Possibly/probably still a bargain, but he hints with 'sadly insurance payout' that it's been in a smack and written off 
Depending on how long ago it was, I reckon it'd take quite a lot to write of an expensive model SL - it's not even that old yet.
Wouldn't necessarily mean that it's a bad car, and this is purely speculation - worth a phone call at least for any interested parties
Will
Depending on how long ago it was, I reckon it'd take quite a lot to write of an expensive model SL - it's not even that old yet.
Wouldn't necessarily mean that it's a bad car, and this is purely speculation - worth a phone call at least for any interested parties
Will
pammy
MB Enthusiast
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- hers - slk 320, his - dull diesel BMW fleet :/, Xtrail, Honda CBR 1100xx, Yamaha YZF600, Ribble Road
My first thought was "insurance pay-out" mmmm 
Interesting to see those wheels again
And if it's OK then I reckon it's a fair price as it'll never get over the "insurance pay-out" tag.
Interesting to see those wheels again
And if it's OK then I reckon it's a fair price as it'll never get over the "insurance pay-out" tag.andyR
Member
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- Cornwall
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- E320 Sportline Coupe - the 'other' car Daimler SP250 (Dart)
I am actively looking for an SL60, so I phoned the guy.
His says it was an insurance write off because the hardtop and the (blue) soft-top were stolen a couple of years ago.
The jacking point covers and the towing eye covers are also missing.
He has replaced the soft-top with a second-hand black one, (although it has a beige headlining rather than the correct grey), but it isn't raising/releasing properly - he thinks either the control unit is out of sequence, or the relays are wired in backwards, or when the soft-top was stolen the internal wiring may have been fused!
One of the catches on the top of the windscreen surround is not pulling down properly so the hood isn't seating securely (he thinks it may be adjusted with the cable?).
He's owned it for about a year.
When it was written off because the hood was stolen it did collect some water inside and the wooden trim on the A-post and the drivers door capping
have come adrift and need refixing.
He also has an SL600 that is on eBay at the moment, (as well as this one now) and says he knows a fair amount about SL's and has good contacts in a Mercedes garage/breakers.
He has a full service history to validate the 19k miles and the engine photos certainly look clean - I'm not convinced it is a 'bargain' considering it's history and problems, but do you reckon it's worth 500 miles and an independant inspection to check it out?
His says it was an insurance write off because the hardtop and the (blue) soft-top were stolen a couple of years ago.
The jacking point covers and the towing eye covers are also missing.
He has replaced the soft-top with a second-hand black one, (although it has a beige headlining rather than the correct grey), but it isn't raising/releasing properly - he thinks either the control unit is out of sequence, or the relays are wired in backwards, or when the soft-top was stolen the internal wiring may have been fused!
One of the catches on the top of the windscreen surround is not pulling down properly so the hood isn't seating securely (he thinks it may be adjusted with the cable?).
He's owned it for about a year.
When it was written off because the hood was stolen it did collect some water inside and the wooden trim on the A-post and the drivers door capping
have come adrift and need refixing.
He also has an SL600 that is on eBay at the moment, (as well as this one now) and says he knows a fair amount about SL's and has good contacts in a Mercedes garage/breakers.
He has a full service history to validate the 19k miles and the engine photos certainly look clean - I'm not convinced it is a 'bargain' considering it's history and problems, but do you reckon it's worth 500 miles and an independant inspection to check it out?
500E
MB Enthusiast
glojo
Hardcore MB Enthusiast
andyR said:
In my own very personal opinion any Insurance Wrire off needs a proper professional inspection.
This person sounds a bit of a dealer?? (could well be wrong) Why hasn't he fixed the roof?
From all the information he has given you, it sounds like he has owned the car for some considerable time?? Check the V5 to see if that confirms what you have been told! When folks are selling a car, I tend to take much of what is said with a huge pinch of salt.
The car sounds like it needs a lot of TLC, if you can give this free then it MIGHT' be worth looking at. If however that TLC is going to cost garage rates then I would personally be looking elsewhere.
Good luck with your decision,
John
I must admit that the whole feeling surrounding this car doesn't seem right. If the seller is in the trade and knows enough about SLs, he obviously knows that this car is going to be expensive to put right, otherwise he would have done so himself and kept it or sold it without these faults for a higher price.
As John has said, the garage bills to put this right will easily run into the thousands, and unfortunately it's value will always be capped since it has been an insurance write-off.
I also think it seems strange that an insurance company would write such an expensive car off for a stolen roof and softop?
