Coming in at over £100,000 when new, the SL500 is a luxurious two-seater tourer that not only looks the part but has the performance to match as this is fitted with the 5.0 litre V8.
This particular 2003 Mercedes SL500 comes with a few well chosen additional extras, including the burr walnut and leather-trimmed steering wheel with matching gear surround. In addition, the PARKTRONIC system includes parking sensors to the front and rear and there are 18” 5-spoke alloy wheels.
This is a superb Mercedes capable of being used on a daily basis should you wish, or do as the seller has and save it for special occasions.
The SL500 has had just three previous keepers, and the current owner has owned it for over eight years; in that time, he has covered just over 1,200 miles. Even though the mileage covered is low, it has religiously been taken for an MOT and serviced when required to ensure it stayed in tip-top condition.
The last service carried out was in November 2021 at 46,491 miles, just 17 miles ago, which is probably the distance from the garage to the seller's home. It was also put through an MOT test on the same day.
Unfortunately, retirement from driving is the reason the seller is parting with his stunning 2003 Mercedes SL500.
Inside, the Mercedes is in excellent condition, and it’s easy to see that the car is low mileage looking around the passenger area. The electric leather seats work as they should, and the leather is in excellent condition with just the smallest of wear to the driver’s bolster, which could easily be recoloured. The door cards are also in excellent order, with no scuffs or damage to be seen, and all of the seat controls for both doors work as they should.
The dashboard is unmarked; sitting in the driver's seat, you are faced with the burr walnut steering wheel, which was an optional extra. This is in good condition with no apparent wear to the rim or buttons. The instruments are working as they should, with the odometer showing 46,508 miles, and there are no warning lights displayed when the engine is running. The centre of the dash has also been treated to the same burr walnut trim to match. The standard head-unit is in good condition with no noticeable wear to the buttons. The gearknob is in good order, as are the buttons surrounding it, which have no apparent signs of wear.
A set of factory mats have been in place for several years and have done an excellent job of protecting the main carpets, which are unmarked. The mats themselves have slight wear on the driver's side, as you would expect, and the passenger side is in excellent order. The inside of the convertible roof is in good clean condition with no issues to point out. The wind deflector is in place, and the only thing to mention is a small hole on the bottom edge of this. Inside, the boot is nice and clean to match the rest of the car. The spare wheel, tool kit and compressor are present.
Finished in Telurium Silver Metallic (762U), the Mercedes is in superb condition and has clearly been a well-kept vehicle. Starting at the front of the SL, ; there is nothing which jumps out at you. The lights are in good order and are nice and clear with no discolouration to the lenses, and the lower fog lights are free from cracks. The bonnet looks to align as it should, with an equal gap running down each edge.
Around the flanks of the SL, again, it all looks to be in good order, with the doors aligning as they should, having a matching panel gap. There are no dings or dents to point out, and the windows are all in good condition with no apparent scratches noted. The window surrounds are also nice and straight with no corrosion. The hard top is also in good order and opens and closes as Mercedes intended with no hesitation.
At the rear, the all red light clusters have a nice clean contrast to the Telurium Sliver paintwork, there are no scuffs or chips to mention, and the badges are in fine shape with a bright finish to them. The five-spoke 18” alloy wheels are in good condition with just a couple of very light kerb marks on a couple of the wheels. Fitted with a set of matching Michelin Pilot Sport, these have a good amount of tread remaining.
The 5.0 litre V8 fires up with the flick of the key and sounds silky smooth with no signs of any unwanted noises coming from the engine bay area. As mentioned earlier, a service was carried out in November 2021; since then, it has covered just 17 miles. The 5-speed automatic gearbox is reported to have a smooth change as the car pulls strongly through the gears.
The SL also has Active Body Control suspension, meaning it keeps the car virtually level as you turn into the corner and yet it still offers exceptional ride quality, just as you would expect from a luxury car.
The drilled discs at the front look in good order with no excessive lip to the edge, and the rears also look in good condition with just some slight rust deposits. This is because the car has had little use and would easily clean up when driven down the road.
For anyone looking for a luxury two-seater grand tourer, this one will tick lots, if not all, of your boxes in your quest to find the perfect tourer.
Originally priced at over £100,000 when new, today's price means you are getting a lot of car for your money, especially this one with low ownership, good history and very low mileage. It’s been well cared for and not taken out in wet weather for the past eight years. Will you be the next person lucky enough to continue cherishing the stunning SL500?
