SL500 (R230) How well does suspension cope with bad roads?

[andyR]

Hi,
Now that they're getting closer to my price range I'm thinking about buying a 2003/05-ish SL500 or SL55 as my regular daily car but I do need to travel regularly along farm tracks and dirt-roads.
My daily commute is about 50-miles each way with dirt roads for the first and last half-mile or so; this is no problem to my W124 coupe sportline, but how well is the heavier SL likely to cope with off-tarmac excursions?
I've seen the comments in the archive files about the suspension sphere leaks, but how many of these problems are due to lack of use?
What is the range of movement on the suspension - I assume it's designed for speed humps and car park approach ramps so it should be about the same as my sportline CE?
ps. I'm not talking about rally crossing - I'm quite happy taking the dirt roads at 2 or 3 mph
thanks,
Andy

 

[Rose Chap]

AndyR, we share a first name and a surname initial!

Anyway, growing up in rural Devon from an agricultural background I experienced my fair share of bumpy tracks and I'm not sure it would do the SL any good to be bouncing down them, even at low speed. Suspension may well be able to cope (and could probably be raised?) but the low profile tyres on 18" wheels won't fare so well.

 

[andyR]

Hi Andy,
Fair comment; the (relatively) new fashion for low profile tyres hasn't done any of us reclusives any great favours - my Daimler runs on 80% ratio tyres and they're getting harder to find with the appropriate speed rating.

I'll have to give some thought about the implications and potential to reduce the wheel size slightly and increase the tyre wall ratio - I haven't looked, but I'm guessing the SL55 brakes probably don't allow sufficient room to decrease the wheel size? Also depends a lot on what my insurance company has to say about altering wheel sizes - but they're usually pretty good.
cheers,
Andy