Was buying a used 2004 Mercedes SL500 for Mrs. Wizard a good idea? The CAR WIZARD gives an update
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 4. 01. 2021
- Was it a good idea for the CAR WIZARD đ§ââïž to buy Mrs. Wizard a used Mercedes, let alone the 2004 SL500? They've owned it for several months, how has it performed?
đźđ§ AMAZON AFFILIATE STORE: www.amazon.com/shop/omegaauto... đ§đź
đŹđ§đŹđ§ UK AMAZON STORE: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/omegaau... đŹđ§đŹđ§
𧰠BENDPAK LIFTS: www.bendpak.com đ§°
đ CAR WIZARD MERCH: teespring.com/stores/carwizard đ
đ· INSTAGRAM @therealcarwizard đ· - Auta a dopravnĂ prostĆedky
There's a Hoovie car in the background no matter what angle you use with the camera
Those two guys have a great thing going. Now they just need to find a way to bring in Scotty K., and theyâll take over the world.
@@johnhoey4605 no leave scotty out of it
@@starsaber2002 I would like that 3 time if I could.....here you go đđđ
Hoovie's breaking his own cars to use Wizards for more storage.
@@johnhoey4605 He'd keep screaming: endless money pit.
Key point "If you get a mercedes make sure you can fix it yourself" got it.
I own 2 Mercedes and planning to get another one. I work my own cars so it's not such a big deal to me. Just make sure to atleast have 5k in reserve if something severe does happen and you're not able to fix it yourself.
He's hinted at the sentiment for all exotics too, unless you are filthy rich.
@@HALTHEOO same here ;)
More like "if you have the patience to fix it yourself"
*and make sure you can get wholesale prices for parts too
Mr. Wizard keeps bringing better and better toys for Mrs. Wizard. He's a keeper.
Mr wizard he's a real gent...they seem a solid couple đ..Good bless them both...lovely fella great video thank you both...
I bought a 13 year old SL500 with 47,000 miles on it and It ran beautifully. The only reason I sold it was because my realtor wanted to buy it and paid me top dollar for it. I owned it for 6 years, spent very little on maintenance, and sold it to him for $2000 more than I paid for it. I really miss that beautiful car!
tell me more
so Mrs Wizard has a lead foot!
you go girl!
Go buy it back! You never know
so this video is not truth ?
Lol. "Giggity" plate on the viper.
i was about to say; no one saw the viper plateđ€đ€Ł
If my memory serves me correctly, that could belong to another youtuber. I have definitely seen it in other peoples videos but i just cant remember who.
I was about to say "Will we hear about the Giggity Viper in the background?"
Quag drives dat in his spare time xD
A rich perv in the middle of Kansas. Who would've thought.....
Mrs. Wizard added a lot of value to this video...good job!
Sheâs a natural hey! It seems like she has also been pivotal in opening up and encouraging Wizard himself ! Great to see her more and more itâs a great partnership, he sure treats her right haha
@@tanssi2145
Yes and that is a badass benz
Mrs Wizard is a natural in front of the camera!
Very pretty, too.
Agreed.
At 9:00 she takes her top off.
@@Hissmannen Hahahaha....NO. She takes the CAR'S top off. Major difference.
She mentioned in previous videos she's a teacher, so she has experience with talking to audiences. She's a natural at it.
Mrs Wizard Sees a hole in the middle of the seat, "obviously someone had a taco Tuesday moment" lol
That was the best line of the segment. Love it when a proper lady makes a joke without being too crude.
I bought an 03 SL55 AMG with 24k miles on it back in 05.By the time it was 10 years old (96k miles) it was an absolute nightmare and a HUGE money pit.
I did regular maintenance and fluid changes myself but the ABC suspension,vacuum locks and top hydraulics were EXTREMELY expensive to fix over and over and over.
Do yourself a favor and dont fall for how beautiful these cars are.They are piles of crap after they hit 10+ years old.
