2003 Mercedes-Benz SL350

Dating back to 2003, this car has ticked up 102,000 miles on the odometer, over its 20-year lifespan. This Mercedes 350SL is finished in metallic silver with black hide interior and it is quite simply in splendid condition for its age. The vendor is a reluctant seller who is only selling it because he’s recently purchased exactly the same car but several years newer and it’s too expensive to have two cars on the drive. The car comes with most available options including a fully retractable electric hard top, air conditioning, satellite navigation, heated electric seats, a high quality sound system, and it comes with the advantage of AMG alloy wheels.

One would think it’d be hard to improve on what the R129 offered, but they’d be wrong, because with the R230, Mercedes-Benz didn’t just present a more curved design, it did so without losing an ounce of elegance. The way the R230 sits is only improved by the sleek appearance of the three-piece metal ‘vario-roof’. This was standard on the SL at this point, unlike the early cars where the standard car came with a soft top and the hardtop was a standalone unit and not integrated with the convertible mechanism.

The silver paintwork looks to be largely excellent on this 2003 example, highlighting the car’s hugely likeable design and some touches that add character to its styling, like the vents in the front wing and on the bonnet. The quad headlamp design was followed by other Mercs from that era, but it probably looks the best on the R230. Despite not being an out-and-out AMG model, this example comes with AMG wheels, but the standard bits help it keep a low profile. And that somehow works exceptionally well in the R230’s case.

The overall condition hides the SL 350’s age pretty well; there’s just a small blemish on the paintwork around the wheel arch on the driver’s side. There does not seem to be any obvious signs of rust or use-related marks.

This example presents very well and the interior is top class and in great condition, just as one would hope for from an SL. As an early noughties model, it wears a brushed aluminium finish on the central console and a fairly busy dashboard design. The plastics are typically 2000s, but everything is clean, light, and almost unused. The driver’s seat does seem to exhibit some light sagging but the seats are fully adjustable, offering exceptional comfort and support, and the state-of-the-art entertainment system provides crystal-clear sound quality and a range of advanced features.

This car comes with a multifunction steering wheel, leather seats (which came as standard) and climate control, all packaged in a neat layout. With the metal roof, this motor can basically be turned into a coupe at the press of the button that operates the convertible mechanism. Gone are the rear seats, but that shouldn’t be too much of a hardship.

Under the hood, the SL350 is powered by a potent 3.7L V6 engine that delivers impressive performance and acceleration, and can deliver just under 250 bhp. With a top speed of over 150 mph and a 0-60 mph time of just 6.9 seconds, this car is sure to provide an exhilarating driving experience. This might not put it anywhere close to the V12 models, but it didn’t miss out on the dynamic and technological improvements Mercedes made, including the brake-by-wire system. It’s worth noting that the SL 350 was just about 50 bhp down on power when compared to the V8-powered SL 500, so the difference isn’t huge unless compared side-by-side. Mercedes moved forwards with an SL which had a wider range of more powerful engines which blurred the boundary between a GT car and a supercar.

The SL350 makes use of the standard suspension unlike the more prestigious ones which had the brand’s automatic body control, but that means the SL 350 wasn’t lugging around an additional 30 or so kilos. The underside doesn’t look to be affected terribly by age, but it’ll definitely look better after a thorough clean-up.

The R230 Mercedes-Benz SL was launched as the successor to the now-much-loved R129. The SL 350 was the entry-level offering and the range also included other V8 and V12 engine versions, including some pretty desirable AMG examples, too. That being said, the V6-engined SL 350 was no slouch. This car comes with its original service book, owner’s manual and car care guide and it is in lovely condition. Looking at MoT records, this car has a valid MOT until September 2023.

The R230 doesn’t look twenty years old and the same is the case with this 2003 example, which benefits from good upkeep and a fairly modest mileage. It has a valid MoT, an exceptionally clean interior and bodywork, and even a space-saver spare wheel. The underside does look to have some surface rust but everywhere else the car is nearly immaculate. We think a prospective buyer will have to part with somewhere between £5,000 and £10,000 to take this car away and that makes this a lot of car for the money.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with the vendor in Farnham Common, United Kingdom. To arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.