[jathanks]

Hey guys I'm looking for advice. I've found two SL500's and I'm not sure which one I like better so I'm looking for some info to break the tie. I've been reading some of the thread already posted and I've noticed kinda a gulf between some of the owners, but here we go anyway. The first is a Dark Blue '98 with 54K miles and the SL1 package. The second is a Silver '01 with 50K miles and the SL1 package and the SL2 option I think. From my perspective I love the silver and everything I own is silver except my bike which just had to be black because it's a Harley, but I have to admit that I've really fallen for this dark blue and I haven't really seen many of them. The price is pretty much the same in both cases. I honestly don't know anything of the possible difference in the engines I've read about, but that will come with time. I plan for this to be a long term purchase that will be in my garage permanently with many personalization and upgrades to come in the future so I want a good canvas to start with. I'm pretty new to MB ownership and this will for sure be my first purchase of this nature. So bring on the suggestions and questions if you have any.

Thanks to some other threads I've found more info based on the vin #'s. The '98's engine is 119982 12 014125 tranny 722620 00 540142 and some strange things too, it says the color is emerald (green) black metallic but I'm telling you this car looks dark blue. Also it doesn't say anything about the AMG wheels or the sport badging which it has. Of course it also has a cd changer which isn't listed either. The '01 engine is 113961 30 232126 and tranny is 722624 02 379721. Everything for this one looks in order. It does mention the AMG styling. I suppose I'm going to all this trouble because I don't want to buy something and get it home to find out that somebody slapped some wheels and stickers on it to make it look cooler.

 

[wayneg]

You dont say anything of the engine in the 98 car, is it the M119 or M113, some would argue the last of the M119`s is the best.
From my point of view a car with similar miles but 3 years younger must win hands down as long as the history and condition were up to spec. Has either got a Pano hard top as this is IMO the best option available, rareish and a very expensive one at that. That alone could sway a deal.

 

[jathanks]

Not sure

I'm not familiar enough with the different types of engines to distinguish between either car. I did read about some of the different opinions about the two you mention, but I don't know which it is. How does one find out? These cars definitely have pep like I've not experienced with any other car. Neither have the pano top or yes the decision would have already been made. I agree that the younger car should probably win based on age, but they are both well maintained cars and the color difference is a factor too.
It kinda sound strange to read that the color on an expensive high end luxury sports car would be such a factor, but I'm gonna have to look at this thing in my garage for a long time and I want it to be somewhat unique and also useful and practical. Which is why I'm here getting opinions on the difference in the year models and all that goes with that.

 

[wayneg]

The engines changed late 1998 and I think I would be right to say the door mirrors changed at the same time. Square mirrors M119, Oval M113.
The colour is a personal thing so can only be your choice. If the car is going to be a keeper then your own thoughts are paramount. If you might sell it after a few years then you must consider the resale market. I personally like dark conservative colours, you might prefer bright yellow, try to sell a car and you will soon find which is more popular. A car 3 years younger than the opposition must win if the price is the same.
Dont forget the test drive and cycle both tops several times during your inspection

 

[RedLiner]

You are obviously taking your time and researching thoroughly before buying which is an excellent idea.
Both cars have a lot going for them in different ways and of course the M119 camp will swear the quad cam engine is the better one as will the dual cam M113 engine aficionados.
If you have tried and tested both vehicles you should get some idea of the differences, but in the end as you rightly point out, it's you that will have to look at car in the garage (and out), so go for the one that you find the most aesthetically pleasing.

 

[BANANA]

The silver 3 years newer same mileage same price car is the better option obviously. I am not a great fan of silver cars and would rather have a black or darker coloured SL but silver is THE colour of Mercedes. It is also the traditional German racing colour.

 

[deanyel]

The 119 motor is the safer bet but you wouldn't want to buy a blue SL that used to be green. Emerald green looks green.

 

[jathanks]

That is my concern. This car doesn't look like it's been repainted and if it was it was a great job, but it certainly is not green. Also with it not listing the AMG upgrades that it has it makes me wonder.

 

[chriswufgator]

I doubt somebody repainted the whole car, but that's easy enough to check.

Look around in the engine bay, under/around things where you couldn't get a spray gun, and let us know if you see any green. MB did have some colors that look blue/green, maybe it's some confusion?

Are there any pics?

