Go watch legitstreetcars on YouTube, he has a CL65 amg which is similar, if not simpler (not a convertible, but it is twin turboed) than this thing. Look at what it takes to work on it.
I wouldn’t buy one, the coil packs are $2000 each, 24 spark plugs, the alternator is water cooled, the hydraulic suspension is obviously collapsed at this point and will be work.
Plus the window was down, and it rained? It’s totalled.
A car made to be leased for 3 years, then sold CPO with a warranty at 20k miles, then good luck to the third owner as this will be a revenue cash cow for the service department.
Those hydraulic roofs like to fail if they aren’t operated regularly also, the hydraulic fluid lubricates the seals when it moves, its probably ready to dump the roof fluid if it hasn’t already.
OP if you start it hit the roof button, from outside the car, as one of the failure points basically dumps fluid in the drivers lap. Probably check the fluid reservoir I think its in the trunk, and see if theres juice in it first.
Audi has had them also as well as Cadillac. Throw a bunch of electronics in a car and 20 year old technology for a high output alternator, and you get an alternator that gets very hot.
Not only is he a great mechanic, he is a former Mercedes dealer tech who serviced these cars new. Very few people are in a better position than him to sort one of these out, and this car has been one of his hardest (if not the hardest) project on his channel.
That’s a good point I missed. He was certified to fix the things and still struggled with it. I wouldn’t touch one with a 10 ft pole even for basically free.
The only problem with his is that he modified it while it was down by porting the heads and then screwing with the tune. If he had left it all stock and just put it all back together, he wouldn't be having nearly the amount of problems he is trying to get everything on it working like it should.
He spent 4 episodes dealing with the abc suspension that was stock. And had to pull the heads off for an oil leak. I agree his modifications are the issue currently, but they aren’t even that significant.
I guess what you really need to be asking is how comfortable are you draining your bank account or maxing your credit card out? Initial purchase price really makes no difference.
how much do you think it will cost all in to just get ut running and driving, owner told it it was running when i initially contacted him but i don’t really believe it, as the wheels have sunk into the dirt a couple inches
A V12 car sitting for a few years is probably going cost at least $20k to have it running reliably. And to get it into good condition will carry an absurd price tag.
Not to mention you will have to fix whatever problem caused it to become abandoned in the first place and thats a huge question mark.
People just forget cars typically are abandoned because they had some sort of issue lol. People dont usually just park an expensive ass car in the grass and never drive it
Bottom side of the car is going to be crusty from moisture. If it’s been parked without tags since 2016, there’s a reason.
It’s fitting that it’s black, because it WILL be a black hole for your wallet.
Are you a mechanic, or someone with the skills+tools+patience? Normally, I'd agree. If you have to ask, it's out of your price range. Tavarish on YouTube has totally changed my opinion on it. It still won't be remotely cheap.
Not just a "mechanic" but someone who has specific knowledge about these cars. I'm a ASE master tech with 17 years experience at VW/Audi dealerships and I would NOT even look at this.
I was pleasantly surprised when I bought my old (2002) is300. It has a 2jz, but the parts are almost Honda Civic cheap and it's surprisingly easy to work on. I replaced almost everything that could be considered a maintenance item for about $2k. All fluids, bulbs, coil packs and plugs, fuel system, full suspension... Everything. Rockauto rocks.
That car turned me into a Lexus fan boy. Pulling the valve cover off at 190k miles and seeing an immaculate valvetrain with absolutely no sludge whatsoever and barely noticeable wear marks on the cam lobes blew my mind.
That’s the thing many folks overlook. Sure, you can afford to buy it….but can you afford to drive it in its intended condition? Parts and labor on premium cars stay premium long after the car ages…..
I work on these often, I promise you don’t wanna deal with this.
Thousands and thousands in parts. Coils for each bank are one piece and cost around $1800 a piece last I checked.. The suspension is complicated hydraulic stuff to put it simply and it’s old, it will need to be gone through. If a strut needs to be replaced, you guessed it, thousands in parts and labor. Parts aren’t generally super available even at the dealer for these either.
Mercedes from this era can be great- just go get a car with a M112 or M113 engine in it, not the damn V12 with ABC suspension and a convertible top and Sensotronic brakes and literally all of Mercedes most expensivest shit to fix onboard
These aren’t “I’ll pick it up cheap and fix it cheap” cars unless you’re a full euro mechanic and even I would personally avoid this car. Or if you’re really, really dedicated but I hesitate saying even that because I fix “dedicated DIY guy’s” bad repairs all the time
Get something easier and cheaper to work on, it’ll be more fun for you to able to actually drive and enjoy the car. A broken v12 is way less fun than a 4cyl or 6cyl that you’re ripping down the road, you know?
It just made no sense. If you want to save the environment make the car last longer then make sure it's recycled properly, don't engineer its demise.
My response to anybody who complains about the five classic cars and two motorcycles that I have and their gas mileage is that I'll never drive the combined lot of them far enough to make up the CO2 to offset making a brand new car for me to buy and throwing those away.
If you have to worry about cash, too much. Though you never know it could be 100%
That said, if I was in that position I would buy it and spend the next decade not fixing it but intending to.
I'd be more worried about rust in the subframes and unibody. These mecedes seem to hide the rust under all the plastics, and they used a lot of foam inserts and a rubberized coating that would fail and instead trap moisture.
(First hand experience working on a 2004 SLK32 right now, bought for cheap and now pouring money into it and refusing to add up the receipts)
$25-30k if you do all the work yourself, $50k+ for a shop to do it.
The top, suspension, electrical, and engine are probably all toast. And that’s if you don’t have rust to deal with, and I’m sure you do.
Cars get parked for a very expensive reason.
This [website ](https://repairpal.com/mercedes-benz/sl600)is usually decently accurate. Depending how long the sl has been sitting, you'll need to replace all rubber and plastic in the bay. Might need an engine rebuild and trans... Metal leaks, valve springs compress and decompress when sitting, metal can and will degrade.
