Hary Gahtoe

There's a reason I don't post here alot. JA's like this ^

If you guys want to act like children knock yourself out.
Sprintbooster's don't make anything. They just allow a faster DBW signal which quickens the throttle, aids in shift times. All part of bigger picture. If you don't already know that you more stupid than you appear to be.
Never said It's feasible to tune a M113 to the equivalant of a 55. I did say it's possible to tune an M113 to a more efficient level. That's what I want.
Yes I have driven an SL55. I wasn't really impressed for what it cost. I could still get beat by a $10,000 LS1 240Z.

theintelligent1

well youve certainly changed your tune since i called you out on the other forum (i wont link to it direct but "in need of horsepower") when someone asked the best way to add HP & TQ to a SL500 and you answered with SB being the way and "It's one of The best performance mods for a MB and it makes the car accelerate faster,"........

as threeMBs and vtvette say - love to see you post up $ to gains (of your proposed solution) to see how you can bring up a SL500 to close to a 55 for todays depreciated price differential.....

and you could buy a sportsbike for less and kill a LS1.........what is your point?

Hary Gahtoe

I don't do BS. You took something out of context and you're welcome to it.

Hary Gahtoe

Aussie's see things in twisted nature. Manipulate whatever you like, I couldn't care less.

Hary Gahtoe

Here we go aaaaaagain.
Sprintbooster. There I said it. Now go back and read it again. You stuck your head up your *** before go for it again.
SB's don't make "extra" power they just speed up the DBW signal and get rid of the DBW lag.

Hary Gahtoe

Why buy a Sportbike ?
Why buy an SL55 ?
Why buy a MB ?
God am I glad you Bought a ticket to Australia

vtvette

You're comparing a 40 year old Japanese car with a swapped engine to a late model flagship from a premier German manufacturer? Unbelievable.

The SL55 is not intended to be a streetlight dragster (although it holds it's own against most in this regard). It's a total package - comfort, convenience, acceleration, SAFETY, high speed cruiser - all in proportion and each equally capable.

If you're not really impressed with the performance of a SL55 for what it cost you're going to be truly disappointed when you spend the money to make the kind of mods you're talking about to a SL500 and see what you end up with.

vtvette

,

threeMBs

Agree. Both are great points.

SteveL1

Can we get back on topic now?

threeMBs

Not a problem. I have zero regrets. None. IMHO, SL (regardless of the engine) is the best GT car under $150K new. The fact that they're significantly less than that used, makes possible for a lot wider audience to experience it. IMO, the "best" non-AMG SLs are 2007-08 SL550s. What I do regret, is not swapping my '03 SL500 for facelift '07 SL550. 5.5 motor suits SL much better than 5.0.

Hary Gahtoe

You mistakenly confused a Datsun with a Nissan 240. Think Silvia as in S13-S14.
I own 3 Mercedes and although I enjoy them I don't put them on a pedestal.
To the post that these cars are the best in the $150,000 category I take it they've never considered a faster and overall higher level performance Nissan GTR for around $100,000
I've made most of the upgrades already and the final cost should cost about the same as SL55 brake overhaul.
To clear up any misunderstanding, the overall power will only offer marginal increases and no way equal a supercharged larger displacement 55

threeMBs

I said the best IMO. For me, the best does not mean the fastest. SL-line (notice: I stated regardless the engine) has qualities that GTR (a 350Z on steroids) can only dream on (I'm not biased against Nissan - 1990 generation 300ZX was one of my favorite sports cars). BTW, talking about SL, one has to understand I'm talking roadsters. And I still stand by what I said.

Good for you to concede, that regardless of how much money is poured into SL500 it will be as far from SL55 as the original. That's why I never did anything for my SL500 (except SB) as I know I would never feel any difference, especially considering the money spent.

Hary Gahtoe

I agree with you efforts in modifying a 500. My original goal was servicing/ maintenance with smaller upgrades and tuning to merely tighter level of sport. My car will never outgun an SLS and just as long as I can drive our 500 for daily use and not be worried about where and how my wife and son is going I've reached my goal.

tajabaho1

What if....hypothetically, you are in a country where an SL55 is roughly 80k more than an SL500, would it make a bit more sense to keep your SL500 and modify it instead of buying a 55?, also the SL63 here costs about 250k used (r230). So i don't think I can upgrade to that anytime soon.

