SL/R230: SL55 and SL600 differences
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 298
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
In the USA, Designo enhancements are only available in the form of fixed packages. My car has the “Designo silver” package. I’m not sure whether the standard SL600 has that stitching or not.
akbro93704: no, I don't own a video camera
akbro93704: no, I don't own a video camera
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 298
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
Wings, that’s great! I should get one of those and try it myself, since I’ve added Renntech’s chips and we can get much cooler (quicker) conditions here than in Florida. I assume you usedthe “Escort/Passport G-Timer.”
How do you launch the car to get the best times? I assume its with the traction control off, which is something I’ve never tried on the street (and I have no experience on a dragstrip). The amazing thing about the SL600, particularly post-Renntech, is that when you smoothly roll on power from a stop the tires break loose with a screech once you reach about 20 MPH. The traction control then causes the engine to bog down until after it shifts into second. I’m sure there must be a better way.
How do you launch the car to get the best times? I assume its with the traction control off, which is something I’ve never tried on the street (and I have no experience on a dragstrip). The amazing thing about the SL600, particularly post-Renntech, is that when you smoothly roll on power from a stop the tires break loose with a screech once you reach about 20 MPH. The traction control then causes the engine to bog down until after it shifts into second. I’m sure there must be a better way.
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Yes I have the Passport Timer you reference. I leave the traction control "on". My friend with a 04 SL55 has tried it both ways, on the street and at the drag strip and says he finds it better(easier) to leave it on. Takes to much work to get it right with the trac off, according to him.
On another note, I do not think your "trac control" is calibrated for the additional power that the Renntech upgrade provides. That would explain the "bog" during accelleration. In that case maybe you are forced, so to speak, to leave it off.
On another note, I do not think your "trac control" is calibrated for the additional power that the Renntech upgrade provides. That would explain the "bog" during accelleration. In that case maybe you are forced, so to speak, to leave it off.
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2026 Mercedes CLE53A4 AMG Cabriolet and 2025 MAYBACH EQS680V4
Originally Posted by sillydriver
AMG493, I’m not going to try zero to sixty until after the break-in but the throttle response and lazy shifting makes the car feel slower than the 55 at low speeds. It only begins to feel faster floored in third gear, i.e. north of 70. I stand by the analysis I posted in this forum several days ago: CD tested a modified car.
AREITU, my track driving experiences (SL55 around Lime Rock, Viper on an autocross course) have taught me that driver skill is the key commodity. I don’t have enough of it and I won’t lend my baby to someone who does. I probably will eventually go with the mild modification idea.
I still love the car – I commuted in with it this morning. I’ve got to admit Shoes was right in his post a few days ago: the car feels “unwilling.” I had to floor it once on the way in just to make sure there was a huge engine under the hood. You feel launched from a catapult when you do that but there’s no trace of that ferocity when driving normally. Frankly, it’s an easy car to drive slowly, unlike the 55 which always seemed to be screaming “get out of my way or I’ll kill you” at the other drivers. Or at least that’s what I heard it scream.
AREITU, my track driving experiences (SL55 around Lime Rock, Viper on an autocross course) have taught me that driver skill is the key commodity. I don’t have enough of it and I won’t lend my baby to someone who does. I probably will eventually go with the mild modification idea.
I still love the car – I commuted in with it this morning. I’ve got to admit Shoes was right in his post a few days ago: the car feels “unwilling.” I had to floor it once on the way in just to make sure there was a huge engine under the hood. You feel launched from a catapult when you do that but there’s no trace of that ferocity when driving normally. Frankly, it’s an easy car to drive slowly, unlike the 55 which always seemed to be screaming “get out of my way or I’ll kill you” at the other drivers. Or at least that’s what I heard it scream.
Just wait, you are in for a big surprise. I have owned and driven both. My opinion is that the SL600 is faster but I have not clocked it. The SL55 is faster off the line, but once the SL600 hits 1800 RPM's, which does not take long, it flys away and say good-bye to the SL55.
Thanks for a great write up. It would be great if you could find a way to post pictures.
Last edited by LovinMercedes; Oct 30, 2004 at 11:20 AM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 298
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
Poverty, I’m not going to try to put snow tires on the car which means I’ll only drive it rarely in the winter. I’ll switch to my sedan with snow tires for everyday commuting.
LovinSL600, I wrote the post you quote before I installed Rentech’s engine and transmission software. The car’s a rocket now and as fast off the line as anything since I can spin the wheels in first at less than full throttle.
LovinSL600, I wrote the post you quote before I installed Rentech’s engine and transmission software. The car’s a rocket now and as fast off the line as anything since I can spin the wheels in first at less than full throttle.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
SL 65 Comparison Times.
Pick up the January issue of Road and Track and read the results.
Unbelieveable!
