LovinMercedes

My new SL600 went to B4 status today which means it is going to be produced within a few days.

I am getting excited now. About a month more probably until I get it.

ChrisB

You hve been driving your 2004 SL55 for about a year.

What are the significant advatages of the SL600 over the SL55 in you opinion?

Do you plan on doing upgrades?

LovinMercedes

I do believe based upon what is important to me that the SL600 is a better car than the SL55 however both are great cars. This is what I think are the advantages of the SL600 over the SL55.

1. The SL600 leather is a significant upgrade and much more luxurious and it makes the interior a lot nicer.
2. The SL600 is faster than the SL55. The SL55 will beat the SL600 off the line but once the SL600 gets to 1800 RPM's, it rockets like a bullet and overtakes the SL55.
3. If you like engines with racier sounds, the SL55 is a better choice.
4. The SL600 has a much smoother ride. The SL55 ride is much stiffer.

Upgrades:

1. I am NOT doing the RennTech upgrade because I think the car is fast enough and I see no reason for it. Others do love the additional power but I have driven the SL600 and I can't imagine ever needing more power than it already has.

2. I have ordered Aegean Blue with an all black interior. The interior wood will be the Burlwood. I want an all black look so I am replacing the steering wheel, the center console wood and each of the wood panels on doors from Burlwood to the Black Ash wood.

3. The SL600 all black interior comes with black below but the alcantara A-pillars, sunvisors and headliners are light gray, I believe they call it ash. I am replacing the alcantara A-pillars, front, center and rear alcantara headliners from the light ash color to black. You get the black parts from the AMG line. In addition, I am replacing the mirror and light assembly from light ash to black for that to match the new black alcantara A-pillars and headliner. I am also replacing both sunvisors from the light ash alcantara to the black alcantara.

4. I am installing the white illuminated door sills.

5. I am changing the tail lamps to the AMG tail lamps which have the charcoal color in them.

6. I got the AMG sport package but I am changing the wheels to the 5-Twin Spoke Wheel Multi-piece (STAGGERED) wheels.

7. Since the alcantara headliner and A-pillars will now be black, I am changing the black plastic instrument cluster to the black alcantara instrument cluster. This you also get from the AMG line and will match perfectly with the A-pillar and headliner.

8. I am installing the SIRUS radio and at this time plan on putting the aftermarket antenna in the driver's side windshild washer vent on the hood. Hopefully I will get good reception.

Well, thats about it. Let me know if you have any questions. I will post pictures when the car comes in and the modifications are completed.

Hopefully Monday my status changes to B5 which means the car is completed.

Take car Chris.

Scotsman

Take it you like black then Lovin? :o}

It'll look stunning I'm sure. Enjoy!

LovinMercedes

Thanks Scotsman,

I was really thinking about the stone interior for my car but I decided for me, the black would be better. I am not that crazy about the charcoal interior so I went with the all black. I guess I wanted everything black so I kinda went crazy replacing stuff.

Well, I think it is going to be really nice and feel very sporty inside.

I will post pictures when all is done.

Thanks

BklynBenz

cant wait to see pics

LovinMercedes

Ali G,

I ama gonna post a picturas as soonna they becoma availabllllllle. I really respecta your fans and youra opinioninonata.

Thanksa for your comentas.

LovinMercedes

Car went into B7 status today which means it is complete and at the port ready to ship.

The next ship is leaving on December 8th and should arrive in Los Angeles around the 6-8 of January.

Getting close now. I am really excited.

Miki-SL500

How do you check the status, through dealer or some website ?

LovinMercedes

The dealer has a system that is called Netstar. This system monitors every car they have from the time they put the order in until it gets to their dealership. There are 21 different codes that tell you exactly what the status of your car is.

I check the status of my car each day and it is fun...and sometimes frustrating to watch the car move along.

If you have ordered a car, make sure the dealer has your car marked as PRIORITY 1 as these cars go faster than cars that are for stock and not marked with this priority.

This is also important once your car gets to the port as cars with this priority have a little pink paint dot on the windshield which mean the car is a PRIORITY 1. When they unload the ships, the go look first for the cars with the pink spots on the windshield to get them to the VPC first for processing.

Miki-SL500

What about cars ordered in Europe ? Perhaps you could find something out about my car ? Its # is 04 554 10139

LovinMercedes

Is that the Netstar purchase order that comes off the Netstar Vehicle information sheet? Each car, once it has a definite production slot is given a purchase order number by Mercedes Benz in Germany.

I am sure your dealer could tell you what stage your car is in. Have you asked him? I am almost certain that my dealer can not get into the system that governs Europe but I wil find out.

LovinMercedes

I had my dealer try that number and their system would not take the number. Where did you get this number? Do you think it is the Germany PO number?

I was told by my dealer that all their cars start with 05.

