2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500

Crazy to think that $20,000 isn’t considering a large sum of money for a car anymore, but it will still buy you a handful of really cool used stuff as long as you are okay with it being 20 years old. Hard to wrap my head around the fact that the R230 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class is in fact that old, but thankfully it doesn’t look its age. Today’s car, a 2003 SL500 up for sale in Chicagoland, brings a whole lot of flash with its Mars Red paint, but thankfully you can drive away while still being under that $20,000 limit.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 on eBay

Year: 2003
Model: SL500
VIN: WDBSK75f53f028319
Engine: 5.0 liter V8
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Mileage: 69,233 mi
Location: Naperville, Illinois
Price: $19,999 Buy It Now

This 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 w/ AMG Turbine wheels and new tires is powered by a V8 paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and is finished in Mars Red over Sand leather. Equipment includes 18″ Turbine-style AMG wheels, a power-retractable hardtop, bi-xenon headlights, Keyless Go, Parktronic, heated seats, a Bose sound system, and COMAND with navigation. This R230 SL500 has 69k miles and is now offered by the selling dealer with the owner’s manual, a Carfax report, and a clean Illinois title.

The car is finished in Mars and features a power-folding convertible hardtop. Other equipment includes bi-xenon headlights, fog lights, fender air vents, parking sensors, and bodywork including a revised front spoiler, side skirts, and quad exhaust outlets.

Recent service receipt 🧾 includes $3,000 in service just performed! New headliner installed! Newer tires installed. Interior reconditioning performed. Oil changed performed at Discount Tire! Newer Tires installed!

I’ll continue to sing my praises of the R230 SL500 as a fairly stout cruiser with a bulletproof drivetrain and above-average reliability in terms of expensive old convertibles. The tops can be troublesome but not any more than the R129, and the suspension struts are a bit pricey if they fail. Looking at the service records provided, it looks like one strut was already done at $850, so keep that in mind when looking at these.

As I mentioned, this is a lot of car for $20,000. These are at their bottom and you are not to lose 40% of the value on it by owning it for two years and adding 8,000 miles. Just get prepared for some normal service and a few issues and you’ll be fine.

– Andrew