Ron Martin

Guys, Am considering selling my R230 2003 SL500 (Diamond Silver' Charcoal) with 7600 miles on it yes SEVENTY SIX HUNDRED miles ! (Am original owner )


Have bee thinking about buying trying to locate a CLEAN low mileage SL63AMG and wish to learn if they came with a Performance Option similar to the 030 option on the SL55s...including a LSD .


Thanks.


Ron

B1RMA

As far as the UK goes they do come with the performance pack and it is superb, one thing I did find was that a lot of cars had the PP steering wheel or wheels but very few had the full kit. I tried a few without but in the end bought one with the full P30 pack and am very pleased I did.

sound 8

What sort of SL63, 2009 or the new bi-turbo. Your car is low mileage but
still old, a 2009 63 will cost nothing compared with bi-turbo.

B1RMA

Isn't the bi-turbo an R231?

okbarnett

yes but its still called a SL63

B1RMA

Of course forgot, I am new.

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,


Thanks for your tutelage and tips on identifying the SL63s with the P30 ?? Performance package including and especially the LSD rear diff.


Thus far, those I have located have all the toys ..sensortronic, radar, etc. I realize I am "picky" but I am seeking a early low mileage model without much - except the FULL performance package ... In fact IMHO it is too bad they couldn't be ordered with coil-overs vs. the problem prone ABC system. Plus I might even opt to avoid the Bi Turbo engine and its later concerns ..




Anyway, MANY thanks guys,


Ron

B1RMA

Good luck with your search, I too wanted the 2008/9 r230 with the P30 pack and was fortunate enough to get a low mileage example.
Although I've only had it a few weeks I grow more and more fond of it, the PP suspension package is superb when set in sport and the gearbox is a delight. I find myself deliberately down-shifting just to hear the N/A snarling and spitting. Although I tried other SL63's without the PP I think you are spot on in wanting a car with it despite the very high price of the replacement front discs.

carguyshu

some R231s can be ordered with coilovers. They both handle and ride way worse than an ABC car. You could also convert an R230 to coilovers from an SL350 (non-US model, but the parts bolt up). Several have done this, but again you're going to get worse ride and handling with it.

okbarnett

you can tell, if it has the pkg a mile away, look at the 2 spoke wheels and steering wheel with opening in the bottom. There are probibly 1 in 25 that have it, you can find one if you look long enough. All the options would be perf pkg, P1 pkg, pano roof, parktronic, distronic, in 2012 they add illuminated door sills,
carbon fiber ext pkg, folding mirrors

bzliteyear

get the silver...that will hold up decently in value, and you can get the SL63 for half of current price in another 3 yrs
PL

euphoriaDSM

I think you will not be satisfied with the power of the na 63 motor in a heavy car like our sl's. That motor is great in the c63 but our car has to much weight for it in my opinion. My advice is find a nice low mileage 55, 600, or 65 if any pop up in your range.

okbarnett

I dont agree, I had a SL55 and the 63 feels as fast, or faster. (The 55 0-60 was 4.5, the 63 is 4.4), but with the 7 speed, and the sport programs, in every situation its totally more responsive and drivable than the old 5speed.
And all the V12s were 4.0 to 4.2

Jan T

Drive a SL600 with RENNtech and then come back to share

euphoriaDSM

The 63 is a great motor but in the heavy SL it's that trans that sets it apart from the 55. But the other motors available carry the car much butter. Not to mention how much you limit yourself power wise with the na motor unless you are willing to coin up big time for weistec.

