Consider This Before Buying Sl's - Page 49 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Pete Geither · #**721** 03-26-2006, 06:24 AM

Oh no,,,,,, it's back !!!!

donbryce · #**722** 03-26-2006, 03:00 PM

Well, I'm sure as heck gonna post to this, as a reward to myself for having actually read the entire thing through!
If you do this, you'll remember that Lynn actually only posted a couple of minor issues with his SL, those being a 'jumpy' idle, and a transmission problem, described as 'flutter' if I recall. Almost nothing of any real mechanical detail was ever offered, so we're left wondering what the fuss was all about.
Perhaps that's because he's not a DIY owner. His almost complete lack of mechanical aptitude lies at the root of the original whine about MB 'quality'. This is a common misconception IMO, that high-end cars like the SL should somehow run forever without any problems regardless of how much attention is paid to maintenance.
Nowhere in this thread does he really provide enough detail to allow anyone to even do an armchair diagnosis of the problem(s). He doesn't even know what the dealer did to rectify the original idle problem. And why would someone keep going back for more?
Apparantly all the $$ work done was mostly due to the convenience of having the dealer across the street from where he worked. This whole thread is a long sad story of someone who really doesn't belong behind the wheel of ANY older car, let alone an SL. I'd go so far as to suggest that, as he even described himself, a 'perfectionist' will never be satisfied, and an anal retentive SL owner that can't diagnose or fix a wiper arm problem shouldn't be running around on this forum denigrating Mercedes quality, period....but this thread was a good read

BENZ-LGB · #**723** 03-26-2006, 03:50 PM

This thread won't ever die, will it?

Every once in a while someone will show up in a Benz forum (either here or at BenzWorld or some other Benz site) with a "...Benz from Hell..." post. Almost ever time we take the bait (I know I have

) and keep posting, trying to help the guy or trying to defend our beloved brand. What ends up happening is that we give the poster a forum to vent his anti-Benz vitriol.

Lynn was either cluless about old cars, or he was just a poseur, looking for trouble. No matter what was written, all he could do was put down his car in particular and Benz in general. He must have been an idiot to spend as much money as he said he did, on a car that never worked right.

Personally, I think he made up the whole story, just so he could needle people here. Other people have done that here (some very recently). I now refuse to take the bait and just ignore it. If a guy has a real problem, I try to help him, if he comes here to put down Benz, then I won;t give him a chance to perpetuate his diatribe.

BTW, one thing that was odd about Lynn's posts was the fact that there was no "post counter." Is that normal, to have a poster with no actual post counter attached to his posts? Just curious.

OK, I am going back outside to work on my 300TE. I love that car, as I love my other Benzes, past and current. I am hoping to add either an SLC or an SL to my stable.

Cheers!

donbryce · #**724** 03-26-2006, 06:21 PM

Re. lynn's absent post count, I figured that might have been from the server crash that affected this site awhile back, but I can't recall when it was. I know a lot of threads got lost, and maybe some poster data like the count?

zeggate · #**725** 03-27-2006, 05:59 PM

We should all thank Lynn for his commentary and opinion and wish him well in his happy carland. Obviously he never really liked his car in the first place. Most owners of older cars have an affection that started many years ago. I never really cared about MB's until something out of the blue hit me in 2001. I purchased a 1973 450sl for $2000 I worked on the car, had an indie work on the car . I had the car painted. I have ordered parts from the internet, dealers and countless other sources. This car has given me a great degree of satifaction and stress relief from day to day troubles. The car runs quite well and I have gotten good advise from this site.
My daughter found a picture of me 30 years ago standing next to a 1973/450sl in NYC--Times Square. Had that picture been burnt in my mind all this time. I don't know but I am enjoying the heck out of my 1973 /450 sl. I just bought my wife a 2005 Sebring Convertible a sharp looker but NOWHERE near the CLASS of A 1973 450sl.

sl3204me · #**726** 03-27-2006, 11:42 PM

If you buy a Mercedes you expect a certain amount of upkeep and maintenence.Most expenses incurred after the initial warranty expires is due to previous owners neglect.The people who have the most pleasure of ownership are those who bought the car new and have taken excellent care of their vehicle.Those who are 2nd or 3rd owners are going to incur some expenses getting the SL into tip top shape,unless you are very lucky and have purchased the SL from a MB fanatic.I have a Honda Accord and it is the lowest cost car per mile to drive that their is on the planet.However it is boring to drive.Almost to the point of nausea.It is too perfect if that is possible.I have spent a considerable sum of money so far on my SL320.It is far from perfect,but it is the best car I have ever driven.Everything about the SL is smooth,elegant,and beautiful from the styling to the sound of the exhaust system.Am I satisfied with the way MB treats their owners? No.
Am I happy that I have spent a lot more money on it than I thought I would? No.Am I happy that I bought it and am driving it everyday? A resounding yes.
This is a car that makes you think.It makes you drive.It makes you feel alive.
Maybe it is an addiction.I know it is my baby.I am hooked.

E320Coup · #**727** 03-28-2006, 12:46 AM

I have an 87 560 and I have tried and tried to put into words what it is that I love about it... He/she really says it all!

I am hooked as well, and have been fortunate enough to have purchased mine from a fantatic who took care of a lot of the problematic issues, and I have had the best 3 years with it.

Thanks for your submission, it was inspiring.

Strife · #**728** 03-28-2006, 12:59 AM

If you expect to bring this car into the shop for every little thing, you'd better have an excellent mechanic, a lot of money, and another car or two. I think this was Lynn's fundamental problem. He wanted everything, but wasn't willing to pay for it - in money or time.

