carguyshu

55,000 miles in 6 years is still below average mileage. I would feel MUCH more comfortable buying a car with that many miles than the one you currently have with 7,600. These cars need driven regularly and things like seals will dry up and cause all sorts of problems on any car that sits around and gets rarely used. Brake pads aren't very much and the rotors should still be good and able to be turned at 55k.

Ron Martin

Hey Carguyshu,


Thanks for your comments and I do appreciate any and all information and opinions.
However, in this instance I disagree .. Since we do not know each other ..my SL is driven weekly and I routinely replace (OEM parts) when needed and flush all fluids annually. It is not is in a "barn find" condition and since I bought it new in August 2003, I have replaced batteries, belt, and tires plus other incidentals ... Having owned and raced MGs and Jags in the late 50s and later flown Navy planes for 18 years, I well know what lack of use and proper maintenance will render ! As for my car, there are several folks here in Tampa waiting to buy it PURELY for its working condition and LOW miles. In fact, I have researched and studied the R230/231 ABC system and because I noted some "seepage" (NOT leakage) on my rear struts, I then replaced them with SL55 struts ..which BTW, are exactly the same as SL500 OEM struts ... It is the software programing that is (SLIGHTLY) different....plus the dealers extra price.


The ONLY reason I seek a possible replacement is to obtain
the R230 030 or R231 P30 performance option ..primarily for the brakes and LSD .. and nothing else..... as sheer power and acceleration does no longer interest me.


My primary concern with this SL63 is I do NOT know the car and its history - as well as I thoroughly mine ! Still, thanks for your time and nice comments to help.


Best


Ron

sound 8

I bought a 2009 SL63, and didn't get one thing go wrong, as far as I remember, I just bought a 2010 SL63 with wide body, it has 45k on the
clock, but that's nothing to an engine like this, All my new car needed was
a new rear battery. Lowering module next, ecu upgrade , and wider wheels.
I love tweaking cars.
S8

Ron Martin

Hey S8,


Thanks for the note... I wasn't aware of a wide body option on the SL63s.. Can you please amplify a tad... I am just really getting interested in the SL63 series since my quest for the performance packages ..


Ron

carguyshu

Why not just get a Quaife LSD on your current car then? They are way better than the limited slip that come on the 030 cars anyhow. Do that and upgrade your rotors/pads would be way cheaper than upgrading cars. Just the extra taxes/insurance would pay for both of these upgrades on your current car...

B1RMA

I think you really need to go for a test drive in an SL63 to confirm that the car is for you.
As I mentioned in my previous post I tried an SL 55 AMG a few years ago and loved it but bought a different car. If I'd had the money and had tried the SL 63 with the MCT gearbox I know I would have wanted one but at the time it was way beyond my budget (I have a few other cars and motorbikes so spread my budget between several vehicles rather than one) as soon as I drove the SL63 I knew this was the car for me. Having lived with it for just a few weeks I am so pleased that I bought it and managed to negotiate a really good deal.
It manages to be a superb cruiser in one mode and a hooligan in the other mode not many cars can do that, also combined with the exhaust sound on the downshifts I don't think I'll tire of this car for some time.

Ron Martin

Hey CARGUYSHU (and all),


The idea of merely keeping my current machine and upgrading the brakes and differential to a LSD is FAR more appealing to me - since I am really happy with the rest of the car.


Trouble is ....I have NO idea where to find these parts (and, at the RIGHT prices).. ANY sound leads would stand me in good stead and a start in the right direction !


I had much rather modify a known machine than risk one !!


Again MANY thanks,


(one of the nice things about MBWorld)


Ron

carguyshu

there was just a group buy on mercedes spec Quaife's that you still might be able to hop onto with Birds (the mercedes ones come with much tighter tolerance specs than the dodge/mopar ones, which will fit, but might be noisier or looser). I have one sitting on my desk right now that I need to have put in my SL55. Here is the link to the group buy

https://mbworld.org/forums/sl55-amg-...group-buy.html

in a brief summary, these LSD are torsion based instead of auburn based. Torsion ones use springs and gears to vary the torque from 0-100% between each wheel (whichever has the most traction) and do not wear out nor do they need LSD additive. Auburn based (which are what the 030 ones are) use clutches that wear out over time and only send a preset max amount (say 30% split, you can set them up different ways) to the wheel with the most traction. The downside to a torsion is that if you are offroading or on very uneven pavement (unlikely in your car) and one tire comes completely off the road surface, then that wheel will get all the power and you wont go anywhere. That's why auburn styles are more popular in 4x4s.

