Used Mercedes-Benz SL-Class for sale near Gilberts, IL under $20,000

Even though I didn't purchase the vehicle I initially was interested in, the entire encounter with this dealership was impeccable. The owner and his salesman were helpful, patient and respectful. As an individual with autobody and mechanical knowledge, I highly recommend this dealer.

A few concerns to address, the first is ABC active body control is a concern for this car. I own Phone Doctor in Frederick Maryland and hardware tech is my passion so I want to give my feedback. I love the classy lines of the exterior. The interior is equally elegant and tasteful without gaudy disco lights. I was mesmerized into test driving a 2005 SL500 because my daily driver is a 2001 Mercedes s600. The audio system is lackluster, next weakness is the headlights, but the biggest problem is the ABC (active body control) hydraulic suspension. The audio system is disappointing and leaves me feeling flaccid but I’m used to twelve inches of JL systems shimmed into my high school hoopties. The audio system is not the deal-breaker for this $90,000 machine. And the mediocre headlights can be remedied with aftermarket auxiliary lights. The biggest weakness is the high performance suspension system. Mercedes likes to call it ABC (active body control). The hydraulic pump, seals, and mechanical moving parts gets weak and loses its performance anywhere between 80,000 to 150,000 miles. It’ll cost just as much to replace the ABC system than it does to purchase your 2nd hand sl500. If you’re in the market for one make sure you have an extra $20,000 in socked up before you drop your drawers and plop $15k on your first SL500. A dream ride with one last caveat: This car will draw a lot of attention from single ladies!

Thanks it was a great night and thanks again to all of you at the Dealership for the help me in the BMW that you let me test drive and driving it now. Thanks again

Although this car is not my everyday car (for that I kept my Toyota Corolla), it is definitely perfect for pleasure! Drop the top and take off. It is definitely luxury. It was very low mileage for a 2007, but very clean -- almost new -- and beautiful! It rides beautifully. Hugs the road and you cannot feel bumps -- so smooth! It does have a lot of power, though, so not for the faint of heart or the youngsters! The sound system is fabulous, too. Have been enjoying driving this more than I could have ever imagined. Cannot imagine ever getting rid of this car -- just wish I would have found it sooner! Actually pretty comfortable, too. Love the dual climate controls and the messaging seats. We are going to be driving it from Virginia to Iowa to visit my family soon and looking forward to the fun and frolic with this little beauty!

Come see, he is very frienly and attentive, a good place to buy and shop.

This car was in excellent condition. 22,000 miles clean car fax. One owner. No dings great leather. Changed to 550 in 07 from SL 500 on 06. Quick enough!! All I’ve done is change out ALL FLUIDS. Cost a bit to do. Overall elated with purchase

Super nice dealer, very helpful. The process was super simple, got me in the car I always dreamed about. Talked me through the whole process and got me financed with Westlake, thank you!

Always wanted an sl55 amg and finally found one for a reasonable price. The ABC suspension is a huge expense but the car is solid aside from that. With a few modifications and consistent upkeep this car will be a classic sports car for years to come.

One of the better Mercedes models to have ! All together very nice car ,have everyting you need from confort to speed No need for faster one

The owner was a very nice person who helped us feel comfortable when it came time to buy a car. There was no pressure or anything felt when there. They left us alone and gave us space when we needed it. And Nico, the finance manager took very good care of us.

I bought my 2003 mb SL500 in 2023 with 30,000 original miles. It runs excellent has a bullet proof engine and design will always be IN vogue cuz of its sleek design. I got all the previous repair receipts from original owner which is great to know the history. As with any 21 yr old car there may be repairs. I have a great MB independent repair shop called Star Motors in Gainesville Fl who really knows these cars and they fix them right and for less than a dealer. Sure thing’s can go wrong and I have found repairs about 25% more than Honda or Toyota. One has to factor in repairs no matter what. I like the 5.0 engine and one thing is they last! They ride so smooth on the wide tires on the highways and there tight steering. Bose sound system still working great afte all these years. Buy one have it inspected if your worried. There in my view great cars. Depreciated a lot since new at $100,000 out the door. So paying 15k to 20k is a bargain. You’ll love it!

