gen 1 R230 SL500 in comparison was garbage.
The facelift models look a lot more modern and sharp now - it’s not obvious at first glance if they’re an R231. The old peanut lights are looking dated now.
Your first one sounds like it gave you a torrid time. I agree on the face-lift version, they still look sharp. I need to fix that leak I guess.
It’s a fantastic car. My gen 1 R230 SL500 in comparison was garbage.
The facelift models look a lot more modern and sharp now - it’s not obvious at first glance if they’re an R231. The old peanut lights are looking dated now.
I'm assuming they are fairly hard on consumables being heavy things?
Venisonpie said:
Your first one sounds like it gave you a torrid time. I agree on the face-lift version, they still look sharp.
I'm assuming they are fairly hard on consumables being heavy things?
I haven’t really noticed tbh - having said that due to us both WFH our mileage is pretty low now, a set of discs/pads/tyres will last years. I'm assuming they are fairly hard on consumables being heavy things?
TREMAiNE said:
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…
Did you look at the Glasgow car ? I'm in the same boat as you were, and was considering it.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…
Patrick1964 said:
TREMAiNE said:
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…
Did you look at the Glasgow car ? I'm in the same boat as you were, and was considering it.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…
The ad is a little misleading, it's missed several services.
A few things the seller said doesn't quite add up, too.
He has only owned it for 6 months which is off putting, although I've sold cars for genuine reasons after that little time so maybe I'm over analysing.
Could be genuine but given I'm 350 miles away, I don't think it's something I want to risk. Could be a bargain but could also be hiding something problematic.
If you do have a look or buy it, I'd love to know if I missed out or not!
I think I've changed my mind on them if you're spending £12k, that's proper car money. They're really slow to shift and trade in values are in the toilet so I wouldn't rush and I'd haggle hard and be willing to walk away and come back in a month. It's winter too, I know from very recent experience that selling a car like this as the nights go dark and it's raining all the time is really difficult - buyers are that seasonal.
Don't be fooled by AT and eBay classified prices either, sellers seem very happy to sit for 6+ months with their car not shifting and a fantasy price tag on it, if you watch for a while you'll see cars come in at sensible price and disappear in 2-4 weeks like clockwork, it's like that with every old and interesting car.
I have to say though, I think they make sense as a bargain convertible smoker but I'd feel a bit of a plum sitting in my late 90s designed Mercedes with a £12,000 hole in my bank account and £8,000 of car on my drive.
If you want to know what you should be thinking about paying for a car in a private sale get a WBAC value and stick £1.5k to £2k on top. Add another couple of grand for a dealer car from a decent looking dealer. WBAC values are normally about the same as auction CAP clean, or thereabouts, which is the MOST any dealer will have paid for it in the first place, so don't get robbed. For a car like an SL in early autumn they might have paid as little as half that.
I also think you need to manage your expectations about servicing on what must be a 12+ year old car , if it missed an oil change stamp in 2017 and 2012 that's not worth stressing over but it is worth sucking your teeth and haggling over.
The buyers guides for everything like to go on and on and on about fastidious history just for something to say, modern cars still don't like persistent long oil change intervals but if it might have missed a change for one year and done 10k on the same oil I'd not care one bit. Plenty of people skip time based servicing on cars like this because they've only done piddling miles too, a valid choice.
If you don't need the room consider an SLK350 too, I think they're really underrated and much less troublesome than the SL.
Don't be fooled by AT and eBay classified prices either, sellers seem very happy to sit for 6+ months with their car not shifting and a fantasy price tag on it, if you watch for a while you'll see cars come in at sensible price and disappear in 2-4 weeks like clockwork, it's like that with every old and interesting car.
I have to say though, I think they make sense as a bargain convertible smoker but I'd feel a bit of a plum sitting in my late 90s designed Mercedes with a £12,000 hole in my bank account and £8,000 of car on my drive.