These cars were not designed to last.They were designed to drain your wallet.
Hey Wizard, FYI: Your SBC system is probably covered by an extended 25 year / unlimited mileage warranty that was updated by MB USA a few years ago. I have a 05 E500 with SBC that recently had brake errors. It needed a new SBC reservoir...100% covered by MB USA. Often this info doesn't get to 2nd, 3rd etc owners. Maybe have Magic Mike check with one of his dealer friends.
They must of been feeling generous... Or scared of a lawsuit. đ€Ł
@@Derek8487 Yep, I doubt that this warranty covers many other countries...
It was a new invasion of brake by wire, but they ditched it from 2007+ model from what I remember.
@@yass123 ok:)
@@yass123 Yup. My 07 W211 E63 has conventional brakes. (and only 1 battery)
Might be âoldâ but these still look sharp. New wheels really set it off, and a nice sidewall so no rubber band tire harsh ride.
Wizard probably does not want those new rims to get broken too...I still do not understand "painted" tires. Low-pro eliminates sidewall wear, yes, but normal low-pro stock sizes work just fine, while preserving the ride and rim.
@Peder Hansen The only benefit is sharper handling. The draw backs are less resistance to damage meaning more likely to get a blowout from hitting a pothole, bending or cracking the wheel. I got tired of of low profile after replacing my 12th $250 tire during a 5 year period of owning a car with 18 inch wheels, so I just bought 17 inch wheels and increase the sidewall % by 5.
@Peder Hansen There is less sidewall deflection. Also it's kind of like running a stiffer spring. The sidewall acts as shock absorption.
The new trend kind of sucks. Like the Honda Civic Type R coming with 20 inch wheels and a very thin sidewall.The Honda Accord is also available with a 19 inch wheel from the factory. I would have to downgrade to a 17 inch wheel to drive on these terrible roads.
All SL models only get better with age.
Oh no those are low profile tires
You should really include wizard kicking hoobie's bentley in the intro.
I agree lol
Why would he kick it? That car is paying for his boat. He probably gives it a hug every time he walks by it.
@@dkendrick652 because hes tired of fixing it and it keeps needing fixed
There's a guy who opened the fuel tank like you and attempted to weld those baffles. But I never heard of him again.
I hope he drained the fuel first before welding it.
@@houseofno That was the joke.
Woman; "He's an angel." 2nd Woman: "You mean he's that good to you?" Woman: "No, he tried to weld in my gas tank when it was full."
@@markh.6687 An empty tank can be just as dangerous, even moreso. Petrol đđąđđđ will go đ„đđđđđ„ before actual petrol.
@@2H80vids Yes, I know, but it would have ruined the joke.
05 E500 4Matic here: numerous Airmatic parts replaced, shifter module put car in limp mode and had to replace, EGR valve replacement and EGR tube cleaning, SBC pump makes a lot of noise when hitting breaks (fourms said its normal for it to do that), M113 water pump replacement, M113 coolant tank replacement (was getting message coolant level low (even though it was at correct level)), few bulbs replacement, and future repairs coming. Future repairs: put new motor mounts, transmission mounts, flex discs, and driveshaft center support bearing, soon new rear Airmatic shocks replacement, all four new tires, possible fluids changed, fix up scratches and paint chips, and clean headliner and interior.
I was about to pull the trigger on one of these. Until I found out the sheer scale of possible failures and the cost of each. Either a huge wallet, or your own team of mechanics, is the only way to go with these.
Iâve always loved the MB SLs. Every year/version. Congratulations Mrs. Wizard. Happy New Year... and Thanks for the video.
Cheapest fix ever? Bought a used mid 90s Mercury Marquis with the 4.6 V-8. It idled nice, but NO power and very slow to accelerate. I did the basics and checked filters for blockages. Started with the air filter - it was nasty! Replaced it, but still same issue.
