320 SL

Very pleased overall, but a few niggles

My first SL, but there have been several W124 Estates and I currently also have a 190 2.6, 1962 Fintail and a Sprinter. Bought on ebay after what seemed quite a detailed description. I'd definitely advise against this in the light of experience - go and see the car and, if it's too far away, forget it and wait. There are still lots around, so be patient.

Despite that, it's been very reliable and has never let me down. The hardtop means it really can be used year-round, the heater and heated seats are excellent. The boot isn't huge, but is Ok for a couple going away for a week. If you're heading somewhere such as France or Italy and want to bring back lots of wine, be prepared to put your bags behind the seats!

There have been no engine issues, but the bits to watch out for are: 1. heater fan. Mine's noisy if you need to crank it up for a quick demist. My Mercedes man told me that they started with the motor and built up the car around it! It's deeply buried and hard to get at without a lot of expensive dismantling. 2. Seat bolsters. They have the traditional Mercedes wear problem as it's very hard to get in and out of the car without rubbing against them. The leather here should be much thicker and mine (after 104,000 miles) is now very unsightly.

The 320 is quick enough, I get 30mpg on a run without driving like a snail. The build quality isn't as good as a W124, but way better than C & E Class of a similar ago.

I'd have another.

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