B1RMA

I agree, many years ago I tried an SL55 AMG and loved it but bought an Esprit V8 instead.
But it did sow the seed which led me to the SL63, recently over a couple of weeks I tried an Aston Martin V8 Vantage S an Audi R8 and quite a few others and the SL just stood out in both ride and gearbox.
You have so many options with the gearbox and suspension settings it tailors your car to your particular mood that day. One day it's a superb cruiser the next it's a snarling A road burner.
Can you get access to the Oasis build sheet in the USA? because here in the UK you get the full, priced, detailed build sheet.

sound 8

I have had 5 SL's , the latest V8 bi turbo is easily the quickest, even quicker
when it's re mapped. The SL55 is definitely slower than the nat as 63, I
believe this is because the gearbox is so much better and quicker. However
the SL55 can be tuned easily to give much more HP than the 63. All the AMG
SL's are fast and at the moment I am driving a nat *** 63, it is great fun to
drive, particularly the gear change and exhaust note and the fact it is pretty
well capable of fighting it's corner , how often do you get a Ferrari or Porsche
wanting to race, not very often in the UK, however with a wide body (highly
recommended ) you do get loads of looks. :
S8

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,


MANY many thanks for the ongoing discussion, information sharing and tutorial regarding SL63AMGs and their various packages. It was mentioned that a "wide body" is out there somewhere along with our discussions .. Can anyone shed some light on this input ? could/would there be a factory wide body somewhere with the P30 performance package ? Also there was some comments made regarding NA engines versus the turbo engines ... Since I seek handling performance and RELIABLITY ... I am leery of more "gadgets " on an engine that I intend to keep indefinitely ... as mentioned I have a totally cherry '03 R230 (with the SL2 AMG package) that has only 7600 miles on it and I am a maintenance nut ..


More info welcomed !

Ron

okbarnett

youre talking about a SL65 black series, a totally different car, you should look it up, and price around 200K

Ron Martin

Thanks ....That is exactly what I surmised ! However, someone in our ongoing discussion mentioned "wide body". Hence I HAD to ask - since I am learning a lot more about SL63 "nuances" than I ever expected.


In summary, thus far I need to search for a LOW mileage 2009 SL63 with the "P30" performance package and - regardless, I need to expect to get ALL the extra options .. glass top, sensortronic, etc., etc...


As for a Black Series... regardless the cost it is my understanding that the top is fixed and does not drop into the boot/trunk .. which to me, is one of the more appealing aspects of the R230 series .


Thanks,


Ron

okbarnett

look on ebay, autotrader, cars, and MB web site certified preowned inventory search

B1RMA

Not sure if it's the same case in the USA but here in the UK I found two cars with the forged alloys and PP steering wheel but they did not have the full PP. One other thing that gives the full PP cars is the front discs seem to fill out the inner wheel space, it is subtle but once you've seen a PP car you can tell.
As I mentioned you can get the Oasis build sheet here in the UK which details everything. Apart from the PP at over £8K mine had an addition £6K worth of extras too.
One thing I never thought I would like are the air scarf headrests. I thought they were a gimmick but the other chilly sunny day (we get many in the UK) I put them on and really thought they were a worthwhile extra they just take the chill off a crisp day without overheating you.
I normally only run my 'summer' car from April to September but I think the SL will extend my summer use.

okbarnett

Im sure everything is different in europe, hard to give advise beside USA cars, never heard of the oasis but you can get the whole build sheet from the russian web site; go into english language first

http://carinfo.kiev.ua/cars/vin/mercedes

Ron Martin

Hey Guys,


Thanks for your kind collective advice and information, I have FINALLY found a 2009 SL63AMG with the P30 performance package and in the exact color combination I prefer.


Trouble is ... while it has a clean Carfax ....it has 55K miles on it !
FIFTY FIVE THOUSAND MILES on a 2009 concerns me from the future potential near term maintenance issues ... The Carfax does not mention the front brake discs being replaced and other similar issues.


Again, ANY advice and know pitfalls appreciated ..


Thanks,
Ron

B1RMA

To the best of my knowledge the engine is I think pretty unstressed so I wouldn't worry about that. Here in the UK there is one with 75K miles on it for sale.
As you say discs would need to be checked out because I again would think they must be near replacement. My local Mercedes main dealer told me they can last as little as 30K miles if used hard so that's something that rang the alarm bell with me.
I suppose on the other hand at that sort of mileage (the 55K car) perhaps any niggles have been addressed.