Thinking of buying my first MB for £8k - SL or CLK?

[PeteNewHere]

Hello!

I'm no stranger to car forums, but it's taken me a while to find a decent one on Mercedes Benz that's run/for real people with real cars, if you know what I mean! I've been involved with BMW forums for some time now as I’ve been an enthusiastic owner of an old E30 325 Tourer. However, I’ve matured a bit now and I’ve always admired the big Mercedes coupes/convertibles, so I’m doing my research before jumping in with a wad of cash.

I had set my heart on an early 1990's SL - probably the 500, like this one:
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=CLK&variant=320&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=10000&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=gu17+0bu&miles=200&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=1&distance=92&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200613229902322

or this one:
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=SL+CLASS&variant=500&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=10000&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=gu17+0bu&miles=200&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=5&distance=90&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200614230956947

but then I realised I could get a CLK280K or 320 like this one:
http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/CARS_popup.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=MERCEDES-BENZ&model=SL+CLASS&variant=500&keywords=&min_pr=75&max_pr=10000&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=gu17+0bu&miles=200&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH&start=4&distance=29&adcategory=CARS&channel=CARS&id=200614230951320

for similar money (my budget is up to £8k thereabouts).

My dilemma is simply: Do I go for the sheer indulgence and power of the older SL, or the more modern and perhaps refined CLK?

What would you advise?

A few pointers about me may help. I'm 43 (hence insurance is cheap - quoted £400 FC for the SL500!), an enthusiastic driver (love torque + RWD!) but don’t do a huge annual mileage (<8k). I am a family man, but we already have a Scenic for carting the wife and kids around, so I’m looking for a purely self-indulgent toy for myself! I’m not that worried about having a cabriolet as I actually prefer the SL with the hard-top on – I just love Coupes!

A few newbie questions whilst I’m here too if I may:

1. Model numbers - do these always represent engine size? 500 = 5000cc, 320 = 3200cc etc?

2. These cars are all RWD aren't they?

3. Do they come with a limited slip diff as standard?

4. Where do I find power/torque/economy figures for each model?

5. Being used to a 140k mile beemer, I don’t need to worry about high mileage on quality German cars like this do I?

6. I've read that servicing can be expensive, but do I really need to pay MB servicing or can my trusted local garage do the job?

7. Contrastingly, I’ve head that spares are as expensive as you might expect - I haven't checked yet, but can I continue to use GSF for spares?

8. Am I really safe buying such a monsterous car for such little money or will I be buying a dog that’s going to cost me dearly (one of the reasons the E30 is going).

I know there’s going to be plenty more questions as I get more into this, so I hope you’re a patient lot! Sorry too for such a long first post!

 

[sym]

Hi Pete .. welcome to the forums. I'll answer some of your questions !

1. Model numbers - do these always represent engine size? 500 = 5000cc, 320 = 3200cc etc?

Usually ... on the older models anyway .. some of the newer ones have the same engines on 180 / 200 / 230 badged cars, but at the age you are looking, it is pretty much as you have stated

2. These cars are all RWD aren't they?

As far as you are concerned - yes - again, some newer models (A Class / B Class) are front wheel drive.

3. Do they come with a limited slip diff as standard?

No

4. Where do I find power/torque/economy figures for each model?

Somewhere on the world wide interweb ... I'm sure somebody can advise better than me !

5. Being used to a 140k mile beemer, I don’t need to worry about high mileage on quality German cars like this do I?

Definitely not a worry - good for 500k miles if looked after properly

6. I've read that servicing can be expensive, but do I really need to pay MB servicing or can my trusted local garage do the job?

Find a good specialist - no need to pay MB unless you want the service book stamped up with three pointed stars - check the favourites forum section

7. Contrastingly, I’ve head that spares are as expensive as you might expect - I haven't checked yet, but can I continue to use GSF for spares?

Would have thought so .. depends what you want - there are some forum members who offer good prices on spare parts

8. Am I really safe buying such a monsterous car for such little money or will I be buying a dog that’s going to cost me dearly (one of the reasons the E30 is going).

Check it out carefully, and you won't go wrong .... people on here will tell you what to watch out for on the various models you have mentioned - or do a search, there is plenty of info

I know there’s going to be plenty more questions as I get more into this, so I hope you’re a patient lot! Sorry too for such a long first post!

No worries - keep them coming - that's what the forums are here for

 

[grober]

My guess is thet the CLK would be cheaper to run as its underpinings are based on the C class saloons hence cheaper bits. However when I asked an MB tech a couple of years ago which of the modernish mercs were best screwed together he reckoned the early to mid 90s SL's were well put together. A recent thread dealt with the SLs see http://mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=24615

 

[KNU7S]

Go for the SL any day, i bought a 1991 500SL Last year and its fantastic, you have to be prepared to fix the little problems but if you are careful they will not cost you much more than any other car.

One other thing is you must find a decent specialist garage you cant rely on MB main dealers they will just simply rip you off.

My car has 150,000 on the clock and drives sweetly, it was my father in-laws before me so i was lucky to know the history before I bought it.

Dint get me wrong CLK's are nice but there is nothing better than the sheer power of a V8 SL.

Happy hunting

 

[Flash]

I personally would push the boat out a bit further and if possible folk out £12500 ish for 97' face liftt SL 320. You can pick nice ones up with 45/60K miles with FMBSH for this amount.

