Here at last!

[00slk]

Thanks 00slk, if I do buy it I won't be keeping the roof rack for sure. It must be programmable to change the garage door opener I would imagine. Although I have an electric garage door, there is no room inside for a car as is the case for so many garages!

Hmmm, roof rack? I'd just be the dopey person to put one on my SL and then take it on a track day.........It'll look like a full roll cage

 

[LostKiwi]

Unless the SBC pump has been done it's about the mileage where the counter trips giving a white SBC alert.
The counter can be reset so be sure to ask about this.
SBC isn't the issue it was as there are a number of firms refurbishing pumps to as new - expect £500 if having someone else do the whole job, £400 if DIY.

Budget for a code reader for these cars - they are complex and a code reader will help you DIY more than would otherwise be possible.
For a basic cheap reader it's hard to go past the Autel AP200 at around £60 if you have an Android phone. The other favoured option here is iCarsoft in MB v2.0 or CR-Pro forms (£120-150 ish).

If MrsLK and I can go for two weeks touring France in this (with three suitcases!) you should easily cope with an SL boot and rear 'seat' space.

 

[Rhoda]

Here is my tuppence worth.......It looks like a nice clean car, the interior is lovely being of a light colour with the added bonus of the dark ash wood look and wood trimmed steering wheel, plus it has the better wider screen Sat Nav. The glass roof just makes an R230 in my own opinion.
You have a fairly well specced car for a 350 with heating and cooling seats and you won't have any ABC issues. Tanzanite Blue is a very dark blue but if you park it next to a black car it will be very noticeable it is a blue car.
Just make sure that all the things are working on the car.
I am not sure if this is the engine with the timing balance shaft issues?
Well worth viewing but I really think the seller will be asking in excess of £6000, I would ask the seller his intended figure before venturing out as what you have in mind might well be short of what he is thinking it is worth just to avoid an unnecessary journey.

Good luck

Thank you 00slk, because I won't be using the car on a regular basis i decided to avoid the ABC much as I am sure it is lovely, I understand that it doesn't like sitting about. It will cost me about £25 on the train and it is worth the journey to actually see a R230 in the flesh. On pater and from the photos it seems to be what I want. Time will tell at the end of the auction what it makes. I fully anticipate spending around a thousand on any car I buy with this mileage and age. I have a friend in Guildford who is a genius with all things German so that will be its first outing. Unless the transmission fluid has been changed in the last 6,000 miles that will be one of the first jobs along with aa brake fluid change. At £5k or £6k you have to expect it not to be perfect and unforeseen things may need addressing.

 

[Rhoda]

If you are going to see the car and like it, you could make a cash offer. The seller will save 10% in eBay fees, and avoid the usual eBay time wasters who bid and do not pay.

The roof panels themselves are not that delicate, I would say, just the roof mechanism which can be expensive to fix. Parts tend to be MB only, It is hard to assess your level of expertise. If you are confident enough to buy without an inspection, and have a pot of cash to spend fixing the car, then go for it.

When I bought my SL55 I was not confident at all, although I had owned a string of 911 Porsches, the R230 is unlike any other car I knew. I bought it in 2012, and I was spending over £25k, so I had a well known independent specialist inspect each car I liked on a ramp, and we did thorough test drives. At least yours will not have ABC, (unless it was one of the rare 350s ordered with it). I viewed several cars before I bought this one, and there were some real lemons out there. I went to inspect them first, then bought the specialist inspector in later.

Now I know the cars a lot better, I wouldn't bother with an independent inspection, but back then, I am really glad I did. One car had been in an accident, one had water in the boot, another wouldn't start, and one dumped ABC fluid during the test drive.

Like you, I came on here to ask for advice back then, and have stayed ever since.

Thanks Mark, I am glad I joined the Club before I bought a car. I would have loved a SL55 but it really would not appreciate my low annual mileage. The SL350 is a much better bet in that regard and no ABC issues though I am sure it will have its own!

If I were paying £25k I certainly wouldn't be looking on Evilbay and would definitely have a full inspection. I am happy to go with my gut and little knowledge as I don't think I could arrange an inspection by the time the auction ends anyway. It may not make the seller's reserve and at least he will know I am a serious buyer having travelled 60 miles to see it. I have his phone number so I could contact him if it doesn't make reserve or he is messed about with a timewaster.

I have no other plans for tomorrow and what could possibly go wrong?! Hahaha

 

[00slk]

Unless the SBC pump has been done it's about the mileage where the counter trips giving a white SBC alert.
The counter can be reset so be sure to ask about this.
SBC isn't the issue it was as there are a number of firms refurbishing pumps to as new - expect £500 if having someone else do the whole job, £400 if DIY.