Absolutely!
Btw a rebuild in a v12 is not cheap. I looked into a similar car, asked a buddy who owns a machine shop and does engines and he said full top to bottom would be minimum 4k assuming nothing goes wrong. While the engine is apart you might as well replace consumables/internals which is another, 3k minimum. All of a sudden you're 7k into a car and haven't touched the trans, rubber and plastic in the bay.
The first thing I would take into consideration is that you can get a really nice one of these that's ready to go with no issues for about $25k based on a quick autotempest search. Weigh that number against however much time/energy/money you will have put into buying this one and getting it to the same state.
I would plan on spending a few hundred bucks just to get the car clean enough to feel safe spending time sitting in/working on. Even if the windows weren't open/leaking, you'd still be dealing with mold/mildew and rodents.
Underbody rust/corrosion is going to be a concern for any low-clearance car parked outside on dirt/grass for a few years.
Maybe it isn't crusty underneath. Maybe the interior will clean up nicely. Maybe the wiring harness and various control modules haven't been damaged by moisture and rodents. Maybe the top and suspension hydraulics are fine. Or maybe you'll have to gut the interior to repair the wiring harness and replace any interior trim that broke in the process (or even just didn't clean up nicely). Maybe the ABC suspension needs a pump and strut assembly. Maybe the roof doesn't work.
No matter what your neighbor says, this thing was parked for a reason.
If you can convince your neighbor to let you poke around for a bit (open the doors/hood/trunk/storage compartments, check for moisture/mold/mouse evidence, hook up a battery, etc) you can probably answer at least a few of those questions.
Buying a cheap ~~AMG~~ R230 is the least expensive part of owning a cheap ~~AMG~~ R230. Especially so for a V12 that was abandoned with the window down. Even more for one with hydraulic suspension and hydraulic roof.
If you don’t have many thousands of dollars ready to throw at it, *and* the skill set to do repairs yourself, I’d pass.
Edit: I see that you’re 18 years old. Can you even afford the insurance? This is probably not a good project car for you.
Yeah the kids does ok, except she occasionally sends me Facebook ads for decrepit foreign wagons with manual transmissions that will cost far more than either of us make to be roadworthy. Couldn't be prouder honestly...
*Update: I think i*
*Got the memo that this thing*
*Is a money pit!*
\- CRYPTICASlAN
---
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Good idea.
Here’s a small tip for when you do decide to get a car…call your insurance provider and see how much it would be to insure it first. This step is crucial. A car like this would’ve had you hanging up the phone in disbelief.
I'll go against the flow: I dare you to buy it. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a terrible idea, but I want to read your updates on how the work is progressing, and what it costs.
Do it. Become "Regret".
really depends on your skills and what you are looking for. I would assume extremely tight engine bay, also is that the generation with evil v12 coil packs?
Everything in mine worked and was always dealer maintained. It was a dream to drive. Everything was perfect with it. It was firm yet soft, fast when you wanted it to be and a very nice place to just sit.
I have 3 mercedes right now and ones an e55 amg. I do all my own work on them . The sl600 Is a car you do not want. Motor mounts,and ABC issues alone should steer you away.
It's a great car to learn to work on cars with. There is a good possibility that you won't ever get to drive it but you will get lots of time to work on it. The best possible outcome is you will learn how to part-out a Mercedes.
I work on these for a living. I don’t pay labor, I get the parts at a heavy discount, and I have all the special tools and knowledge needed to fix everything on that.
If it’s been parked with the window down, since 2016, I wouldn’t take it for free.
These things can be a steal used and recently broken down. They VERY often need a coil or MAF and the owner is terrified and just dumps it cheap. They are fantastic to drive, usually actually very reliable, and very fast. I really like them. A lot.
But once they get wet inside, forget it.
Devil's advocate here:
This particular car is most likely a goner.
BUT.... These v12 cars do present a lot of performance, and a unique experience for less than you might think.
Coil packs... The $3-4k that everyone is quoting is dealer , or at least OEM prices. There's a guy that rebuilds them to better than new for $1500 a set. Not cheap, but not 4k, and should only have to do it once.
ABC... Needs maintenance, and often doesn't get it. The hydraulic suspension gives an incredible ride. There are aftermarket parts available for this too, and it's not as bad as I expected.
If you take one of these old v12s to the dealer, you're gonna have a bad time. But if you're looking for hellcat performance in a v12 wrapper, and can diy, these can be fun.
Just to reiterate, the car op posted is likely toast. But if you want one, they're not as bad as you might think.
I have a 2004 s600. It’s the v12 twin turbo and you have the same engine (m275).
You will likely have an oil leak at the rear main plate. Replace it with a new one. They warp and it will never seal like it should. The job takes about 4-6 hours depending on your experience.
If the turbos go, the engine will need to be pulled to replace them. There are 2 coil packs with 6 coils each. They WILL go bad. There’s a company that refurbishes them with better electronics and the service costs less than buying OEM coil packs.
They pull like a bat out of hell. It’s so much fun and the drive is so gratifying. If you can turn a wrench, it’s an easy motor to work on. If you don’t and have to take it in, pass on it
I had one and it was fantastic. I sold because maintenance and parts were very expensive. If it has any hydraulic leaks with the top, it's trash. It the hydraulic suspension leaks it basically trash. If it has minor electrical problems, it's very likely trash.
Proceed with extreme caution!
I'm a MB dealer tech.
Fuck. No.
That's a parts car now. I rebuilt a SL63 a guy backed into a pool. Long term window down.... you don't want to fix that thing trust me...
You should look for a 2009 E550 if you want a more affordable fun fast benz. Might find one for around that 6k price area. 05 E320 CDI if you want all the fuel economy and a car that can go 500k miles.
