SL/R230: Smoothness of ride/refinement SL500 vs SL55 and older cars vs newer cars in general
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Member
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 172
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--sold Sl55--
Smoothness of ride/refinement SL500 vs SL55 and older cars vs newer cars in general
Hey all,
I'm pretty close to taking the plunge on an R230 and had a question that I was wondering if the good folks of this board can help me out with.
The long story short: how should I expect a 2005ish car with 50,000 - 60,000 miles on it to 'feel' if properly maintained?
The reason that I ask is that I recently drove a 2005 SL55 with 40k miles and a 2017 Mustang GT back-to-back. Much to my surprise, I found the Mustang to be the more compliant ride, and it generally felt more refined.
I know that age -- even (and sometimes especially) on cars with very low mileage -- can take a toll on its own due to degradation of rubber bushings, etc. And I have reason to believe that the SL55 I drove needed new engine mounts.
The question: should I generally expect these cars to be less refined than they once were, even if properly maintained, as an inevitable consequence of time? What does a 15-year-old (or older!) car 'feel' like if properly maintained? Is there a meaningful difference in this regard between the AMG model and the 'standard' 500? Or was I just exposed to a bad example?
Long story short, a well-cared-for R230 with a healthy ABC system and other suspension/steering components + mounts should feel essentially like a new car, right?
Thanks!
(I probably already know the answer to this question ["It depends!"] as my 165k mile E90 handles bumps better than the 30k mile 2010 XKR I drove yesterday, but that might have something to do with the Jag's 20" wheels...)
I'm pretty close to taking the plunge on an R230 and had a question that I was wondering if the good folks of this board can help me out with.
The long story short: how should I expect a 2005ish car with 50,000 - 60,000 miles on it to 'feel' if properly maintained?
The reason that I ask is that I recently drove a 2005 SL55 with 40k miles and a 2017 Mustang GT back-to-back. Much to my surprise, I found the Mustang to be the more compliant ride, and it generally felt more refined.
I know that age -- even (and sometimes especially) on cars with very low mileage -- can take a toll on its own due to degradation of rubber bushings, etc. And I have reason to believe that the SL55 I drove needed new engine mounts.
The question: should I generally expect these cars to be less refined than they once were, even if properly maintained, as an inevitable consequence of time? What does a 15-year-old (or older!) car 'feel' like if properly maintained? Is there a meaningful difference in this regard between the AMG model and the 'standard' 500? Or was I just exposed to a bad example?
Long story short, a well-cared-for R230 with a healthy ABC system and other suspension/steering components + mounts should feel essentially like a new car, right?
Thanks!
(I probably already know the answer to this question ["It depends!"] as my 165k mile E90 handles bumps better than the 30k mile 2010 XKR I drove yesterday, but that might have something to do with the Jag's 20" wheels...)
Last edited by 850csi; Apr 3, 2019 at 12:40 AM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 389
Likes: 113
From: Seattle, WA
SL500
The "feel" of a hydraulic suspension vs a traditional coil and shock suspension is definitely different. There are pros and cons to the ride quality of both. Then one also must remember the primary design goals of specific vehicles and the expectations of their target buyer. The SL55 & XKR are both vehicles with aggressive performance in mind that are targeted towards an audience that likely has a different vehicle in the stable for "comfort in ride quality". The Mustang is generally a vehicle that is the primary all around driver for it's owner and needs to satisfy both performance and ride comfort desires of a generally single vehicle owner. Basically a "Jack of all trades", as that's a primary desire of it's expected buyers. So it's a good idea to keep in the primary design goals of the targeted buyers when the vehicle was offered new. In 80* in city driving on America's poorly maintained roads, there are quite a few cars I'd say soak up the road imperfections better than the R230. Conversely, I don't know of a single vehicle of it's size & weight that more capably handles the twists and turns of a back road, or provide for better confidence on a long highway drive. Hit a long aggressive set of S's through a mountain pass @ 90 miles an hour and you're amazed at how undramatic and effortless the whole drive is. A look in the rear view at the coil and shock vehicle trying to keep up, and watching it dive it's way through the course only reaffirms how confidence inspiring the R230's ride really is. Everything is just so undramatic. So the best advice is to consider what you most desire in ride quality and choose accordingly.
Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 187
Likes: 34
From: Henderson, NV
2008 CL550
I test drove a SL 500 and a SL 55 AMG when I was looking (and ended up with the 55). The ride in each is similar, however the SL 55 is a little firmer, especially once you put ABC in sport mode. The P030 models take the ride to an even higher level.