I then thought since the filter was bad, maybe there was another blockage downwind. I removed the MAP sensor inlet pipe and looked down it. There was Dandelion fluff and dirt all over the MAP sensor. Cleaned it out with some sensor safe cleaner. The difference was night-and-day. It was like a Mustang after that, tons of power with the proper V-8 growl. Sometime the simplest fixes can have the greatest effect!
I enjoyed the intro!
You two seem like great people.
Enjoy that fun car
Beautiful car! Thanks for taking us along , my wife bought one for one of the sons from a family friend sole owner same year as yours, everything seems to be working of course Iâll go through it thoroughly and find any issues but not bad for a first car for a teen my first was a 63 rambler wish I still had it! Thanks again your channel is very helpful!
Great to see you guys both in the video and thanks for the honest appraisal of MB SL500 running costs...not for the faint of heart was the message I took away unless of course you do the work yourself...and even then...but she sure is pretty...and the car is nice too Mr Wizard. Keep up the great work
I have a CLK 500 with the same sound that you described as the gas tank baffles. No mechanic has been able to diagnose it. Now I know what to look for. Thanks.
Almost 400k subscribers! Congrats on your hard work, love the channel!
Nice to properly hear from Mrs Wizard! She did a great job. More please đ
She seems nice. Lovely family you have there, God bless the wizards đđ»
You should start charging storage rent on that turbo Bentley.
lol his labor charges are also storage fees
I used to own a 2003 E500 and i can say pretty confidently that any mercedes of similar vintage is a huge nightmare of a money pit for anyone who isn't as mechanically competent as the wizard
They can be especially if neglected
I own a CLS500 that has 300'000km on the clock. I'd say it's reliable. SBC, Airmatic, 7G tonic transmission and the m113 5.0 engine are all fully operational. I've just been fixing the little things, nothing major at all. Crucial info: my car was used frequently for drifting by the previous owner, had CNG installed at some point. The past of the car is terrible and mysterious. Speaks volumes about MB that the car isn't dead, in fact far from dead - I love how it drives.
Over the years I noticed that the majority of MB owners who are experiencing reliability issues have American made cars. If it is not made in Stuttgart, Germany - do not buy it.
Its great that you guys have an appreciation for all things automotive. Enjoying your videos!
I just love when mrs. wizard comes on the video. She is just awesome. And yes wizard, you are still amazing, as always.
This guy seems so much less stressed and annoyed than he used to, happy to see that
Me and my mates in Australia love the Wizard - when the pandemic ends, I'll bring the family to the USA and we'll stop past Omega
Very useful. I like how you cover all the potential problem areas. Gives a potential buyer all the highs and lows. Thank you
Another fantastic accurate wizard video! LOVE EM!
I think the way the bulb system works is it looks for changes in resistance. So if your not using the Mercedes euro bulb and you go to the us equivalent the pair of bulbs should be replaced - ie left and right marker bulbs.
I'm digging your Mandalorian tee shirts!
Another good video as always. Its good to see Mrs. Wizard in more videos, she adds
a lot to the channel. She seems like a natural in front of the camera too.
I love seeing multiple vipers in the background. Such awesome cars.
"Taco Tuesday moment" đ€Ł
Took me a second but I died hahaha
I read this as she said it and spit my drink out
Diagnose Dan the Dutch CZcams guy, he showed the very same problem with the wire breaking in the loom, it had been missed by others but he's a great tech, đ
DD rules, he has some amazing diagnosing videos.
Heâs possibly the best tech on CZcams đđ»
I've been looking at an 06 and found this video on a CZcams search. There is a lot of helpful information in your video, thank you.
wiiiiiiiiiiizard - the way Hoovie says it! love the in depth mechanics and problem solving mate! thank you for sharing!
Rockin' them turban wheels đłââïž đ
Turbine, not turban. At least know about what you speak before saying anything.
@@mikek5298 I hope you have a sense of humour in real life.
Americans pronounce tur-bine, as turban, for some strange reason. They don't know how to pronounce Mazda either.
