SL Recommendation - Which to Get?

[Ralph Burnette]

I have the opportunity to purchase one of 2 SL:

1. A 1983 380SL - 32k miles in showroom condition - asking $20k.

2. A 2002 SL500 Silver Arrow - 68k miles in superb condition - asking $27k.

I like all models of the SL.

I would appreciate the thoughts of anyone who has owned either or both.

I realize that there is no "right" answer but your insight would be helpful.

BTW, this is a toy, not a daily driver. Although I do plan to make a long
trip in a year or two on Route 66.

Thanks,

[smallblock450sl]

The only help I could give is......Would you rather drive a "Classic or a Modern Classic?" The "driveability" of a 380sl and the newer sl500 would be a incredibale differance. Engine power/trannsmision feel/steering/handling and creature comfort, the differances would be like comparing a 1962 Corvette to a 2005 Corvette. You my freind will only know the awnser. Drive both.....They both sound like excellent cars. I'd put my money on the SL500. I loved my 1970 Corvette, I love my 1978 SL, but my 2000 Chevy Silverado pickup has more "creature comforts" than either one. Good Luck on your venture.

Originally Posted by Ralph Burnette

I have the opportunity to purchase one of 2 SL:

1. A 1983 380SL - 32k miles in showroom condition - asking $20k.

2. A 2002 SL500 Silver Arrow - 68k miles in superb condition - asking $27k.

I like all models of the SL.

I would appreciate the thoughts of anyone who has owned either or both.

I realize that there is no "right" answer but your insight would be helpful.

BTW, this is a toy, not a daily driver. Although I do plan to make a long
trip in a year or two on Route 66.

Thanks,

[POS]

It's not really a matter of what I'd chose. The choice between an r107 and 2002 comes down to you - what you want, how much you're willing to spend. You'll lose your butt on the 2002, but you won't on an r107 - but on THAT r107, you'll lose your butt.

The 380SL is the dog of the r107s - asking $20k for one is insane, unless it's a pristine 500SL or a pristine 560SL. If you buy that 380, you will lose money because you'll never be able to sell it for what you paid. For $20k, you can buy a perfect 560SL - and you should. Check www.oursl.com for cars, but please do not pay $20k for a 380SL - that car is way, way overpriced.

[Ralph Burnette]

Thanks for the responses. All are valid.

I think that, out of the gate, that the price of the 380SL was just too step, regardless of its condition; given the options in the market.

My wife has been looking at the BMW 328i with the convertible roof. She also drove a 2004 SL500 today. She had to admit that, although the BMW is very nice, there is really no comparison between the two.

The dealer and I could not come to terms on the 2004 SL500. We are 2-3k off as I want to get it with the 100k mile Starmark warranty for up to 3 years. We may still be able to work something out.

The Silver Arrow that I mentioned earlier was shipped off to auction by the dealer (not MB).

I am going to look at a 1999 SL500 tomorrow. 63K miles and asking 24K for a red one with a tan interior.

BTW, I did go to the ourSL website and signed up. Very helpful site.

More comments would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[ctaylor738]

My $.02.

If holding value and being able to work on the car are important, then go with a 107. If you are going to put some miles on it, my personal choice would be a 60-80K mile 560 with a good history of repair, especially the suspension rubber.

If you like comfort, power, and convenience, then the newer cars are the way to go. But they are complicated. I took a close look at a 129 500SL's top mechanism a while ago - amazing.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Ralph Burnette

I have the opportunity to purchase one of 2 SL:

1. A 1983 380SL - 32k miles in showroom condition - asking $20k.

2. A 2002 SL500 Silver Arrow - 68k miles in superb condition - asking $27k.

Ralph,
Please read http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/NL0701/BlackBlack.htm and http://www.oursl.com/NewsLetter/500SL.htm
I have owned two R107's and currently own a R129. Both have there pluses and minuses. I found the R107 to have a weakness in the climate control actuators. Read the Owners Manual for the R107 and check to maker sure that the A/C center vents are working properly.
Please realize that the Silver Arrow has more than several unique parts that are very costly to replace should you be anal like many of us are and want everthing in working order. Example: May I suggest that you check to see if the SA Illuminated Door Sills both light up. If they don't light up please let me know where you can get a replacement display and send me the p/n and price. Also realize that you will be constantly having to protect the light gray Nappa leather from stains.
Have you ever seen a http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1283678-2002-sl600-silver-arrow-v12-w-pano.html?highlight=2002+silver+arrow This is what a real 2002 Silver Arrow should look like. To all you SL500SA please don't be offended this is just my opinion.
If you buy a R107 you will never have to to deal with hydraulic cylinder replacements when 2 of 12 in your R129 auto soft top gives you problems.

[rugby2]

get a 560 sl. 380 lack of power. if going the 107 route

[Ralph Burnette]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to test drive a 1999 SL500 (red) with about 64k miles on it. My wife likes it better than the 2004 that we drove on Saturday.

The only issues that I see sofar with the car is that the CD changer does not appear to be hooked up and the antenna will not go up or down. The #6 fuse
in the back is missing. In addition, it looks like it need a front end alignment. Finally, the padding under the hood needs to be replaced.

It looks like the clear coat has peeled off the edge of a couple of the wheels but there is no damage to the wheels at all. I suspect that this is due to changing tires, etc.

It has good maintenance records, etc. The paint and inside, etc. are perfect. I plan to have my mechanic look at it next Saturday.

Any suggestions for what to look for or what might be troublesome for this car? I plan to replace the tires, although not worn out, they seem to have too little tread for safe driving - especially in the rain.

