SL500?

flowrider

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
3,650
Reaction score
1,611
Your Mercedes
SL500 (R230)
No ABC in the R231 unless you buy the SL63 so no such issues, it made me take that route, also the R230 is beginning to look dated now even the SLK has changed so even with a personalised plate the car will appear dated..

Try a test drive the R231 SL500 is a lot more powerful than the R230 SL500.

Mercedes SL500 R231
Dated! I think you mean the R230 is looking more like a classic as the years pass. :)
 

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
the R230 is beginning to look dated now
If there's one thing I wouldn't say about the R230 it's that it's looking dated!

Very few people that see ours realise how old it is and are surprised when they find out it's 17 years old.
 

sl500amgsport

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Essex
Your Mercedes
SL500 2014
Dated! I think you mean the R230 is looking more like a classic as the years pass. :)
This is a classic, the R230 will join it if they last long enough ;-) or you can opt for the modern replacement
48520ec64639d7e190755bf53bfe9bac.jpg
c9c37163957fc5128e828617d01b68a2.jpg


Mercedes SL500 R231
 

McDonald

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Messages
1,958
Reaction score
1,841
Location
Surrey
Your Mercedes
SL500 2004
Mine's an 04. The older look and feel of the car is very much part of it's charm. I looked for the wooden trim and steering wheel for that very reason. I bought mine as a second car, intending to do 3,000 miles a year but I have a problem getting out of it - I like it too much. Sunny 2018, I did 7,0000 miles. It's a wonderful drive. I drive quite sedately with an occasional spirited sprint as befits a gentleman of my age.

Mine has cost me around £1500 a year in maintenance, and this year I hope to get through scot-free and instead spend £1600 on a new head unit - the antique music box just doesn't cut it.
 

rorywquin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
9,488
Reaction score
6,385
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
An old B-Class.
No ABC in the R231 unless you buy the SL63 so no such issues, it made me take that route, also the R230 is beginning to look dated now even the SLK has changed so even with a personalised plate the car will appear dated..

Try a test drive the R231 SL500 is a lot more powerful than the R230 SL500.

Mercedes SL500 R231

AFAIK, 231 has ABC in all models as an option here in the UK. Mine has it.
 

rorywquin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
9,488
Reaction score
6,385
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
An old B-Class.
This is a classic, the R230 will join it if they last long enough ;-) or you can opt for the modern replacement
48520ec64639d7e190755bf53bfe9bac.jpg
c9c37163957fc5128e828617d01b68a2.jpg


Mercedes SL500 R231
For about $300,000 you can have an AMG engine etc in one that looks like the top picture.
 

rorywquin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
9,488
Reaction score
6,385
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
An old B-Class.
No ABC in the R231 unless you buy the SL63 so no such issues, it made me take that route, also the R230 is beginning to look dated now even the SLK has changed so even with a personalised plate the car will appear dated..

Try a test drive the R231 SL500 is a lot more powerful than the R230 SL500.

Mercedes SL500 R231

I believe that the R231 (facelift) SL400 has almost the same HP and torque as the R230 SL500 and is lighter.
 

dionysus

Active Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2016
Messages
38
Reaction score
24
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
SL500/2004/5.0
When I was looking to buy a R230, I tested both the SL350 and SL500 and listened to advice from someone who convinced me to buy the SL350. Big mistake, I gave it a fair chance but couldn't get the SL500's V8 out of my mind. Sold the SL350 and bought the SL500, best decision I made.
 

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
Mine has cost me around £1500 a year in maintenance, and this year I hope to get through scot-free and instead spend £1600 on a new head unit - the antique music box just doesn't cut it.
Pretty much mirrors my experience.
I had a problem with a strut but the car came with a spare so zero cost there aside from fluid. It had a service at MBS and a new crank pulley. Including insurance and tax the total cost for 12 months was around £1000 for 5k miles (plus fuel). I'm happy with that.
 

flowrider

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
3,650
Reaction score
1,611
Your Mercedes
SL500 (R230)
Mine's an 04. The older look and feel of the car is very much part of it's charm. I looked for the wooden trim and steering wheel for that very reason. I bought mine as a second car, intending to do 3,000 miles a year but I have a problem getting out of it - I like it too much. Sunny 2018, I did 7,0000 miles. It's a wonderful drive. I drive quite sedately with an occasional spirited sprint as befits a gentleman of my age.

