top of page
Page Contents
Image Placeholders2_edited.jpg

£3,300 • £2,000 - £5,000

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 AMG ( R230)

United Kingdom • 16 Dec 2025

Auction House Logos6.png

Vehicle Details

AI Listing Summary

This 2003 Mercedes-Benz SL500 AMG has had two owners and comes with a full service history, panoramic glass roof, and a 5.0 V8 engine. Noted issues include some corrosion and mechanical wear, offering the potential for added value through refurbishment.

ai-technology.png
ai-technology_edited_edited_edited.png

Condition 

5

The car has some noted issues including rear shock absorbers requiring attention, minor water ingress from boot seals, non-functional passenger door locking button, corrosion around the rear wheel arches, boot gas struts needing replacement, sun bleaching on the bonnet, and the SL55 AMG alloys would benefit from refurbishment. There is noticeable cosmetic and mechanical wear.

/ 10

Automatic

Transmission:

[Chassis No]

Chassis No:

Odometer:

105,120 miles

CV53 MKF

Reg Number:

RHD/LHD:

RHD

Background: Introduced in 2002, the R230-generation SL-Class represented a significant step forward for Mercedes-Benz, combining elegant design, advanced technology and effortless grand touring ability.

The SL500, equipped with the smooth and powerful 5-litre V8 and 7-speed automatic transmission, delivered a refined blend of performance and comfort.

With its fully electric vario-roof transforming the car from coupé to convertible at the touch of a button, the SL offered genuine year-round usability and quickly became one of the most desirable luxury roadsters of its era.

The Car: Finished in Obsidian Black Metallic over a two-tone Sand Leather and Burr Walnut interior, this SL500 AMG dates from 18 February 2004 and remained with its first owner for over 14 years before being purchased by our vendor on 1 December 2018 with an indicated mileage of 72,500.

In addition to the generous standard specification found on the SL500, this example was ordered new with the following options: ...

Points of note

£2,576

Lowest Price (Since 2020)

£13,188

Median Price (Since 2020)

£47,305

Highest Price (Since 2020)

one.png

World Record

If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will set a new world record for the [enter model]

percentage-graph.png

Bottom 10%

The sale price places it in the bottom 10% of sold prices we've ever seen for the Mercedes-Benz (R230) SL 500

low-price.png

Lowest Price

If this vehicle sells at the mid-point of its estimate it will be the lowest price we've seen for the [enter model]

checkmark.png

Average Price

The mid-point of the vehicle's estimate places it near the average price we see for the [enter model]

diamond-icon.png

Rare Sale

This vehicle comes to market rarely. In auction records we've only seen [enter number] sold before

must-have.png

Icon

This vehicle comes is an icon of the game. Any collection would benefit from having one

Previous Sales

Gallery

MOT Information

Valid

Expires on Jan 06 2027

Latest MOT Mileage

105,257 miles

Registration Date

2004-02-18

MOT History

Passed

On Jan 07 2026 with 105,257 miles

There were 5 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
- Nearside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Front suspension unit damp
- Offside Front mirror microchromatic unit failed

Passed

On Feb 13 2025 with 104,050 miles

There were 3 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Brake damaged, but the braking system is not adversely affected backing plate (1.1.21 (a) (i))

Failed

On Jan 14 2025 with 103,998 miles

There were 4 defects noted.

Major:
- Windscreen washer not working (3.5 (a))


Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Rear Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Brake damaged, but the braking system is not adversely affected backing plate (1.1.21 (a) (i))

Passed

On Jan 03 2024 with 100,316 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Brake hose slightly deteriorated both rear brake hose slightiy perishing (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front brake pipes covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Failed

On Jan 03 2024 with 100,314 miles

There were 3 defects noted.

Major:
- Horn not working (7.7 (a))


Advisory:
- Brake hose slightly deteriorated both rear brake hose slightiy perishing (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material both front brake pipes covered in grease (1.1.11 (c))

Passed

On Jan 05 2023 with 95,027 miles

There were 8 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Offside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))
- Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
- Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
- Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Failed

On Jan 05 2023 with 95,027 miles

There were 10 defects noted.

