Bad Buy 500SL?

Windsurf1

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Location
Braunton.Devon,UK
Your Mercedes
2004 500SL/ V8
Since owning my 2004 500SL I’ve carried out correct preventive maintenance. It has done 59K. Reading references to ABC/SBC system problems, pumps, valve blocks and suspension struts etc I keep wondering if I was foolish in buying a 500SL rather than the 3.7 Litre? I appreciate that forums do reflect owners with problems but is the 500 a car that is a future money pit? I have to say coming from a R129 the 500SL is a lovely vehicle to drive and the V8 an inch I had to scratch! My thoughts now turn to the gearbox. At present the gearbox is performing perfectly as is the rest of the car. My respected indie' who will be carrying out the servicing has suggested that if the gearbox oil looks clean and doesn't smell, leave well alone. Mercedes want £300+ to change the gearbox oil. I'm into preventive maintenance having carried out an ABC oil/filter change and Malcom's rear wheel arch rustproofing procedure. Basically are these cars a bad buy? Thanks for any replies. Cheers J C.
 

LostKiwi

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2006
Messages
31,328
Reaction score
21,575
Location
Midlands / Charente-Maritime
Your Mercedes
'93 500SL-32, '01 W210 Estate E240 (RIP), 02 R230 SL500, 04 Smart Roadster Coupe, 11 R350CDi
Its only a bad buy if you don't feel you are getting the enjoyment from it you feel the price should provide.
If you're enjoying it then its a great buy.
 

Gkinghorn

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 25, 2009
Messages
2,808
Reaction score
180
Location
Bournemouth
Your Mercedes
E350 CDI Cabriolet - 2011
No ... but they can be expensive to repair when things go wrong . If all is good it's a sublime car and you should have many years of trouble free motoring ...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
OP
W

Windsurf1

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Location
Braunton.Devon,UK
Your Mercedes
2004 500SL/ V8
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #4
Agreed LostKiwi. However, with a vehicle when new costing 60k+ having a braking system prone to failure by components having a finite life and suspension strut ball joints that can't be replaced I'm wondering does this tarnish the ownership appeal? What's the forum's thoughts on my "Indies" rational on gearbox oil changes? J C.
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Agreed LostKiwi. However, with a vehicle when new costing 60k+ having a braking system prone to failure by components having a finite life and suspension strut ball joints that can't be replaced I'm wondering does this tarnish the ownership appeal? What's the forum's thoughts on my "Indies" rational on gearbox oil changes? J C.

The ball joints can be repaired, Star Motor Services in Reading will do this for £80/ corner.

Agree with everything LK said, it's your enjoyment that is the defining factor. Was my CL a bad buy? Having spent 4x the purchase price on getting everything fixed up, yes it was. But if I keep it in good nick now and I can get 10 years of driving out of it, it'll be no more expensive than any other secondhand car has ever been for me. Swings and roundabouts.
 

SL63 Mark

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
4,514
Reaction score
2,589
Location
The South
Your Mercedes
R231 SL63 AMG
suspension strut ball joints that can't be replaced

This is incorrect. I had mine done by Ian (Star) in Reading for £100. He injects them with Resin to repair them if they become worn.


I'm wondering does this tarnish the ownership appeal? What's the forum's thoughts on my "Indies" rational on gearbox oil changes? J C.

I would agree with your Indie 100%. I think you're worrying about stuff that may never happen, and potentially worrying others too :D.

I have had no problems with my 2004 SL55 in 4 years and 25,000 miles other than tyre and brake pads/discs which are servicing items.

How many miles a year do you do in it would you say ?
 
Last edited:

SL63 Mark

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
4,514
Reaction score
2,589
Location
The South
Your Mercedes
R231 SL63 AMG
Agreed LostKiwi. However, with a vehicle when new costing 60k+ having a braking system prone to failure by components having a finite life C.


Sorry the braking system is not prone to "failure". That seems a little dramatic. The SBC pump can be replaced, or reprogrammed if you choose. I made contingency for this potential cost when I bought the car, not to do so would have been foolish. To date it has not happened, and it may not for many many more miles.

Incidentally I believe the 3.7 SL you refer to has the same issue ? (Could be wrong).
 

Flyinspanner

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2010
Messages
3,283
Reaction score
1,577
Location
Ruislip
Your Mercedes
CLK320-A209 (sold CL500 & W168)
Maybe your indie is just saying you don't have to change it if it's clear, smells ok.

However, preventative maintenance is no bad thing either, and keeping the auto box clean will help extend its life.
I would ask your local indie what he will charge for the fluid & filter for the box.
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Sorry the braking system is not prone to "failure". That seems a little dramatic. The SBC pump can be replaced, or reprogrammed if you choose. I made contingency for this potential cost when I bought the car, not to do so would have been foolish. To date it has not happened, and it may not for many many more miles.