In my 55 daily driving and long trips the ride is almost pillow smooth, especially after having my engine mounts replaced. If you found the SL55 ride harsh or less compliant, my guess is either you were driving on the lowest setting along with the car being lowered, or the engine and transmission mounts could have been shot. Also, wheel size makes a huge difference. Stock wheel size is 18". A lot of people go bigger to better fill the wheel wells. 19" are ok, but 20" wheels get too firm and let too much road feedback come in.
What I found in my test drive is the 500 feels big and cumbersome. You really feel the weight. The 55 felt tighter and with the additional power overcame the weight factor.
In my 55 daily driving and long trips the ride is almost pillow smooth, especially after having my engine mounts replaced. If you found the SL55 ride harsh or less compliant, my guess is either you were driving on the lowest setting along with the car being lowered, or the engine and transmission mounts could have been shot. Also, wheel size makes a huge difference. Stock wheel size is 18". A lot of people go bigger to better fill the wheel wells. 19" are ok, but 20" wheels get too firm and let too much road feedback come in.
What I found in my test drive is the 500 feels big and cumbersome. You really feel the weight. The 55 felt tighter and with the additional power overcame the weight factor.
MBworld Guru
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 10,782
Likes: 1,011
NO LONGER ACTIVE
Maybe there was something wrong with a that SL55, or its tires . I know the AMG version of the ABC cars is tuned a bit, but in normal mode, it should be a comfortable "touring" ride, especially compared to a Mustang GT. The last Mustang GT I drove was a 2015 and it was like it had no suspension at all to me. I could not handle it in daily driving.
One thing I have noticed about ABC int he SL is how well it can absorb odd road imperfections. For example, a road I travel quite often has one of those sunken spots. It's not a pothole, but a smooth dip, but will cause most cars to undulate and waddle through it. The SL just plows straight through and you almost can't tell it's there. A Mustang would probably send me to the chiropractor. Oh, and I once drove a G500 (G-wagon) through there and it activated ESP and skidded (this is at 35mph). I love what ABC does. It doesn't make the SL a track car, but it's comfortable for daily cruising and offers a bit of fun in the curves (given the limitations of the tires).
One thing I have noticed about ABC int he SL is how well it can absorb odd road imperfections. For example, a road I travel quite often has one of those sunken spots. It's not a pothole, but a smooth dip, but will cause most cars to undulate and waddle through it. The SL just plows straight through and you almost can't tell it's there. A Mustang would probably send me to the chiropractor. Oh, and I once drove a G500 (G-wagon) through there and it activated ESP and skidded (this is at 35mph). I love what ABC does. It doesn't make the SL a track car, but it's comfortable for daily cruising and offers a bit of fun in the curves (given the limitations of the tires).
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 271
Likes: 23
From: Kirkland, WA
2003 SL500
Speaking of different suspension systems, I believe that for smoothing bumps and dips in the road the best is MagneRide by GM. While it can not compare with ABC because it can not lower/rise suspension, it is superior in the reaction speed. No matter what you do, ABC is a mechanical system with reaction time in milliseconds, while MagneRide does not have any mechanical parts and as such can react in microseconds range. But this is irrelevant to the subject under discussion.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 992
Likes: 245
From: Tucson, AZ
'20 X5 M50i; '17 Ram 3500; Golf Cart; Bikes; Scooters
[QUOTE=57staff;7722492]
In my 55 daily driving and long trips the ride is almost pillow smooth, especially after having my engine mounts replaced. If you found the SL55 ride harsh or less compliant, my guess is either you were driving on the lowest setting along with the car being lowered, or the engine and transmission mounts could have been shot. Also, wheel size makes a huge difference. Stock wheel size is 18". A lot of people go bigger to better fill the wheel wells. 19" are ok, but 20" wheels get too firm and let too much road feedback come in.
[/QUOTE
^^^Agree with this.
If the tires are 19, or bigger, it will suffer.
If the suspension is lowered, drive it all the way up (2 little red lights on).
In my 55 daily driving and long trips the ride is almost pillow smooth, especially after having my engine mounts replaced. If you found the SL55 ride harsh or less compliant, my guess is either you were driving on the lowest setting along with the car being lowered, or the engine and transmission mounts could have been shot. Also, wheel size makes a huge difference. Stock wheel size is 18". A lot of people go bigger to better fill the wheel wells. 19" are ok, but 20" wheels get too firm and let too much road feedback come in.
[/QUOTE
^^^Agree with this.
If the tires are 19, or bigger, it will suffer.
If the suspension is lowered, drive it all the way up (2 little red lights on).