This is the first car I've ever owned that I've worked on because I WANTED to, not because I had to - although frankly there are very few mechanics around here I'd trust with it.

I have lusted for an SL for a long time. Story: about 25 years ago, I went to the track for the first time and I won about $100. Then, I saw a contest in the newspaper to win an SL, send in postcards to win. The odds were pretty good because it was open to Chicagoland residents only. I went nuts - I bought postcards with my track winnings; I colored them, bent them, sanded them, spray-painted them...all tricks of the trade to win "random drawing" contests, make the postcard feel different/stick out...I was so sure that I could win, I had it all planned financially, I'd sell the new one, get a used one and pay taxes/insurance with the remainder...well, I didn't win. A guy who lived about 500 feet from my apartment building did, though! OW!

tan man · #**729** 03-29-2006, 07:29 AM

the point where I found lynn to be ridiculous:
he complained about a trivial problem,
as a result he wanted to sell the car, but...
...only after fixing the problem "because he is a perfectionist"

another indication;
if you car has a slight miss and your mechanic ends up putting $1000's of your money to fix it, how willing would you be to continue dumping money at that mechanic?

....and if after paying $1000's the problem still exists, how much longer would you let that mechanic take you for a ride?

all the things lynn said don't add up. they simply break common sense. he's like one of those friends that when you get in a conversation they can talk for hours...one big long run on sentence...all of it complaints.

BENZ-LGB · #**730** 03-29-2006, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tan man

the point where I found lynn to be ridiculous:
he complained about a trivial problem,
as a result he wanted to sell the car, but...
...only after fixing the problem "because he is a perfectionist"

another indication;
if you car has a slight miss and your mechanic ends up putting $1000's of your money to fix it, how willing would you be to continue dumping money at that mechanic?

....and if after paying $1000's the problem still exists, how much longer would you let that mechanic take you for a ride?

all the things lynn said don't add up. they simply break common sense. he's like one of those friends that when you get in a conversation they can talk for hours...one big long run on sentence...all of it complaints.

I don't think "lynn" really ever existed. Every once in a while, a poster will show up here, or at BenzWorld or at the MBCA website, and proceed to write some horror tales about the problems he has had with his Benz, how Benzes are crap, how expensive they are to maintain, etc., etc., etc.

The pattern is always the same:

1. I love my Benz;

2. But I spent $XXXX dollarts getting it fixed.

3. It is still not working right.

4. So much for the vaunted Benz advantage.

5. Etc., etc., etc.

Then some kind and generous soul will make a good faith effort to offer positive and helpful suggestions but the "poster" rejects them all. Nothing works, nothing seems to satisfy this alleged "poster."

Then the thread degenerates into name-calling and more Benz bashing by the poster. Then, all of the sudden, the "poster" vanishes never to be heard of again.

I've fallen into this trap. First offering advice then bashing the poster. I am not falling for it again. I am not going to be a sucker for these trolls.

I think another poster (Manny?) put it best in his signature line (I am paraphrasing here) "Don't like your Mercedes? Quit *****ing, buy something else, move on."

Life is too short to drive crappy cars. If your car is giving you problems, sell it and get something else!

Pete Geither · #**731** 03-29-2006, 02:58 PM

As I walked out of Subway after lunch yesterday, a man and woman were standing next to my car looking at it. As I went to get in, the girl asked me if it was my SL. Yes I said. She said that was one of the most beautiful cars she had ever seen, and would I trade it immediately for their new Subaru ? I had to decline their offer. I get a LOT of looks at that car and I love driving it.

kbannister · #**732** 03-30-2006, 01:43 PM

Hee Hee. Yea this is no laughing matter but I love this thread. A guy buys a 20 year old car, takes it to someone who has no clue and condemns the brand.......The ol American way, blame it on somebody. Hope he NEVER buys a boat!!!

iozero · #**733** 07-09-2006, 10:15 PM

I have owned our 1980 450sl since 1999. It has been in the family since new and it had 45,000 on it when we acquired it. It now has 69,000 miles on it. Other than new plug wires, dist cap and rotor last year the most that I have spent on the car has been $275 per year.

My toyota (1996 camry) has had more problems than that. If you keep up on the general maintenance I see no reason why these cars won't last forever. That's how long I plan on keeping mine (or until they run out of consumable fuel to put it them)

seatonone2 · #**734** 07-09-2006, 10:58 PM

anyone who buys an sl that needs that much work is a moron, plain and simple, maybe a frontal lobotomy would help... but i think the buyer got what he deserved no pitty here. i think the buyer would be better off with a bike, at least he wouldnt be able to complain so much, in fact i think the whole thing was made up, probely a bmw guy or something

Steve Gutman · #**735** 07-10-2006, 10:30 AM

The moron here, checking in for my pre-frontal lobotomy. I don’t know how some people get so lucky and I have so many problems. It could be due to the lack of maintenance from a PO. I have 135,000 miles on mine and I average about 7000 miles a year. Parts cost me about $1000 per year since 1999 and now. I do my own labor so figure double or triple it if you go to the shop. I might be a little too particular about the drive train and suspension because I changed almost every rubber bushing in the suspension (the others are on the list), the ignition system and fuel injectors… But things break too! The A/C is out and it needs parking brake cables and all kinds of other small repairs. A set of lifters are on the bench. I love my SL and hope I never have to sell it but low maintenance cost is not one of the endearing qualities.

I have a 1992 BMW 525it Wagon and a 1994 Honda Del Sol that have not consumed as much time and parts cost but they don’t have 135,000 miles yet. I must say that the more I work on the cars, the more I like the Mercedes design and quality. It’s love/hate. I must be a little manic-depressive too. Perhaps the lobotomy will help.