Mercedes-Benz SL 1998–2001 car dimensions: 4499 mm long, 1812 mm wide and 1300 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,815 kg. Braked towing is 1,500 kg.
The cabin seats two in leather with multi-way power adjustment, memory and optional multi-contour or heating. Automatic climate control is fitted, with dual-zone available by grade. Cruise control is standard. Power windows, tilt/telescoping steering and a fully automatic soft top are included. ESP and Brake Assist arrived as standard or by grade during the run, with ABS, traction control, dual front and side airbags plus an automatic roll bar. No touchscreen, phone mirroring or camera aids appear in the equipment lists.
Boot volume is 265 litres with the soft top up. The two-seat layout leaves no folding rear seats. Space suits weekend bags or golf clubs for road trips.
Towing capacity is listed at 750 kg unbraked and up to 1500 kg braked. Payload is around 315 kg. The car is a two-seat grand tourer with no heavy-duty cooling or reinforced suspension called out as standard equipment.
The cabin uses leather upholstery with multi-contour seats that include heating and memory on many cars. Dual-zone climate control is fitted along with power-adjustable seats and steering column. Soft-touch materials and wood trim fill the interior. An optional panoramic glass hardtop lets in more light when fitted. Seat ventilation appears on higher models like the SL 600.
Petrol engines only across the range.
Flexible Service System sets intervals by use, typically starting from 10,000 miles.
Standard kit includes ABS, ESP, BAS, front and side airbags, and automatic roll-over bar.
Traction control is standard.
Fuel use varies by engine. The SL 500 returns figures around 16 city and 23 highway mpg. Larger V12 models use more. Tank capacity sits near 80 litres.
Servicing follows the Flexible Service System introduced for these years. It calculates A or B services from driving conditions and oil quality rather than fixed mileage alone. Expect dealer resets after each visit.
Safety equipment covers dual front airbags, door-mounted side airbags, ABS, Brake Assist, ESP stability control and an automatic roll-over bar that deploys in 0.3 seconds. Integral seats with built-in belts form part of the structure.
Keep the car by watching the soft-top hydraulics and electrics. Regular fluid changes and inspections of the multi-link rear suspension help longevity. Hardtop storage needs care when not in use.
Length 4499 mm, Width 1812 mm, Height 1300 mm, Wheelbase 2515 mm (SL 1998–2001)
Sources: manufacturer data, auto-data.net SL SL 500 and generation pages.