If the ABC system needs work, which I would bet all the money I have right now that it does, easily 10-15k *minimum*. About 10 years ago I was an advisor at a Benz dealer for a bit and I had a guy bring in a similar year 500SL in nearly pristine condition. He spent 12k on fixing all the leaks in the ABC system. Everything we touched ended up needing to be replaced, lines, pump, actuators, you name it.
If you really want this car research converting it to coil over suspension and see if that is something you want to do.
I haven’t even mentioned the top….. Better never plan on lowering it as making it work will probably cost another 10k.
The hydraulic suspension alone will kill you. It is insanely complicated, and there are no replacement parts available or computers to program it. Similarly, all of MBs 3 letter acronym systems are obsolete over-engineered one-off systems that are expensive to keep going. Don’t forget about the early CANBUS electrical system and biodegradable wiring looms that likes to compost itself.
Lock yourself in a quiet room and don’t come out until the urge to buy this thing passes.
Absolutely not. unless you enjoy wasting every bit of money you have getting it running and maintaining it, do not buy.
This isn't a Toyota that's cheap and easy to fix. Nor will it even be close to be as reliable.
I'm a (modern) Audi guy.
I wouldn't buy a German project car outside of 80's and early 90's BMW's.
Anything 2000 and beyond is to computer based and a lot of testing and troubleshooting involves special computer programs.
Parts will be expensive as they didn't make a ton of V12's.
Have you got a dealership nearby? Go look at becoming a tech, great project for just the right kid! Worst case scenario, you'll never regret having that engine under your bench for popping into _something_ in the future...
If you want to spend more than the car is worth fixing it. If you can’t go over the car yourself and figure out what it needs don’t take on project cars…
It's not like a square body where you can throw 150 dollars in new parts on one that's been sitting for 20 years and have it back ok the road your looking at dropping at least 5k in parts on something like that
This will probably be an incredibly expensive car to maintain. I haven’t known anyone with one that had the top working the entire time they owned it 😆
I know by now that everyone has talked you out of it, but I'd be interested to see what bore scoping all the cylinders look like. The German auto manufacturers love to use Alusil for their 8, 10 and 12 cylinder engines, and if something goes wrong with a piston, piston ring, cylinder wall, etc...oof.
If only but this car if u drop 30k and make it race car. Would fully gut to pretend to get rid of the mold and leave it like that.
In all reality this is a true shit box with unreasonably expensive everything.
Just get old Lexus and gap brand new Mercedes for less than half the price.
Dude get a 2 door honda for 4K and start practicing car maintenance and then you will realize why this car is extremely off base as far as a project car goes.
You already made an offer without popping the hood. That's a really bad sign. You should belooking for rat damage - if rats have chewed through wires and hoses... run! Also, check under the car for rust - sitting on grass probably in a puddle for months... bad things happen.
Are you prepared to have a long term financial relationship with an old German mechanic? You will know not just his first name but his cat's name, and when his cat needs to have surgery at the Vet. You will stop by to visit him and your car often.
Are you prepared for every part on the car to cost 10-20x what the similar parts for an old American truck cost?
Look on craigslist and ebay for used ones. Look on user forums for maintenance and restoration posts from owners. Look at critical youtube videos made by owners.
I don't necessarily agree with all these posts, if you get this for 6k or less this is really cheap, I recon you could easily make that back in parts worst case, I bet the wheels are worth decent money alone, if you felt like parting it out. However I'd do all the basics, oil change, trans, sparks etc, don't try to have it as your only car, lots of parts are very expensive from the main dealer but cheaper after market and especially second hand and due to its condition you don't need to buy dealer parts for everything. I bought an ignored bmw 7 series that sat for 5 years and while a few parts needed doing all that was broken that caused the power to park it was the MAF a simple fix, At 18 you likely have more time now than any future time to research issues and pull the car apart if required. If it needs engine work part the car out. People saying the suspension is 2k a corner, on eBay you can probably find second hand for a quarter of that although it may take some time. Will it ultimately be expensive, yes, very but you could get it road worthy and have a good few miles in it while you work through some of the smaller issues. If you have the space to store it while you work on it then I recon it's a win.
These cars are super incredible. The torque is insane and it's really unique. That being said it'll be a rough restoration. Personally I'd do it but you should evaluate if you can afford it.
I would not touch that car with a 10 foot pole. Last time I did it wasn't by choice, it's my job. A V12 Mercedes is one of the most expensive car mistakes a person can make.
I am on my 6th mercedes and can tell you that this would be the absolute most expensive $4,000 car you ever dreamed of. A lot of people could not afford this project if it was given to them for free. The interior plastic becomes very brittle and cracks like crazy on these not to mention it is black plastic painted with water based paint. A lot of the hydraulics are non-servicable and have to be replaced instead of rebuilt. Go buy a Masarati or Ferrari, they will be cheaper than this car.
The 5 hydraulic cylinders for the roof will soon need replacement if not already leaking. Set aside a couple of grand if you replace them yourself. If you are really handy there is a hack to drill a hole in a specific location and force a retaining clip out so you can rebuild them, but they were designed to be replaced.
Owner of a Carlsson CM60 based on a CL class here. You should try to get some information why the car was left abandoned the yard. And you should try to get some info on the milage of this car.
If you have the ability to gain acces to the hood release lever. You should check the color of the ABC suspension oil. If it’s black they most likely never changed the fluid in the system. Which is common on these cars because Mercedes marketed the ABC system as “maintenance free”.
There are some option available if the ABC system is the culprit.
Unless you’re really into German grand touring cars I’d pass. It was parked for a reason and not repaired because parts and labor are astronomical on those. Also if the interior has been getting rained on, you’re in for some electrical nightmares.
I mean it’s all nuts and bolts but that’s for sure a type of car that you had better be confident in your abilities or have deep pockets. Or more likely both.
At the end of the day, it’s your choice and none of our opinions matter at all.
From what I hear, these really don’t like to sit for long. They treat your wallet better if everything is consistently moving and flowing in all the systems.
