CL or SL 500 for under £5000 - what's wrong with 'em ?

[thebiglad]

I was just looking at the gold SL 500 thinking the asking price was maybe a bit optimistic, so I thought I'd have a little rootle round the bay of e and see what could be had. After all it's a big Merc V8 with a 2 door body - what's not to like, right?

SO, 2002 to 2005 cars, very pretty and all under £5000 - so as per the title what is wrong with them? How much were they when new? £80,000 ?

Please tell me they are a frightening financial nightmare, I'll breath a sigh of relief and we can all move on.

 

[AMGeed]

They are cheap for a reason. They are still an £80k car to maintain and as they age, more can go wrong with them.

The ones that hold their value have been well looked after. I'd imagine most of the cheap ones need work doing to them, possible very expensive work. A proper pre purchase inspection is a must for both models at this age especially.

 

[Blobcat]

I wouldn’t want one as an only car and even as a garage queen you’d be thinking what’s about to go wrong next...

 

[Flyinspanner]

My CL500 is my everyday car, buy a good one and it will make you smile every time you get in.
4yrs, never let me down.

People panic about the ABC suspension, but received wisdom is to change fluid every 2 years as preventative maintenance.
It’s not a ‘sports car’ - more a sublime grand tourer, which can, if you want hitch up its skirts and fly.

 

[LostKiwi]

We've had our 2002 r230 for 2 years.
So far nothing but maintenance and a crank pulley.
I won't include the front strut as that was faulty when purchased.

 

[Craiglxviii]

Aside from ABC problems caused by lack of preventative maintenance- and one weeping flexi pipe @ £300- my 2000 CL500 has similarly been a joy.

Just set aside a few hundred a month of maintenance budget, reckon on a 25mpg average and you won’t go far wrong.