@@OMGWTFLOLSMH moreso southern & midwest americans
"What crazy fix have you have ever done that didn't cost anything (like the tank baffles)?" In California the check engine light can not be on in order to pass smog. Got an inexpensive Yukon and when one part got fixed, another was waiting in line to go out. One of the two knock sensors went bad. Really didn't want to have to take off the entire intake to fix the issue. Plus I was on a time crunch to get it smog check approved and back to the DMV in their given time to finish registration. So, cut the wire for the bad knock sensor and ran it off of one. The computer couldn't tell the difference and it ran just fine. So, a quick cut, splice and tape fixed what would have been a few hour job along with extra parts like the gaskets and new knock sensor.
VT247
I love your new intro! I'd love to hear you talk more about your time in the service, working on tanks. I loved that video!
car wizard you got some of the best content on youtube wishing yall a happy and safe 2021
$5k seems like a bargain, even if you have to put in double for repairs. What other luxury hardtop convertible are you going to buy for $10k?
These cars were close to $100k new.
Absolutely amazing bargain if you can sus out issues before you buy a used car, and fix issues that inevitably come up yourself.
sc430.. and not have any of these issues.. and get 3-400k miles out of it..
Love the unconventional fix on the gas tank baffles.
it was a good fix.
Great honest review. Wish I had seen this before I bought mine
Thanks for the Mastaplasta tip. That's exactly the issue I'm having with my seats. I don't want to replace them either.
Always full of great info!
The SBC has a 25 year, unlimited mileage warranty if they go bad and they will.
Wow thatâs crazy
I'll never trust Mercedes with SBC.
But the dealer won't fix it believe me
@@az7378
Still thousands of them on the road without a problem including my own
@@williamcrawford6543
It depends on the dealer some of them donât want to fix it unless thereâs an error message or it is actually failed, some will fix it or replace it rather as a courtesy if you have a relationship with a good dealer, they will even pay the price of a third-party replacement if the unit has failed this is a mandatory Warranty it is factory backed. You may call them if you have problems with the local dealership.
That's a nice intro you have there, mr Wizard....
such nostalgia when I see this car... Thank you
Thankyou for all the great information! I too have one of those and yes she is expensive to maintain, but I new it was no Honda Accord EX6 ( my daily driver) while I am an aircraft mechanic I don't have shop space or a full set of metric tools. My sl is garage kept and only goes out on nice days. And a great debt of gratitude for all the tutorials such as the verio top harness! I hope to at least tackle some maintainance myself.
the tank baffel problem also can be sloved with magnets. Got that done in my R230 a few years ago. The fix still is working.
How did you fix it and what magnet đ§Č
Well.. all of that is the secret of my car wizzard in Germany .. I only was allowed to watch from a distance ..
Yes mercedes are bulletproof especially the V8s
The more I watch, the more I love them both. Such a fun dynamic đ
So nice to see a husband and wife that are so humble
Wizard looking at other cars: *Shows failed parts*
Wizard looking at Mercedes: *Shows ALL parts*
Hahaha
Show ALL the parts!
Looks like Hoovies bad ideas are wearing off on you.
They are very good ideas. Think CZcams dollars.
The âit happensâ Iâm dead !! You guys are so wholesome.
GREAT VIDEO I REALLY APPRECIATE MS WIZARD AND MR WIZARD AND ALL THE GREAT HELPFUL AUTOMOTIVE INFORMATION THAT THEY SHARE
Great video. I've always admired the SL500. Your work has cured me of that particular ailment. The more of your videos I watch, the more I think I should just buy simple vehicles that have a track record for reliability.
Buy a broken Mercedes and put a Toyota motor in it lol
Facts, Sir. These cars are tanks if you maintain them. Most Mercedes are. I spent about $1700 when I got mine last year to bring it back up to spec and it been solid and out of my pockets every since. Thanks to you I learned a lot about what to look for when buying and what needed repair based on symptoms. I didnt fix it but worked along side my mechanic to help him 'guess' correctly.