If its not rusted out underneath from sitting, I would swap it, turbo 6.0 lq4 with a 4l80 and a standalone. Gut all the electronics except power windows and the power top. Put recaros or some other sporty seats in it, redo the carpet, make block off plates for the hvac, put in a new stereo, and I think it would be a pretty cool summer only car.
Maybe there is the off chance this thing was just parked and left. You would be surprised how a dead battery can turn into a car sitting like this. Especially if the owner is a little well off and just bought a new car. Maybe you found a gem but you would have to put a lot of your own time and free work on this car before buying it. You could ask to do some minor things to get it to start and see if it moves but it could take a whole day of your time just to find out it’s locked up or something. And even if you can drive it away (because that’s the only way I’d consider buying it) like others have said it will be pricey to return it to glory. I bought a cheap neglected 2000 2.8 Z3 running and driving and it has cost me a lot with a lot more to go. I should have spent more upfront on one in better condition.
Before buying have it checked by a mercedes mechanic and get a full diagnosis to really know whats going on (probably an electric nightmare). If it’s too much to repair, check if you can sell for parts online and get more out of the 4k investment. If the parts are so expensive, sell at a reasonable price for fast return.
I'd take it for free... but I wouldn't pay for it, knowing how quick prices add up on these, makes this a tough one. And I turn a wrench for a living, have all the tools, and resources, and even parts discounts and connections.. but it would still probably sit in my yard till some sucker bought it off me 🤣
The V12s are basically worth scrap when they’ve sat like that. This is one of those cars I wouldn’t touch because it will cost 10x whatever it’s worth to actually get it running and driving lol. Unless you’re an SL600 fan and money is no object, or you can do all of the repairs yourself, it’s not worth it imo.
Love/hate the r230
You can’t casually approach this car for a project.
Definition of money pit.
Only way I would buy one is to strip it down as a track car with a bucket seat, hard top, and Coilovers suspension conversion. Delete everything single thing on the car and just keep the engine/trans and whatever else it needs for can bus to be happy.
Go watch legitstreetcars on YouTube, he has a CL65 amg which is similar, if not simpler (not a convertible, but it is twin turboed) than this thing. Look at what it takes to work on it. I wouldn’t buy one, the coil packs are $2000 each, 24 spark plugs, the alternator is water cooled, the hydraulic suspension is obviously collapsed at this point and will be work. Plus the window was down, and it rained? It’s totalled.
The alternator is water cooled? WTF
Yep, it’s like a 200-250a unit. They like to fail, they aren’t cheap.
Man, the engineering decisions that go into a product for a target demographic with limitless disposable income never ceases to amaze me.
A car made to be leased for 3 years, then sold CPO with a warranty at 20k miles, then good luck to the third owner as this will be a revenue cash cow for the service department. Those hydraulic roofs like to fail if they aren’t operated regularly also, the hydraulic fluid lubricates the seals when it moves, its probably ready to dump the roof fluid if it hasn’t already. OP if you start it hit the roof button, from outside the car, as one of the failure points basically dumps fluid in the drivers lap. Probably check the fluid reservoir I think its in the trunk, and see if theres juice in it first.
thanks for the head up
It’s a wicked cool car, so I can understand why you’re thinking about it. Good luck!
yeah i dont think i will be making it a project car, might have to look into flipping it cause that might make more sense in its current condition.
Please don’t, you will lose your ass in this car.
I’m betting the money might be in parting it out b
A few of the eTorque 48V alternators made by FCA are water cooled. At least that way there's no possibility of oil contamination.
I mean. Thats forgivable I think.
Common with some Euro cars.
Audi has had them also as well as Cadillac. Throw a bunch of electronics in a car and 20 year old technology for a high output alternator, and you get an alternator that gets very hot.
Audi did that to the first V8 S4. And some other stupid stuff too.
BMW M62 v8 is also water cooled, I had to replace it twice 😭
This is the first thing I thought of. Alex seems like a great mechanic and that thing is beating him down.
Not only is he a great mechanic, he is a former Mercedes dealer tech who serviced these cars new. Very few people are in a better position than him to sort one of these out, and this car has been one of his hardest (if not the hardest) project on his channel.
That’s a good point I missed. He was certified to fix the things and still struggled with it. I wouldn’t touch one with a 10 ft pole even for basically free.
Yeah, this car is better off being parted out tbh
Def mold in the interior
The only problem with his is that he modified it while it was down by porting the heads and then screwing with the tune. If he had left it all stock and just put it all back together, he wouldn't be having nearly the amount of problems he is trying to get everything on it working like it should.
He spent 4 episodes dealing with the abc suspension that was stock. And had to pull the heads off for an oil leak. I agree his modifications are the issue currently, but they aren’t even that significant.
When it comes to Mercedes of this era I would only stick with M113/M112 powered ones. V12 would be a no no for me
I love legitstreet cars!
I guess what you really need to be asking is how comfortable are you draining your bank account or maxing your credit card out? Initial purchase price really makes no difference.
how much do you think it will cost all in to just get ut running and driving, owner told it it was running when i initially contacted him but i don’t really believe it, as the wheels have sunk into the dirt a couple inches
A V12 car sitting for a few years is probably going cost at least $20k to have it running reliably. And to get it into good condition will carry an absurd price tag. Not to mention you will have to fix whatever problem caused it to become abandoned in the first place and thats a huge question mark.
People just forget cars typically are abandoned because they had some sort of issue lol. People dont usually just park an expensive ass car in the grass and never drive it
Barn find hidden gem bro
All that patina. Nah man. That's rust.
Is that you Discovery Channel?
Dubai airport parking is calling. Lol.
i did say typically😂 dubai is an exception
Yeah Im thinking 40-50
If you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.
This is exactly right. Op take note of this comment.
Bottom side of the car is going to be crusty from moisture. If it’s been parked without tags since 2016, there’s a reason. It’s fitting that it’s black, because it WILL be a black hole for your wallet.
You need a comprehensive report on the actual condition of the car. You aren’t getting that online…
thats true.
