New member :)

[RyanSL500]

Hi everyone!

For the last couple of years I’ve been reading threads posted across this forum and found many extremely helpful! So I thought it’s time to spot being selfish and join and try and give some advise (or opinions) when possible! I’m in current position of a few Mercedes - all of them are great for the purposes they were intended for. In order of my least favourite upwards, I have a 2016 Mercedes A180d W176. This is predominantly used by my girlfriend for her commute and pottering around town (it does silly miles to the gallon and is easy to squeeze into right parking spaces! The next is a 2014 C220 coupe W204. This is the car I use to commute in - although I tend to get a lift with my girlfriend ( trying our best to do our part for the environment and car share due to the impact of my third car!). We also use the C class for long drives and weekends away as it’s a decent motorway cruiser and get 55mpg. The third car (and my favourite) is the 2003 SL500 R230. This is my car when I want to go out and enjoy driving in the sun cruising down the seafront on the South coast. I’ll try and keep an update on all three cars in the hope it may help someone!

 

[A.J.]

Hi Ryan, welcome to the forum

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

 

[carlls]

hi and welcome

 

[SmartAmg]

Welcome, Ryan.

 

[LostKiwi]

Hi Ryan and welcome. Plenty of love here for SLs

 

[Srdl]

Hi Ryan and welcome to the forum. Let’s see some pictures of your Mercs sometime.

 

[flowrider]

Welcome from a fellow SL owner.

 

[RyanSL500]

Hi Ryan and welcome to the forum. Let’s see some pictures of your Mercs sometime.

I’ll take a group photo of them all lined up and then some individual ones. See what everyone thinks

 

[RyanSL500]

Welcome from a fellow SL owner.

Thank you. I’ve only recently become the proud owner of the SL but it’s a dream car of mine. I love the styling of the R230 and if insurance allowed, would have looked for a SL55. But I’m currently 24 so insurance would have crippled me!!

 

[John Laidlaw]

Welcome Ryan, indeed as LK mentioned the 230 is well loved (but at times despised) on here

 

[alexanderfoti]

Welcome! As mentioned, we do like an SL here!

 

[RyanSL500]

Welcome Ryan, indeed as LK mentioned the 230 is well loved (but at times despised) on here

Thanks John! Yeah I’ve been witness to this love/hate relationship with the SL! My late grandfather owed the car for as long as I can remember, - bought it when it was 4 or 5 year old and I’ve watched him go through a lot of the common issues noted on this forum. I can’t put a finger on it, but there’s something about the SL which I’m drawn to which I haven’t found with another car yet! There seems to be a ever growing knowledge base to keep the mint ones on the road (and the brave souls who are willing to buy mistreated versions and get them a new lease of life!). I’m hoping that I can contribute to this and join attend any events organised on here and be apart of the community . I imaging most of my activity on here will be regarding the SL as I’m hoping the A class and the C class do their jobs as reliable commuters. Although I intend to drive the SL everyday it’s not raining!

 

[RyanSL500]

As promised, here are some pictures. Currently only have the C220 coupe to hand. Gave it a quick clean before commuting from Portsmouth’s up to Birmingham every week for the next 6 weeks!

 

[flowrider]

OMG, you have an A class, a C class and an SL and the first pic you put up is the C class! Where's the SL?

 

[flowrider]

Thanks John! Yeah I’ve been witness to this love/hate relationship with the SL! My late grandfather owed the car for as long as I can remember, - bought it when it was 4 or 5 year old and I’ve watched him go through a lot of the common issues noted on this forum. I can’t put a finger on it, but there’s something about the SL which I’m drawn to which I haven’t found with another car yet! There seems to be a ever growing knowledge base to keep the mint ones on the road (and the brave souls who are willing to buy mistreated versions and get them a new lease of life!). I’m hoping that I can contribute to this and join attend any events organised on here and be apart of the community . I imaging most of my activity on here will be regarding the SL as I’m hoping the A class and the C class do their jobs as reliable commuters. Although I intend to drive the SL everyday it’s not raining!

Have you done all the standard checks on the SL, clear drains, boot leaks etc.

 

[Blobcat]

View attachment 49879 View attachment 49877 View attachment 49878 As promised, here are some pictures. Currently only have the C220 coupe to hand. Gave it a quick clean before commuting from Portsmouth’s up to Birmingham every week for the next 6 weeks!

A34 is you friend (or not) as the case maybe

 

[Wighty]

Welcome buddy , looking forward to the SL pics (the C Class was nice though ).

 

[RyanSL500]

OMG, you have an A class, a C class and an SL and the first pic you put up is the C class! Where's the SL?

I wanted to get a recent picture of the SL to post up, but at the moment, it’s garaged up (coming out next week to play once the rain has gone this week! However, here’s an older photo of the SL

 

[RyanSL500]

A34 is you friend (or not) as the case maybe

It’s usually alright going up in the morning, but then you on the way back, you get many a dickhead on it!