If you want to know what you should be thinking about paying for a car in a private sale get a WBAC value and stick £1.5k to £2k on top. Add another couple of grand for a dealer car from a decent looking dealer. WBAC values are normally about the same as auction CAP clean, or thereabouts, which is the MOST any dealer will have paid for it in the first place, so don't get robbed. For a car like an SL in early autumn they might have paid as little as half that.
I also think you need to manage your expectations about servicing on what must be a 12+ year old car , if it missed an oil change stamp in 2017 and 2012 that's not worth stressing over but it is worth sucking your teeth and haggling over.
The buyers guides for everything like to go on and on and on about fastidious history just for something to say, modern cars still don't like persistent long oil change intervals but if it might have missed a change for one year and done 10k on the same oil I'd not care one bit. Plenty of people skip time based servicing on cars like this because they've only done piddling miles too, a valid choice.
If you don't need the room consider an SLK350 too, I think they're really underrated and much less troublesome than the SL.
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Thursday 19th October 14:29
I appreciate the advise - this is certainly not a purchase I'll make the mistake of rushing into.
Most dealer-priced cars in the right spec are mid-teens but I feel they’re all pushing their luck at those prices.
WBAC offer is £7,430 and Motorway has an expected offer of £10,880.
Seller indicates he’d accept £10,500 so may well have tried Motorway and had lower offers than what they claimed for me.
For example, the ad indicates full MB history. It’s not – it has some MB history, some specialists, some just local garage. That’s fine – most of the time its just oil and filters – but why not just put the truth.
Additionally, the car was not serviced in 2017,18 or 19. The seller said that was because the car was off the road during COVID except 1) that pre-dates COVID and 2) it wasn’t off the road, it was MOT’d each of those years with increased miles. The seller wasn’t even the owner in this period so why lie?
I also asked about general condition, stone chips, marks on the paint, interior wear (bolster/wing wear common on driver's seat it seems), scratches on the console etc. I acknowledged that I was aware it was 13 years old and didn't expect perfection - but the seller insisted there were no marks and it was spotless - which may be true but I just don't believe its that clean. There will 100% be blemishes - there is no reason to not be transparent about them.
And supposedly bought as a summer car, hence why its being sold after 6 months – but also not fussed about selling it and it can sit in the garage if it doesn’t sell (despite 2 price drops in 2 weeks) and now staying his wife is going to stick it up on Motorway next week (so its her car?)… I just feel that he is desperate for it to sell because either a) it’s a lemon or b) he’s desperate for the money and I don’t want to risk it being option a.
GeniusOfLove said:
I think I've changed my mind on them if you're spending £12k, that's proper car money. They're really slow to shift and trade in values are in the toilet so I wouldn't rush and I'd haggle hard and be willing to walk away and come back in a month. It's winter too, I know from very recent experience that selling a car like this as the nights go dark and it's raining all the time is really difficult - buyers are that seasonal.
I think I've changed my mind on them if you're spending £12k, that's proper car money. They're really slow to shift and trade in values are in the toilet so I wouldn't rush and I'd haggle hard and be willing to walk away and come back in a month. It's winter too, I know from very recent experience that selling a car like this as the nights go dark and it's raining all the time is really difficult - buyers are that seasonal.
I reckon £10-12k is probably about right for a top-level example and mirrors what they were pre-COVID – or at least begins to approach it – but I’d not jump to spend more given that I imagine there is going to be a big crash on their prices soon as most are just sitting for months at a time for as much as 20k. I think I've changed my mind on them if you're spending £12k, that's proper car money. They're really slow to shift and trade in values are in the toilet so I wouldn't rush and I'd haggle hard and be willing to walk away and come back in a month. It's winter too, I know from very recent experience that selling a car like this as the nights go dark and it's raining all the time is really difficult - buyers are that seasonal.
Most dealer-priced cars in the right spec are mid-teens but I feel they’re all pushing their luck at those prices.