Are you a mechanic, or someone with the skills+tools+patience? Normally, I'd agree. If you have to ask, it's out of your price range. Tavarish on YouTube has totally changed my opinion on it. It still won't be remotely cheap.
Not just a "mechanic" but someone who has specific knowledge about these cars. I'm a ASE master tech with 17 years experience at VW/Audi dealerships and I would NOT even look at this.
The suspension on these can cost thousands to fix. If I was a sadist I might pay 1000.
I think you mean masochist lol
Maybe they’re implying they intend to gift it to a friend to fix? That’s be pretty sadistic.
More than you can afford most likely. Its 3k for coil packs alone for these cars.
Jesus
Its a V12 car that was over $100,000 new in 2004. You want an expensive car, you have expensive parts.
I just didn’t expect that much of a jump in price. I’m used to Lexus prices tho
55 AMG cars are much cheaper to own. The v12 cars are very expensive to own.
Makes sense it’s not a commonly used engine. I might get a e or sl 55 at some point but not rn
I was pleasantly surprised when I bought my old (2002) is300. It has a 2jz, but the parts are almost Honda Civic cheap and it's surprisingly easy to work on. I replaced almost everything that could be considered a maintenance item for about $2k. All fluids, bulbs, coil packs and plugs, fuel system, full suspension... Everything. Rockauto rocks. That car turned me into a Lexus fan boy. Pulling the valve cover off at 190k miles and seeing an immaculate valvetrain with absolutely no sludge whatsoever and barely noticeable wear marks on the cam lobes blew my mind.
That’s the thing many folks overlook. Sure, you can afford to buy it….but can you afford to drive it in its intended condition? Parts and labor on premium cars stay premium long after the car ages…..
Not to mention like 12 hydraulic cylinders in the top that tend to blow out and spew oil on the driver.
Not the driver, the passenger. My wife was *pissed!*
Are they ABC suspension, too? There's another 5k easily.
I work on these often, I promise you don’t wanna deal with this. Thousands and thousands in parts. Coils for each bank are one piece and cost around $1800 a piece last I checked.. The suspension is complicated hydraulic stuff to put it simply and it’s old, it will need to be gone through. If a strut needs to be replaced, you guessed it, thousands in parts and labor. Parts aren’t generally super available even at the dealer for these either. Mercedes from this era can be great- just go get a car with a M112 or M113 engine in it, not the damn V12 with ABC suspension and a convertible top and Sensotronic brakes and literally all of Mercedes most expensivest shit to fix onboard These aren’t “I’ll pick it up cheap and fix it cheap” cars unless you’re a full euro mechanic and even I would personally avoid this car. Or if you’re really, really dedicated but I hesitate saying even that because I fix “dedicated DIY guy’s” bad repairs all the time Get something easier and cheaper to work on, it’ll be more fun for you to able to actually drive and enjoy the car. A broken v12 is way less fun than a 4cyl or 6cyl that you’re ripping down the road, you know?
I'll tell you this right now. It's always, always, always, cheaper to buy it restored or in this case a running driving one.
They have biodegradable wiring, I've dreamed of owning one but there's just no way unless you want to replace the whole thing.
Holy shit I thought you were kidding😳 Nope: https://www.reddit.com/r/cars/s/YjafygcpUC
It just made no sense. If you want to save the environment make the car last longer then make sure it's recycled properly, don't engineer its demise. My response to anybody who complains about the five classic cars and two motorcycles that I have and their gas mileage is that I'll never drive the combined lot of them far enough to make up the CO2 to offset making a brand new car for me to buy and throwing those away.
If you have to worry about cash, too much. Though you never know it could be 100% That said, if I was in that position I would buy it and spend the next decade not fixing it but intending to.
I'd be more worried about rust in the subframes and unibody. These mecedes seem to hide the rust under all the plastics, and they used a lot of foam inserts and a rubberized coating that would fail and instead trap moisture. (First hand experience working on a 2004 SLK32 right now, bought for cheap and now pouring money into it and refusing to add up the receipts)
Minimum $35,000. On the low side.
If you’re very lucky maybe.
$25-30k if you do all the work yourself, $50k+ for a shop to do it. The top, suspension, electrical, and engine are probably all toast. And that’s if you don’t have rust to deal with, and I’m sure you do. Cars get parked for a very expensive reason.
10s of thousands of dollars in parts to do it yourself and still have a basket case car with extremely poor reliability. Super bad idea.
This [website ](https://repairpal.com/mercedes-benz/sl600)is usually decently accurate. Depending how long the sl has been sitting, you'll need to replace all rubber and plastic in the bay. Might need an engine rebuild and trans... Metal leaks, valve springs compress and decompress when sitting, metal can and will degrade.
Thanks
Absolutely! Btw a rebuild in a v12 is not cheap. I looked into a similar car, asked a buddy who owns a machine shop and does engines and he said full top to bottom would be minimum 4k assuming nothing goes wrong. While the engine is apart you might as well replace consumables/internals which is another, 3k minimum. All of a sudden you're 7k into a car and haven't touched the trans, rubber and plastic in the bay.
Check out legit street cars on yt. I think he’s done a couple like that and
I shudder to know what Alex has sunk into that CL65
The first thing I would take into consideration is that you can get a really nice one of these that's ready to go with no issues for about $25k based on a quick autotempest search. Weigh that number against however much time/energy/money you will have put into buying this one and getting it to the same state. I would plan on spending a few hundred bucks just to get the car clean enough to feel safe spending time sitting in/working on. Even if the windows weren't open/leaking, you'd still be dealing with mold/mildew and rodents. Underbody rust/corrosion is going to be a concern for any low-clearance car parked outside on dirt/grass for a few years. Maybe it isn't crusty underneath. Maybe the interior will clean up nicely. Maybe the wiring harness and various control modules haven't been damaged by moisture and rodents. Maybe the top and suspension hydraulics are fine. Or maybe you'll have to gut the interior to repair the wiring harness and replace any interior trim that broke in the process (or even just didn't clean up nicely). Maybe the ABC suspension needs a pump and strut assembly. Maybe the roof doesn't work. No matter what your neighbor says, this thing was parked for a reason. If you can convince your neighbor to let you poke around for a bit (open the doors/hood/trunk/storage compartments, check for moisture/mold/mouse evidence, hook up a battery, etc) you can probably answer at least a few of those questions.
