To buy an SL or not?

[bcgreen]

I am sitting on the fence in regards to buying an SL. I am interested in a late model, '97 or newer but not the latest model, with as few miles as possible. I just love the timeless design of the car, that no other car other than exotics can claim. My problem is the cost of maintaining this vehicle. My wife shys away from the car mainly because of the cost of the parts and labor. We own a 300CE, that is just gorgeous, but the repairs for some of the things that need to be done, costs more than the car. She wants to stick to something like a late model corvette c5 or upcoming c6, because its american and will cost less to repair. To me, the present c5 looks great, but am afraid after a few more years it will look like most corvettes, from '70 on, like an old corvette, not so with the SL. She will be driving it mostly because her work is within a few miles of home and mine is 26, one way, this way we can keep mileage down.

[The Black Guy]

bcgreen:

Go for the SL. Keep the car on a regular maintenance schedule and the cost is very low. I have an '83 and no major cost. (Average about $300.00 per year.) 97 should be cheaper if maintained correctly.

Besides, in SoCal, an SL is a requirement.

[elau]

bcgreen,
You gotta go with your heart's desire. My cost of ownership for my SL is about $40 a year, granted it's my second car and oil change once a year. It is driven less than 3,000 miles a year.

There is not much to go wrong with this car, if you do your homework to look for a well-cared for vehicle. The main thing is to check its service history. Don't buy one with any hint of abuse and you will be fine.

I cannot even imagine comparing a Vette with a SL. They are two totally different cars.

[engatwork]

Keep in mind too that her commute does more harm to an automobile than your commute.

[bcgreen]

What I do presently with my vehicles, is the one that the wife drives I take it every two or three weeks with me to work, just so its gets hot enought to burn any chemicals in the oil.
If I go over to the Corvette forum, the guys there I am sure would say to go with the Corvette. But I am leaning towards the SL.
Yeh, I know they are different cars altogether, but they are eye candy to me

[deanyel]

From the stories I hear it will cost more than $300 a year, on average, just to keep the power top working. Were you thinking 320 or 500?

[bcgreen]

500, from what I have read here, the 500 is the one is to get.

[CDNC36AMG]

BC....don't regret my 500 purchase at all.

[tecqboy]

Don't judge routine maintenance expenses on the SL by what you are reading on this forum. The forum is a focus for people with problems and who need a little help. By and large the SL's, particularly after 1994, are not proen to excessive problems or maintenance. Notice that most posts with problems are on vehicles with high mileage on them; often mileage which is higher than what ordinary vehicles would have been retired after. That said, if you do have a problem, it can be expensive. Parts for SL's cost a whole lot more than parts for a Chevy. Many items are unique to this car, like the aforementiond top controller. My 300SL is 13 years old and has had no problem with the top after countless cycles. Dealer service on my SL isn't any more costly per hour than dealer service on my Jeep. After 98,000 miles my only non tune-up / belt or hose engine repair has been a timing chain tensioner and head gasket; about $700 three years ago. An SL exueds class. You get respect. Put the top down and everywhere you drive people wave and yell, hey dude, nice wheels.

[jjrodger]

A young-ish R129 SL should not require much beyond routine maintenance. I would buy from a dealer and take the Starmark warranty for extra piece of mind.

The maintenance is not too hard on the pocket. Nothing serious has gone wrong with my car. I have never regretted buying it. I cannot envisage selling it. The car attracts good will from other motorists and pedestrians (possibly because it is an older model and therefore less flash). It is a joy to drive fast and a joy to cruise in.

My advice is get a 500. There are lots of posts on this site on what to look out for and the relative merits of the 320 and 500. Also, the most recent facelift was June 1998. You can tell these cars because they have 17" wheels (to clear an uprated brake system) and SLK-style wing mirrors.

[LeaUK]

Parts purchased so far for my '93 500SL:

Window motor and gear assy: £120
Distributor cap: £80 - needed two
Distributor arm: £20 - needed two of course
Oil semi-synthetic: 8.5 litres - round about £4/l - £34
Oil Filter - £20
Pollen Filter - £25
Infra-red key - £55
Wiper Blade (not just rubber) - £20

All purchased directly from MB.

I've been pleasantly surprised as parts (so far) haven't really been much more expensive than for my 190E. I'm sure that you'll find that service parts are really no more than other cars and probably cheaper than many Japanese models ;-)

Lea