SL350 (2006) Purchase Help Please

[paulheale88]

Hello Everyone,

By way of intro I have spent the entire evening trawling through old posts to ensure I'm not the newbie which asks the age old questions posted and answered every other month.

I think i've found some of the answers but would be grateful if someone in know could give me some reassurance.

Today I agreed to buy a Sl350 (without viewing it). An old friend of mine is a car dealer, in passing I mentioned i'd be interested in trading up from my 2010 Smart ForTwo for an SL350 if a nice one was to come along. Fast forward 6 weeks and my friend locates a 2006 SL350 with 70k on the clock.

The car in question benefits from full dealer history, I haven't been able to review any of it as the car is located some 200miles away. Can I provide my local dealer with the VIN number and will be able to provide copy of the full history?

The engine number is 272966 30 473685. From my interpretation of old posts does it mean it may have a problem with:

Engines up to #2729..30 759427 -- this when the adjustment solenoids are the problem. Is this the case? How can I assess if this has been done?

I note the other main expensive problem is likely to occur with the Air Suspension. The options code are:

197U OBSIDIAN BLACK
205B OWNERS MANUAL AND SERVICE RECORD - ENGLISH
210A LEATHER
217A LEATHER - RED
220 PARKTRONIC SYSTEM (PTS)
221B SIGN COOLANT/REFUELING - ENGLISH
249 INSIDE AND OUTSIDE MIRROR AUTOMATIC DIMMING
250B MOBILO LIFE/EUROPE SERVICE PACKAGE
283B AIRBAGLABLE - ENGLISH
289 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL WITH TRIM INSERT
386 UNIVERSAL TELEPHONY PACKAGE
427 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 7-SPEED
461 INSTRUMENT WITH MILES IND. AND ENGLISH LEGEND
477 TIRE PRESSURE LOSS WARNER
500 OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR LH AND RH FOLDING
527 COMAND DVD APS WITH NAVIGATION
581 AUTOMATIC CLIMATE CONTROL
5XXL EUROPE
618 BI-XENON HEADLAMPS FOR LEFT-HAND TRAFFIC
619 CORNERING ILLUMINATION
666 PRODUCT PROT.F.TRANSPORT VEH. W/O TIE-DOWN HOOKS
669 SPARE WHEEL / FOLDING WHEEL
673 HIGH-CAPACITY BATTERY
736 TRIM PIECES - ASH TREE WOOD BLACK (2A70)
807 YEAR OF MODIFICATION
810 PREMIUM SOUND SYSTEM
819 CD CHANGER
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
875 HEATED SCREEN WASH SYSTEM
882 INTERIOR SAFEGUARD
983 COC PAPER EURO 4 TECHNOLOGY W/O REG. CERT. PART II
989 IDENTIFICATION LABEL UNDER WINDSHIELD
99V SPEED- + LOADINDEX 95W+97W
A22 NEW CONVERTER GENERATION
A35 SOFTWARE 1
A45 O-SHIFT PLATE WITH VGS2
F230 SERIES PRODUCTION 230
G906 TRANSMISSION CODE VERSION 06
GA AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HA REAR AXLE
K11 ADAPTIVE STOP LIGHT FLASHING
M272 V6-GASOLINE ENGINE M272
M35 DISPLACEMENT 3.5 LITER
N99 CONTROL CODE BREMEN PLANT
NS9 CONTROL CODE BREMEN PLANT
R RIGHT-HAND STEERING
R01 SUMMER TIRES
R70 18" 5-TWIN-SPOKE LIGHT ALLOY DESIGN WH. W. MIX. T
U72 DVD PLAYER WITH REGIONAL CODE 2, EUROPE, JAPAN
VL FRONT AXLE HALF, LEFT
VR FRONT AXLE HALF, RIGHT

Is the car fitted with the Air Suspension? I'm hoping not.

Is there anything else I should be looking out for?

Having just sold an Audi A5 which I bought only 4 months ago, After having to replace a snapped belt and part piston rebuild ect at 2k pounds after only 1500miles of driving, i am very concerned / worried about not buying into any new problems, which could be avoided by someone in know had a look from the outset.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who think they can help!

Paul

 

[Kersidan]

The following link maybe of interest to you.
Mercedes Benz balance shaft engine issues. How to check by VIN. M272/273 - MB Medic

This list engine serial numbers for the 350 that are clear. As for the ABC, this was an option on the SL350 (standard on SL500) from your VIN decode there is no reference to ABC so I would assume it doesn't have it. Quite easy to check if you look at the center console, top right button will have ABC if equipped.

Just to add that if you want a vehicle that doesn't have any issues then an SL isn't recommended. Great cars but need TLC and certain fixes doing if not done already (roof seals etc).

Others maybe able to advise further.