Incidentally I believe the 3.7 SL you refer to has the same issue ? (Could be wrong).

the SL350 still has SBC but it lacks ABC...
 
OP
W

Windsurf1

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Location
Braunton.Devon,UK
Your Mercedes
2004 500SL/ V8
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #10
Thanks for the constructive replies. Yes I am aware of the strut repairs to the bottom ball joint and the unlikelihood of SBC pump failure, also fitted on the 3.7 Ltr? I usually cover less than 5k a year so hopefully, on the current 59k I've got a few years incident free motoring!:) I concur with the oil change on the gearbox and will see what my "Indie" will charge. After all he is a "Porkie'" Indie as well! J C.
 

Wighty

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2016
Messages
13,435
Reaction score
12,467
Location
Sunny Essex
Your Mercedes
W211/E320cdi/2009 and CLK200k 2009
I'm voting against your Indy over the gearbox ATF and filter change ...I'm guessing he isn't a Merc specialist Indy . The change is done at 35-40000 miles and many on here will also keep doing it at this repeat mileage ( including me ) . You really do feel the difference and for the price...don't get a main dealer to do it and you should save £100 getting a Merc Indy to do it , even if you have to travel a bit to get it done .
£200 for the oil change or £4000 for the gearbox .:p
 

John Laidlaw

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
26,373
Reaction score
9,163
Location
Wirral
Your Mercedes
Land Rover Discovery 4
Just to add to the case...Bit like Craig, not so bad though. I've had my SL500 for 9 months, I bought it as a 'known' vehicle which helped and I also made a provision to put aside to bring the car up to a standard I wanted it. I've spent c30% of the original purchase price. If I sold it now id lose all that and more for sure. In other words Ive invested beyond its probable value.
However thats not been the point for me. I now have a cracking car which will keep me happy for 5-10 years. Hopefully apart from a UB I have on order, remap arranged for February and inevitably 4 x new summer tyres 2017 should be considerably cheaper than 2016 was!
And to add, yes I've had both front struts resin repaired successfully.
Also had a brand new NSR strut fitted too (original MB)...this was one of the items I hadn't actually budgeted for /was unexpected along with a front passenger SAM and a front grille
All the other stuff Ive done has been proactive/improvements or (like you), preventative maintenance (including ABC fluid change and rodeo after the strut repairs)
Bad buy? Not for me
The ATF fluid change is up to you really just maybe extra cost you dont need
 
OP
W

Windsurf1

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Location
Braunton.Devon,UK
Your Mercedes
2004 500SL/ V8
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #16
Thanks for all the helpful and reasuring replies.Yes, each time I drive my 500SL I fully appreciate the build quality and the V8 grunt. The real reason for the purchase. Being an avaition engineer I know the value of preventive maintenance and will get the gearbox oil changed as you all indicate, thankyou. I've been fortunate in choosing a car with a good service history and sympathetic past owners. As one post stated, G/Box oil change, £100+, G/Box replacement £5k. No contest. Cheers all J C.
 

Craiglxviii

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2015
Messages
17,781
Reaction score
7,426
Location
Cambs UK
Your Mercedes
970 Panamera Turbo; W221 S500L AMG Line, C215 CL500, W251 R350L AMG Line, plus several more now gone
Thanks for all the helpful and reasuring replies.Yes, each time I drive my 500SL I fully appreciate the build quality and the V8 grunt. The real reason for the purchase. Being an avaition engineer I know the value of preventive maintenance and will get the gearbox oil changed as you all indicate, thankyou. I've been fortunate in choosing a car with a good service history and sympathetic past owners. As one post stated, G/Box oil change, £100+, G/Box replacement £5k. No contest. Cheers all J C.

Don't forget the ABC. Every morning, look in the mirror and repeat three times, "20k or two years". That is the empirically- derived fluid change interval that you must stick to religiously... £300 max for fluid & filters, dependent on how much you want to flush through clean before stopping.
 
OP
W

Windsurf1

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2013
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Location
Braunton.Devon,UK
Your Mercedes
2004 500SL/ V8
  • Thread Starter
  • Thread starter
  • #19
Just completed the ABC fluid and filter change Craiglxviii. In fact the removed fluid was surprisingly clean. Perhaps it was changed prior to my purchase although not recorded? JC.
 

Naraic

Moderator
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
10,686
Reaction score
1,274
Your Mercedes
2005 CL500.
My "touching wood" post.

Unlike Craig I've had my CL for 8 months and all I've had to do so far was replace the COMAND...but I made money on that.

I did the brakes all round...but I don't think that counts as a "problem".

So far, so good.
 

Comand Online Ltd is a specialist supplier of Mercedes Navigation Disks, Phone & Bluetooth, iPod, DAB, CD and other COMAND retrofit parts to enhance your vehicle.www.comandonline.co.uk
Top Bottom