SL500?

rorywquin

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


Mercedes SL500 R231
Maybe on the pre facelift - the newer spoiler is smaller than yours. I do think the 231 needs one.
 

sl500amgsport

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Maybe on the pre facelift - the newer spoiler is smaller than yours. I do think the 231 needs one.
In USA no spoilers at all apart from SL63, seems a UK spec thing..

Mercedes SL500 R231
 

flowrider

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No leaks at all.

Mercedes SL500 R231
But how has this been achieved? Looking at how the roof works I don't see a difference between the R230 and the R231, maybe you have a problem waiting to happen. BTW my R230 roof doesn't leak either.....now.
 

gramey

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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.
I know I was put off by the horror stories surrounding the ABC system but I must be slightly deranged as I actually like my 350 although I admit the 500 sounds nice.
I've had a few V8's, Rover 3500SDI, Porsche 928 and the S4 I had for a few months but the only V8 I presently covert is a local guys Maserati Gran Turismo, I have no idea what exhaust system he has on it but it sounds absolutely glorious!
 

ajlsl600

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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

sorry bud, but i dont believe a straight ,origional well spec.d r230 will EVER look dated !!!! it just has that look,for me its the car version of ducati 916.748 , i maybe biased ,i have both,over 15 yrs old , people still ask me if they new, simply ,not dated...... the r231, in my view was born under the similar guise as the angular bmw.s and worse for it. i accept that many are and will be happy enough with both.i just like smooth flowing body styles .that manage to avoid the jelly mold looks. the massarati grand turisimo is similar, tho by all account even more of a ball ache to keep sorted
 

rorywquin

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Do the R231's have the same leaking boot seal as the R230 or did MB change the design?

Where does your leak? I haven't noticed a problem.
guys Maserati Gran Turismo, I have no idea what exhaust system he has on it but it sounds absolutely glorious!

Maseratis have always had an awesome sound - pity the rest of the car is rubbish.
 

flowrider

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Where does your leak? I haven't noticed a problem.


Maseratis have always had an awesome sound - pity the rest of the car is rubbish.
Mine hasn't leaked for about 2 years since I did the boot seal. The offending seal is at the bottom of the rear window between the window surround and the rear of the boot lid.
 

sl500amgsport

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sorry bud, but i dont believe a straight ,origional well spec.d r230 will EVER look dated !!!! it just has that look,for me its the car version of ducati 916.748 , i maybe biased ,i have both,over 15 yrs old , people still ask me if they new, simply ,not dated...... the r231, in my view was born under the similar guise as the angular bmw.s and worse for it. i accept that many are and will be happy enough with both.i just like smooth flowing body styles .that manage to avoid the jelly mold looks. the massarati grand turisimo is similar, tho by all account even more of a ball ache to keep sorted
Don't suppose you know how to change the headlamp direction for European driving? Someone with an SL350 R230 is asking elsewhere on the forum..

Mercedes SL500 R231
 

Mic

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Well, I have had my R230 from new (18 September 2003) and I do not consider it to have been expensive to own or to run (depreciation apart that is but if one buys a car new that is an eyes wide open consequence of buying new).
The car has now covered 163,000 miles and continues to drive beautifully.
ABC does have some cost but it is not disproportionate and it is well worth having. Changing the ABC fluid every two years is to my mind and experience OTT, unnecessary and not cost effective. Parts in the system will need replacing periodically so the fluid will be changed then. Pump circa 85,000 miles, spheres and pulsation damper every 10 years and possibly struts but my car is still the originals.
sbc is a great braking system and on average the pump will need replacing circa every 125,000 miles so no big deal.
Storm water ingress is a well documented issue and consequently avoidable at very little cost.
Corrosion to the lips of the rear arches is an issue but it is a question of "mind set". Treat corrosion as a "service item" as one does mechanicals and it starts to irritate less. Mine get attended to circa every four years before the corrosion migrates to the face of the arches. Mine will need doing again in about three years from now. In fact by then the car will have done over 200,000 miles and would benefit from a full body respray (which it almost certainly get) primarily because of road chip damage but also because of tiny areas of bubbling of aluminium corrosion around the door edges.
The other single big complaint for me was the failure of the baffles in the fuel tank due to metal fatigue consequent upon poor design and/or quality control. MB would not finance replacement fuel tanks in the UK......it is not what one gets wrong it is what you do about it in business that gets remembered and recounted.
It was a similar matter with the secondary cats breaking away from their housing.....MB not prepared to accept the financial consequences in the UK......in the event a fairly cheap fix in having the cats and the housing replace with s/s pipe. That was ten years ago and the rest of the exhaust system is still the original so not all bad. Remember the short life span of 1960s exhaust systems?

I do not do DIY so I pay Star Motor Service to look after my two MBs which in my judgement is very cost effective. Notwithstanding labour rates much less than main dealers the real saving is in almost zero time cost diagnostics because Ian and his long serving team have seen it all before.
There is no substitute for an experienced, dedicated, MB specialist with all the "full fat" MB diagnostic tools and a well equipped and stocked workshop.