As for the brakes, do a search on the forum. You have several different options, including upgrading to 030 calipers/rotors, though this is probably not the best value. Just moving up to regular SL55 brakes will show great improvement and the rotors are a fraction of the cost of the 030 package (030 rotors are about $1,000 each, SL55's are about $165 each). It is a straightforward bolt on affair to do this. Either way, if you upgrade to larger brake rotors you are going to need wheels that will accommodate them.

Ron Martin

Hey (again),


I really appreciate your invaluable help in a foreign arena that I will have to learn.


I do not believe I will have any problems with brake upgrades as I have installed those neat vintage SL55 18" 22 spoke alloy wheels that look much like the old ALPINA rims on an old M6 I once had (our younger son still has). So I suppose the SL55 calipers should ?? bolt right on my current brackets... Seems as the crux of the project will be locating the AMG calipers.


Any idea on the best search ? I wonder IF there are any salvage yards to start with... regardless if they are used , they will need rebuilding..




MANY thanks,


Ron

carguyshu

for OEM mercedes front rotors they are $129 with free shipping from oediscountparts.com. The calipers new are pretty pricey at $637 each though. Remanufactured ones from autozone are $255 each & I imagine at other local auto parts stores they would be about that too. I'd guess they'd take your old calipers as the $80 core as they probably wouldn't really know much the difference.

carguyshu

The bottom line is for $2k in parts you can get both LSD and a brake upgrade

mcguirja

I participated in the Quaife LSD group buy, which provided a 20% discount off the price. I ordered directly from the online site, was provided immediately with the discounted price. Ended up being around $1,100 US after currency exchange which included shipping to my place in Florida. It took less than a week to have it shipped. James at Bird's was great to work with, responding very quickly to my emails and ensured I received the right model for my SL63.

Installation cost was more than expected, James suggested about a 5 - 6 hour job for his crew but it took my mechanic 11. This isn't something my mechanic does regularly though so I can see how it could have taken him that long. I've been driving it for a week now and am loving it! It is a huge difference over stock.

I question the value of the PP upgrade on the SL63. I know there is a lot of demand for it on this forum, but I'm not sure what it really does. The Quaife LSD is better than the PP upgrade, I find the standard brakes on the SL pretty darn good and although the upgraded wheels and steering wheel are nice I would have replaced the wheels anyway, leaving me with a steering wheel of what incremental value? I might be missing something, maybe limiter increase to186 from 155 but I don't think the 2009 model included any additional horsepower like some of the newer models do. A tune for $1,000 gives additional horsepower and removes the limiter... hmm?

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,
"Back on the net" and have been digesting your very wise comments and suggestions .. I After considering all the aspects of my crazy wish to trade off my ole R230 - which I well know very well since new. I am thinking about your LSD and rebuilt AMG caliper upgrade. Guess the only other item needed would be to learn what the software programing is and where to obtain it for the "dreaded" ABC system.


If I can pull all of this off per your collective inputs , then I will still have a very low mileage R230 with perhaps an ever more robust homegrown "P Option"


While I am asking.. IF ..IF I should seek more RELIABLE power from my (now puny engine) please share ..


GREAT advice and help....MANY THANKS,


Ron

carguyshu

What programming are you talking about on the ABC?

There's a guy open to offers selling the 030 brakes

https://mbworld.org/forums/suspensio...ront-rear.html

Ron Martin

First, thanks for the lead on the 030 brake package -The offer date is last year....plus, I am a tad squeamish to engage a seller in Greece, owing to the logistics involved. So I will just keep looking for a package or the needed components... have been thinking about your suggestions on the LSD, discs and caliper sources..


Regarding the ABC "tune" I located a very special '07 SL55 with the rare P030 package including the SL65 front dam (as fitted on the old SL F1 safety cars) .....In the ads write up , it stated that the ABC suspension had a special "Nurburgring" software tune... which thus far - I "think" is a slightly different software configuration for the system.


BTW .. WHERE are located ?


Ron

mcguirja

You didn't mention your budget earlier but there are a lot of 2009 - 2012 SL63's in the US with under 20,000 miles, ranging in price from $60,000 - $95,000 (2012 with 1200 miles). Didn't see many with the performance package though. Where I was coming from is the lack of PP deterring me from investigating some of these models as you can modify/upgrade if you feel the need.

Difference in the PP for 2009 - 2012 model years I believe was:

Upgraded Brakes
Lightweight Wheels
LSD
Steering Wheel
Speed limiter raised to 186

Others please fill in the gaps if I've missed something but don't believe there were other appearance or performance modifications in addition to this.

You could look at each of these and determine which of them was really important to you and what it would take to upgrade.