If it were me, for this calibre of car I would hold out for a genuine mint example, without such a dubious past and free from fault. It will probably work out cheaper in the long run too, and you have a more stable future resale value
Good Luck,
Will
As John has said, the garage bills to put this right will easily run into the thousands, and unfortunately it's value will always be capped since it has been an insurance write-off.
I also think it seems strange that an insurance company would write such an expensive car off for a stolen roof and softop?
If it were me, for this calibre of car I would hold out for a genuine mint example, without such a dubious past and free from fault. It will probably work out cheaper in the long run too, and you have a more stable future resale value
Good Luck,
Will
Will said:
Agreed. Don't see how this could have come to 60% (?) of the value of the car. No labour involved in a new hardtop
, and replacing a soft top is surely a straightforward job for a main dealer being paid by an insurance company.
marc777
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The sellers ebay name is surj_salvage ....dealer me thinks
marc
marc
andyR
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To be fair, I forgot to state in my original comment that the guy had said he was going to ask a friend to put the car on eBay for him because he didn't have a computer connection. He lives in Coventry and his friend lives in Lincolnshire which explains the eBay location and the different contact details.
The impression I got was that he didn't work in a garage himself but was good friends with the people in a Merc garage and the salvage yard - which may explain why he acquired the car in the first place - but still doen't explain why he hasn't managed to fix all the problems since.
Looking at the eBay photos, it doesn't seem to have the heated seat switches and I can't tell whether it has the adaptive suspension, (although he said it did).
I may well be totally wrong, but I suspect it is a fair, but not exceptional price for someone who can attend to the electronics and software controls themselves and intends keeping it for several years.
I think I'll see what comes of it's eBay excursion first and if he still has it, maybe try to swing by and look at it if I have a business journey in that direction in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for everyones comments, I'm not in a tearing hurry (probably stupid to want to swap my 320 Coupe anyway), although I'm surprised just how many SL60's seem to be on the market considering how few rh-drives were supposed to have been made.
The impression I got was that he didn't work in a garage himself but was good friends with the people in a Merc garage and the salvage yard - which may explain why he acquired the car in the first place - but still doen't explain why he hasn't managed to fix all the problems since.
Looking at the eBay photos, it doesn't seem to have the heated seat switches and I can't tell whether it has the adaptive suspension, (although he said it did).
I may well be totally wrong, but I suspect it is a fair, but not exceptional price for someone who can attend to the electronics and software controls themselves and intends keeping it for several years.
I think I'll see what comes of it's eBay excursion first and if he still has it, maybe try to swing by and look at it if I have a business journey in that direction in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for everyones comments, I'm not in a tearing hurry (probably stupid to want to swap my 320 Coupe anyway), although I'm surprised just how many SL60's seem to be on the market considering how few rh-drives were supposed to have been made.
nickg
MB Enthusiast
Andy - FYI the heated seats were an option - not standard.
More importantly, sounds like you'd be taking a great big risk buying this car. This is a case of "there is no such thing as a cheap Merc" - you will potentially pay big time to get this car right and then have huge trouble selling it on for a reasonable price when you want to get rid.
There are better value cars around than this.
More importantly, sounds like you'd be taking a great big risk buying this car. This is a case of "there is no such thing as a cheap Merc" - you will potentially pay big time to get this car right and then have huge trouble selling it on for a reasonable price when you want to get rid.
There are better value cars around than this.
andyR said:
From the pic. on eBay I'd say it doesn't - there would be three rocker switches on the right hand side of the console rather than just two (which are roll bar and ASR or ESP).
IMO AMG sports suspension would be more desirable on an SL60 anyway, not many people realise it was an option (just like ADS) rather than standard ... despite it being an AMG model!
Hmmm ... it's back, now with a panoramic roof!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-SL_W0QQitemZ4578545082QQcategoryZ9855QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MERCEDES-SL_W0QQitemZ4578545082QQcategoryZ9855QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Mambo
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BTB 500 said:
It says Panografic, must be a new type
GregE240
Active Member
Bill, it doesn't have ADS....look in the engine bay pic - the MacP strut towers don't have anything going to them. This makes me think it doesn't have ADS (plus what Nick says).BTB 500 said:
I could go have a look as Cov ain't a million miles away but what for? The cars a lemon, and will cost a (potential) small fortune to put right.
Cat C means its had a thump at some time - how good was the repair? The roof/hardtop thing I just don't buy - you can't just pinch a hard top off these cars - they're held on hydraulically.....
Greg