Budget for a code reader for these cars - they are complex and a code reader will help you DIY more than would otherwise be possible.
For a basic cheap reader it's hard to go past the Autel AP200 at around £60 if you have an Android phone. The other favoured option here is iCarsoft in MB v2.0 or CR-Pro forms (£120-150 ish).

If MrsLK and I can go for two weeks touring France in this (with three suitcases!) you should easily cope with an SL boot and rear 'seat' space.
View attachment 67023

I've been there too Kiwi

 

[Rhoda]

Unless the SBC pump has been done it's about the mileage where the counter trips giving a white SBC alert.
The counter can be reset so be sure to ask about this.
SBC isn't the issue it was as there are a number of firms refurbishing pumps to as new - expect £500 if having someone else do the whole job, £400 if DIY.

Budget for a code reader for these cars - they are complex and a code reader will help you DIY more than would otherwise be possible.
For a basic cheap reader it's hard to go past the Autel AP200 at around £60 if you have an Android phone. The other favoured option here is iCarsoft in MB v2.0 or CR-Pro forms (£120-150 ish).

If MrsLK and I can go for two weeks touring France in this (with three suitcases!) you should easily cope with an SL boot and rear 'seat' space.
View attachment 67023

Thank you Lostkiwi, I am not sure what a SBC pump is but I will be aware. I am not at all worried about space issues on the R230, I was more put off by it having a roof rack than wanted one!

I need to get an iCarsoft POR V1 for my 986, I wonder if there is one that would do both cars? If you are buying a second-hand car you have expect there to be the odd issue and I am prepared for that. I don't do much in the way of DIY these days since I lifted the bonnet of a Fiesta RS Turbo and didn't recognise anything under the bonnet! I restrict myself to renovating the interior and polishing these days - I may break a nail anyway!

 

[Rhoda]

Guys, I REALLY appreciate all your help and advice. If it hadn't been for your help I would probably have a SL55 on my drive right now which would not have been the right car for me.

It would be interesting to be an observer when I turn up to view the car tomorrow, I doubt the seller will take me seriously to start with when I turn up with my guide cane!

 

[Rhoda]

I asked the seller for his address so I can see the car tomorrow, his response was:

"NW3 7SL, you'll see the car when you get here, please call or text when you're 5 minutes away and I'll meet you by the car."

No alarm bells ringing there then! Saves me a trip to London anyway!

 

[SL63 Mark]

Yes well, the normal eBay seller. This is not untypical for London, he has the car in a lockup or street parking somewhere. He may be a trader not registered as such, Arthur Daley type. Are you not going to see it then ? I don't think it would put me off and at least you are learning about them.

 

[Rhoda]

Yes well, the normal eBay seller. This is not untypical for London, he has the car in a lockup or street parking somewhere. He may be a trader not registered as such, Arthur Daley type. Are you not going to see it then ? I don't think it would put me off and at least you are learning about them.

I may still go and see it just to have a good look round one but it is the perfect ruse to sell a car that belongs to someone else you just happen to have the V5c for! Buyer beware I think is the watch word. It may belong to his flat mate who is out of the country or such scam.

 

[00slk]

If you do go, make sure the car hasn't been warmed up first or started up before you arrive.
Easy to check this by putting your hand near the exhaust. Warm engines and transmissions can hide a few things

 

[SL63 Mark]

I may still go and see it just to have a good look round one but it is the perfect ruse to sell a car that belongs to someone else you just happen to have the V5c for! Buyer beware I think is the watch word. It may belong to his flat mate who is out of the country or such scam.

Yes, if there is anything major wrong with the car, e.g. hire purchase owing, insurance write off, stolen, major mechanical issues etc. you have no way of tracing the seller if you meet him/her by the side of the road. A good reason to do an HPI check in advance if you are interested in a car. They say you should always meet a private seller at home, or a dealer on their premises. No guarantee, but at least it gives you a chance.

 

[Rhoda]

Yes, if there is anything major wrong with the car, e.g. hire purchase owing, insurance write off, stolen, major mechanical issues etc. you have no way of tracing the seller if you meet him/her by the side of the road. A good reason to do an HPI check in advance if you are interested in a car. They say you should always meet a private seller at home, or a dealer on their premises. No guarantee, but at least it gives you a chance.

I have a couple of HPI's in hand and if it should turn out to be 'the one' I will do that before I bid. I will also collect it from his house and match the V5 with his driving licence - if he doesn't like that I will walk away. All this is assuming the car is OK and I am the highest bidder or course! In any case, it will be good to see a R230 up close and personal.

 

[00slk]

I asked the seller for his address so I can see the car tomorrow, his response was:

"NW3 7SL, you'll see the car when you get here, please call or text when you're 5 minutes away and I'll meet you by the car."

