Irish-Scholar

Hello All.

This is my first post here.

Recently, I saw a 2008 SL600 for sale (V12 biturbo). It has an AMG badge on the right side of the trunk lid.

When I asked the shop owner about it, he responded, "Every SL600 is an AMG."

I couldn't confirm this online, and I noticed that most of the SL600s don't have the AMG badge on them.

So, I'm wondering what it means. Did a previous owner have some sort of AMG package added? Or is it something else?

Thanks very much.

I look forward to learning from you all.

Viper98912

Every SL600 is exactly NOT an AMG. Anyone can buy an AMG badge; it was most likely added by a previous owner or the dealer.

Stenzel-Germany

Hi,

SL65 is a AMG modified V12 and car.

SL600 is stock MB

Best regards

Stenzel

Irish-Scholar

Hello again, and thank you for the good information.

One more question: I'm test-driving the 2008 SL600 tomorrow. It has 50K on the clock, and is reasonably priced (but not a steal).

Can you tell me anything I should be looking for, or anything I should know about?

Thanks again.

cdk4219

You should ask this in the r230 forum. This is the Amg gt forum

MBNRG

Yes.
Look for the AMG.

Irish-Scholar

Okay, thanks again.

Irish-Scholar

Well, the plot thickens.

Indeed, I looked for the AMG...and I found it.

I test-drove the car today, and it has the 321 AMG package.

So, to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, it's a 2008 SL600 with 321 AMG. I think it's also a "Sport" edition (I recall seeing that somewhere on the paperwork).

I looked at the original window sticker from Mercedes (retained in the glove compartment), and the original price was (I believe) $134,000. With the AMG package (for something like $5400), and some other charges, the original selling price was $145,000.

I believe this renders it a rather rare car.

The car looks virtually new outside. However, the interior looks a bit shopworn.

I told the owner I need a day to think about it, but I think I'm going to buy it.

Very exciting!

Have a fantastic day.

PeterUbers

so Have you decided this is an amg or not?

Irish-Scholar

Well, Mercedes calls it an AMG, and who am I to argue with them?

PeterUbers

glad for you

Irish-Scholar

Many thanks!

HLG600

There is no such thing as a factory SL600 AMG. The "321 AMG" option is the factory sport package (basically bumper covers, wheels and smoked tail lights).

Back when AMG was a tuner, adding their parts post-production justified the badge. After it was acquired and converted into MB's in-house performance division, however, the badge reflected a car which, among other performance modifications, had an engine that was built by AMG.

The 5.5L M275 / M279 V12 is not one of those engines. The 6.0L M275 / M275 is.

Irish-Scholar

I'm trying to figure out what the 321 package includes.

From what I'm reading, it seems to be mostly cosmetic, but also includes a "sport suspension."

Frederick NL

Coming back to your question about what to look for: the V12's are expensive cars to maintain. You'll need more budget after the purchase. Motor mounts and trans mount are wearing parts and require an engine out repair. Owners decide to do other preventative maintenance while the engine is out. Coil packs may be prone to failure, new ones are costly. For all R230's the ABC suspension one day requires repairs and always require meticulous maintenance. Not a car you buy, expecting you can 'drive and forget'.

Twelve bangers are always special. I own a (European) six pot SL350, at the low end of the spectrum. It gives me everything I want and it doesn't brake the bank. I would tend to suggest you to take an SL500 or 550 for a spin as a comparison to an SL600. I guess the torque thrust of the V12 must be a momentary satisfaction, so decide if that justifies the extra cost of ownership. For sure, rationality doesn't rule here, but still, money is rational.

Irish-Scholar

Thanks very much for the good information.

Yes, the expensive repairs concern me, but I I'm going to buy it anyway, and hope for the best.

This car will never cross my path again, and if I don't buy it, I'm sure I will regret it.

I have a question for you...

I have a road trip coming up. It involves about 6 hours of driving, much of it in remote areas, and over smallish mountains in a rural, country area.

I'm going to take my GLC300. I bought it new, maintained it well, and it has been extremely reliable.

So, here's my question: would you take the SL600 on a long road trip?

Many thanks.