I purchased a 2016 Toyota Tundra from Sal. He answered my questions with no pressure to purchase. After I made the decision to purchase it took less than an half hour to fill out the paperwork and driving off the car lot with no extra fees. I would recommend Ultimate Motor Cars and ask for Sal. P.S. I had an opportunity to walk through the shop and talked with the mechanics. These guys all seem knowledgeable and love working cars.

This is the 2nd SL class I've owned, so ill try to keep this objective. These are state of the art vehicles with features way ahead of their time. They are built straight forward and repairs can be undertaken by the owner more than one would think. If you can find one in a salvage yard, you can learn how things come apart with little risk of damaging your own. The value of the experience sometimes outweighs the time it takes to learn. If that makes any sense... This car is easy to love, who wouldn't? Neck breaking acceleration, sexy good looks, the way it cradles its occupants, and surrounds them with luxury appointments unmatched by other maker's offerings. The feel is rock solid at the wheel and pedals, despite how heavy the car feels. More than enough ponies, to confidently pass or merge, and brakes that could stop a semi-tractor. The gauges are well placed, and logical information comes at your finger tips with the multi-function steering wheel. The cockpit seating seems to have an Infinite number of positions, and the easy exit feature will undoubtedly preserve the leather of the lumbar lobe. Controls are semi-ergo friendly; however the roll bar and hard top controls would be better positioned anywhere besides directly under your elbow. Concealing the roll bar up/down switches beneath the top control, does not demonstrate forethought by MB engineers. Driving the car is truly exhilarating, top up or top down. The sound remains with BOSE, and a disc changer allows for more choice. Staggered wheels are staple with the MB roadster, and improved with 35/40 series width adding to the nimble agility already demonstrated by the car. So... What's to hate? Depreciation! I feel sorry for the 1st owners of an SL. At the same time i envy that they can take it in stride. If it were not for these brazen buyers, i would never be able to afford this car. Repairs and failures... Fortunately, I've got advanced wrenching ability or this car would keep me in hock up to my neck. Although the hard top is a mastery of elegance in motion, it is delicate and prone to failure. The deck lid/boot cover/trunk lid, can present quite a challenge when, (not if), the latch fails. There is literally no way to get at the repair w/o creating damage in the course of gaining access to the latch assembly. I ended up designing and fabricating a tool that can reach the manual release levers from the rear of the cockpit. This body style incorporates a fuel cel that has an internal problem. A baffle becomes disconnected and creates an obnoxious clunk at the storage bulkhead. The fix is said to call out 18+ hours of tech time to remedy. (Ouch!) The bottom line is: you take the good with the bad, and hope that you can DIY when the time comes for repair. Till that time...enjoy the love.

Julian was great he helped us get into the right car. getting there we weren't sure if this was the car for us until Julian showed us all the features the car had. it was everything we were looking for. I will definitely go back when it comes time to buy my next car

Its weird to read bad reviews on this car, specifically the sl55. Im on my third one. All used. My latest purchase was October 2019. a 2004 sl55. daily driver. I am second owner. Top up and down every day. 95 south Miami traffic and heat. She's been perfect. You just need to find one that the service was kept . The suspension is only a problem when neglected. and now with all the parts and certified techs (private) its a $4,000 fix. Or , do like some others and go coil over for under a grand. I would get in mine and drive anywhere with out any hesitation.

Being an out of state buyer i was nervous dealing with a new dealer, however Eddie my salesman was very meticulous and a delight to work with. The finance team Bill/Max went above and behind to get me the best deal possible. My nephew is going to need a car soon, and i Definity know where I'm going to suggest he should go.