No alarm bells ringing there then! Saves me a trip to London anyway!

I used to live near that post code I'm sure I did
I was not too far from the tube station at Finchley.
Broadhurst Avenue I think that was where I lived, mind you that was back in 79....bit of a come down from Holland Villas Rd where I was when I first came to old Blighty

 

[Rhoda]

The photos don't do the car justice, I could only find one mark on it! The driver's seat is in fabulous condition for a car that has been part way to the moon! Everything looked and felt right. Even the seller who just turned out to be a cautious guy about letting people know where his cars lived. No idea what he will take, he says it will go to the highest bidder and won't end the auction early which is how it should be. I would guess upwards of £6k. I wish it wasn't the first one I viewed, it will be a great benchmark for anything else I look at. The roof rack was for skis bought by the original owner and never used. I couldn't fault the car with my limited experience but it all felt right.

 

[00slk]

The photos don't do the car justice, I could only find one mark on it! The driver's seat is in fabulous condition for a car that has been part way to the moon! Everything looked and felt right. Even the seller who just turned out to be a cautious guy about letting people know where his cars lived. No idea what he will take, he says it will go to the highest bidder and won't end the auction early which is how it should be. I would guess upwards of £6k. I wish it wasn't the first one I viewed, it will be a great benchmark for anything else I look at. The roof rack was for skis bought by the original owner and never used. I couldn't fault the car with my limited experience but it all felt right.

Sometimes Rhoda it happens that way. The first one can be the best and after that you don't find one that comes close.
When we bought our first r230 it was from a dealer, unseen and we bought it for the colour. The dealer said that it was a nice car so we went with that. It turned out to be a low owner car. First owner was the CEO of a Airline company who had it until 6 months before we got it off the dealer, however the second owner was a car company that supplied cars for TV and Film. It was on set but the cut was never used, the second owner had it for a short time and traded it for a Maserati which had more street appeal. Then we bought it and did around 25,000 miles in it with only a couple of things needing sorting. (one was ABC radiator sprung a leak when a lose bolt wore a hole through the alloy housing, the other was a micro switch for the roof rise from the boot) 107,000 miles when we bought it and 134,000 when unfortunately it was written off when someone Teebone my wife when they drove out of a Tee junction. This car was the only one we looked at before buying and it turned out to be a fantastic car. When I wanted a r230 I looked at a few and they were all junk! The one we found for the Missus after hers was written off was the best of a bad bunch and cost us a fear bit of money in things that went wrong. I still haven't come across another r230 SL500 that would be better than our first one.
So the moral of the story here is if it feels right, looks right and ticks all your boxes, go for it. If you do bid and miss out then it wasn't the car for you
There is quite a few r230 SL350's out there though some are on our beloved action site.
Good luck Rhoda

 

[SL63 Mark]

Sounds like a good seller and a nice car.

I would wait till the last 10 seconds and stick in a killer bid. This what your absolute maximum would be. If you win great, if you lose, at least you know you bid your max. I would bid £6.5k. If that doesn't get it, then so be it.

 

[Rhoda]

Thanks 00slk, it is all a bit of a lottery with pre-owned cars and you just have to go with the things that give you confidence. This is a 2 owner car, first owner for 15 years and the second (the seller) for 2 years. Things I liked were the amazing condition of the interior, spoke volumes for the care the car has received, second were the tyres, he specifically bought tyres that had 'rim protection' and the wheels had never been kerbed. I had a 190E eons ago that would have benefitted from such tyres! The inside of the boot floor (around the spare wheel) had dust and no sign that it had ever been wet, there was also a new battery. The guy also knew his Mercedes and has 3 of them. He said the R230 was selected from a cast of many. As I said, it is a shame it was the first one I looked at, it honestly looked and felt more like a 7 year old car than a 17 year old. Time will tell, I am not going to bid silly money, as you say there are plenty out there and if I wanted a silver or a black one I would be spoilt for choice!

 

[Rhoda]

Sounds like a good seller and a nice car.

I would wait till the last 10 seconds and stick in a killer bid. This what your absolute maximum would be. If you win great, if you lose, at least you know you bid your max. I would bid £6.5k. If that doesn't get it, then so be it.

Thanks Mark, that is good advice, I was thinking around the same figure myself. I have put in a lower bid than that just to show the seller I am serious and I am top bidder although it had not met his reserve. From discounting the car because of the roof rack to nearly not going to see it because the seller was so evasive, I would now really like the car! It is not the only dark blue one they ever made with that spec and another will turn up if I don't get this one. As it is purely something to please me and not something I need for transport I am not in a hurry but I do want a nice one.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Well good luck with the auction. It does sound nice and cared for with only 2 owners.