500SL idle speed?

[Hatterasguy]

My uncle and I looked at a very mint 1991 500SL today. The car itself was mint, and well taken care of. 58k miles, no body work, no paint work, new top. Everything seemed to work well, and it ran well. The only problem is the guy won't come down to a realistic price. He wants $17k, and my uncle offered him $14k cash. He didn't bite. This guy is the second owner and only had it for a year, the car is mint but hasn't been serviced in a year. So it needs a major service, and it needs a set of tires. We figure $600 for the tires, probably $1k for a total fluid flush and filter replacement, and another $500 for "stuff" that always comes up.

Anyway what are early M119's supposed to idle at in park when warmed up? This thing was at 1k, which seems a bit high. As soon as you put it in gear it dropped down to oh about 700 or so. It didn't bang into gear or anything.

I was kind of expecting it to idle down when it warmed up but it stayed at 1k even after we drove it.

Anyone in new England have a very nice late 90's early 2000's SL500 for sale? PM me if you do.

BTW I don't know why people like the locking map pockets, they suck. I can see why MB got rid of them, they are cheesy, and pointless.

[tecqboy]

If the car is as a good as claimed, with mileage that low, I don't think the price is too high. I paid much more for my 1991 300SL five years ago. My feeling is that it's not the years, it's the mileage. Original sticker on the car would have been close to $100K. At that mileage, it's only about 1/3 used up. So, in static terms, might it be worth $66,000? Of course not, but it sounds like it's been well maintained and has years of service left. These cars were built to higher standards. Complete fluid flush and change is probably un-necessary.

[Hatterasguy]

Nah its not worth it when you can get SL's just as nice that are a lot newer for a bit more. I know a car dealer who sold a 1997 with 10k more miles that was in similer shape for $16k last fall.

He rather spend an extra $5k-$10k and get one much newer.

The problem with a car of this vintage is its got all original hoses, and suspension parts. Its going to need some updating in the next few years. Its a good car but its still 16 years old, for the right price it would be worth it. But not for $17k, not when you can get a car thats 10 years newer for a few grand more.

The currant owner is upside down, he paid to much. My gut is telling me about $19k-$20k. Now he is having trouble selling it.