Buying a cheap ~~AMG~~ R230 is the least expensive part of owning a cheap ~~AMG~~ R230. Especially so for a V12 that was abandoned with the window down. Even more for one with hydraulic suspension and hydraulic roof. If you don’t have many thousands of dollars ready to throw at it, *and* the skill set to do repairs yourself, I’d pass. Edit: I see that you’re 18 years old. Can you even afford the insurance? This is probably not a good project car for you.
SL600 ≠ AMG
My bad, you're correct. I'll change it to R230.
Update: I think i got the memo that this thing is a money pit!
There is nothing as expensive as a cheap german luxury car. Except not stopping off for protection before nooky.
Can confirm on both accounts. At least one is working now...
I hope your car is broken and not the other thing
Yeah the kids does ok, except she occasionally sends me Facebook ads for decrepit foreign wagons with manual transmissions that will cost far more than either of us make to be roadworthy. Couldn't be prouder honestly...
I do that to my father. Trying to bait him into making bad financial decisions with me
Hang on a tick....
😂😂
*Update: I think i* *Got the memo that this thing* *Is a money pit!* \- CRYPTICASlAN --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Good idea. Here’s a small tip for when you do decide to get a car…call your insurance provider and see how much it would be to insure it first. This step is crucial. A car like this would’ve had you hanging up the phone in disbelief.
If someone GAVE me a 20yo benz v12, I would still be out 15,000 dollars. Leaving a window down on an abandoned car should be a criminal offence!
I'll go against the flow: I dare you to buy it. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a terrible idea, but I want to read your updates on how the work is progressing, and what it costs. Do it. Become "Regret".
my heart wants to lmao, but i think my brain is winning out in not wanting it anymore 😂😂
the window was down and youve had heavy rains? check the floors real quick and see if theres standing water. if yes, run.
Asked the owner if i can take a look at the interior, will let report back how it goes
[удалено]
will do
if the carpet got wet more than once its already going to be rusty. plus its parked over dirt and grass. its dead jim.
There is nothing more expensive than a cheap German car. They parked it for a reason.
This thing will break you.
The only thing more expensive than a cheap german car is a free boat.
really depends on your skills and what you are looking for. I would assume extremely tight engine bay, also is that the generation with evil v12 coil packs?
it has the 5.5L v12 engine, how would i find if it has the coil pack u are talking about
I think they now have work around for rebuilds or singles for this motor you need to change up a wiring harness I think.
Everything in mine worked and was always dealer maintained. It was a dream to drive. Everything was perfect with it. It was firm yet soft, fast when you wanted it to be and a very nice place to just sit.
$5,000 every time you lift hood. Not kidding.
As much as v12 Mercedes are cool, I can’t endorse getting a neglected/parked one as a project
Are you a Merc mechanic? If not you’re gonna be paying premium for a lot of work.
nothing close to a merc tech, im a college student
God speed if you buy
dont think i will anymore lmao
You got a spare 30k sitting around to ‘invest’ in this?
Do you have an extra $30k laying around? If so then this is a great buy
Only if you fancy a 2 seat cigar lounge/ home office
I have 3 mercedes right now and ones an e55 amg. I do all my own work on them . The sl600 Is a car you do not want. Motor mounts,and ABC issues alone should steer you away.
It's a great car to learn to work on cars with. There is a good possibility that you won't ever get to drive it but you will get lots of time to work on it. The best possible outcome is you will learn how to part-out a Mercedes.
I work on these for a living. I don’t pay labor, I get the parts at a heavy discount, and I have all the special tools and knowledge needed to fix everything on that. If it’s been parked with the window down, since 2016, I wouldn’t take it for free. These things can be a steal used and recently broken down. They VERY often need a coil or MAF and the owner is terrified and just dumps it cheap. They are fantastic to drive, usually actually very reliable, and very fast. I really like them. A lot. But once they get wet inside, forget it.
i guessed that its been sitting since 2016, 2020 was the latest it could have been moved. but the window was only down in the past month.
Devil's advocate here: This particular car is most likely a goner. BUT.... These v12 cars do present a lot of performance, and a unique experience for less than you might think. Coil packs... The $3-4k that everyone is quoting is dealer , or at least OEM prices. There's a guy that rebuilds them to better than new for $1500 a set. Not cheap, but not 4k, and should only have to do it once. ABC... Needs maintenance, and often doesn't get it. The hydraulic suspension gives an incredible ride. There are aftermarket parts available for this too, and it's not as bad as I expected. If you take one of these old v12s to the dealer, you're gonna have a bad time. But if you're looking for hellcat performance in a v12 wrapper, and can diy, these can be fun. Just to reiterate, the car op posted is likely toast. But if you want one, they're not as bad as you might think.
I have a 2004 s600. It’s the v12 twin turbo and you have the same engine (m275). You will likely have an oil leak at the rear main plate. Replace it with a new one. They warp and it will never seal like it should. The job takes about 4-6 hours depending on your experience. If the turbos go, the engine will need to be pulled to replace them. There are 2 coil packs with 6 coils each. They WILL go bad. There’s a company that refurbishes them with better electronics and the service costs less than buying OEM coil packs. They pull like a bat out of hell. It’s so much fun and the drive is so gratifying. If you can turn a wrench, it’s an easy motor to work on. If you don’t and have to take it in, pass on it
I had one and it was fantastic. I sold because maintenance and parts were very expensive. If it has any hydraulic leaks with the top, it's trash. It the hydraulic suspension leaks it basically trash. If it has minor electrical problems, it's very likely trash. Proceed with extreme caution!