Major:
- Offside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension component ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))


Advisory:
- Nearside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Offside Front Inner Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (1.1.14 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Offside Rear Brake hose slightly deteriorated (1.1.12 (b) (ii))
- Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))
- Central Exhaust has a minor leak of exhaust gases (6.1.2 (a))
- Nearside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))
- Offside Front Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material (1.1.11 (c))

Failed

On Dec 19 2022 with 94,987 miles

There were 4 defects noted, with 1 deemed dangerous.

Major:
- Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt lower (5.3.4 (b) (ii))


Advisory:
- Offside Front Inner Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))

Passed

On Dec 07 2021 with 88,386 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))
- Offside Rear Nail in tyre

Passed

On Dec 16 2020 with 83,503 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Failed

On Dec 08 2020 with 83,387 miles

There were 4 defects noted, with 1 deemed dangerous.

Advisory:
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge inner edge / very close (5.2.3 (e))
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (1.1.13 (a) (ii))
- Nearside Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Passed

On Dec 17 2019 with 78,305 miles

There was 1 defect noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play tie rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Failed

On Dec 13 2019 with 78,305 miles

There were 5 defects noted.

Major:
- Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Brake pad(s) worn down to wear indicator brake warning on dash (1.1.13 (a) (i))


Minor:
- Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint dust cover severely deteriorated A arm (5.3.4 (b) (i))


Advisory:
- Offside Front Upper Suspension arm ball joint has slight play A arm (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Nearside Front Steering linkage ball joint has slight play tie rod (2.1.3 (b) (i))

Passed

On Dec 10 2018 with 72,993 miles


Failed

On Dec 07 2018 with 72,992 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Major:
- Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn rear ball joint (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint dust cover no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (5.3.4 (b) (ii))

Failed

On Nov 09 2018 with 72,925 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Major:
- Offside Front Suspension arm ball joint excessively worn (5.3.4 (a) (i))
- Offside Front Lower Steering linkage ball joint ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt (2.1.3 (g) (ii))

Passed

On Dec 06 2017 with 68,841 miles


Failed

On Dec 05 2017 with 68,841 miles

There were 2 defects noted.

Fail:
- Nearside Rear Stop lamp not working (1.2.1b)


Advisory:
- Both front tyres perished (255/40R18)

Passed

On Jan 26 2017 with 66,340 miles

There was 1 defect noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Passed

On Jan 28 2016 with 63,358 miles


Failed

On Jan 31 2015 with 58,933 miles

There were 4 defects noted.

Pass after Rectification at Station:
- Offside Registration plate lamp not working (1.1.C.1d)
- Stop lamp remains on when the brakes are released (1.2.1e)
- Nearside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)
- Offside Headlamp aim too low (1.8)

Passed

On Jan 31 2015 with 58,933 miles


Passed

On Jun 23 2014 with 57,847 miles


Passed

On Jul 10 2013 with 56,398 miles


Passed

On Jul 05 2012 with 54,504 miles


Passed

On Jul 22 2011 with 50,045 miles


Failed

On Jul 21 2011 with 50,045 miles

There were 5 defects noted, with 1 deemed dangerous.

Fail:
- Nearside Front Front suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint (2.5.B.1a)


Advisory:
- Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)
- Offside Front Road wheel with a slightly distorted bead rim (4.2.A.1a)


User Entered:
- (Dangerous) N/S/F tyre has a cut in the sidewall down to the cords but less than 25mm long.

Passed

On Mar 03 2011 with 46,347 miles

There were 4 defects noted.

User Entered:
- nearside front wheel slightly bent
- offside front wheel slightly bent
- misting of oil on offside front strut
- slight play in both front lower ball joints

Failed

On Feb 28 2011 with 46,347 miles

There were 6 defects noted.

Fail:
- Nearside Rear Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Track rod end ball joint has excessive play (2.2.B.1f)


User Entered:
- nearside front wheel slightly bent
- offside front wheel slightly bent
- misting of oil on offside front strut
- slight play in both front lower ball joints

Passed

On Jan 27 2010 with 38,516 miles

There was 1 defect noted.

User Entered:
- advise sligth play to osf track rod end

Passed

On Dec 31 2008 with 34,543 miles

There were 3 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)

Passed

On Jan 25 2008 with 31,232 miles

There were 4 defects noted.

Advisory:
- Offside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Front brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)
- Rear brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened (3.5.1i)

Passed

On Feb 06 2007 with 26,895 miles


MOT Mileage Trend

App Launch Header - Website Main.jpg
App Launch Header - Vertical.jpg
bottom of page