Couldn't a person simply chip an SL 600 and come out about the same?
And save about $ 75K by doing so?
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Joined: Mar 2003
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SL65, 911
Aaaah, but a truly insane fellow could chip his SL65 and end up with something faster than an SLR 
Besides, the SL65 has wheels, brakes, cooling, etc. etc. which don't come on the SL600. For an extra $50K, it should! They're both fine cars, and you can't go wrong either way.
Besides, the SL65 has wheels, brakes, cooling, etc. etc. which don't come on the SL600. For an extra $50K, it should! They're both fine cars, and you can't go wrong either way.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
Agreed. If I ever had a chance to run one of these cars on the autobahn derestricted over 155 MPH, I’d much rather it be a stock SL65 than my Renntech SL600. My modified 600 may accelerate nearly as fast as the 65, but the 65 has better engine and intake charge cooling, enhanced brakes and suspension, and is probably a safer car at the outer limits of its performance envelope.
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Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Murrieta, Southern California
Late Built 2005 W-211 E-320 CDI
To Be Sure.
Originally Posted by treynor
Aaaah, but a truly insane fellow could chip his SL65 and end up with something faster than an SLR
Besides, the SL65 has wheels, brakes, cooling, etc. etc. which don't come on the SL600. For an extra $50K, it should! They're both fine cars, and you can't go wrong either way.
Besides, the SL65 has wheels, brakes, cooling, etc. etc. which don't come on the SL600. For an extra $50K, it should! They're both fine cars, and you can't go wrong either way.
Can you get one for only $50K more than the SL600?
Around here, all the stealerships are asking and getting a premimum of that much and even more over MSRP.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
I sent you a private message on this, but I'll post what I said here too.
The combination of the Brabus exhaust with the 600 engine is subtle as aftermarket exhausts go. As with all such engines, the turbos act as mufflers. There is essentially no difference v. stock cruising at 70 on the highway, which is good as far as I’m concerned: the stock SL55 I used to own had an annoying drone. At low speeds, puttering around town below 2000 RPM, there is what I’d call an bit of musicality to the tone, compared with near silence from the stock 600. I hear it clearly, but my wife doesn’t think there’s that much difference. Also, you can hear big difference in the underground parking garage at the office: another guy parking his car once said “it sounded like you’re parking a jet.” But his comment exaggerated the difference you hear under must circumstances. You definitely get a roar on full throttle, but you get a slightly more muffled roar with the stock muffler. What you never get is the sound of a Ferrari or Aston Martin V12 thanks to the action of the turbos, which break up the sound and leave you a less pure tone. I don’t think a recording of the sound would help you much because the difference from stock – which runs from nothing to moderate – differs so much depending on circumstances.
The combination of the Brabus exhaust with the 600 engine is subtle as aftermarket exhausts go. As with all such engines, the turbos act as mufflers. There is essentially no difference v. stock cruising at 70 on the highway, which is good as far as I’m concerned: the stock SL55 I used to own had an annoying drone. At low speeds, puttering around town below 2000 RPM, there is what I’d call an bit of musicality to the tone, compared with near silence from the stock 600. I hear it clearly, but my wife doesn’t think there’s that much difference. Also, you can hear big difference in the underground parking garage at the office: another guy parking his car once said “it sounded like you’re parking a jet.” But his comment exaggerated the difference you hear under must circumstances. You definitely get a roar on full throttle, but you get a slightly more muffled roar with the stock muffler. What you never get is the sound of a Ferrari or Aston Martin V12 thanks to the action of the turbos, which break up the sound and leave you a less pure tone. I don’t think a recording of the sound would help you much because the difference from stock – which runs from nothing to moderate – differs so much depending on circumstances.
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From: South Florida
I'm also interested in an aftermarket exhaust and like you, I would like to tend towards the conservative side. If you were to do it all over again, what would you different with the exhaust? Brand, model etc...?
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From: Boston
SL600, A8L W12, Continental GT, Range Rover SC
Overall I’m satisfied with the Brabus exhaust. The other brand I considered was Eisenmann, but I feared their product would be too loud for my taste. The thing I would do differently is find a really good installer from the outset. I had the exhaust mounted by a local independent Mercedes repair shop that doesn’t specialize in aftermarket modifications. Apparently, the Brabus exhaust didn’t fit the car perfectly, so each side was skewed a little to the left in the bumper cutouts. I’m not sure whether that was a problem with the particular unit or with Brabus exhausts in general: for all I know, the Eisenmann product might have fit on the first try. After asking around, I was referred to a shop that specialized in maintaining and restoring exotic cars. After some cutting, bending and welding they positioned the exhaust perfectly.
060, 2004, cluster, designo, difference, differences, ecu, engines, enhancements, gauge, integration, maybach, package, renntech, seconds, sl55, sl600
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