Used Mercedes-Benz 500 review: 1990-1993

The SL is the hero model in the ’Benz range. It was when it was introduced in the 1950s and it still holds a special place in the hearts of Mercedes-Benz aficionados today.

In the Mercedes-Benz lexicon SL literally means “lightweight sports”. It was an apt description of the 300 SL that began the line, but by the time the 500 SL was launched in 1990 it was anything but light.

A more apt description of the 500 SL perhaps might have been “luxury sports”, but it was still an awesome two-seater sports car and ranked among the best in the world at the time of its launch.

MODEL WATCH

At the time of its launch the 500 SL was the first open top roadster released by Mercedes-Benz for 18 years and was an instant hit in Europe. The success was repeated here when it made these shores, and the first four years of supply was quickly spoken for as SL fans lined up for a slice of history.

Australia only got the big-bore quad-cam V8 model, and it came loaded with everything from traction control to an electrically adjustable interior rear view mirror. It shared the top spot on the ’Benz totem pole with the S-Class sedan, but the S-Class could never approach the SL’s blend of style, performance and status.

The 500 SL was impressive from every angle, and like all great sports car it looked capable of going fast even when it was parked outside the café as its owner sipped a latte inside.

It was to be Mercedes’ sports car for the 1990s and as such couldn’t date quickly. Look at its sleek, lithe lines today and it’s clear that the 500 SL’s designers met their brief perfectly. Almost 20 years after its launch, it still turns heads like few cars can.

The 500 SL was a complex car. As the Mercedes-Benz flag-bearer it pushed the boundaries of contemporary automotive engineering and packed the very latest technology available at the time.

It came equipped with a clever power folding roof, an automatic rollover bar that sprung into place when it seemed you were about to turn turtle, there was traction control to keep the wheels from spinning, and the seats boasted automatically adjusting seat belts.

The 500 SL was a surprisingly big car, a message that came through loud and clear when it was driven over a weighbridge. It was longer, wider and taller than its predecessor, and weighed in at a whopping 1770 kg.

The suspension was fully independent with struts at the front and a five-link system at the rear; the brakes were disc front and rear with ABS keeping a watchful eye on them to prevent lockup, and the steering was power-assisted.

Under the elegant bonnet lay a fuel-injected double overhead camshaft 5.0-litre V8 that put out 240 kW at 5500 revs along with 450 Nm at 4000 revs. The V8 was linked to a four-speed automatic transmission; Mercedes didn’t offer the buyers of its premier sports car the choice of a manual gearbox.

Despite its considerable mass the 500 SL still packed plenty of performance. When the taps were opened to their maximum the 500 SL required a little over six seconds to reach 100 km/h, but it really came into its own on the open road where it would run all day at its electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h.

It also had impressive road manners. It was sure-footed with big low profile tyres on 16-inch alloys, rode comfortably and was finely balanced with a damping system that lowered it by 30 mm when it was travelling at more than 120 km/h.

IN THE SHOP

The 500 SL was a technically advanced car for its time and for that reason needs the care of a trained specialist with a thorough knowledge of the technology and experience in keeping it in good fettle. Generally the 500 SL was well built and this reflects in its on-going reliability, but they are now getting on in years, if not in kays, so the chances of something going wrong are getting higher.

Before laying out any of your hard-earned cash have an inspection conducted by an expert who can give you a comprehensive report on a car’s condition. Be wary of imports, and there are quite a few from Europe and Asia that could well have been subjected to some pretty tough climatic conditions before they landed here. Local cars are more likely to have done fewer kilometres and housed in secure garages out of the weather, so they make a much more compelling case than cars with little known history from parts unknown.

IN A CRASH

Few cars in 1990 had an airbag, but the 500 SL was one that did. There was an airbag for the driver, and the ‘pop-up’ rollover bar provided protection in the event the car rolled over. It also boasted ABS, traction control, and the self-lowering suspension for an impressive dynamic safety package.

AT THE PUMP

A heavy car powered by a large capacity, highly tuned V8 engine is not a recipe for great fuel economy, but 500 SL owners are not likely to drive their cars on a daily basis so the cost of the occasional sunny Sunday drive usually isn’t high for them. If it were of concern it would get 15-18 L/100 km in average use.

LOOK FOR
• Classic roadster styling
• Head turning prestige
• Awesome performance
• Be wary of imports
• Packed full of features

THE BOTTOM LINE
Perfect for the Sunday drive if you prefer your sports motoring with loads of luxury and style.

RATING
75/100