2004 MERCEDES-BENZ SL 500

The 2004 Mercedes-Benz SL500 represents a time when Mercedes was still over-engineering everything. This R230-generation SL blends classic roadster proportions with early-2000s luxury tech, creating a car that feels equal parts grand tourer and performance machine. Finished in black over black, this SL carries the kind of presence that never chases attention—but always gets it.

Under the hood is Mercedes’ proven 5.0-liter M113 V8, an all-aluminum, naturally aspirated engine known for its durability, smooth power delivery, and unmistakable tone. Paired to a 5-speed automatic with TouchShift, the SL500 delivers effortless acceleration and relaxed highway cruising in the same breath. With 107,717 miles shown, this car has been driven, not stored—exactly what these cars were engineered to do.

One of the SL’s defining features is its power-retractable Vario-Roof. In seconds, the SL transforms from a quiet, coupe-like hardtop into a true open-air roadster, giving you two personalities in one car. Inside, the cockpit is pure Mercedes: supportive heated leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, COMAND infotainment, and a Bose premium sound system designed to cut through wind and road noise alike.

Riding on Mercedes’ Active Body Control suspension, the SL500 stays flat through corners while maintaining long-distance comfort—an engineering flex few manufacturers even attempt today. Independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and rear-wheel drive give it the balance and composure expected of an SL. The result is a roadster that doesn’t just look expensive—it feels engineered. A black-on-black SL500 is timeless, and examples like this continue to prove why the SL has remained Mercedes’ flagship convertible for decades.