There have been a couple of notes concerning price for R129s and R107s posted. Any thoughts on an asking price of 24k?

Thanks again to everyone for your comments and suggestions.

-Ralph

[page62]

Have the '99 checked by an independent MB mechanic. If the issues reported are minor, then the price seems OK. The R129's are good, solid cars. Built like tanks in the classic Mercedes tradition. (But then again, so are R107's...)

Sooner or later, you'll find an R107, but the asking price on the 380SL is at least $10K too high...

[Ralph Burnette]

I had the 99 sl500 checked today and I am glad that I did.

The B service needs to be done (actually about 8,800 miles overdue). The brakes and the front rotors need to be replaced. The mass air flow meter needs to be replaced. The CD changer
is broken. The insulation under the hood needs to be replaced, the plastic
plate under the engine needs to be replaced (not there). In addition, the
wheels need to be reworked.

The front tires are near or at the end of life but I am not counting that.

My mechanic is going to give me a price for the work on Monday.

The car is very nice and has not been abused (we don't think) but the seller's
mechanic hasn't done well by the seller as she was under the impression that
everything was up to date.

I think that this was a real blow to the seller.

I am hoping that we can work out the price details this week and complete
the deal next weekend when I am back.

The morale of the story is....ALWAYS have your prospective purchase
checked by your trusted MB mechanic!

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Ralph Burnette

I had the 99 sl500 checked today and I am glad that I did.

The morale of the story is....ALWAYS have your prospective purchase
checked by your trusted MB mechanic!

The B service =$350.00 at Stealership
The brakes and the front rotors need to be replaced. $450.00
The mass air flow meter needs to be replaced.=$200.00, can this be cleaned
The CD changer is broken. =$200.00
The insulation under the hood needs to be replaced=$200.00
the plastic plate under the engine needs to be replaced=$250.00
wheels need to be reworked. $125/wheel=$500.00
The front tires are near or at the end of life=$450.00

What about a $90.00 alignment? Many INDY's cannot check for this. Note: Check the engine mounts at this age.
Looks like a good +$3K to me. Are you sure you want this car? Why not wait until you find a cherry one?

[Ralph Burnette]

The reason for getting this car is:

The appearance of the interior and exterior is virtually showroom new.
The car has been garaged during the winter months.

It has been regularly serviced but, unfortunately, not by a dealer or independent who either knows MB or has the right equipment to check and properly service the car.

My mechanic will price things out for me on Monday when he can get the
prices of the parts, etc. If I work out an agreeable price with the seller, it
will go directly there to get all the mechanical work done. Then, it will be
taken right over to the wheel place to have the wheels reworked and the
new tires put on......and, yes, an alignment.

With that, I should be pretty-much set for the car.

If the deal does not work out, I found another red one (yr 2000) at a MB
dealership. They want 4k more but the mileage is less than 1/2 of this one,
etc.

I will have him take a look at the motor mounts...a good idea.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Ralph Burnette

If the deal does not work out, I found another red one (yr 2000) at a MB
dealership. They want 4k more but the mileage is less than 1/2 of this one,

Ralph, go look at the Y2K with 1/2 the mileage. Maybe it has the SL1 and SL2 package and I like the idea of a lower mileage car. I bought mine at 20K miles last year and still had to spend extra to get it the way I wanted it.
BTW, check the Door Straps on any of the cars that you look at. I looked at 6 different used SL500/SL600 on a Saturday and ALL of them had noisy Door Check Straps= $286.00 parts and labor.

[lynns]

Originally Posted by Ralph Burnette

I had the 99 sl500 checked today and I am glad that I did.
The morale of the story is....ALWAYS have your prospective purchase
checked by your trusted MB mechanic!

Ralph, I had my car checked out by a trusted INDY but there are things that can be missed.
Please read http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r129-sl-class/1286929-2000-sl500-cost-since-used-car-purchase.html?highlight=2000+SL500

[MD11flier]

Hi Ralph, good look with the car your looking at. I just bought a 99 SL500 with 23K miles from a dealer in OH that swore up and down it was "tight and perfect". I showed up and spent all day checking the car. Check all key fob functions (windows up and down) , that it would switch from the two diff ways to unlock the doors. Check all those small things.
Here is what I found to his tight and perfect car.
1. Lower right Valance missing under car. $60
2. CD changer not working. He claimed it was. When they stop working they display Cartridge Empty. I brought a CD with me and loaded it. $290
3. Hood pad needed replaced $70 for pad. I did it myself.
4. Books Missing. Swore they were in the car, or past owners had them. (story later)
5. Drivers door speaker cover fabric pulled and rough looking. $75
Short story, I bought the car, the dealer was kind enough to pay for all the things I found wrong and I researched the car from new and found all records on the car, so if the books could not be found the dealer and said he would buy a COMPLETE set of new books and get them stamped from past dealers. I could live with that.
Here is where it gets good. Looked on EBAY for Complete set of NEW books and found a set for 1999 SL500, leather book, all the goodies inside. Bought them, got them, and sure enough was new with all goodies.
I opened the service history and guess what VIN number was in front? You guessed it!! MINE!
Turns out, the detailer at the OH Lexus location was stealing books out of cars and giving them to a guy that was moving them on EBAY.
Got my money back for them and have all work put in the books, It had nothing in them since new. Now all books up to date and perfect.
The CD changer if anyone needs it fixed: La Jollar Audio Repair. Great people!
So it worth the time and research your car and when you show up check everything! Hope this helps with your search for you dream car!
Gordon