2005 Mercedes-Benz R230 SL500 with Grey Leather

Mercedes-Benz’s undying desire to showcase its engineering prowess has often resulted in cars that were proclaimed to be ahead of their time. The noughties were about to be an upward graph for Mercedes, but replacing the ageing R129 wouldn’t have been easy. Thankfully though, the trick up their sleeve was a car that was made prioritising things that Mercedes-Benz hadn’t exactly done before. A leather-intensive interior wouldn’t be commonplace in an entry-spec Merc saloon but in a new SL, luxury had to be paramount. Plus with a V8 engine at launch (followed by a V6 and even a V12), Mercedes-Benz were very clear that with the then-latest grand tourer, they hadn’t put performance in the back seat. What they did was bestow the all-new SL with a top-class metal folding roof — a first for the model line; called Vario Roof, this could be opened or closed in a matter of just 16 seconds — ABC (or Active Body Control), a rather clever cruise control system called Distronic, and even brake-by-wire, among other things. The new SL was, as you’d expect, well ahead of its time.

That the R230 is well over two decades old isn’t going to be the most obvious observation, because its design has most definitely aged well. Take this, BG55 EKR, for instance; it’s a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SL500, presented in a remarkably clean shape. With 58,000+ miles on the odometer, the car has been used sparingly and is backed by a detailed service history (especially from 2010 onwards, which is when the current keeper acquired it). In addition to that, the unmissable bit about this example has to be its near-perfect spec: it gets AMG alloys, which look mega, and the optional panoramic roof, which undoubtedly heightens the ownership experience.

Every car listed on the SLSHOP Assured marketplace undergoes a thorough check for utmost transparency, ensuring that what one sees is what one gets. This 2005 Mercedes-Benz R230 SL500 has scored rather well in the test, with the only notable deviation from its original condition being old tyres, which we'd recommend replacing. As can be seen in the photos, the Brilliant Silver bodywork is damage-free, and even looking at it closely, the paintwork seems to be good. The front bumper has some stone chips, and the Alpaca Grey Nappa leather interior is astoundingly clean, it only has some minute signs of age-related wear. To someone who's not keeping up with how the SL has evolved over the years, this R230 can definitely look like the latest iteration; it's that good!

Registered first in September 2005, this R230 SL500 has three former keepers and comes with a bunch of paperwork including previous invoices, MoT certificates, and even official documents signifying that it was bought by the current owner as a Mercedes-Benz-certified used car. It was bought in 2010 and since then the car has done close to 30,000 miles. According to the supplied data, the SL had its brakes serviced and new brake pads fitted about 3,000 miles ago.

The R230 feels so modern in many ways that it seems a world apart from its predecessors, but by no means is it a lesser car. As a grand tourer, it doesn't take too long a drive in one to understand the bucketloads of appeal it has. From the way it's designed and specced to how much of an aural pleasure the V8 engine brings, the SL500 is a pretty spectacular thing. That's not to say it doesn't perform well, though, because at 300+ bhp, when new, the M113 V8 has enjoyed a respectable position in the Mercedes-Benz engine hierarchy.We think this is going to be a solid purchase for someone keen to enjoy an R230 with nearly all the bells and whistles.