Mine has cost me around £1500 a year in maintenance, and this year I hope to get through scot-free and instead spend £1600 on a new head unit - the antique music box just doesn't cut it.
When I bought my SL500 in 2016 it was a pretty sorted car but I still spent about £2k in the first year and £750 in the second year. This year I will take advice from Phil at Welwyn Merx on what needs to be done, the car has covered less than 3k miles in 2 years!
 

sl500amgsport

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Essex
Your Mercedes
SL500 2014
AFAIK, 231 has ABC in all models as an option here in the UK. Mine has it.
Expensive option, not many in UK, Rorywquin you have a rare example, I looked at a few SL500 R231 when buying none had the ABC just standard Comfort and Sport modes.

Mercedes SL500 R231
 

rexemper

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2007
Messages
770
Reaction score
136
Location
Berkshire
Your Mercedes
R230 SL500 - oh yeah!
The R107 is an especially nice looking car, particularly the one in the pic above.

I think the R230 still looks amazing and modern. Mine's an 05 plate and you could never tell just by looking at the profile. Either way, the R231 is out of reach for many at the moment.
 

rorywquin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
9,488
Reaction score
6,385
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
An old B-Class.
Expensive option, not many in UK, Rorywquin you have a rare example, I looked at a few SL500 R231 when buying none had the ABC just standard Comfort and Sport modes.

Mercedes SL500 R231

I don't think all the nice options hold their values that well in used cars - If you are patient a good value unit is bound to turn up - mine (early facelift) will be 3 next year and I reckon units with ABC will be around for sensible prices.
 

rorywquin

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2016
Messages
9,488
Reaction score
6,385
Location
North Yorkshire
Your Mercedes
An old B-Class.
You R231 guys are always quoting HP and TQ figures, I guess us R230 owners need to concede on one thing. ;-)

We all love our cars and 230 owners will always say theirs are better looking (until they buy a 231 ;-) and us 231 guys are the same ;-) until the next best thing comes along.

I didn't like the first iteration of the 231 but am really happy with my version (facelift AMG Line) - It needs a little lip spoiler on the boot (which, is a work in progress) to make it perfect in my eyes (well almost - the Panamerica grill like the AMG GT would really be the cherry on top).

I spent about 18 months looking at new and used SLK55, SL 500 (230 and 231), R230 AMGs and the SL400 (231).

My wife was really not keen on another SLK (we mainly use the car for touring) - I briefly looked at a BMW 6 series (cabriolet) and Jag F Type (weird interior) and they did not appeal at all.

After reading / watching dozens of reviews / road tests and reading about the issues on the 230, I settled on the SL400 as it ticked all the boxes for me (and I wanted a car I can keep until I'm too old to get in and out of it) - I've had several V8s so did not need to tick that box and the V6 has all the grunt I need.

About 3 months after I got it, I spent a day at Millbrook Proving Grounds driving it really hard (race circuit, alpine track and banked circle) and was & still am, really happy with my choice.

Happy motoring.
 

sl500amgsport

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 25, 2017
Messages
2,061
Reaction score
2,141
Location
Essex
Your Mercedes
SL500 2014
We all love our cars and 230 owners will always say theirs are better looking (until they buy a 231 ;-) and us 231 guys are the same ;-) until the next best thing comes along.

I didn't like the first iteration of the 231 but am really happy with my version (facelift AMG Line) - It needs a little lip spoiler on the boot (which, is a work in progress) to make it perfect in my eyes (well almost - the Panamerica grill like the AMG GT would really be the cherry on top).

I spent about 18 months looking at new and used SLK55, SL 500 (230 and 231), R230 AMGs and the SL400 (231).

My wife was really not keen on another SLK (we mainly use the car for touring) - I briefly looked at a BMW 6 series (cabriolet) and Jag F Type (weird interior) and they did not appeal at all.

After reading / watching dozens of reviews / road tests and reading about the issues on the 230, I settled on the SL400 as it ticked all the boxes for me (and I wanted a car I can keep until I'm too old to get in and out of it) - I've had several V8s so did not need to tick that box and the V6 has all the grunt I need.

About 3 months after I got it, I spent a day at Millbrook Proving Grounds driving it really hard (race circuit, alpine track and banked circle) and was & still am, really happy with my choice.

Happy motoring.
I thought boot spoiler was part of the AMG line extras?
93e69c38334ee58bb35b961f2fc910d0.jpg


Mercedes SL500 R231
 

flowrider

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 21, 2014
Messages
3,650
Reaction score
1,611
Your Mercedes
SL500 (R230)
Do the R231's have the same leaking boot seal as the R230 or did MB change the design?
 

AIB understand your special Mercedes deserves a special insurance policy. We have a refreshing attitude to insuring high performance, modified, imported or classic and vintage cars and deal with the UK’s leading insurers. We offer discounts for length of ownership, where the vehicle is kept overnight and limiting the mileage and can also cater for those clients who need higher mileage and business use. To obtain a quotation please call the team on 02380 268351 or visit us atAIB Insurance
Top Bottom