Thinking of buying a late 2012 SL500 4.7 Biturbo

[John Laidlaw]

Fooook me sideways

it often did

 

[AMGeed]

Black is challenging but when it looks like this......

Or this

 

[lolboy147]

As you already have an E class, have you considered a W212 E63 Biturbo?
More practical than the SL if you need the seating and bigger boot, much quicker and probably not much more to run and insure.
The price of that SL is into E63 facelift terratory where you'll find one newer than the SL pictured above.
I know which one I'd rather be in. (check avatar)

Would any of these tempt you?
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202004058867405?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E CLASS&price-to=30000&sort=price-asc&advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-badge-engine-size=5.5&price-from=22500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=bh123jl&radius=1500&quantity-of-doors=4&fuel-type=Petrol&page=2

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202002016817980?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E CLASS&price-to=30000&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-badge-engine-size=5.5&price-from=22500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=bh123jl&radius=1501&quantity-of-doors=4&fuel-type=Petrol&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201908221416109?make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=E CLASS&price-to=30000&sort=relevance&advertising-location=at_cars&maximum-badge-engine-size=5.5&price-from=22500&onesearchad=New&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=Used&postcode=bh123jl&radius=1500&quantity-of-doors=4&fuel-type=Petrol&page=2

Hi, apologies for the slow reply, I've been spending lockdown rebuilding my kitchen. Deep joy. Back to more interesting topics, I have considered both an E or C63. As per my initial post I'm scratching an itch re having a V8 but also re having a convertible for the first time. Being an old git of 65 I want to do this now whilst I still enjoy driving and have most of my marbles.

 

[bembo449]

Wish i had a kitchen that needed redoing , love doing kitchens & bathrooms , a V8 merc drop top is a more limited market depending on your budget , id have an S63 vert tommorow if i could warrant spending that amount on a car

 

[Wighty]

Being an old git of 65 I want to do this now whilst I still enjoy driving and have most of my marbles.

Better hurry up buddy

 

[lolboy147]

Better hurry up buddy

Yeah, I know. Some would question my "got all my marbles" statement too....

I still enjoy the 1000 mile each way drive from Yorkshire to Provence and then once you're down here the small roads are fantastic being virtually empty (apart from the Summer hols when it's buzzing with loony Parisians).

 

[lolboy147]

Yeah, I know. Some would question my "got all my marbles" statement too....

I still enjoy the 1000 mile each way drive from Yorkshire to Provence and then once you're down here the small roads are fantastic being virtually empty (apart from the Summer hols when it's buzzing with loony Parisians).

Don't know if you can resurrect a thread but I have a question for the knowledgeable on here. Still in France, but hoping to come back soon and buy my SL. Looking on Autotrader and it appears that around 2015 the 4.7 Biturbo was uprated from 435 to 449 BHP. However, the 0-60 went down a tad from 4.2 secs for the older 435 engine to 4.6 secs from the newer 449 engine.

So, my question is, is the earlier 435 BHP engine the one to go for (quicker 0-60) or is the newer engine a better bet. Or, are they both as good as each other and the difference in 0-60 almost irrelevant for "real World" driving. As always, I look forward to the responses!

 

[John Laidlaw]

I think it’s the same engine, just tweaked
Was the 9g gearbox fitted around that date maybe ?
For me personally I’d hold for the most recent incarnation you can really , circumstances depending

 

[JBell]

So, my question is, is the earlier 435 BHP engine the one to go for (quicker 0-60) or is the newer engine a better bet. Or, are they both as good as each other and the difference in 0-60 almost irrelevant for "real World" driving. As always, I look forward to the responses!

Nothing that a quick trip to GAD or MSL couldn't fix

 

[lolboy147]

I think it’s the same engine, just tweaked
Was the 9g gearbox fitted around that date maybe ?
For me personally I’d hold for the most recent incarnation you can really , circumstances depending

Thanks, it does open up a bigger selection of cars if I include the later 449 BHP car. Maybe the slight 0-60 drop is linked to the new 9g gearbox but it's such a slight difference it's not worth worrying about.

 

[bembo449]

think either will have more than enough go for you anyway pal

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Or this

View attachment 58419

These modern paints do look good and there are plenty of good waxes around to help it stay that way - something I’m currently persuading my son to do but he keeps asking me to wax his car something about me making a better job lol

 

[John Laidlaw]

These modern paints do look good and there are plenty of good waxes around to help it stay that way - something I’m currently persuading my son to do but he keeps asking me to wax his car something about me making a better job lol

Ceramics- in my case Gyeon MOHS (which is also on my i8)

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Ceramics- in my case Gyeon MOHS (which is also on my i8)

I remember you had both cars detailed John I assume that it was a ceramic treatment that was added

 

[AMGeed]

These modern paints do look good and there are plenty of good waxes around to help it stay that way - something I’m currently persuading my son to do but he keeps asking me to wax his car something about me making a better job lol

Don't fall for that old chesnut. Tell him to roll his sleeves up and get polishing.

 

[McDonald]

You're talking about 0.4 of a second. Important to Lewis Hamilton & a few of his competitors, but nobody else, surely.

 

[Jimbo1959]

These modern paints do look good and there are plenty of good waxes around to help it stay that way - something I’m currently persuading my son to do but he keeps asking me to wax his car something about me making a better job lol

I have two sons like yours Malcolm, both of whom have had their cars done by Pops during lockdown.
I even did Swmbos', as well as my own.
I enjoy detailing and love to bring a car back to looking it's best.

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

I have two sons like yours Malcolm, both of whom have had their cars done by Pops during lockdown.
I even did Swmbos', as well as my own.
I enjoy detailing and love to bring a car back to looking it's best.

Agreed Jim, it’s a real tonic in these uncertain times especially given the time to do it properly