SL (R230) owners-A few questions

[reflexboy]

Morning-A few questions for you:

1-What does the 'C/S' button by the gear shift do?

2-Where is the button to raise/lower the rollover bar?

3-Do all SLs come as standard with the mesh windbreak?

4-Is Malcolm(Television) still around as I have seen his posts on other forums about rectifiying the leaking boot seals on the R230?

TIA chaps and chapesses

 

[redspecial2000]

I'll answer the ones I can...

1. Two different gear mappings- Some say Comfort and Sport, others Comfort and Standard. One is more aggressive and rev happy than the other.... You should notice the difference, one of the more bizarre ones being that in S mode it tends to creep forward when you release the brake

2. Errrr, dont think you can- it's automatic and deployed only when needed.

 

[vincenz]

4- Malcolm got banned but he is on the other forum still

 

[carnut]

Morning-A few questions for you:

1-What does the 'C/S' button by the gear shift do?

2-Where is the button to raise/lower the rollover bar?

3-Do all SLs come as standard with the mesh windbreak?

4-Is Malcolm(Television) still around as I have seen his posts on other forums about rectifiying the leaking boot seals on the R230?

TIA chaps and chapesses

To answer your questions:

1. Comfort ,starts in second gear and changes up earlier. Sport is starts in 1st anf changes up at top revs
2. There is a button under the roof lever in the central console.its a small button and you can press it for the rollover bar to be at any position you like
3.Used to up til about 2006,then it became an option
4. TV is on the other Forum only

 

[reflexboy]

Many thanks Carnut. How long have you owned your SL? Have you had any issues with it? Would you say it has been an enjoyable ownership or am I letting myself in for years of grief?

 

[carnut]

The R230 has its issues and Ive had most of them, nevertheless i love the car and all it does; If I had to replace it tomorrow Id still go for an R230 ( and watch out for the issues to ensure they had been fixed). Full service history and recall mods are a must

Many threads on this forum and on MBOC list the probs and cures. The main one is water ingress into the boot,where of course MB have put PSE pump and electronics

You may be assured that you will like the car however

Are you buying new or secondhand? The new model has had a lot of the development work done by the early owners and is fixed in the main.A new R231 is due next year

The old prefacelift R230 is IMHO better lookking and good value

 

[reflexboy]

Interesting, as I prefer the facelift model. (After May 06). I am looking at a second hand 06 plate one, which I viewed last weekend and will be viewing again on Monday and if the test drive is ok will probably put a deposit on it. I drove a 56 plate 350 today and whilst it wasn't the fastest thing on the planet, I am well aware it is a sports cruiser as opposed to an out and out sports car. I have almost deceided against the SL500 due to not being able to find a facelift one within budget and the cost of repairing the air suspension should a fault occur or the £1000 needed to replace an air strut.

 

[Will]

I'd go for a 500 Jim, I get the impression that this will be a car to keep and cherish and I think that a 500 would be a more rewarding experience in the long run Surely with a car as heavy as the R230, the extra torque of the V8 will keep it wafting along seamlessly as one would like

Jaymanek posted a link to this company on another thread, who can supply reconditioned struts much cheaper than MB apparantly:

Air Suspension Kits, Air Shocks, Suspension Parts, Struts - Arnott Industries

Whilst I'm no expert on R230s, would there be any chance that the 500s have a higher standard spec than a 350 - and if not by standard, they'd be more likely to be higher specified by the original purchaser?

Best of luck with the search, you'll have to pop along to one of the Brooklands GTGs for a coffee when you find one

Will

 

[reflexboy]

Thanks Will-For your info the white 190e is still going strong. Sadly, not loved, but that's my brother for you! Whenever he is round, I always take it for a spin. In many ways it drives a lot nicer than the W202.
Back to SL-If I was earning 50K plus per year then the 500 would be a serious consideration, but on a BT engineer's wage the 350 is far more in my league. If I do get one it will most probably be a 'keeper'. I drove another 350 this afternoon and whilst it is no rocket, it hopefully will suffice. I do hope I'm not proved wrong.