Hello All,
A friend has fallen in love with an SL500 for sale at our local Mercedes main dealer. Before she runs into the dealership literally throwing money at the salesman, I was wondering if any of you guys with the little black books would be able to help me determine what a reasonable cost to change would be please?
She is trading in a 1999 T SL280 with 79k miles on the clock. It is silver with black leather, panoramic hard top, FSH and in good nick.
She is buying a black 2005 SL500 with 15k miles on the clock. It is a one owner car, has the panoramic roof and lots of kit (no idea what is standard and what is optional!).
The SL500 is stickered at £43K and comes with 1yr Mercedes warranty under the Mercedes Assured programme.
Any accurate valuations gratefully received!
Secondly - if anyone has any experience of running one of these, or knows sensible questions to ask such as whether recalls have been done, when cambelt should be changed (does it have one?) etc that would be fantastic.
BTW - She is happy with increased running costs of one of these, but I can't let her be robbed blind at point of sale if I can help it!
Once again thanks for all your help.
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Jase, plugging the details into wotcar valuation gives a part exchange figure of £10,755. And a dealer price for a 54 plate SL500 of £50,145. So that looks like a chunk of change - expected noticably higher running costs will pale into insignificance in comparison. Nice car though!
So, valuation accuracy not known.
Also check the Car-by-Car breakdown in the menu above!
Edit to ask: panoramic roof? Isn't the SL500 a convertible?
Edited by Billy Whizz on 25/03/2008 at 23:01
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Mrs SS has given me permission to run off with your friend, on the understanding that she is also allowed to abscond with a wealthy person. I have asked SWMBO to postpone her search for same until I have verified your friend's availability. No danger of putting us in urgent contact is there ????????
;-)
( Joking ! )
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Billy Whizz - Thanks - I checked WhatCar and I think their site is wrong. The original 306BHP engine ran to 2005, before the 388BHP engine was introduced in the 2006 facelift. However, What Car forces you to select the 388BHP engine when valuing anything younger than 2003. They are therefore forcing you to value a car that doesn't exist as far as I can tell! (i.e there is no such thing as a 388BHP 2005 SL500 I think)
I tried Parkers but you have to pay for mileage adjusted figures (I know I'm tight), so I sort of hoped one of the people in the trade on here might be kind and dip into their little black books for me!
Awaits in anticipation...
p.s. ShoeSpy - go for it. You may strike gold, but equally you may be eaten alive.
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Depending on the full extent of the kit, a 2005 approved used SL500 seems to start at about £40k.
Glass's via Vauxhall seems to suggest £8,000 to £9,000 for the swapper, and I wouldn't argue with that and it might even be generous. Older SLs are pretty cheap now.
I reckon that means your cost to change should be about £32k give or take a bit for spec and convenience - if she can afford the car she can presumably afford not to haggle.
Unless it's a cash purchase I'd probably focus at least as much on making sure she isn't ripped off on any borrowing that she does need - I'd hate to put £32k on at 14% APR that most dealers will have as their opening offer on finance.
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Mate of mine had a AMG55 - very nice car - with a month of warranty left one of back dampers packed up and it lost the oil from damping system - only cost dealer or Merc 8k to fix it - he took out another years warranty for £1k - He now has a smaller one but still V8 - good for posing when opening and closing the roof -- hope she gets a good one and enjoys it.
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Thanks DavidHM. She's not rich enough to be fleeced so good to know what to aim for!
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Glass's Guide gives the following valuations:
Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL280
2.8 Petrol 2-door Convertible
5 Speed Automatic Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 1999 T
Mileage: 79,000
Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition: 9070
Average condition: 8000
Below average condition: 6900
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Great - thanks Marc FourSix
Out of interest - Does your Guide give indicated main dealer retail for a 2005 SL500 with 15k miles?
at the mo, trade in + £32k is target price!
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Mercedes-Benz SL-Class SL500
5.0 Petrol 2-door Convertible
7 Speed Automatic Rear Wheel Drive
Year: 2005 05
Mileage: 15,000
Part-exchange Price:
Excellent condition: 37500
Average condition: 34000
Below average condition: 30500
There are a number of options so for the most accurate values try yourself at:
tinyurl.com/bhboh
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Oops.. just read main dealer retail, I have no idea on retail prices. Best bet may be to try main dealer websites or Autotrader to get a better idea of retail prices.
In fact Mecedes approved used lists 5 2005 SL-500's ranging from 39990 - 45567.
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Actually the mileage adjusted trade prices were the bit I was after - I can find the retail ones!
Thats really helpful - thanks. Seems like there could be some play in the deal with a high end of £37k (ish) as the trade-in price of the SL500.
Updates to follow..
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No black book needed. Just put the exact model into Autotrader with a good distance to travel and you should get some idea if the price is right.
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Thanks All.
She's bought it. Ended up being trade in + £33k, which included tax, supaguard (whatever that is) mats and flaps blah de blah. She is most excited!
Funnily enough I am very much looking forward to a long ride in an SL500, which will probably be quite a lot better than my 1998 Corsa 1.2 "Trip"
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Thanks All.
Funnily enough I am very much looking forward to a long ride in an SL500which will probably be quite a lot better than my 1998 Corsa 1.2 "Trip"
You have nice friends Corsa Boy!
TIC..........MD
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