I've changed to
- lightweight wheels (20lbs each) $1,800
- Quaife LSD part $1,100 - labour $1,100 (was more than expected but you can probably find cheaper)


This leaves
- brakes, there are lots of options, but I've never been in a situation where I thought I needed more brakes than the standard, which on this model are pretty good
- Steering wheel, upgraded one looks nice but...?
- Speed limiter increase to 186. A tune for 1,000 - $1,500 gives more hp and removes the limiter

You'll find going from the SL 500 to the SL63 like night and day, if nothing else I'd encourage you to go out and start to test drive. I looked for mine for a couple of years before I bought it, but was able to jump on a good deal when found it because of the research I'd done. I bought a 2009 with 25,000 miles about 3 years ago for $69,000 CDN. It doesn't have PP, Pano Roof or distronic, none of which mattered to me.

Best of luck in your search, I enjoyed looking for mine and hope you are able to find one that suits your tastes as well.

James

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,
Just returned to town and wanted to thank you all for your most appreciated ideas, help, (and time) in my ongoing project to either find and buy a SL63 with the optional P30 performance package ..OR .. upgrade MY "baby" low mileage R230 SL500.
After considering all the inputs and options .. I have decided to upgrade MY car in phases .. I intend to install the Quaife LSD as most of your suggest... and really improved brakes .. Am looking at "K Sport" "super comp" brakes with the much larger calipers front and rear .. for now . Does anyone know of the "K Sport" folks ??? The specs look good and the prices are FAR less than AMG or Brembos.


Then later, (after I absorb this initial cost impact), I will ask you all for some options on the engine upgrade.. I really am not looking for huge power increases as much as more efficiency such simple streamlined exhausts and improved ECU sources ..


Again REALLY appreciate your great help..
MBWorld rocks !!


Ron

AMG 17GT

After all of that? Really?

There are no upgrades to your engine except an exhaust note maybe................a waste of time IMO.

And the brakes ? Why bother? You're talking about a slow heavy convertible cruiser.

How old are you?

okbarnett

check weistech and renntech, there are engine upgrades but for a basic 500 its probibly too much money for the increase, for a 55 there is alot

Ron Martin

Hey ROMEO550, Thanks for your comments..


Ordered a Quaife QDF28B today, will get the P030 Brake package later and later start on other items when I can ... including tweaking the ABC some more .. already have SL55 struts but need to research the "Nurburgring " tune ?... per the P030 Performance option.


Why do you ask my age ? ... I had a full sport package '55 W198 WAY back in 1958 and started flying Navy planes in 1963 ... even raced a Jag XK120M, a SIATA Ferrari and a 1100 cc Lotus MK XI while in college .. so you can figure it out ...
Now race a "somewhat fast !" 14 + KT Baltic 35 when I can..


(BTW I kinda like my "heavy slow convertible cruiser" nowadays but I can still have fun with my wifes CLK550)


Life is good !


rwm

Sir-Boost-a-Lot

iTrader: (1)

Ron- exhaust headers that fit an SL55 should work well for your car/engine as well. Get a nice set like the ones MBH make, or save some $$ and get the Chinese mid-length ones from Kleeman. Either one will provide a nice increase in power with a correspondingly nice increase in dB/tone, with no detriment to reliability.

Take care!

AMG 17GT

[QUOTE=Ron Martin;6432188]Hey ROMEO550, Thanks for your comments..


Ordered a Quaife QDF28B today, will get the P030 Brake package later and later start on other items when I can ... including tweaking the ABC some more .. already have SL55 struts but need to research the "Nurburgring " tune ?... per the P030 Performance option.


Why do you ask my age ? ... I had a full sport package '55 W198 WAY back in 1958 and started flying Navy planes in 1963 ... even raced a Jag XK120M, a SIATA Ferrari and a 1100 cc Lotus MK XI while in college .. so you can figure it out ...
Now race a "somewhat fast !" 14 + KT Baltic 35 when I can..
(BTW I kinda like my "heavy slow convertible cruiser" nowadays but I can still have fun with my wifes CLK550)

Life is good !

Cool.

Well you answered my question. I wanted to want to know what your experience was with other cars. You're just going to end up spending a fortune changing parts on your car and it won't make much of a difference and like I said it's just meant to be a cruiser so enjoy it that way.

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,


Have enjoyed the discussions and opinions offered... one never knows when there is something to be learned !


As for my plans... I merely hope to get my old gal handing much better than "stock" and also improve the engines efficiency. Absolute POWER no longer impresses me ..but anything I can do to defeat the DOT emission gestapo is my overall goal.
MANY years ago I owned a '61 Ferrari 250SWB coupe #3005 with no A/C, no power anything except a 12 cylinder engine with TINY mufflers ... really sounded sweet at 7300 RPM on backloads ...sigh.


Anyway, I am MUCH "tamer" now and am trying to show it


rwm