I've had my '03 SL55 since new. It was one of the 1st US delivery cars. 19 years later it still is a gem. Looks amazing, performance from the 500hp V8 is brilliant. I really haven't had very many problems during my ownership. The worst part is depreciation. Mine was $130K out the door. Since I am not planning to sell, I haven't lost a penny. The problem with depreciation is as they get cheaper to buy, the bottom feeders swoop in, but they can't afford to maintain the $130K car they just bought for $30K. This will leave fewer and fewer good cars. If the SL55 is on your radar, buy the best car you can afford, have it inspected by someone who knows these cars and be prepared to maintain it like the $130K car that it is and it will reward you like very few cars can.

Thank you so much, Korey was fantastic! Great customer service! Easy and Fast! And Your Driving

Always a dream Mercedes Benz! Fantastic car to drive and enjoy Life! Drives like a dream! I do Bilsteins B4 and H&R springs with 18” Stagger Wheels! A Super Car!

Was in and out under 30 minutes. Small family dealerhsip, they kept thing simple. You can spend an entire day in a big store, cant deal with all that.

This car was an absolute legend in its day and still is today. It has become a classic and is one of the only reliable Mercedes ever made. The R129 model is THE one.

Very easy to work with. They let me do any checks I wanted, and I did a lot. No surprises and the car was excellent. Very quick buying process and no hassles at all. Definitively recommend this place. Just with I had more time to look at all the truly amazing cars. It would have taken all day!

owned it for 14 years and has been a great vehicle. Had to replace the soft top, and the leather seating of the vehicle. But with the age just necessary repairs.

The general manager, Anthony was very polite. Help me out find the right car and was very patient

This is my dream car . It is fun and sexy and built for curves . The top tucks into the trunk with the touch of a finger ,so you can drop the top at a red light .

not the cheapest to maintain with a hydraulic top and suspension however it's a pleasure to drive and it makes you feel special which to me is worth the money I spend on it

This Mercedes was above other Sports Cars I've owned. All of the Power Functions were reliable, good acceleration when needed. Could sustain speed with little, if any effort. Comfortable, no matter how long the trip. Expensive to repair, should something go wrong, is the only drawback..

Great dealership would definitely recommend it to others staff is very knowledgeable and prices are reasonable

In my opinion, the 1999-2002 SL500's represent the very best two-seater convertible in the world at any price. Sure there are now metal-retractable-top convertibles, and they're very slick - however, as far as classic rag-tops go, there is nothing that beats the SL500 in all six categories... In the under $100K price-range, there was nothing at the time to beat it - the Jaguar XJS and XK8 are both nice, but the SL is just more solid, more subtle and engineered to perfection. Whether it's competing with a Porsche Cabriolet, a BMW Z8, a Jaguar or any number of other prestige-brand luxury two-seaters, the SL holds its own against convertibles even in a higher price-range, such as late-90's early 2000's Aston-Martins, Maserati's (99-2002), and even the comparable Ferrari's (355 Spyder)... To find a car more competent, fast, stylish AND comfortable is not easy - at any price. I bought a '99 SL500 with 42K miles on it - it has been just stellar. I bought in 2009 for $20K (less than a fifth of its almost $100K new-car cost). Fast, fluid, fun - and safe, reliable and efficient... People don't buy these for the gas-mileage, but they are as efficient as anything new in the same class - I get over 20mpg average, and that's with a 300hp V8... Even the brand-new models don't do much better. In any case, I cannot fault this car in any category - the styling, both inside and out, is timeless, elegant and sporty. The car rides beautifully, is hushed at all speeds, handles nimbly (especially for such a heavy car) and feels solid as a vault. Although I had to do a fair amount of maintenance to get the car perfect when I bought it (such as power-top actuators, etc.), there were no surprises, as we had the car inspected. A properly-maintained car is incredibly reliable and durable - they are built to deliver lots of trouble-free motoring, and they are just about the classiest thing out there. Although this model (99-02) is now passing the ten-year mark, it is still so modern in every respect - from performance to comfort and safety... The only thing it doesn't have is Navigation and parking sensors - two things I've never missed, as the car is a very modest size (easy to park), and it's easy to use a smart-phone for navigation... Bottom-line: the safest, most reliable convertible of this genre - a beautiful, elegant car that still holds its own thirteen years later...