Mrs Wizard is really becoming a natural on camera! Keep it up!
I love that "it's tons of fun to drive goes suuuper fast" so cute
2.3 tons to be somewhat exact! Heavy car, but it moves!
đ
@@DScaglione. damn that's a heavy car
You can fix the steering wheel with colourlock leather fresh.
Remember when everyone would tolerate the ridiculous cost of MB repairs and service? Then in 1989 something special happened......Lexus
I enjoy all of the videos but I particularly enjoy the ones you do together.
Great Work Wizard & Mrs. Wiz .
Gorgeous car !
Great video Mercedes always scare me
Damn I remember this car in Need for Speed Most Wanted 05 lol
So close to 400K Subs!!! Congrats y'all!
thanks guys for your very honest opinion, great job.
The SBC brakes are under a 25 year factory extended warranty. As for the rest of the car, you are on your own
I agree. Got E500 4Matic 2005. Airmatic and everything else it's up to me.
Whatâs a SBC break?
That'a such a beautiful car...amazing lines...bought for $5500 he says...in my country they cost like 20...
Yep, he's out of touch on the values of these cars. Maybe theirs is a super high mileage one, but one with decent miles and no accident history/clean shape, goes for a lot more than $5k.
Yeah got one for $23,000...
@Peder Hansen I bought a mint Designo addition of this car at an auction for $23,000... totally worth it... except the hydraulic suspension is expensive as ****
@Peder Hansen - There are many R107 SL's and even older generations still on the road. This isn't a disposable Corolla.
@Peder Hansen - Right, that's why you don't see any 80's ones on the road anymore because they rusted out and were junked long ago. Do you know how many R107's are still around and how much they cost? There is no such thing as a classic Corolla.
Ms. Wizard is really really nice - I hope you include her more in future videos! You are a really great couple!
I daily drive my 04 SL500. In fact, I beat the crap out of it on these Humboldt roads. I absolutely love it. I've owned it for 3 years, and I still like it better than other cars 3-4 times the cost. It has enough power to be fun, and is extremely high quality and well built, for the most part. This baffle information is nice information for SL owners; I haven't had this problem yet, but it's nice to know there's an easy work-around.
One thing that would be nice to know is how to add a bluetooth audio connection, maybe through the old CD changer, or something...
Enjoy your awesome ride Mrs. Wizard!
Sounds like Mercedes needs to stop programming their computers to be paranoid helicopter parents.
@@luciolalazilia2189 In agreement here. Interesting in a way, highlighting the difference in time and perspective, that I am inclined to be confused if a bulb does go out and my car doesn't tell me. Immediately I would ask myself "Surely it would have told me?".
My Golf MK7 did the same thing. What was annoying was that the problem was that the stupid plastic "wedge" bulb holder had melted. I never had any problems with bulb holders on any of my previous cars. As for the Wizards question on bodge fixes I bought a new bulb holder,, sawed the old one off glued the new one in its place and soldered the wires to the connector. Total cost, about ÂŁ2 but a mornings work.
Mrs. Wizard is pretty.
"Pretty" weird......
Dont simp. She needs to wash her hair and shower.
@@kk6199 disrespectful
Mr. Wizard, I wish you were in PA! I have the exact same SL500 and it has a parasitic electrical drain! Its my wife's weekend car, so we just keep a battery maintainer on it. It's almost perfect with only 31,000 original miles! All the shops here in my small town are just super busy tire and muffler shops with kids that don't care. They broke all 4 center caps on my brand new wheels on my Suburban, and said, oh well! Sorry, not our fault! Anyway, I love your videos and you have been very informative. Thank you!
Awsome video. Thanks for all the useful information.. I have a 2004 sl500
"Urination Bob"---Hoovie
Whoâs giving the thumbs-down to a Wizard video-especially one with Mrs. Wizard sharing her expertise and insights? I guess thereâs no way to please everyone đł.