I really like my 500, Everything makes it a very good car, comfort, ride etc. But everytime you floor it, you get a sense that there is more to be had than this.....also the brakes in any non-amg mercedes are crap.......

So to summarize, what would you guys do with this price difference? Keep in mind any mods are roughly 10% more expensive here as well. But the labor cost is 50% less

Leonhall1968

I have no regrets. I have the SL500 with the full AMG package, except the engine. It has plenty of power, all the toys, turns heads in Mercedes Fire Mist Red, and is a beautifully powerful road-hugging German machine.

gotglasses

Good for you Taja. Very sensible. I have owned a few Mercedes and now have an SL500 R230. "Only" 306 HP? That is over one HP per cubic inch. A very highly tuned number for a street car. Most European cars are like this, highly tuned from the factory. They are not big American V8's that can benefit from minor modifications, porting and blueprinting. A Mercedes engine IS already blueprinted, ports look properly flowed and valve sizes and cam timing are optimum. You might try a little higher compression, but that opens a big can of worms. In order to get any more performance out of an SL , Mercedes -AMG- goes to a larger engine. They are very smart and know that getting any more specific power out of a smaller motor will make them illegal in EPA and EU emissions tests.

Modifying any of these cars for more HP by removing catalysts, changing camshafts, etc instantly renders them illegal in most countries, like the USA, France, Germany, etc. Along with that - who the hell is going to buy a 4200 pound hot rod that cannot be licensed or insured since it has been modified to gain perhaps 20 more HP???

Ejbrock

Ejbrock

My SL55 is an absolutely amazing car. I think we are going to grow old together!!!

Vader1

Drove both, bought the Sl55 and don't regret it.

True story - was driving down the street when a Ferrari pulled up next to me. I was going to give him the thumbs up but when I looked, his thumb was already up! Yes a Ferrari driver giving me the thumbs up!



Not sure you would get that in a SL550...

kbob999

My 55 has the ability to light up the tires at any speed under 60. That is priceless.
I take my friends out, do a couple 0-60 runs, then maybe a donut. Guys claim "I could never own a car like this!"...I tell them "Yes, you can". Girls drop their panties.
Never drove the 500, and I'm glad I did not.

kittyandgary

Never drove a 500, but bought the '03 SL55 from an MD acquaintance who was retiring. Drove it 2200 miles home, with a smile on my face all the way. Took it to Watkins Glen for 2 days of track driving a few months later, after selling my Porsche track car.

After owning the SL55 for a year and doing some Eurocharged upgrades to the engine, along with purging & replacing every fluid in the car, I sold the quite rare Porsche 928 GTS that was sitting beside the SL in the garage. Reason - I got in the SL nearly every time I was going someplace when a 2 passenger car was sufficient.

I went for a drive yesterday - still have a smile every time I drive it after nearly 3 years of ownership. AND - I'm already 'old with this car', as the first digit in my age turns to an 8 in 6 months. Best GT for the money in my opinion.

carguyshu

given that an SL55 is barely more than an SL500 now used and the maintenance costs are near identical between the 2 cars you would be foolish to not go with the SL55.

300hp in a car that weighs over 4000 lbs isn't that much...

dr-lucs

10 years later and still loving my SL500. Speed limit is 65 in my area and the most I've ever done is 120 so I don't know that I needed the extra power.

carguyshu

the difference of 200 hp is very noticeable as is the difference of nearly 2 full seconds on the quarter mile time...

next2pool

As a first Mercedes owner with a SL500, I have no idea what I'm missing if I go back to the original question. How can I have regrets when I never drove or owned the SL55. All I can say is that I've been very happy with the car and may at some point consider a different version. I have to say that my 2016 CTS 3.6 is faster than my SL500 but the feel is very different. The SL 500 is a totally effortless and capable cruiser, while the CTS is more of a spirited puppy trying to satisfy.