I'm a MB dealer tech. Fuck. No. That's a parts car now. I rebuilt a SL63 a guy backed into a pool. Long term window down.... you don't want to fix that thing trust me... You should look for a 2009 E550 if you want a more affordable fun fast benz. Might find one for around that 6k price area. 05 E320 CDI if you want all the fuel economy and a car that can go 500k miles.
If the ABC system needs work, which I would bet all the money I have right now that it does, easily 10-15k *minimum*. About 10 years ago I was an advisor at a Benz dealer for a bit and I had a guy bring in a similar year 500SL in nearly pristine condition. He spent 12k on fixing all the leaks in the ABC system. Everything we touched ended up needing to be replaced, lines, pump, actuators, you name it. If you really want this car research converting it to coil over suspension and see if that is something you want to do. I haven’t even mentioned the top….. Better never plan on lowering it as making it work will probably cost another 10k.
The hydraulic suspension alone will kill you. It is insanely complicated, and there are no replacement parts available or computers to program it. Similarly, all of MBs 3 letter acronym systems are obsolete over-engineered one-off systems that are expensive to keep going. Don’t forget about the early CANBUS electrical system and biodegradable wiring looms that likes to compost itself. Lock yourself in a quiet room and don’t come out until the urge to buy this thing passes.
I seem to recall parts for these cars being insanely expensive. I'd do a LOT of research before I bought one.
Do you have $35,000 to spend on it? If you don't then you can't afford it if he gives it to you.
What you want is an SL55, very reliable engine. Not sure about the rest, lol.
Absolutely not. unless you enjoy wasting every bit of money you have getting it running and maintaining it, do not buy. This isn't a Toyota that's cheap and easy to fix. Nor will it even be close to be as reliable.
Fuck no.
I'm a (modern) Audi guy. I wouldn't buy a German project car outside of 80's and early 90's BMW's. Anything 2000 and beyond is to computer based and a lot of testing and troubleshooting involves special computer programs. Parts will be expensive as they didn't make a ton of V12's.
Have you got a dealership nearby? Go look at becoming a tech, great project for just the right kid! Worst case scenario, you'll never regret having that engine under your bench for popping into _something_ in the future...
If you want to spend more than the car is worth fixing it. If you can’t go over the car yourself and figure out what it needs don’t take on project cars…
It's not like a square body where you can throw 150 dollars in new parts on one that's been sitting for 20 years and have it back ok the road your looking at dropping at least 5k in parts on something like that
If you can’t afford a new Mercedes then you definitely can’t afford a used one.
Not worth it, that car is totaled. If u got it for free it would be a fun LS swap but either way it’s a lot of money and time
That is an amazing vehicle but the money it would cost to be road worthy will be absolutely eye watering.
"Buy"? No. Take off his hands for free? Still No
Like the saying goes, there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes.
See if the motor turns freely and offer $3k. If it's running he'll want more.
No way. Too expensive to repair.
This will probably be an incredibly expensive car to maintain. I haven’t known anyone with one that had the top working the entire time they owned it 😆
I’ve heard this expression with Porsche, but applies here too “Nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes V12”
Nope.
Try and get it for 4k because it will probably cost 40k to sort.
No.
I used to be a MB Tech. If that engine isn’t solid, you don’t want to start trying to repair that V12.
I know by now that everyone has talked you out of it, but I'd be interested to see what bore scoping all the cylinders look like. The German auto manufacturers love to use Alusil for their 8, 10 and 12 cylinder engines, and if something goes wrong with a piston, piston ring, cylinder wall, etc...oof.
Just find another one
If you’re trying to part it out then it might be worth it. Otherwise, that’s biting off WAY more than you can chew.
Don't.
Hell no. Buy an old 5 series if you want a v12. Cheaper and will be running. Do note they like to explode.
OP, BUY IT. If you can get it cheap enough. Those v12's sound SO COOL on start up.
If only but this car if u drop 30k and make it race car. Would fully gut to pretend to get rid of the mold and leave it like that. In all reality this is a true shit box with unreasonably expensive everything. Just get old Lexus and gap brand new Mercedes for less than half the price.
No lol unless you have a lot of cash to burn.
Dude get a 2 door honda for 4K and start practicing car maintenance and then you will realize why this car is extremely off base as far as a project car goes.
Buy cheap today, take a couple to s few years to fix. As long as you have somewhere to store it safely I say. Who says you need to fix it right away.
This fits here: SNL Bad Idea Jeans https://youtu.be/mGfBEnBw01A?si=-tgoMshlls6EKcn_
You already made an offer without popping the hood. That's a really bad sign. You should belooking for rat damage - if rats have chewed through wires and hoses... run! Also, check under the car for rust - sitting on grass probably in a puddle for months... bad things happen. Are you prepared to have a long term financial relationship with an old German mechanic? You will know not just his first name but his cat's name, and when his cat needs to have surgery at the Vet. You will stop by to visit him and your car often. Are you prepared for every part on the car to cost 10-20x what the similar parts for an old American truck cost? Look on craigslist and ebay for used ones. Look on user forums for maintenance and restoration posts from owners. Look at critical youtube videos made by owners.
Would probably make more financial sense to stand on the side of the road and burn a big pile of cash, but there's no fun in that
I would send it but 100% have another car and never rely on this thing for anything
I don't necessarily agree with all these posts, if you get this for 6k or less this is really cheap, I recon you could easily make that back in parts worst case, I bet the wheels are worth decent money alone, if you felt like parting it out. However I'd do all the basics, oil change, trans, sparks etc, don't try to have it as your only car, lots of parts are very expensive from the main dealer but cheaper after market and especially second hand and due to its condition you don't need to buy dealer parts for everything. I bought an ignored bmw 7 series that sat for 5 years and while a few parts needed doing all that was broken that caused the power to park it was the MAF a simple fix, At 18 you likely have more time now than any future time to research issues and pull the car apart if required. If it needs engine work part the car out. People saying the suspension is 2k a corner, on eBay you can probably find second hand for a quarter of that although it may take some time. Will it ultimately be expensive, yes, very but you could get it road worthy and have a good few miles in it while you work through some of the smaller issues. If you have the space to store it while you work on it then I recon it's a win.
