Utopia Texas

Just curious though I would never be considered a speed demon and actually am a conservative driver. What is the theoretical maximum speed of the 2008 SL550? Thanks.....

Shadow5501

All non-AMG Mercedes in the US have a 130MPH maximum speed governed by the engine controller. Your car will easily achieve this speed, and it won't take long to get there. I am guessing, but absent the governor I would say about 160, given that it has 385HP.

Yidney

You can get the governor turned off with most any ECU tune. Just a couple days ago somebody asked this question on the CLK forum and one 550 guy claimed to have driven his at 170. I recall somebody else a while back said 176.

Yidney

Oh, and if you know somebody withe MB STAR system, you can reset the governor to 150. Over that you need a tune to remove it.

carguyshu

I think you can completely remove with star or at the very least move it to the 186 AMG performance package limit.

BrianA.

I've had my 07 up to 155mph, that is the limit set by the computer

Heatwave

I've had my '07 SL550 popped up to 140. It gets there quickly. Very quickly. The car was still pulling strongly and was headed straight for 145 and beyond ... but the governor on my nerves told me to back off. I spent a life in aviation ... I know a bit about going fast. But 140 in a car ... that's the fastest I've ever rolled across the Earth's surface. Once was enough. There was a time long ago when I joked about die young and make a good-looking corpse. That opportunity no longer exists for me.

cadbob

With an SDS, you can change the Electronic Governor. Been Awhile since I did it but think max is 208mph setting. Make sure your tires are Y Rated

BrianA.

I've had my motorcycle up to 165mph, that was easier than in the SL and it slowed down a lot quicker. In the SL, it took a long time to slow back down to 65. For some strange reason it felt safer on the motorcycle.

Rocman8

That isn't true. There are a lot of US non AMG cars limited at 155 and not all AMG cars are limited at 186 some are less than that.

DraugnarsDen

153

BrianA.

In 1999 there was a threat by the German government to limit the speed of the Autobahn. German car companies said they would limit the top speed of their cars to 155mph. Suzuki had just released their Hyabusa, which was the fastest motorcycle at that time. They said they would limit its top speed to 185mph.
German car makers held to that promise, except for Porsche and Mercedes with certain AMG models.

kbdixon

I have seen an indicated 135mph in my ‘08 sl550, here in the northeast. I mostly ran out of unpatrolled road.