£8K will only get you a very ealy SL (either a 300SL or 500SL) 1992-1994 model.

 

[stats007]

In my opinion an R129 for £8k is a gamble - though the early cars have dropped quite a lot in price it seems. The red one says it has had it's cambelt tensioners done - they probably mean cam chain tensioners, but even so shows what little they know about the car.

There are plenty of early 500SLs available, so if you do decide to get one - look at at least 5! A cared for private sale would be the way to go and an RAC inspection.

Edit:

This might be one to look at.

 

[MangoMan]

Well..............

This would be my choice:

Will have one myself one day...............I hope.



Ciao.

 

[BTB 500]

One other thing is you must find a decent specialist garage you cant rely on MB main dealers they will just simply rip you off.

That's a big generalisation, my local main dealer is fine ... and because the car is more than 6 years old I get 40% discount on labour and 10% on parts.

 

[stats007]

Bill I think Tony Purslow is a one off. I have a good relationship with MB Walton's parts department but their service department is staffed by the corporate generation. £250 + VAT for basic wheel alignment?!

 

[KNU7S]

Bill, you are Lucky if you have a good dealer!

when the car when it was owned by my father in-law, it went into MB in cheltenham for a service and look at a problem with the suspension (hydraulic) and it disappeared for 3 months! we thought they had crashed it.

When we finally was told they had finished with it they had done £6000 of work without authorisation and were going to keep the car. He managed to settle the bill at £1700 and get the car back.

I use an guy in Gloucester who is ex Mercedes and charges £40 an hour and uses all genuine parts, the last full service was £450 which included all filters inc gearbox.

As i said previously you do need to be hand on with a car like an early SL but for me thats half the fun!

 

[C43AMG]

Bill I think Tony Purslow is a one off. I have a good relationship with MB Walton's parts department but their service department is staffed by the corporate generation. £250 + VAT for basic wheel alignment?!

Andrew how much will they charge when Walton's closed and Brooklands opens?

 

[BTB 500]

I've only got experience of Tony Purslow, so OK maybe they are an exception!

Sounds like you also have adaptive damping (rare & complicated!), do you know what the problem was?

 

[KNU7S]

It was shafted!!!

They replaced the lot, they guys at cheltenham could not fix it they had to get someone from London to cone and repair it.

I don't know much about the adaptive damping, what does it do?

 

[stats007]

Andrew how much will they charge when Walton's closed and Brooklands opens?

I can only presume the same! As far as I'm aware Walton isn't closing when MB World opens?

 

[Flash]

Bill I think Tony Purslow is a one off. I have a good relationship with MB Walton's parts department but their service department is staffed by the corporate generation. £250 + VAT for basic wheel alignment?!

MB Walton Servicing Dept is awful. A friend I Know used to be a fomer Technician and Management/Staff up the hierarchy would order/demand that Technicians stopped working on individual customer cars (like ours) and put all their work to a side or on hold and to do all teh corporate cars/fleet customers and treated w/shop staff badly.

 

[PeteNewHere]

Many thanks for all the replies! I'm very pleased to see this forum is so active!

My head tells me the newed CLK would be a more sensible buy, but my heart tells me the SL is the one to go for. Which would be the better driver's car though? I've seen performance figures for the SL320 and 500 on here, but cant find out what the CLK320 or 280k does by comparison.

My theory on servicing is that most MBs like this will have had extensive MB service history as they're bought by people who have plenty of money. When they get down to 100k + miles and under £10k value, changing the oils/filters with quality materials at least twice a year (which i've always done myself on my previous cars) should see the car mature gracefully. It's then just pot luck as to what goes wrong, but i'm told these engines/gearboxes are pretty bomb-proof.

Same with BMW on the servicing - they charge the earth (now £100/hour at my local dealer - i'd want my car fixed and a high class hooker for that much!) and the service is no better than my local garage that charges £40/hour.

RWD with that sort of power and no LSD sounds scary though. My 170bhp BMW 3-series didn't have an LSD at first and that was frighening in the wet, so i fitted one and had far more fun.

I'd agree that a cared-for privately owned model would be good, but i cant see myself stretching beyond £10k. Still, it seems a hell of a lot of car for that sort of money, especially when you consider it's probably still got half it's life left.

Do these cars rust at all? Any weak points i should be looking for?

 

[DrNick]

That's a big generalisation, my local main dealer is fine ... and because the car is more than 6 years old I get 40% discount on labour and 10% on parts.

Surely this just proves the point! Why should you get a discount just because the car is old? This is just officially recognising the rip off prices for new car servicing!

 

[stats007]

The power isn't scary Pete - if anything there isn't enough for a car weighing almost 2 tonnes! There are some horrendous examples of SLs out there for purely the reasons you mention. Cheap to buy - not cheap to run. Many cars have been poorly maintained for this reason.

 

[BTB 500]

Surely this just proves the point! Why should you get a discount just because the car is old?

Simple - to stop me taking my car to an independent. This thread isn't about servicing new cars, sorry if you're being ripped off ... but I'm not

 

[BTB 500]

RWD with that sort of power and no LSD sounds scary though.

Absolutely not, the SL500 is comfortable and easy to drive - even in the wet.