Mic
 

LostKiwi

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Don't suppose you know how to change the headlamp direction for European driving? Someone with an SL350 R230 is asking elsewhere on the forum..

Mercedes SL500 R231
If it has HiDs there is s small lever inside the housing next to the bulb. Flip it to the other position and it moves a shutter internally to make the stepped low beam flat.
Very hard to see and even harder to find by touch.
 

ajlsl600

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If it has HiDs there is s small lever inside the housing next to the bulb. Flip it to the other position and it moves a shutter internally to make the stepped low beam flat.
Very hard to see and even harder to find by touch.

LK. is that refered to in the owners manual ?
 

ajlsl600

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Don't suppose you know how to change the headlamp direction for European driving? Someone with an SL350 R230 is asking elsewhere on the forum..

Mercedes SL500 R231
answered by LK ,have yet to look for mine...
 

gramey

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Well, I have had my R230 from new (18 September 2003) and I do not consider it to have been expensive to own or to run (depreciation apart that is but if one buys a car new that is an eyes wide open consequence of buying new).
The car has now covered 163,000 miles and continues to drive beautifully.
ABC does have some cost but it is not disproportionate and it is well worth having. Changing the ABC fluid every two years is to my mind and experience OTT, unnecessary and not cost effective. Parts in the system will need replacing periodically so the fluid will be changed then. Pump circa 85,000 miles, spheres and pulsation damper every 10 years and possibly struts but my car is still the originals.
sbc is a great braking system and on average the pump will need replacing circa every 125,000 miles so no big deal.
Storm water ingress is a well documented issue and consequently avoidable at very little cost.
Corrosion to the lips of the rear arches is an issue but it is a question of "mind set". Treat corrosion as a "service item" as one does mechanicals and it starts to irritate less. Mine get attended to circa every four years before the corrosion migrates to the face of the arches. Mine will need doing again in about three years from now. In fact by then the car will have done over 200,000 miles and would benefit from a full body respray (which it almost certainly get) primarily because of road chip damage but also because of tiny areas of bubbling of aluminium corrosion around the door edges.
The other single big complaint for me was the failure of the baffles in the fuel tank due to metal fatigue consequent upon poor design and/or quality control. MB would not finance replacement fuel tanks in the UK......it is not what one gets wrong it is what you do about it in business that gets remembered and recounted.
It was a similar matter with the secondary cats breaking away from their housing.....MB not prepared to accept the financial consequences in the UK......in the event a fairly cheap fix in having the cats and the housing replace with s/s pipe. That was ten years ago and the rest of the exhaust system is still the original so not all bad. Remember the short life span of 1960s exhaust systems?

I do not do DIY so I pay Star Motor Service to look after my two MBs which in my judgement is very cost effective. Notwithstanding labour rates much less than main dealers the real saving is in almost zero time cost diagnostics because Ian and his long serving team have seen it all before.
There is no substitute for an experienced, dedicated, MB specialist with all the "full fat" MB diagnostic tools and a well equipped and stocked workshop.

Mic
I do wonder if some of the issues that arise with the ABC system are caused by lack of use? People seem to shy away from cars like the SL with even average mileage, everyone wants the low or ultra low mileage car. In reality very few modern cars have problems in the first 100k miles when used regularly and serviced properly.
 

McDonald

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Reading these pages, I couldn't leave mine in the garage. Just had to pull it out for a run. It creaks like old ships timbers as I take it gently down our single track lane but drives so beautifully when we join the road. This car really loves to be driven. It's on 53,800 miles now and puts a smile on my face like nothing else. It'll need a wash next time we get a half-decent weekend day, but that's part of the pleasure too. I'm looking forward to spring.
 

rorywquin

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.................. i maybe biased ,i have both,over 15 yrs old , ..........

Of course you are but that is the point isn't it? I also find the looks dated but that is me, I love the sound of a Maserati and have always liked them but expensive services and reliability, put me right off them.
Maybe on the pre facelift - the newer spoiler is smaller than yours. I do think the 231 needs one.

Was looking at the current SL400 and it has a minuscule lip spoiler on the boot - now trying to find the part number....
 

rorywquin

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I do wonder if some of the issues that arise with the ABC system are caused by lack of use? People seem to shy away from cars like the SL with even average mileage, everyone wants the low or ultra low mileage car. In reality very few modern cars have problems in the first 100k miles when used regularly and serviced properly.

Sadly, many SLs seem to be garage Queens. I am using mine way less than I expected - my plan, for this year, is do to more daily driving (I'm retired), enjoy the car more and worry less about car park dings......I have a terrible habit of selling my cars in showroom condition........and not getting the true value of a well cared for car.

My main concern the that it is an aluminium body and I wonder how many workshops are any in good at fixing a ding in AL.
 

ajlsl600

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we all do our own thing, i like to keep my cars tidy and i dont like washing mud,salt spray and crxp out of my wheel arches, i have a car for that. i keep my sl out of that i very much enjoy it in good weather, but we are not in calafornia so i have to adapt to the situation here. i take a number of precautions related to having the car parked for long periods and know there can be downsides if unlucky or NOT careful
 
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