All was good. Came to close and hit With a &1500. Dealer fee! Sorry not on this planet!

A car that can provide exhilarating performance, and comfortable highway cruising. It simultaneously provides top up solidarity and safety with top down panache with beautiful elegance. The “experts” say it is heavy. It is, but some right foot snaps away that illusion. They squabble about “dead steering” and brakes that are a bit numb. But If you toss it into a turn or need to stop it , be assured it will perform with aplomb, without the fussy twitching of a boy-racer. All cars, even ones with $100,000+ price tags, are compromises between performance and comfort, nimbleness and stability. This car is not aimed at a testosterone-fueled owner clawing up the ladder, but rather a confident owner that needs to prove nothing other than to show up. And for me, that makes this car the perfect compromise. It never fails to bring a smile. Few machines provide this level of comfort, performance, and design quality. And if a machine can bring joy along with performance, hasn’t really done its job In a spectacular way?

I purchased 2 used mini vans from Saint Charles Toyota. I had an excellent used car sales manager named Bob Pearson. He did a no pressure sale of the 2 mini vans. Bob did an excellent job showing us everything about the vans. Great dealership to purchase cars from. Jeff Genthe

I purchased a 1995 SL500 on eBay for $7000 + about $600 shipping. Car had just under 80,000 miles. Has been my good-weather daily driver since. Biggest problem is that the European environmentalist whakos used a biodegradable insulation on the wiring. New engine harness was just over $700 and about three hours to replace. The M119 engine, when running properly, is a smooth and powerful monster that makes the car really fun to drive. Wash and wax and it looks like a million bucks. I get a lot of comments - as a teacher folks like to ask how I can afford a car like that. When I tell them what it cost I get the strangest, amazed looks. It has been as reliable as any car I've owned once the wiring was fixed. It is comfortable, fast, fairly agile for two tons of metal, and really cool. It does help to be a little bit mechanically inclined, as shops think you can afford expensive repairs when you bring it. (Estimate for the wiring harness from above: $2800....$700 parts and 3 hours? Glad I could do it myself) The car does have 12 hydraulic cylinders that work the soft-top. Mine were replaced by the previous owner - something to ask as the seals in the originals weren't as good as the neoprene replacements. Cylinders are easy to rebuild, parts are cheap, but the labor to remove several of them makes the job a real pain. For the driver, this car will run up into the three digits very quickly. Look down and see 120 mph but feels like 60 mph. Smooth and very stable at speed, nothing like my old '70 Challenger that was really scary past 3 digits. It is a great machine and I can't imagine ever not driving one. I now have a couple - added a 40k mile 1999 to my stable a while back.

A dealer with a unique eye for high quality vehicles. They find amazing cars. They are easy to work with and they have great shipping options. I will buy from them again.

This car is a dream. This is one of a kind and has been maintained at Mercedes and on time. That kept it running trouble free. It is a complex car with many systems that provide unmatched driving experience. Car is amazing. reading the manual and checking the fuses and relays are key. Many of the issues could be nothing than a bad fuse or relay. I won't drive anything else.

Worked with Chris on purchasing a vehicle. Very up front and fair. Also addressed all of the concerns I had with the vehicle I was interested in. Excellent experience on this purchase. Would highly recommend this dealership.

My 2005 sl has been nothing but great! The inerior is just about perfect, and the exterior shines better than new. ONE notoriours problem is with the leveling system. Mine as others started to sink to the left when garaged..yikes! I was quoted around $3500 to fix it, but I found a great mechanic to do this for $800 including other maintenence. Thus car handles like a dream. Top up or down, it has great appeal and I cant tell you with way Iike it best. You can steal one of these cheap too..but make sure the owner kept it nice! My interior is perfect, yet Ive seen others quite shabby.