Vifa 75

Hi everyone,
I almost bought a 2014 BMW M6 convertible about 4 weeks ago until I discovered how many engine related issues they have. A good friend of mine ( owner of three 2003/2004 S class AMG, one white, one black, one silver- I think he is having some issues ) pointed me to the 2003/06 SL55 direction ( i need an convertible) saying that they have an bulletproof engine. However, after researching a little I realized that they are all over the map, price wise. I need some advice on how to price these cars, if possible. I’m looking at an 2004 SL55 with 78k miles and $18,000. (Silver ext. with dark grey/black int.) The owner will not go any lower in price.This car looks/feels/drive like brand new from my point of view ( already test drove it). Also there is a 2005 SL55 , White ext. with red int. , 26k miles and the dealership wants 27,600 + taxes. I’m not sure how much lower are they willing to go. I didn’t see it in person but from the pictures looks great. Are any off these two car good deals??? I’ve seen 2003/2004’s Sl55’s with 60k miles and close to $30k or well over 100K miles and priced $15k-$19k. Since this car is smaller and older than an M6 i also reduced the budget. Can I expect to get a 2003-2006, with low miles in good/great condition for under $25k ??? Or should i revise my expectations Also, I’m aware of their brake system issues an shifter issues Anything else should I be aware of ? Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

onewhippedpuppy

You should be able to find an exceptional low mileage SL55 for $25k or less. Before I decided that I preferred the SL63, I had several very nice cars I was considering with mileage in the 30k range for $23-25k. The only exception would be a P030 performance package car, which tend to be more like $30k due to the rarity. The car with 78k sounds fairly priced at $18k, assuming it's in excellent condition with a good maintenance history. The car at the dealership sounds overpriced. Also note that you are knocking on the door of SL63 pricing, so you might consider that as an option as well.

Vifa 75

Thank you for your feedback. Great info, I would like something with lower mileage and knowing that there were great options on the market in the low $20's eases my mind a little. Hmmm... SlL63... do they drive a lot different than Sl55??? What made you change your mind when considering a SL55?

HLG600

If $25-30K is within your budget, I would narrow the search to a 07-08 SL55. Same great engine, but with MB's 2nd Gen ABC system that offers improved performance and reliability.

As a point of reference, there was a local one last month: 2007 SL55, ~50K miles, listed for $26K. If I had a 3rd garage bay, I would have bought it. Sold within 2 weeks.

HLG600

Both have great engines, but the wet clutch 7 Speed (MCT) that comes with the 63 offers a significant performance advantage.

The M113K has a deeper well of torque down low. The M156, on the other hand, has a more enjoyable top end of the power band. Both are strong in the mid-range.

You'll encounter a lot of noise about the head bolts on the M156, a good bit of which comes from people just regurgitating things they've read and who have no actual experience with the platform. Analogous to the IMS Bearing matter for certain Porsche models, the short of it is that for ~$3K you can resolve the factory defect and never worry about it again.

End of the day, though, drive both and determine which you prefer.

MikeJ65

I'm guessing that the white/red one you are referring to is the one at Sears. I don't think that they are too far out of line on that price. The white/red combination in a < 30k miles SL55 is very very rare. I'm not a fan of the wheels, but it is a pretty sharp car. That said, other than resale value (which you will drag down if you actually drive it), I don't see a big advantage to a car that sat around that much. The sweet spot is probably a reasonable mileage car in the 75k or below range in the $18-23k area and you will have plenty to choose from in that range. I wouldn't be afraid of higher mileage on a base SL500, but you do have to consider that the SL55 is a supercharged car making almost 500 hp, so there is some stress on the engine/driveline.

Vifa 75

Yes , the car is at Sears. It does look sharp in the pictures. I’m planing on driving whatever I get from spring to summer ( around 5-6k miles a year) so I’m not really thinking on resale value as long as I’m happy with what I got. Good points on mileage.... definitely something to think about ... Thank you for you feedback.

Vifa 75

As a point of reference, there was a local one last month: 2007 SL55, ~50K miles, listed for $26K. If I had a 3rd garage bay, I would have bought it. Sold within 2 weeks.[/QUOTE]
Wow... that 2007 definitely a steal ...I wish I knew....
So you are saying that the 2007 engine is the same as 2003 version? For some reason my friend told me to avoid 2007 and up because the have a different engine. I would love a 2007.

Vifa 75

I did look a little at Sl63 but they are very rare... and I do love the low end torque of a SL55... for now at least ...

HLG600

Preventive replacement of the head bolts and lifters. Camshaft replacement is very rare if the lifters are still functioning.

The M113K had some updates over the years (like any platform) but to suggest avoiding a later version is complete nonsense.

onewhippedpuppy

I would agree, it's flavors of ice cream. Both are tasty, it's just a question of which you prefer. I think the SL55 is more muscle car, while the SL63 is more sports car. The SL55 has way more torque but doesn't rev as quickly or as high, while the SL63 rips to redline and make power much higher in the RPM range. The transmission was a big difference for me, the SL55 transmission is fine but I felt it a bit dim-witted and slow, just a typical automatic. The SL63 fires through gearshifts like a dual clutch, but it can also be clunky from a dead stop, especially when cold. Handling is very similar, but I felt the SL63 was more nimble and tossable. If you want to modify for more power it's a no brainer, the M156 doesn't have a lot to offer while the M113k can make big power without spending a ton of money. Styling to me was a wash, the interiors are basically identical and I like the exterior styling of both.

Drive both is the best advice I can offer. I own two AMGs with an M156 and the Speedshift transmission, so I'm obviously biased.

BlownV8

He was telling you to avoid the M156 engine not the M113K and was probably thinking the 2007 had the M156 like in the E class.

Agreed that the tranny in the 55 is horrible. The 7 speed in the M156 equipped SL63 is so much better.

BlownV8

If you can get past the bland looks, the R231 SL550 is a better vehicle all around. It will be a little more expensive but worth it for dependability, driveability, technology, better trans, newer ABC, newer hoses, lines, plastic bits, ETC, ETC. Always buy the newest nicest MB you can find. A 230 SL without a warranty can eat you alive if you buy the wrong one. The R230 is a darn good looking car though and the M113k is a fantastic engine.

Vifa 75

The new info adds up quickly. Thank you everyone for all the effort you are putting into this thread. Definitely a lot of net information worth considering. I would definitely expand my search to 2007/2008 model and even peak at SL63. This is very exciting.....can’t wait.... Thanks again!

danmm7

I don't want to hijack this discussion, but which pressure like are you referring to specifically? My understanding was that all the high-pressure lines were at risk as they age....especially on older 2003-2006 models.

Amir_AMG

When I was looking I was specifically looking for an 07/08 if possible. They are harder to find and go for a bit more...the r230 do have common problems as well just like the m6 you were looking at does...suspension, convertible top, are all pretty pricey and add up