2016 SL500 - viewing what to check for?

[DSK]

I've been booked in to view a car tomorrow morning.

This is the car > Advert

Is there anything specific on these models that needs to be inspected or why it should be avoided?

 

[SL63 Mark]

Lovely car, everything works well on my 2016 R231, mine is the pre-facelift. Mine is black with the same red leather.

For 2016 there are not a lot of issues, engine is bullet proof, even the timing chain issue had been long resolved by then.

Just enjoy and make sure all the gadgets work. There are a lot of them. I did a test drive but couldn't find anything wrong, and still can't

Compared with the R230, there are not a lot of issues reported.

Service history is electronic, as its a main dealer car, they should be able to print you a copy.

Try not to grin too much, you will make the salesman less likely to offer you a discount.

 

[mioba]

Lovely car.
An apporved used is a good safety net. Push for a discount or for them to throw in some free services / additional year warranty.

 

[grayb]

When they are asking mid £40's for an E-Class All Terrain, that looks like quite good value to me...

 

[DSK]

Great seems like they are mechanically ok and obviously with low miles it can be hard to pick up some things so I’ll just try and check for inconsistencies in relation to that and body repairs etc.


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[DSK]

Lovely car.
An apporved used is a good safety net. Push for a discount or for them to throw in some free services / additional year warranty.

Approved used means nothing other than a gimmick to charge more to me and pretend the car has been inspected by god himself.

I’m viewing this on behalf of a family member and he can sort the negotiations thereafter himself.


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[SL63 Mark]

Great seems like they are mechanically ok and obviously with low miles it can be hard to pick up some things so I’ll just try and check for inconsistencies in relation to that and body repairs etc.


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Forgot to mention - a couple of the ones I looked at had been kerbed, so definitely check the rims for damage. It can be quite hard to spot on these.

Look for Bodywork scratches, dings and dents. Go over it carefully with a fine tooth comb, in good daylight, out doors preferably. Try not to go in the rain, that makes it impossible to see paint damage. Also bright sun can make it harder to see bodywork problems.

Some dealers do try and cut corners with rectifying bodywork issues, and it can be a fertile ground for negotiation on a six year old car.

Also my drivers mat was pretty worn after only 17,000 miles, the mats are not great quality compared to the R230, so maybe ask for new mats.

Also, check the tyres for wear obviously.

Do your due diligence on HPI checks etc.

it's all just trivial stuff really.

 

[Blobcat]

Early M278 engines can suffer from timing chain and tensioner issues - check for noise on cold start up (make sure it’s cold when you get to it…)

It’s from a main dealer and the main dealer warranty is the only one that’s worth anything as pretty much everything is covered for the first 12 months. So I’d go for it - love the colour and interior

 

[rorywquin]

I've been booked in to view a car tomorrow morning.

This is the car > Advert

Is there anything specific on these models that needs to be inspected or why it should be avoided?

I didn’t look at the ad. Don’t get one without ABC.

 

[rorywquin]

Unless you particularly want to own a V8, test drive a V6 particularly, the facelift.

I did a lot of research before buying mine and the consensus (of motoring journalists that drove both facelifts) was that the V6 is a nicer car to drive. Makes sense because all the weight difference is over the front wheels and other than engines, they are identical.

There are several guys on the American forum who have owned both and they all prefer the V6.

I’ve owned a few V8 cars & was wanting the best driving experience and decided on the V6 after driving both.

You’ll be surprised at the performance (better than or close to many older V8s) & how nice it is to drive!

 

[mioba]

Approved used means nothing other than a gimmick to charge more to me and pretend the car has been inspected by god himself.

I’m viewing this on behalf of a family member and he can sort the negotiations thereafter himself.


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If something electric fails on such a car it wont be cheap to replace. Thats why I say approved used is good with MB warranty. Its as good as new car warranty.

Going back many years when I got my W220 it was approved used. The car was delivered. The rear tryes were on the limit. One call to the dealer and they were replaced the next day. 9 months on the AC packed up, it was the control panel - 2k to replace - replaced free. In doing that job they scratched the walnut trim. I complained as I like to and they gave me another one year warranty free. Approved used from a dealer has its positives i things go wrong.

