New SL owner

[mvick]

Greetings to the forum. I bought my first Mercedes last week- a 1996 SL600 with 30k. I am in love with the car- there's a surprise- and am delighted to find this board. Any tips, hints, or warnings would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Congratulations! I've had my SL600 for about 15 months; I can only tell you that in my case I find I love it more each time I see it or drive it.

What color is yours? Mine is all-over black...

Travis

[DALE DORIA]

Congratulations on your SL 600. As you already know, these are just wonderful vehicles to drive and to experience. You are in an elite group as there were only a few 600's ever built.....and I believe they are only built to order. If you go to MBUSA you can research how many 600's were built for that year and the total number to date! Welcome to the BEST Mercedes site EVER.....you will find many interesting friends on this site and PLENTY of useful information. Also, if you search the SL forum to date, you may find some interesting tips about the SL's; their current owners problems, and their solutions. If you have and pics of your car......please post them and let us know the color and options. Enjoy your car, this site, and visit often!

[Buciraco]

DALE DORIA where in the MBUSA site do you find that information?

[DALE DORIA]

I think it was under the Starmark section....then pre-owned....then into model selector and year. I was just on the site however, and did not see the total number of cars made. However, it does list all the specs and costs including option packages.

Try this link for the '97 SL600; you can navigate to other years and models from here.

97 SL600 Specs

I'd post a picture of mine but, frankly, I don't know how to do it...the image I have is over the limit for size and I don't know how to change it...

Travis

[Buciraco]

Hey travis is it me or there was a sharp drop in prices in 95, **** a lot od people should have been mad about that. I would bet that the drop on prices came along with a drop in quality.

I'm not sure about the timing; there were price drops in 98 and 99 that I know of. I think it had more to do with Lexus cutting in to MB's traditional market; they had to drop prices to stay in the game.

I hesitate to say that there have been drops in quality; you hear that a lot, but the examples given usually strike me as somewhat isolated.

Nothing made by man, especially mass produced at a price point, is going to be completely free from defect. Kinda like the specs for how many parts-per-million of rat is permitted in a chocolate bar---we don't like to think about it, but it is inconceivable that a huge vat of chocolate, made from huge quantities of raw ingredients, isn't going to get infiltrated by the occasional rodent or insect. The idea is to minimize it---and then don't dwell on it!

Best,

Travis

[Buciraco]

I agree, but does it make fell like they stole money from you, all the suden there comes lexus, now we come down $10.000 and there was no change in quality

I think maybe I figured out how to post a picture---here goes.

Travis

Congrats on your new 600. Mine is "94 black/grey leather/65,000 miles and has given me nothing but enjoyment. Black is tough to keep, however between using One Grand Detail Spray to wipe down followed by either Blitz Wax or Malco's Enhancer Wax, it looks show room new. Porsche has some good items for your soft top and glass . One thing I never do, if at all possible is use soap, it definitely strips the wax off. I am considering adding euro headlights and possibly changing the tail lights as well. (If anybody has done this please let me know where to go for these euro lights) ENJOY your baby and keep an eye in your mirror for smokey,cause it is hard to keep under the speed limit./jack barrett

[DALE DORIA]

I also was thinking of changing to the newer tailight lenses. Mine is a '97 and the newer tail lenses are ronder on the edges. I really do not want to return to the dealer for these, perhaps the parts shop here has them??!!!

I don't understand the reason for wanting to change tail lenses. I've looked at the '99 up versions and compared them to mine; all I can say is that they are a little different, but not better. Might be slightly easier to clean, but not enough to be worth the trouble to change even if someone gave them to me. Same with the rear view mirrors---they are a little different shape, but I can't see any advantage to the newer ones. You've already got the prettiest car around; why mess with it?

Travis