PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

JCE · #3 01-17-2015, 10:49 PM

We just got a 2003 500sl from our mechanic of the last 15 years. He had all the records from the first owner, and aside from the SBC and ABC campaigns from MB, most of the records were for relatively minor bits. He had owned the car for a year (96k miles) and had in the last year had reinspected the SBC parts that were done at 75 k by the original owner, and replaced the ABC components most likely to need attention. He also had done the expensive 100k service. replaced the hood struts, made sure the roll bar and top mechanisms were in great shape, etc.

So of course, the first week after we bought the car a $100 HID bulb went, and one of the accumulators dumped hydraulic oil on the driveway. He worked with us on the parts and labor, but the front accumulator and reservoir are the easier of the set on the car to repair. So these are a couple other things when checking out a prospective car. I am sure that such a tech target-rich car will have other issues popping up - we had the electronic ignition and the electronic throttle position sensor fail on our last modern MB which were expenses related to the gee-whiz way of making smart cars these days.

Offsetting this was the great working relationship we had with him and his promise that it was a good car, mostly gravel pits in the front being the main downside. The price was great, and he needed to sell it before Jan 1 for unexpected medical expenses. So we bought it, accepting it would probably need work along the way, that the parts would be expensive, and that it wasn't a new car or under warranty. But the handling and ride is amazing, even with 11 year old technology (6 disk CD changer and disk nav system). Love it so far, and it even delivered 24.8 mpg freeway on my wife's first out of town drive. Solid and hefty feeling at 4000+ lbs, but very nimble in the corners.

Time will tell, but so far it is great!