Okay, car guys... I'm writing to ask tonight for advice and opinions on a Mercedes.

My best friend has her eye on a 2005 SL500 convertible. It's dark red (Firemist), with 73K miles, at $19K. (Looks like this.)

The dealer's ad states that it's got the heated and cooled seats, Nav, and all the service records. It's stated as having been garaged, and never smoked in.

I'm used to the idea that Mercedes is a well-engineered, well-built car. Another friend had a 2011 E550, that was amazingly strong, fast, and comfortable, and it seemed trouble-free. I'm unaware of specific issues with the SL500, but my simple fear is that, "hey, man, Mercedes parts and service are definitely not cheap."

I'm not that well-versed in Mercedes, so I've come to the Oracle. What sorts of things should my friend be aware of with this car?

Oh, BTW, my friend and the car are 500 miles from me, so I can't just hop over there and have a look this week. Thanks, all. I (and she) will be looking forward to your advice.

Ask her if the "B" service was done at 70K miles? Get dealer invoice as proof.

70K mile B service runs close to $1,000 at MB dealership.

They are beautiful cars. I owned several. But required maintenance is a must do.

In my youth I worked at a small foreign car shop. The owner, a slight older wizard-looking fellow, was a Mercedes specialist. The local dealerships even came to him for consults, his knowledge was so broad. I met him in the same way when my '78 300CD injector oil fill would not seem to top off, as the manual said it would. Because the manual was wrong, and I was filling the sump, John Gallagher explained to me. He's the one who taught me, "You don't own knowledge. It is your duty to freely pass it on".

Ignoring the leasers and buyers who traded in every four years, the pattern I had noticed: Some owners sold at 8 years, some between 12-14 years, and past that, they tended to run them into the ground.

There was a certain amount of work you'd have to do when the car was about 8 years old, and if you did the work, you were typically planning to keep the car another 4 years. Same for the 12-year crowd.

The term "sub-frame bushings" comes to mind but all this is far in my past and a bit fuzzy.

If it drives and handles perfectly, no funny suspension noises, odd lurches, or unexplained engine sounds, and I was buying that car, I'd go into the transaction assuming there would be about $4,000 in work sooner rather than later. The kind of work the owner has been putting off.

Buy a German car out of warranty? Nein.

A good buddy of my mine has an SL55 AMG.
That thing is a flat rocket ship of epic proportions with the most comfortable ride I have experienced.
While they have had a few minor issues with it they ALL cost big money to repair because parts are silly expensive.
One needs to have an independent shop that they know and trust that will save you some labor costs which are still high because MBs take a lot of special tools.

Get the CarFax or see original title as there are a lot of high dollar cars/trucks that where in the storms/floods. There has been just about enough time for the insurance companies to have settled and sold flood/storm losses. While back I bought a very nice VW Jetta that once I removed the door panel to fix a sticking switch found half the beach inside the door. Took some lumps on that deal. Chris

Be aware that maintenance and repair costs can be 3-4 times that of American or Japanese brands.

I have an older (94 model) Mercedes and I can testify to the fact that parts and repairs are pretty costly. I sure wouldn't advise her to buy one unless she has plenty of money. I regret buying the one I have.

Ditto here, except my experience is with Audi.

First out-of-warranty service was obscene. I tried to take it to a shop where I know and trust the owner, but he couldn't touch it because Audis need special tools that he didn't have.

quote:

Originally posted by CoolRich59:
Ditto here, except my experience is with Audi.

I had a brief (one-night) experience with a used Audi once. When I asked the dealer about the oil leak they tracked it down, called me, and told me it was actually five leaks.

I've had issues with that generation SL500, and will probably never buy another Mercedes because of my experience. Mine was a 2003 that was purchased in 2005 and by 2008 with less than 30k miles on the odometer, I had to replace the liquid filled bushings twice, and had to replace the suspension pump that controls the ride height, and it spent most of its life with the ABS or check engine light on.

It's also a fat, wallowing, pig.

If your friend wants a fun car to drive, get something more mechanically basic that doesn't need random tech to overcome it's driving faults like a Porsche 911 or a BMW M3 of that era. Or, find something that was engineered with longevity in mind like the Lexus SC430.

It's only redeeming quality is that it's a great looking car, even 15 years later. But much newer good looking cars exist for that price point, so why bother?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Aeteocles,

quote:

A good buddy of my mine has an SL55 AMG.
That thing is a flat rocket ship of epic proportions with the most comfortable ride I have experienced.
While they have had a few minor issues with it they ALL cost big money to repair because parts are silly expensive.
One needs to have an independent shop that they know and trust that will save you some labor costs which are still high because MBs take a lot of special tools.

This may be because of the AMG badge...

quote:

Lexus SC430

Yes on this. As close to German auto as you can get but with oodles more reliability (although lexus can be costly to fix as well).

I always say when a German car is working great there is nothing better to drive, but it will spend a lot of time (and $$) in the shop so I'll pass...

quote:

Originally posted by muddle_mann:

quote:

A good buddy of my mine has an SL55 AMG.
That thing is a flat rocket ship of epic proportions with the most comfortable ride I have experienced.
While they have had a few minor issues with it they ALL cost big money to repair because parts are silly expensive.
One needs to have an independent shop that they know and trust that will save you some labor costs which are still high because MBs take a lot of special tools.

This may be because of the AMG badge...

Very much the AMG badge. I dated a girl at the time who had an E55 AMG, and that was a fun car to drive.

My neighbor bought a 2002 or 2003, don't recall, that he really likes. He has had it about a year and did a ton of research before he bought it (he used to be a GM at a dealership). It's his "sunshine" car and looks great.

The biggest thing he told me was to find one that had the air suspension already fixed. Apparently it is a known issue and is quite expensive ($2k or so).

He also said to never buy a used AMG - which is the hand built "hot rod" version of Mercedes.

Just saw one today on the way home from lunch. So I asked my wife if I could have one. She said sure, but you'll never be allowed to drive it. I might hurt it.

Thanks for the input, all.

I talked to my friend a couple of days ago, and some other issues have her car-shopping at a stall. I'm still interested in learning more about the car, though....

A little on the expensive side to me but I'd expect that car to have a lot of life left. Has it been regularly serviced? Is it going to be a daily driver? Or a fun car? If the latter, absolutely. If the former the only thing I'd really be wary of is the lack of modern conveniences like bluetooth, etc.

But that car is probably going to be relatively trouble free for at least another 50k miles, probably more if it has had regular service. And it'll sure be more fun to drive than a Lexus.

I've had two Mercs and my parents have had three and my in laws have had several. I have had very good luck with them and will continue to buy them used with reasonable expectations. They are not Hondas or Toyotas so don't expect that out of them. They are infinitely more fun to drive than either of those, as well. There is definitely an SL in my future, though likely an older one than that.