Buying a 1990-1995 SL320

[maxwonga]

I am thinking of buying an early 1990's SL320, would be intereted to know things I should look out for when buying the car.

Someone mentioned its quite common for the roof sendors to pack up which can be costly.

Many Thanks

 

[guydewdney]

i thought about an SL - but gave up as they seemed overpriced - 20K for a tatty example???

lots that I saw had really bad trim - lots of loose bits which can be expensive to fix.

roof leaks... jamming roof due to lack of use. air con failed (as per lots of mercs of that era) - loom (esp engine) was 'organic' wrapped and can cause all sorts of problems (do a search for loom on here or other MB forums...)

uneven tyre wear can be wheel alignment - that is like 300+ quid unless you have a mate with allt he right kit.

all the usual electrics things (memory seats - do they work?)


for the same money you can get a CL in better nick - and get someone in the back but you only get 20 MPG... but no soft top option...

 

[maxwonga]

Thanks for your comments, since posting this I have read down through the forum and noticed a few have been asking same as me.

I live in Hong Kong as the weather is mostly good ( apart from the odd Typhoon and rain storms )so its nice to have a convertible

Have not looked closely at any yet but prices start from as low as as HK$100,000 Around 7,000Quid
http://www.vincentmotors.com.hk/web/item_list.jsp

but imagine they will be the knackered ones.

 

[Chrisk]

Hi Max
I loved my 95 SL320 and did not experience any of the problems that the other guy mentioned. I had mine 4 years and 15K miles never had a prob with it at all. I re-gassed the aircon once after a trip to LeMans, when it packed up on the way back ! but that was the only problem.
No trouble with tyre wear or anything like that and internal trim is built to last (not like the crap in the ML !)
I loved the SL, it is really well put together, I regret swapping it for the ML
There are plenty of good ones around the UK with reasonable miles and reasonably priced too ! I expect you will have the same
I find that there are lots available in the UK which have spent most of their lives cossetted in the garage so low miles etc.. FSH is very important though !
Second hand values are really low for allthe old SL's (no one seems to wat them!) I got £13K for my 95 with less than 50K and FMBSH, so that will give you some idea of prices
Hope you find one, I would go for it. If I can get shot of my ML for reasonable money, I might get another one, best car I ever had !