2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500

With one owner for 16 years – and just the one after that – this Mercedes-Benz SL500 is a one-of-a-kind with just 46,000 miles on the odometer, which explain its condition.

Finished in Brilliant Silver (paint code C744) with a grey leather interior, it looks terrific but it’s very far from being an all-show-and-no-go convertible as the mighty five-litre V8 can whisk you to 62mph in 6.8 seconds and on to a top speed of 155mph, which is enough, surely?

It’ll do it it style and luxury, too – and if that weren’t enough, it’s being offered with no reserve, so it’s going to sell from the very first bid.

As you’d expect give its long-term ownership, the SL presents very well. With straight flanks, neat and consistent shutlines, and excellent alignment, the R230 shows why Mercedes-Benz build quality was so praised by contemporary reviewers and owners alike.

But, that it all look so good after almost 20 years speaks volumes about its curation. The Brilliant Silver paintwork is still shiny and even, and all the ancillaries like light lenses and badges, are in good shape.

As are the 18-inch AMG alloy wheels, which only show one minor bit of damage, a gentle nibble you can see in photo #21.

They’re also fitted with a matching set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres. We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

The electric roof rises and falls at the press of a button, but then you’d expect nothing less given the condition of the rest of the car, would you?

Faults are few. There is a mark on the edge of the driver’s door (#64) and another on the bumper (#34). Neither look problematic and are, sadly, the price of doing business in 21st century traffic.

You will want to explore the corrosion we spotted in #66 on the trailing edge of the roof panel before it gets any worse though.

And finally, we have also noted that the Central Locking is a bit temperamental. It will lock the doors, but the key is required to unlock them. Similarly, the fuel filer cap, wont stay in the closed position. The vendor has informed us that he will resolve these issues post sale.

The grey leather seats aren’t just electrically adjustable. Oh no, they’re heated and cooled, too. This was, you’ll recall, a very expensive motor car when it was new and is stuffed to the gunnels with toys for you to play with.

The doors contain Bose speakers, for example, which faithfully reproduce the sounds sent to them by the headunit. There’s also a built-in sat-nav that can connect to your phone for hands-free calling plus cruise control, electric windows, and central locking.

Further signs of care come via the presence of the original first aid kit. Plump and comfortable seats too, with leather that shows nothing more than very light creasing to their finish.

The door cards are also in great shape, as are the carpets. Even the wood veneer is glossy and free of damage. It really is a lovely place to be.

The wind deflector offers the possibility of ruffle-free motoring although we did see a tear in it (#156).

The boot, which is home to the (slightly scuffed) space saver spare wheel, tool kit, and battery, is neatly presented. The DVD-based sat-nav control unit is in there too, should you want to explore why it isn’t working.

Speaking of work, there is a little to do, but only a little. The mats could do with a wash (#141 and #160), there is a tiny area of damage on the base of the driver’s seat that could do with repairing (#138), and a piece of trim is missing from the back of the driver’s seat (#152).

As you can see, it fires into life with a muted roar, instantly settling into a distant hum like all the best V8s do. It revs freely and has a lovely exhaust note through the twin pipes.

The engine bay is very clean and the underside looks good and strong with only surface corrosion. We’ve checked the online MoT history and no tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion.

Oh, and there’s almost half a tank of petrol too, which is worth taking into account given the price of petrol these days!

The SL’s MoT certificate is valid until the end of May 2024 and the recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

It also comes with the original specification sheet, the book pack and one key.

Sadly, as with so many classics, the service history has gone missing at some point. We’ve got one stamp, for a service at 15,799 miles on the 8th of September 2004 but nothing thereafter. Given it was a one-owner-from-new car until recently there’s a chance M-B may have something on their system for other services but we can’t verify that.

The R230 Mercedes-Benz SL500 is a well-respected car, capable of wafting you and a loved one across continents as effectively as it can shuttle you down to your local supermarket for the weekly shop.

As refined with the roof down as it is fully enclosed, it blends sportiness and civility better than most making it the ideal sportscar with which to dip your toe into the world of the modern classic.

And, with a guide price of between £8,000 and £12,000 – and no reserve, so it’ll sell no matter what – it’s not going to cost you a fortune to make it yours, either.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, 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’.