Thats my perspective.

And sure as hell they dont check eveything - as mentioned above wrt tyres. They invest min in the cars to get them sold and maximise thier margins (simple business)

Make sure it all works and ask to see the DSB.

The slightest scratch, abnormality raise it there and then.

 

[davidsl500]

Here's the VIN.....

WDD2314732F046310

Mercedes-Benz datacard

 

[Blobcat]

Unless you particularly want to own a V8, test drive a V6 particularly, the facelift.

I did a lot of research before buying mine and the consensus (of motoring journalists that drove both facelifts) was that the V6 is a nicer car to drive. Makes sense because all the weight difference is over the front wheels and other than engines, they are identical.

There are several guys on the American forum who have owned both and they all prefer the V6.

I’ve owned a few V8 cars & was wanting the best driving experience and decided on the V6 after driving both.

You’ll be surprised at the performance (better than or close to many older V8s) & how nice it is to drive!

Piston Heads have done a buying guide on the R231 and focused on the V6's

Mercedes-Benz SL (R231) | PH Used Buying Guide

The SL may not be very Sport Leicht anymore, but it is a brilliant Benz - here's how to get a good one

www.pistonheads.com

 

[DSK]

Firstly thank you to all for the comments and help.

The dealer was open about touching up a scuff on both front and rear bumpers. This was clearly done to a very high standard.

There is a smart repair genuinely required to the lower section of the panel just in front of the passenger side rear wheel that I noticed but it’s clear the dealer will try to brush that one under the carpet by hoping no one spots it or spouting some bs to gloss over it.

The vents etc are fake and the chrome trim on them is shot. Come on it’s an SL there shouldn’t be any fake tat anywhere….

Front brake pads are end of life.

The front plastic grill is discoloured.

A lot of scratches on the kick plates…. Most I’ve seen on any car in my life in fact.

Needs a ****** good interior valet and I don’t just mean a vacuum!

Good points;

Engine and box seemed very sweet from cold.

The glass roof is a really nice touch and imo, really needs it over a solid roof.

Spacious cabin even for me yet, still feels a bit like a 911 with a low roof line, the only things that fall to hand are what you need, a nice effective gear lever, decent steering wheel and an uncluttered dash (unlike the the dire shite seen most modern stuff).

A nice gentlemanly v8 sound track is always there and is just right for this sort of car, it’s makes the right level of noise for what you’re doing if that makes sense.

It’s seems genuine and whilst things like the scuffs can happen to anyone (to be fair), it just presented tatty for a 25k odd, 2 owner car.


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[SL63 Mark]

Not surprised, one of the cars I saw from a high end dealer was Rough to say the least, I did warn you to look at the cosmetics, and sure enough ....

You would expect more from a dealership, TBH.

Keep going, a good one will come along., I was looking for an SL63 in black/red, and there aren't many out there, perseverance paid off eventually.

 

[DSK]

My uncle has decided against this specific one on the basis that it doesn’t seem to be a well looked after example, the patch up attempts seem half arsed and you would not expect such deterioration on the exterior plastics from the close up pictures I took.

However, this has opened him and he’s given me a criteria to play with and explore for him, into which the SL63 would also fit.


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[Monday]

Worth noting that the R231 body is all aluminium (apart from some inner steel reinforcement round the windscreen). So no rust but dents easily.
Your uncle doesn’t seem to have bitten on the SL400 bait but the power output is getting towards the R230 SL500. Anyone looking at an SL400 (pre-facelift at least) should listen out for a rattle on acceleration, best heard reflecting from roadside walls. Turned out to be the turbo linkages, no spares listed so both turbos replaced under warranty - £6k + labour.

 

[mioba]

Good in walking away. Patience is needed when getting the right used car.
Big pity to the dealers not presenting the car. Can only be money saving their side
to maintain their markup margins - but on a good valet, whatever happened to first impressions and all that

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Pity it was not well cared for the colour combination is superb and will sell on this alone

 

[SL63 Mark]

agreed, Colour was nice. There will be others though.