No idea why people are negative. I think in 5 years i have given one or two negative marks for video where you cant see anything or hear anything .
@@cayman9873 I was concerned about the typical Yank attitude to the environment. Just why does a woman need a 5.0 litre V8 car? Why does a man for that matter? No green, let's save the planet considerations at all. Here in Europe, most cars are 1.0 to 1.4 litre as anything bigger has been Green taxed off the road in efforts to stop human extinction. USA gas price is $0.69 while EU is 1.80 a litre
@@MonaichFother This SL will stay alive 20 more years at least while several generations of the "green" downsized vehicles get trashed with lots of energy required for producing new ones claiming this saves the world... Doesn't make sense for me, I also keep my E500 - not for speed, just for the environment đ
I honestly think that most of his downvotes are people who click on the thumbs down by accident. It happened to me at least 5 times while on my phone that I noticed I had accidentally downvoted a video. That's the only logical explanation
@@MonaichFother what's wrong with V8 cars? The USA isn't Europe and vice versa. We like our V8 powered cars. For one, we don't have to rev our engines to a million rpms to get a V8 powered vehicle moving. No turbos needed. Fillups don't usually cost a small fortune like they do in Europe. We weren't keen on high taxes, socialized medicine, etc. Most American states here have a very low regulatory burden on our vehicles and we like it that way.
Mr & Mrs Wizard, you make a fabulous team.
Very informative video Car wizard, it's as if I was taking notes from my lecturer đ
ebay, get parts and replace the steering wheel or console covers
Yeah, stick the part numbers in a saved search and snatch them when they come for sale, cheap and good strategy.
If I lived in Kansas, I would do a apprenticeship at Omega Auto Clinic đ
Nice new intro! Was on a road trip a couple of years back and the heat shield fell off my VW Fox, luckily had some Gorilla tape in the car and that fixed it right away. Thought it would be a get me home job but survived until I sold the car and passed two MOT inspections!
Thank u wizard !! Happy new yearâs!!!
I got a 2005 CLK, no ABC, no convertible top and no SBC. Super reliable :)
Owning a Daimler-Chrysler era Mercedes is a science experiment in itself.
Owning a Chrysler in the Daimler Chrysler is ts own adventure too.
Agreed. People think Mercedes just helped Chrysler but it's a two way street as Mercedes looked for cost reduction procedures from Chrysler and it did hurt their reliability.
I like to see Mrs. Wizard in front of the camera! My SLK 230 is a 1998 and has been pretty bullet proof too. Cute Yoda shirt, too.
I have a two customers that have one of these each. After test driving it I fell back in love with cars again. That v8 is a beast inside that little car. That hydraulic suspension is awesome. It's got me thinking about getting one for myself. A soon as you drive you'll realize and remember that it was almost a $100k vehicle when new.
"we haven't had any issues at all with the abc system"....YET
He can handle that, the ABC system has gone 60% down in price there's so many makers of duplicates parts and better Parts actually. O ring problem it would cost him 70 bucks, valve problems expensive pump problems can be a problem
I haven't been this early since I was born.
I havent come this early since I released you into your mom. loool. just kidding.
@@theseer4155 dick move but still đđ
Thanks Mr & Mrs Car Wizard ... âș
Talk about a crazy free fix, my dad had a friend who welded a connecting rod back together
Buying a Mercedes Benz new or used is never a good idea.
Agreed
It's just a matter of time BEFORE hell breaks loose and you stand there with your pants down by a roadside, but even worse is that Mercedes does NOT manufacture quality cars today, it's just a matter of money today to deceive customers
Pre 90's Mercs are fine. I still daily drive them and they are reliable analogue cars.
happy wife happy life wizard
This content is exactly what I was looking for
Hey Mr. Wizard, did you know that you can open and close the top using the key? Press and hold the unlock button to open the top and Press and hold the lock button to close the top. It will roll down/up the windows first before the top engages, just got to keep pressing the button. Cheers!