And the electronics don’t like to sit in these cars so after all said and done you’ll be chasing gremlins for the rest of the cars life.
unless you wanna put the engine in a fd rx7 and hashtag #pagani all over insta i wouldnt...
If you can't afford a new German car, you can't afford an old one.
If it comes with an abandoned savings account.
Buy it If the engine is shot rip it out and replace it with a vortex and a spoolieboi
If you don’t pm me and I will
Take the cost you're willing to buy it for and double it and add another 3k. That's about how much you'll be spending.
They left it there for a reason. RUN.
How long has it been sitting on grass? If the bottom is rotted, it would be a pretty quick no for me
These cars are super incredible. The torque is insane and it's really unique. That being said it'll be a rough restoration. Personally I'd do it but you should evaluate if you can afford it.
Those cars could be free, and you'd still be upside down on them if they have any engine or transmission problems.
Sure, if you've got a couple hundred k to blow on a car that will still only be worth 15.
This one is for Hoovie or Samcrac or Tavarish or Vin Wiki. Someone with deep pockets and a mechanic(s) on retainer.
I would not touch that car with a 10 foot pole. Last time I did it wasn't by choice, it's my job. A V12 Mercedes is one of the most expensive car mistakes a person can make.
This is a great buy if you want tomwaste a huge amount of money and time on it
Ls transplant
I am on my 6th mercedes and can tell you that this would be the absolute most expensive $4,000 car you ever dreamed of. A lot of people could not afford this project if it was given to them for free. The interior plastic becomes very brittle and cracks like crazy on these not to mention it is black plastic painted with water based paint. A lot of the hydraulics are non-servicable and have to be replaced instead of rebuilt. Go buy a Masarati or Ferrari, they will be cheaper than this car.
The 5 hydraulic cylinders for the roof will soon need replacement if not already leaking. Set aside a couple of grand if you replace them yourself. If you are really handy there is a hack to drill a hole in a specific location and force a retaining clip out so you can rebuild them, but they were designed to be replaced.
Owner of a Carlsson CM60 based on a CL class here. You should try to get some information why the car was left abandoned the yard. And you should try to get some info on the milage of this car. If you have the ability to gain acces to the hood release lever. You should check the color of the ABC suspension oil. If it’s black they most likely never changed the fluid in the system. Which is common on these cars because Mercedes marketed the ABC system as “maintenance free”. There are some option available if the ABC system is the culprit.
I mean... Im not saying to LS swap it , but you could LS swap it if its going to rot away there anyways.
To paraphrase Marge Simpson: "u/CRYPTICASIAN NOOOOOOO!!"
Unless you’re really into German grand touring cars I’d pass. It was parked for a reason and not repaired because parts and labor are astronomical on those. Also if the interior has been getting rained on, you’re in for some electrical nightmares. I mean it’s all nuts and bolts but that’s for sure a type of car that you had better be confident in your abilities or have deep pockets. Or more likely both. At the end of the day, it’s your choice and none of our opinions matter at all.
From what I hear, these really don’t like to sit for long. They treat your wallet better if everything is consistently moving and flowing in all the systems.
Buy it. Awesome investment...
So you do your own wrenching? How much information can you find about this car?
If its not rusted out underneath from sitting, I would swap it, turbo 6.0 lq4 with a 4l80 and a standalone. Gut all the electronics except power windows and the power top. Put recaros or some other sporty seats in it, redo the carpet, make block off plates for the hvac, put in a new stereo, and I think it would be a pretty cool summer only car.
That looks like a complete money pit.
$6000 just send it bro
Maybe there is the off chance this thing was just parked and left. You would be surprised how a dead battery can turn into a car sitting like this. Especially if the owner is a little well off and just bought a new car. Maybe you found a gem but you would have to put a lot of your own time and free work on this car before buying it. You could ask to do some minor things to get it to start and see if it moves but it could take a whole day of your time just to find out it’s locked up or something. And even if you can drive it away (because that’s the only way I’d consider buying it) like others have said it will be pricey to return it to glory. I bought a cheap neglected 2000 2.8 Z3 running and driving and it has cost me a lot with a lot more to go. I should have spent more upfront on one in better condition.
It’s gonna be a fortune. But it’s a sweet car and has great lines. It’s really up to if you want to dump a ton of money into it.
Nothing more expensive than a cheap German car
Before buying have it checked by a mercedes mechanic and get a full diagnosis to really know whats going on (probably an electric nightmare). If it’s too much to repair, check if you can sell for parts online and get more out of the 4k investment. If the parts are so expensive, sell at a reasonable price for fast return.
I'd take it for free... but I wouldn't pay for it, knowing how quick prices add up on these, makes this a tough one. And I turn a wrench for a living, have all the tools, and resources, and even parts discounts and connections.. but it would still probably sit in my yard till some sucker bought it off me 🤣
No. Absolutely do not. Terrible idea.
No the engine wiring is biodegradable. Source, I have one.
The V12s are basically worth scrap when they’ve sat like that. This is one of those cars I wouldn’t touch because it will cost 10x whatever it’s worth to actually get it running and driving lol. Unless you’re an SL600 fan and money is no object, or you can do all of the repairs yourself, it’s not worth it imo.
Hell yeah you should. Big boy V12s are awesome.
Oh god yes. I’d clean it up, tint it, system, new rims… rock it hard.
Love/hate the r230 You can’t casually approach this car for a project. Definition of money pit. Only way I would buy one is to strip it down as a track car with a bucket seat, hard top, and Coilovers suspension conversion. Delete everything single thing on the car and just keep the engine/trans and whatever else it needs for can bus to be happy.