GeniusOfLove said:
If you want to know what you should be thinking about paying for a car in a private sale get a WBAC value and stick £1.5k to £2k on top. Add another couple of grand for a dealer car from a decent looking dealer. WBAC values are normally about the same as auction CAP clean, or thereabouts, which is the MOST any dealer will have paid for it in the first place, so don't get robbed. For a car like an SL in early autumn they might have paid as little as half that.
Yes, been monitoring the car sale sites vigorously. WBAC offer is £7,430 and Motorway has an expected offer of £10,880.
Seller indicates he’d accept £10,500 so may well have tried Motorway and had lower offers than what they claimed for me.
GeniusOfLove said:
I also think you need to manage your expectations about servicing on what must be a 12+ year old car , if it missed an oil change stamp in 2017 and 2012 that's not worth stressing over but it is worth sucking your teeth and haggling over.
It’s not the missing history I have a problem with, it’s more the misleading ad and lack of transparency. For example, the ad indicates full MB history. It’s not – it has some MB history, some specialists, some just local garage. That’s fine – most of the time its just oil and filters – but why not just put the truth.
Additionally, the car was not serviced in 2017,18 or 19. The seller said that was because the car was off the road during COVID except 1) that pre-dates COVID and 2) it wasn’t off the road, it was MOT’d each of those years with increased miles. The seller wasn’t even the owner in this period so why lie?
I also asked about general condition, stone chips, marks on the paint, interior wear (bolster/wing wear common on driver's seat it seems), scratches on the console etc. I acknowledged that I was aware it was 13 years old and didn't expect perfection - but the seller insisted there were no marks and it was spotless - which may be true but I just don't believe its that clean. There will 100% be blemishes - there is no reason to not be transparent about them.
And supposedly bought as a summer car, hence why its being sold after 6 months – but also not fussed about selling it and it can sit in the garage if it doesn’t sell (despite 2 price drops in 2 weeks) and now staying his wife is going to stick it up on Motorway next week (so its her car?)… I just feel that he is desperate for it to sell because either a) it’s a lemon or b) he’s desperate for the money and I don’t want to risk it being option a.
TREMAiNE said:
He has only owned it for 6 months
.If you do have a look or buy it, I'd love to know if I missed out or not!
It's been for sale since early August on the FB SL group, so I suspect it has issues. I'll pass, and thanks for the info..If you do have a look or buy it, I'd love to know if I missed out or not!
There is a black car in SW10 that appeared on eBay yesterday, no panoramic roof but may be of interest to you ?
Patrick1964 said:
TREMAiNE said:
He has only owned it for 6 months
.If you do have a look or buy it, I'd love to know if I missed out or not!
It's been for sale since early August on the FB SL group, so I suspect it has issues. I'll pass, and thanks for the info..If you do have a look or buy it, I'd love to know if I missed out or not!
There is a black car in SW10 that appeared on eBay yesterday, no panoramic roof but may be of interest to you ?
Anything but White or Black I think.
The comments on values is spot on. I paid £19k for mine in February which felt a bit ott but is a nice colour with great spec/low miles and also a 2012 car.
Up until 2 months ago WBAC were offering £15k for it, that is now £12k. Ultimately the trade won't value the colour or spec and so its another hard to shift lump of metal.
However I've had two fantastic holidays in it, I don't want to sell it and it does everything I ask and more. Come February when it needs tax, insurance and a service I expect to be at least £2k poorer. So be it.
Up until 2 months ago WBAC were offering £15k for it, that is now £12k. Ultimately the trade won't value the colour or spec and so its another hard to shift lump of metal.
However I've had two fantastic holidays in it, I don't want to sell it and it does everything I ask and more. Come February when it needs tax, insurance and a service I expect to be at least £2k poorer. So be it.
I thought I'd register a first issue with my SL500. Central locking and boot soft close have stopped working and a quick Google points towards the PSE pump.
Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..
Good news is there's an abundance of experience on Youtube and in general about how to suss out the extent of failure and repair. It's too bloody cold today but I'm going to have a go at sorting it myself rather than just throw money at it. Starting with the fuse..
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