As an long time fan and owner of Smarts from 2006 to date, whilst the Roadster is great fun it's not without faults and expense. Timing chains, clutch and clutch actuators are all items which need changing on a Roadster. Timing chain around 80k or before if it's s rattling. Around £500 to change. Clutches can fail anything from 40-80k miles, the same for the clutch actuator. The former costing around £550 including fitting, the latter £350ish. You really need an auto technician who is familiar with Smarts and has the WinStar or equivalent diagnostic system able to talk to the car and undertake clutch reteaching. As for the infamous leaks, no matter how many mods you undertake nearly every Roadster will have water ingress from some point. If the SAM and/or ECU units suffer water ingress which is their typical downfall, that's a dead car and a lot of cash to fix. Oil should be changed every 3-6k miles using fully synthetic correct MB spec to ensure engine longevity. Mine was always serviced using Mobil1 0w30, which is like sewing machine oil. The turbo charger can fail prematurely from neglected servicing and correct oil. Likewise with the engine dropping a piston or throwing bearings, resulting in rebuilding.

I plan to buy one at the end of the month. Learn something useful here. Thank you.

I've had mine for almost a year now and I absolutely love it

I'm looking for one at the moment but slightly put off by the horror stories about costs. Yours doesn't seem too bad. I work in Harlow...I'll be using BiGSuds if I get one! Who is the mechanic you use?

Hi , glad to see you still enjoy it, yes smiles per mile and a HOOT to drive , mine I vac pack the luggage and get 1 square meter of concrete on board .🤔 L O L , What HP is it running at after the remap stage 1 , where and who is your service garage ? to see if it is any where near me . Have fun , and thanks for your thoughts .👍👍

No, you don't give it a proper slam, gently close it, and push it shut!!!👺

I was able to fit some shopping in the front in mine :)

Hi mate cool videos,im hoping to buy a roadster,wonder if you could help. I see by some of your posts that you are local to me.

It's good to see these I'm just finishing a full restore all suspension,bushes, mounts linkages brakes...blahhh blahhh.. unfortunately once finished I'll need to sell which is a heart breaker...mine is the coupe roadster 😢

Just insured my latest coupe acquisition with aviva zero £228 no compulsory excess £100 voluntary for the year. road tax £150

I am looking to purchase this car.. would the car experience leaks from the roof if the car is kept outside?

You've been advised incorrectly about oil - they were never designed to have oil that lasts a lifetime, nor does older oil ever turn corrosive. The sumps rust from the outside in, they're just very cheap metal.