My SL500 ownership one year on.

[Wighty]

Bear in mind I have spent a fair bit on getting the car up to spec, well my spec anyway. Some of the items I spent money on may not have been needed but as I didn't know when they were last done I did them anyway for piece of mind.

That makes it more like starting with a "new" car .

 

[ajlsl600]

yup beat the breakdown. i spend a fortune on peace of mind maintainance .

 

[Painter16]

Hi I have a 2007 sl 350 road tax is £500 a year how come yours is £297 I'd have thought newer car would be same

Pre 2006 cars didn't get hit by the newer tax rates

Just my luck,but wouldn't swop it love it ,had nearly 2 years now most expensive thing I've had done is the sbc pump changed

 

[Tony MB]

Bear in mind I have spent a fair bit on getting the car up to spec, well my spec anyway. Some of the items I spent money on may not have been needed but as I didn't know when they were last done I did them anyway for piece of mind.

Can't argue with that

 

[flowrider]

I was just posting on a thread on the other side and thought I would add my musings here.......

I just did a quick search on Autotrader looking at present asking prices for SL500's and compared to a year ago when I bought mine the prices have increased by on average 15% for a comparable SL500. But not to get too excited in real terms I wouldn't be able to sell my SL and be in profit as I have spent a fair bit on it this year!

 

[Tony MB]

I was just posting on a thread on the other side and thought I would add my musings here.......

I just did a quick search on Autotrader looking at present asking prices for SL500's and compared to a year ago when I bought mine the prices have increased by on average 15% for a comparable SL500. But not to get too excited in real terms I wouldn't be able to sell my SL and be in profit as I have spent a fair bit on it this year!

I think it would be expecting too much to maintain a car to a high standard as you obviously do and to make a profit.... I like to maintain my vehicles and make mods and upgrades but can't remember ever getting my money back let alone be in profit.
It's a labour of love

 

[LostKiwi]

I think it would be expecting too much to maintain a car to a high standard as you obviously do and to make a profit.... I like to maintain my vehicles and make mods and upgrades but can't remember ever getting my money back let alone be in profit.
It's a labour of love

Its possible to do.
I bought a Land Rover FC101 for £1200, spent £2k on it bringing it up to scratch and sold it for £3500 after having 2 years use from it.
Same with the FC101 ambulance I had - bought at £4k and sold at £6k after spending £1100 on paint.
My r129 is heading that way too - bought at £4k and now worth around £6k5 having spent £1500 on it in the interim.

 

[00slk]

Its possible to do.
I bought a Land Rover FC101 for £1200, spent £2k on it bringing it up to scratch and sold it for £3500 after having 2 years use from it.
Same with the FC101 ambulance I had - bought at £4k and sold at £6k after spending £1100 on paint.
My r129 is heading that way too - bought at £4k and now worth around £6k5 having spent £1500 on it in the interim.

Have to agree with you LK, done the same over the years, some good profits, some not so good
Nice up date Flowrider Always good to know how others have fared with there pride and joy's
I've done nearly 8000mls in the 55 and the 500 has covered 20,000mls in just over 2 years......Hmmm which reminds me, my up dates?????

 

[daibevan]

Its possible to do.
I bought a Land Rover FC101 for £1200, spent £2k on it bringing it up to scratch and sold it for £3500 after having 2 years use from it.
Same with the FC101 ambulance I had - bought at £4k and sold at £6k after spending £1100 on paint.
My r129 is heading that way too - bought at £4k and now worth around £6k5 having spent £1500 on it in the interim.

When you have the skills and knowledge to do much of the work yourself. It's not so likely for anyone who has to pay for labour.
Don't get me wrong, I love it when people like you put the effort in and share it with us.

 

[nicholas15]

Bought my SL500 inspired by flowrider last December.

After 11 months ruuning at 31 p per mile, excluding fuel (27.8 mpg over 3,600 miles)

Costs included:
ABC Fluid and filter change
Transmission and Filter change
Small service - oil, air and internal cabin filters, brake fluid
Insurance
Road Tax

No personal work, all done by professionals

Also had battery replaced by MB (£300) but paid by AA due to their original replacement for previous owner being the wrong battery.

Fingers crosed for this level of costs to continue!

 

[nicholas15]

Today is the 1st anniversary since I bought my 2004 SL500, the time has gone by very quickly. In that time I have covered 2512 miles for a cost of £485 in fuel. My total expenditure on the car for maintenance has been £1,875 which I think is pretty good for these cars. Car insurance last year was £368 but this year it has gone down to £309, road tax has stayed the same at £297. The car has behaved well and not missed a beat. I have loved every minute of driving the car and can't wait for the sunny weather to come back. Top down motoring is a blast!
View attachment 39863

Bought my SL500 inspired by flowrider last December.

After 11 months ruuning at 31 p per mile, excluding fuel (27.8 mpg over 3,600 miles)

Costs included:
ABC Fluid and filter change + Transmission and Filter change (£398)
Small service - oil, air and internal cabin filters, brake fluid, MOT (£319)
Insurance (£340)
Road Tax (£295)

No personal work, all done by professionals

Also had battery replaced by MB (£300) but paid by AA due to their original replacement for previous owner being the wrong battery.

Fingers crosed for this level of costs to continue!

 

[LostKiwi]

Just worked out the costs for my r129 500SL for a year....
For just over 5000 miles its cost £0.46 per mile but a large chunk of that was a replaced engine harness and throttle body harness - a one off cost to repair a fault known about at purchase time. Taking that cost out and it becomes £33p per mile so I'm not unhappy with that.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Just worked out the costs for my r129 500SL for a year....
For just over 5000 miles its cost £0.46 per mile but a large chunk of that was a replaced engine harness and throttle body harness - a one off cost to repair a fault known about at purchase time. Taking that cost out and it becomes £33p per mile so I'm not unhappy with that.

Impressive Alastair !

 

[flowrider]

Bought my SL500 inspired by flowrider last December.

After 11 months ruuning at 31 p per mile, excluding fuel (27.8 mpg over 3,600 miles)

Costs included:
ABC Fluid and filter change + Transmission and Filter change (£398)
Small service - oil, air and internal cabin filters, brake fluid, MOT (£319)
Insurance (£340)
Road Tax (£295)

No personal work, all done by professionals

Also had battery replaced by MB (£300) but paid by AA due to their original replacement for previous owner being the wrong battery.

Fingers crosed for this level of costs to continue!

£0.31 per mile is good going, I need to do more miles to bring my ppm figure down!