'95 SL320 - what to look for before purchasing?

[volosong]

Have a lead on a 1995 SL320. Mileage at 230,000; no dings or dents, I've been told. At an asking price of $5,000, (mechanic told them to sell it for that amount), what should I be on the lookout for when I go see the car...or is it even worth checking out?

I've currently have an '89 300CE, which I'm happy with, but am thinking of going a few years newer. Are the 95 SLs still considered "old Mercedes, as they should be built", or of the newer generation? You know the cliché, "Don't buy a Mercedes built after 1995 because before then, they were designed and built by engineers...after that by accountants".

Any chronic issues with the 95 vintage SLs? Did they have the wiring harness problem that the sedans had? Anything else? Thanks for any help.

[ctaylor738]

There are three issues. First, it's high miles for an SL, and stuff just wears out. Second, it's a 320, which is not much of an engine for a heavy car like the SL. Third, it's pre-'96 which means you don't get the updated 5-speed transmission and OBD2 diagnostics.

There were wiring harness issues until '96, but with that mileage, I would think it had been replaced.

Be sure the climate control and the soft top work perfectly.

[volosong]

Thanks for the advice, Chuck. It looks like the SL is heavier than my CE...by quite a bit. I wanted the 320 for the economy, and because I've had good luck with my M103 engine. Yeah, stuff wears out, don't we all know that about these things.

With your cautions, and one other item, I'm going to pass on this one. The person representing the seller said that I could only test drive the car if I gave them a copy of my driver's license and major credit card. With all the cc fraud going on these days, no way and I going to give someone I don't know my credit card.

She responded back saying that she totally understood, but the seller is a business owner and is approaching the transaction from that viewpoint. She is going to get back to him to find out what he says. Still, what happened to trust in our society? It's a car...there are license plates and VIN numbers.

Oh well, not really the color I want anyway. Thanks again.

[ctaylor738]

I'm not exactly a literary person, but one of the joys of my '96 SL500 is the almost bottomless reserve of power and the responsiveness of the transmission. It is effortless in traffic and very nice on the highway, but it does a total mood change when you hit the gas hard. I just can't imagine it being the same car without the power.

Also, I have generally gotten 15-16 mpg in town and mid 20's on trips.

Supposedly, from a driver's persective, the best years for the 129 5.0's were 1997 and 1998. According the the "experts". those years had the higher-output engine, and problems of the new drive train were mostly sorted out.

My point is that you can find high mileage examples of these cars for not a lot more money than you were considering here.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by volosong

Have a lead on a 1995 SL320. Mileage at 230,000; no dings or dents, I've been told. At an asking price of $5,000, (mechanic told them to sell it for that amount), what should I be on the lookout for when I go see the car...or is it even worth checking out?

I've currently have an '89 300CE, which I'm happy with, but am thinking of going a few years newer. Are the 95 SLs still considered "old Mercedes, as they should be built", or of the newer generation? You know the cliché, "Don't buy a Mercedes built after 1995 because before then, they were designed and built by engineers...after that by accountants".

Any chronic issues with the 95 vintage SLs? Did they have the wiring harness problem that the sedans had? Anything else? Thanks for any help.

I would not buy an SL with half that many miles on it, let alone 230,000 miles. I think you are buying problems, at almost any price on a 15 year old car with that many miles on it. Just me, but I would spend more on a '95 SL320, possibly up to $10K for a cherry one with a couple hundred thousand less miles on it. Good luck, either way.

[volosong]

Thanks for the advice. I've usually driven my cars until they have so many miles that they aren't worth anything anymore...to anyone. My '95 Ford Ranger is pushing up against 300,000 without any mechanical issues. My other current car, the '89 300CE just went over 215,000, and it is still running great, except for the usual stuff that wears out on a 20-year old car. My previous MB to that was a '80 240D that I gave away because I foolishly believed that at 300,000 miles, it was going to die any day. I've had three VW diesel cars (two Rabbits and a Jetta, late '70s to early '80s vintage) that all went over 200,000 before I dumped them.

So, high mileage really doesn't bother me all that much...if the rest of the car is in pretty much perfect shape. Anyway, my mechanic called me yesterday and offered to let me purchase his own personal car that he was saving for his retirement years. It is a '85 19D 2.2 with 110,000 miles on it. Says the interior is in perfect condition and the trunk looks like it is brand new. Being his own car, I know he fixed any mechanical issues it had. Best of all, it is a manual transmission! I sure do miss my 240D manual. The wife said she would leave me if I spent the money to put a manual in the 300CE.

Thanks again. With the 300CE and now the 190D, I won't be getting a SL.