An expert’s view

PAUL THOMPSON, MERCEDES-BENZ CLUB

“I bought my SL55 new in 2002. It has done 67,000 miles and, apart from needing new front struts, has never put a foot wrong. It’s not leaked at the roof but I know early ones are prone. Allowing the drain holes to get blocked with debris doesn’t help. If you’re looking at an SL55 for under £20,000, be very careful and have it inspected by an expert. Your ‘One we found’ looks interesting but I’d rather it was a private sale so you can gauge the owner.”

Also worth knowing

If the vario-roof goes west, contact a roof specialist such as Cayman Auto Services (caymanautos.co.uk). Faults they encounter include sticking bootlids, seized roofs, noisy roof operation, faulty pumps, poor roof/frame alignment, blocked drain holes, water ingress, sticking windows and more.