Mark

 

[rorf]

Lucky about no ABC, but the 350 engine, maybe lucky, maybe not so lucky

 

[paulheale88]

Thank you guys. My interpretation is the the car is outside the problematic balance shaft issues? Is that how you see it too?

 

[Rosso1]

SL350 I own a SL500 Are very expensive to put right. With a number of item that do go wrong above £1000 to £2000 from your Merc specialist and not a main dealer. Not that i would not recommend the main dealers too.
Without your above engine issue that i have not checked. Rubbers should be well checked, Baffles in the fuel tank can go although this is cheap it means the roof come off to get to those bafflesmaking it expensive. Also ABC breaking is another item to check, and lucky for you the suspension is not another issue for you on the car your looking at.
Also check for a sign of rust / bubbling around the wheel arches.
So yes check the full details of your chosen car if not directly yourself i would have a full RAC buyer check done.
If you buy the right car its a investment in the fact a new car loses thousands a year, put a few thousand pounds in every few years and your be a very happy owner, at least this is my theory haha

 

[oldguy57]

Had an SL350 for 18 months and love it although bh drives it mostly. Check the working of the roof and signs of water damage in the boot - this can affect the electrics .Leaking seals in the boot area is a relatively easy and cheap fix despite what MB will tell you. Rust in the rear wheel arch area can be a problem. Check usual mechanical areas and that all the drain holes in the roof , boot and scuttle are not blocked. I wouldn't be tempted to buy the first one you see there are loads for sale out there . Choose carefully and I don't think you will be disappointed.

 

[JDL60]

Hi Mark, sorry playing catch up and just reading your post now!
Not sure on the engine issue but you've been advised earlier in the thread
I think by the reading you're committed anyway but couple of comments ..
No ABC on your car - good news! It was an option on the 350. Oh and it's not an air system it's effectively hydraulic and hideously expensive to fix or replace parts.
Reading a post earlier just to correct that you need to check the SBC braking system is working correctly and that front and rear batteries are in good condition ( buy your self a battery trickle charger)
Red leather, very nice I have that too
Keyless go and a panoramic roof don't show on your vin which is a pity, very desirable as is distronic, pity.
As has been said , look under the carpet in the boot for signs of leakage, the pse pump and a number of electrical items sit in there and unless the roof rubbers have been replaced or adjusted it may leak into there.
Ok that said you'll love the SL, lovely to drive and imo achingly beautiful to look at..

 

[MikeInWimbledon]

Feedback from an SL350 owner (and ex-owner of an SL500)

You don't have ABC suspension, so the ride will be OK but not as good as on the SL500, nor as expensive to maintain (ABC fettling probably costs an average of £500 a year on a 10 year old car). ABC maintenance isn't that much money on a £70k car that you've picked up for a mere £10k.

Make sure the boot interior is dry and stays dry. It's a well documented issue on badly maintained R230's. Just open the boot occasionally and look and get someone to fix it if there's any hint of issue. Get water in the electrics at the bottom of the boot and you'll kiss goodbye to at least a grand.

There can be a creak issue for the petrol tank baffles, but it seems to be on high mileage, or clocked, cars.

In general, as with all ten year old cars, make sure you use every motor and button at least every three months. Many mechanical nonsenses come from never retracting a roof, or rolling down a window, or changing the setting / mixture on an air conditioning system. You'd be amazed how many people never drop the roof of an SL, or who leave the air con levers in one position for years on end.

At 10 years old, an MB main dealer is not your friend. Find an independent Mercedes specialist - they'll be MB trained, know all the issues, and charge less than half the price of a main dealer, with less "creativity"

Don't lose perspective on the reliability of Mercedes as a result of surfing the net. If you look after your SL350 it will still be cruising the roads in 2030, unlike most vehicles that were made in 2006.

Just one last point: look up the MoT history of your car before you pick it up. Many ten year old cars have been clocked at some point, although generally not SL's. Just to be on the safe side, make sure it hasn't had a "haircut." Here's the link

https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk

 

[markdt10]

Hi Paul
I owned a 33,500 mile 2007 SL350 from 2014 to 2016. I did 16k miles in two years
A beautiful machine, that drove brilliantly and I'm seriously glad that I did it....
But .....
You MUST find a good indy - stay away from main dealers!
As others have said, rear window /boot seals MUST be addressed if you see the smallest sign of water in the boot
If you are going to use this as your main/only car, I advise caution - unless you are a decent car mechanic/fixer, every red warning light will cost you dear, even at an indy.
Most of these cars are garaged full time and used part time - they don't like the cold, and icy mornings can be a problem. Any resistance in the central locking system, caused by icy doors/windows etc, will blow a fuse - simple to fix but inconvenient when you can only get into the boot using the skeleton key!
The car has electric everything, and sensors all over the place which sometimes refer to what you think, and other time have nothing to do directly with an issue.
These are MY comments - I enjoyed the car enormously, but eventually it was just costing too much to make sense as my main car