 

[jathanks]

I don't have any pictures of the '98. It's at a local dealer here in town. I do have a link to the '01 eBay Motors: Mercedes-Benz : SL-Class (item 130300013044 end time Apr-20-09 20:12:44 PDT). I doubt seriously that the '98 has been repainted too, I've been over this car very thoroughly and I haven't seen any signs to confirm it. It does make me a bit worried though that many of the options don't show up with the vin #. I guess ultimately even with any changes or modifications if I like everything about whichever car, it won't matter. I plan on some mods myself, but I don't want to start with a lemon.

 

[Carlo$]

i would run away from a repainted anything!

 

[drags1998]

The Silver car looks good. (pics suck!!!!) The only thing that I see is the lack of Xzenon (sp) head lights, That tells Me that it dosen't have the sl-2 package. But, Its a 1owner car!!!!!

 

[RedLiner]

I don't have any pictures of the '98. It's at a local dealer here in town. I do have a link to the '01 eBay Motors: Mercedes-Benz : SL-Class (item 130300013044 end time Apr-20-09 20:12:44 PDT). I doubt seriously that the '98 has been repainted too, I've been over this car very thoroughly and I haven't seen any signs to confirm it. It does make me a bit worried though that many of the options don't show up with the vin #. I guess ultimately even with any changes or modifications if I like everything about whichever car, it won't matter. I plan on some mods myself, but I don't want to start with a lemon.

A respray to a different colour would be very easily detected.
Have you run the VIN# through the Russian MB club site?

Mercedes-Benz Club Russia | Mercedes-Benz / VIN

It's very accurate.

 

[jathanks]

I did run the vin number, but I haven't detected any kind of repaint job. The silver car was great deal, apparently, because it sold before I could buy it. Drove to Houston today only to find out that it was sold. I can't decide now though if I want to spend the money on the '98 IF it has been repainted. I do know that if it was repainted it was a great job. I still really like the car, but a respray makes me wonder why?

 

[gqmagic]

The chances are good the '98 has not been repainted. What they call 'emerald black metallic' may very well look blue to you in certain light.

My E has an exotic paint name, something gray metallic, but looks bluish gray or gunmetal to me.

See how good your negotiating skills are and go for the blue 98

 

[Streeter36]

Just to be on the safe side pay the $25.00 for an AutoCheck sub. You would be surprised at some of the stuff you find out about a car that you thought was a good deal. I did that when I was looking for my SL and found out some interesting things about 3 of the SL's I was looking at. You can also run as many VIN # as you want to.

 

[deanyel]

I did run the vin number, but I haven't detected any kind of repaint job.

If you've run the VIN tell us what color code you found. In U.S. nomenclature there is no emerald black metallic. 189 black opal is sometimes known as greenish black. You can clear all this up by getting the VIN, running it on the Russian site, and confirming the paint code on the car. We will then know with great certainty whether the car has been repainted or you are color blind. According to paintscratch there is no dark blue in 1998. It must be 189 black opal which can look blue.

 

[sl5001997]

If you've run the VIN tell us what color code you found. In U.S. nomenclature there is no emerald black metallic. 189 black opal is sometimes known as greenish black. You can clear all this up by getting the VIN, running it on the Russian site, and confirming the paint code on the car. We will then know with great certainty whether the car has been repainted or you are color blind. According to paintscratch there is no dark blue in 1998. It must be 189 black opal which can look blue.

For my 1997 SL500 the paint color for my touch up is labeled
#9189 "smaragdschwarz met" which translates in english to "emerald black met". This color was obtained via vin # by the dealer. So, I guess it's all semantics. Color # 189 is/was "Black Opal Met." a/k/a "Emerald Black Met" when literally translated from German to English.

 

[jathanks]

For my 1997 SL500 the paint color for my touch up is labeled
#9189 "smaragdschwarz met" which translates in english to "emerald black met". This color was obtained via vin # by the dealer. So, I guess it's all semantics. Color # 189 is/was "Black Opal Met." a/k/a "Emerald Black Met" when literally translated from German to English.

Thanks, that helps to know someone else has something similar. The paint code from the website says: paint code 189 emerald (green) black metallic (с 1993). It's good to know yours too looks blue also. The car also has the AMG wheels and upgraded features including the CD changer, but none of that shows up when I run the vin number WDBFA67F1WF159084. Also it doesn't say specifically which car it is. Has anyone else had this, under model it says 500 SL / AMG 500 SL 6.0 SL 500 / SL 600 AMG. All of that, not one specific car. Thanks so much for the input so far guys.

 

[RKH]

The VIN run should be specifying what was shipped with that particular car from factory.
May be the AMG and CD-Changer were added on later.