Frederick NL

We take our SL for road trips. Very enjoyable. My concern is not about bad roads and reliability but about luggage, the limited space and the 'risk' of damaging the interior with ugly scratches and breaking brittle plastic parts (a major issue in the R230). The R230 is a design with luxury and elegance in mind, rather than rugged travel. If you and your partner are not equally meticulous about the car, expect irritation in a situation where you are both right from your own perspective. Why all of a sudden can't I put my feet on the dash..? What a stupid car if spilling liquid on the console under the cup holders can do fatal and expensive damage? Why can't I cram a bottle in the door pocket (brittle lid)? You get the picture.

tonylinc

An AMG car is going to have a plate on top the engine with the signature of the single mechanic/engineer who hand-built the engine. AMG R230 is usually going to have different/bigger/stronger rear subframe although the SL600s may already have those because of having the V12. A car can be ordered with AMG package usually that is an appearance package. And AMG brakes can be added to a car. Meaning, you need to know what brakes to buy when doing brakes or you can wind up with wrong brake parts. Ask me how I know this. LoL
When I need brakes, I call a MB dealership and ask for brakes part numbers having them look up the car's VIN, so they get me the exact part numbers for this specific car. Then if desired, buy whatever brake parts that cross-reference to that specific part number. This way you don't get wrong parts! (Once owned a 2002 W220 S500 that had AMG brakes, and having bought "ordinary" brakes for the car that was a problem)
An AMG badge can be bought and glued onto the trunk lid. LoL I once owned a W163 ML320 SUV that had an AMG badge on the back, some idiot put that on there. Patently stupid. But it was a good vehicle!
A buyer should always go to a Mercedes Vin decoder online to see all the car's options etc the car was born with.
Any owner with an M275 V12 if you don't know how new the spark plugs are, should change them with the new and use only the correct ones, they are good typically for 50,000 miles and when those wear it can become harder work for the coilpacks to make the spark jump the gap, thus possibly causing premature coilpack failure. People neglect to replace spark plugs because there are 24 of them and the labor cost isn't cheap. If you do the job yourself be very careful removing the coil packs so you don't damage or break them!!! Use bungee cords to hold the intercoolers up and out of the way, you don't need to remove them for this job. If your coilpack(s) fail you can have them rebuilt instead of buying new ones, this is actually better than new ones.
Mercedes made 4,015 R230s with the twin turbo V12 so that's a pretty rare car.

Irish-Scholar

Thank you all for the fantastic information!

I just put a down payment on this car.

I have the usual anxiety and buyer's remorse, ie., I already have a great car...I should save the money...it makes no sense owning two cars...what if it breaks down...what if it's massively expensive to own...what if, what if, what if...

But I'm going to do it. Every great venture is a risk, I think, and no one can truly predict the future...but if I don't buy the car, I will definitely regret it.

Thanks again.

PeterUbers

life is short. No regrets. Enjoy the vehicle and weather any storm as it arrives to get it back to roadworthiness asap.

MikeJ65

Enjoy the car. It was common in the US for dealers to add the AMG badges for the AMG Sport Package. I would never spend my time and money fake badging an SL, but I'm also not going to pry the AMG off of a car with AMG Sport. The fact that it upsets so many people is just a bonus. All SLs are high maintenance for roof, suspension, PSE, etc. V-12s add some nice high ticket items like coil packs, turbos, and motor mount labor. You will be back here for advice, which is usually pretty solid.

Irish-Scholar

Thank you! I think that's great advice.

It's upbeat and positive and makes me feel better.

Once, when I was in grad school a long time ago, I was swamped with schoolwork and some big personal issues.

I told a professor whom I liked and trusted, "I feel like I'm drowning," and he quickly said this:

"You're not drowning. You're learning how to swim underwater."

It was just the message I needed, and I never forgot it. I think it's a good concept to keep in mind when things get difficult.

Thanks again.

Frederick NL

Congratulations! And enjoy (and be safe, there's a lot of torque in there that can make your tires struggle).

Irish-Scholar

Many thanks.

By 'struggle,' do you mean spin or lose traction during a quick launch, or under high acceleration?

PeterUbers

great advice, thanks for sharing