northbenz

It has been several months since Mercedesfan pointed out the logic that demanded a styling change in 2005 for the 2006 SL models that would rush the new McLaren style nose in order to comply with the new European Pedestrian Impact Standards going into effect next year.

What was cleverly deduced by Sherlock has now been confirmed:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...113#post743113

Prior posting by Mercedesfan:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=60563

sillydriver

Since I always tend to go for the latest thing, the look of the revised nose probably will grow on me. My inclination would be to replace my then two year old SL600 with a new one, taking a huge loss on depreciation of the obsolete model. In the end I probably won’t do this just to avoid being berated by my wife, who would tell me (correctly) that I’m a spoiled child and a complete idiot.

TestnDoc

Im probably in the minority, but Im not wild about the "new" nose on the SL. Perhaps Im biased, since I just ordered an 05 SL600....

Mustard

I'm not sure its official - its still conjecture and the decision will be made on the basis the SLK nose is not too vilified in the press.

Hopefully, it will be and rightly so. Its a mess....

northbenz

I've seen one or two journalists deride the SLK nose, but the majority have given the SLK high praise for its overall look including the freshened front styling. Quite frankly the old SLK looks homely when you compare the two now. I've never seen a Mercedes model get to looking so outdated in a single model year. The old tradition of evolutionary styling changes was thrown out the window with the new for 2005 SLK. ---- So if that is going to be the last bastion of hope for keeping the new nose off the SL, I'd say forget it. The new SLK is already a sales success judging by the reported wait lists in the dealer order books to date.

Mustard

Well I don't know where you are but the nose has been universally derided in the press in the UK, and rightly so.

It just not up to it - its a faux representation of Mercedes non-success in Formula one and a serious styling mistake.

The go ahead for the same nose on the SL next year is not certain and from my information the SLK is not the runaway success in Europe you are suggesting. Where do you get your info or is it conjecture?

sales figures are worrying and M-B are hoping cars on the road will support its success.....

I1 ULOOZ

umm...

northbenz

Mustard, you are right, the few negatives (apart from a mixed review in Automobile) I've seen in the press to date regarding the styling of the nose on the SLK have been from across the Pond. Over here the new styling on the SLK has been welcomed and embraced. How it will be accepted on the already sharp looking SL is another question. Unlike the current SL, the current SLK is not the high in demand car it once was and almost anything would have been an improvement. Also the stigma of race success or failure of the high powered Mercedes engines goes over the heads of most US buyers as all we really follow in that department is NASCAR and its the drivers, not the cars who get all the attention.

blueSL

I think the new SLK is a big improvement on the old one but I was never convinced by the old car's styling.

The current SL front end design is already very busy, especially the flutings leading to the headlights and it would be crazy to add yet more. I think the only way a redesign to include the F1 nose would work is if the headlights were redesigned.

Of course, I'm a turn-coat now. Compared to the clean front end of the DB9, the front end of the SL is a dogs-breakfast, a mess and piling on a dubious link to a disastrously performing F1 team is a mistake.

Does anyone who buys an SL do so because Mercedes tries to hack it in Formula One? I don't, but then nor do I hang a Scuderia Ferrari flag out of my window on race days like someone in the next village...

Mustard

Yes, but but wasn't that you driving through Surrey in your SL55 with two English flags attached to your rear windows for the recent local elections?

I'm with you - the front of the SL is very fussy - but don't breath a word until I've sold mine, will you...

And I'm more of a turncoat - I'm coming out as a true BMW fanatic - as soon as I've sold my SL of course.....

slytoksy

I doesn't look bad IMHO:

vraa

Glad my dad got one before the butchering.

blueSL

It's just a complete mess.

eyethink

"It doesn't look bad."

It dosn't look good! How sad when someone has to point out that it doesn't suck all that much.

More MB produced sh*t, looks like BMW and MB are going to have an ugly contest together.