Mercedes 500SL Basic Appraisal

The customer reported a few issues with our 1985 Mercedes 500SL, and Pete confirmed most of them during a test drive:

• Rattle & Knocking Sounds:
  A noticeable rattle occurs at very low speeds or from a standstill. Additionally, there’s a knocking noise from the passenger side, especially over uneven roads. This could hint at suspension or steering issues.
• Cruise Control:
  As reported by the customer, the cruise control wasn’t working.
• Brakes & Steering:
  The brakes functioned well, including the handbrake, which holds firmly and keeps the car straight. Steering felt fine overall, though the knock might still be related.
• Gearbox:
  The gear changes were slow at times and selecting “Park” resulted in a noisy shift.

Lighting Issues

While the external lights are fully operational, there were a few concerns with internal and auxiliary lighting:

• Courtesy Lights: Only work when the doors are opened, not via the dashboard switch.
• Dashboard Dimming: The instrument cluster doesn’t dim when adjusted.
• Park Brake Bulb: Fails to illuminate when the parking brake is applied.

Heated Seats

The heated seat switches are non-functional. They’ve completely collapsed in their housing, rendering them unusable and unlit.

Engine Bay

A peek into the engine bay revealed a mix of positives and areas needing attention:

• Oil & Fluids:
  • Oil level is fine, but the oil itself is slightly dirty.
  • Brake fluid is clean and at a high level.
  • Coolant is brown, although the level is okay.
  • The washer fluid reservoir is full of mould and gunk, which could block the pump.
• Filters & Belts:
  • Air filter is a bit dirty but still serviceable.
  • Auxiliary belts are worn and cracking—replacement is strongly recommended.
• Battery: The terminals are corroded and need cleaning.

Tyres

A close inspection of the tyres uncovered some concerning details:

• Spare Tyre: A 34-year-old Continental tyre that’s heavily cracked and perished.
• Driver’s Front Tyre: Dunlop, 5mm tread, with minor cracking. No DOT code was visible.
• Driver’s Rear & Passenger’s Rear Tyres: Both are Runway Enduro, 6mm tread, 15 years old.
• Passenger’s Front Tyre: Forcum brand, 5mm tread, also 15 years old.

Recommendation: All tyres should be replaced due to their advanced age and cracking.

Suspension & Steering

Several issues were noted beneath the car:

• Suspension:
  • Front lower arms have play, and the bushes are perished.
  • Rear exhaust rubber is beginning to split.
• Steering:
  • Minimal play in the driver’s track end.
  • Play in steering tie joints and the damper arm.
• Exhaust:
  • The heat shield is loose on the exhaust link pipe.
  • The exhaust has been repaired and painted, but the paint is now flaking, and rust is returning.

Underside Condition

There were signs of wear and tear under the car:

• Corrosion:
  • Slight underbody rust, with the driver and passenger sills showing small crusty holes. Pete wasn’t sure if these were factory imperfections or rust-through spots.
• Oil Leaks: Minor oil residue was observed on the sump and power steering pump, but no drips were evident overnight.

Additional Notes

• The steering wheel’s centre bolt is heavily damaged.
• Hardtop functionality couldn’t be tested as the soft top is currently fitted.