Miki-SL500

It is the German vehicle number(i am in Europe, bought my SL from MB Yugoslavia), my dealer said i can track my car using this number,however, i've already called him a zillion times and would really appreciate it if there was a way to check it myself. Just like you, i cant wait to get it, its a SL 500 with $33k optional equipment

LovinMercedes

Unfortunately the dealer is the only one that can track it. I found one person at the dealership that I bug everyday, twice a day because they say the computers upgrade during the morning hours and then again at 3:00 PM PST in the US.

She is really nice and I wll take good care of her when the car comes in.

Unfortunately however, the dealership is the only one. Give them a call. With that PO number they should be able to tell you in a second. I think it is the right number because my PO number is 10 digets as well.

Let me know how you make out.

Also, please tell me all about your car, colors, etc.

LovinMercedes

B8 status today...at the port and ship assinged. Going to be soon now.

tiggerfink

I remember I drove my wife crazy waiting to pick up her car. I was up all night with excitement the night before delivery

So are you going to cruise through Beverly Hills?

LovinMercedes

Unfortunately, I am in Northern California by San Francisco. I am already driving my wife crazy. I am driving the dealership crazy. As you know, I am replacing the inside wood and I need to have all the pieces match. Well, you can imagine that doesn't happen on the first round of parts. I am embarrased to tell you how many parts I have ordered. I just looked too...that freaken new steering wheel is $3,250. Phew, didn't think it would be that much. I still need to add the center console, door panels and shifter knob. I guess I just won't look.

jasab

Lovin
Nice to see passion for the SL. What a car
Got a new SL500 in October. Unfortunately end of British summer.
The wife thinks i'm mad, as I have pretty much hibernated her (the car) to protect from the nasty winter and the dreaded salt.
Anyway, hope the delivery is on time and you have top down weather on the day!

LovinMercedes

Got to protect that baby from the salts. I agree.

Good new yesterday. My car went to B8 which means it is at the port, ship assigned and will be shipped on Tuesday. It seems Mercedes Benz in Germany added an additional ship that is taking the Los Angeles cars and dropping them off at the Baltimore port. This will cut 20 days off the delivery time to Los Angeles. They then go by rail to the VPC in Los Angeles.

I understand they have done this a few times before. What they are trying to do it get the cars to the VPC in time to have them delivered by year end so they make their numbers. It costs more but Mercedes picks up the cost.

Lucky for me I should hopefully get my car sooner.

Time will tell. Take care.

tiggerfink

You are so lucky LovinSL600 to live in the Bay Area. You have so many Mercedes enthusiast in your area that love to have meets, show off their cars, and take road trips.

My wife and I visit the Bay area in September and had lunch with the local SLK enthusiast group. We met at the Mercedes dealer to look at the new SLK350 and later visited the Ferrari and Maserati dealer. One of the officers of the local MBCA group told me that that they had an event with over 400 Mercedes on a road trip from the Bay Area to Oregon one weekend.

The next day we took a trip down Pacific Highway 1 to Pebbles Beach. We wished we had a convertible when we took that trip. The scenery was unbelievable.

LovinMercedes

I guess you have to join the national MBCA and then they lead you to the local. Is that correct?

tiggerfink

Yes, that is correct.

You can pickup the membership application at your dealership. You can get a better deal when you join for 3 years. You may also get a 10% or more discount when you take your car in for service and parts. The discount also applies to any Mercedes merchandise at the dealer's local store. My dealership offers discounts to MBCA members.

If you join Mercedes-Benz Club of America, the national office will send your membership information to the local club. The President of MBCA lives in your area.


http://www.mbca.org/san_francisco_bay/index.htm

https://www.mbca.org/mbca/index.htm

http://www.mbca.org/pages/sections.htm

You can also find non MBCA events in the event section of this web site.
https://mbworld.org/forums/events-gatherings/90690-sf-bay-area-meet-12-11-04-230pm-bridgepoint-foster-city.html

LovinMercedes

Thank you very much! I just sent in my application via e-mail.

Again, thanks tigger.

speed

I do not want to throw cold water on your up coming new SL but here are the facts. As you know there have been a LOT of electrical/computer problems with new MB vehicles. I want to report to you that my 04 SL600 with 2200 miles has now developed 2 of them and the dealer has yet to figure out how to fix them. I enjoy the car but for the kind of money they charge for this I would hope that MB would do a better job at eliminating the electrical glitches. Yes I know that you can get these with any car but my real concern is that, after these 2 problems are fixed, what else might be coming?
Personally, I will not buy another MB product until I see proof that they have solved these electrical problems. As an aside I must say that I enjoy my 03 S55AMG (no glitches) almost as much as the SL600 and sometimes I like it even MORE than the SL600 forgetting about the glitches. I never lower the top on the SL, not into convertables just bought it for its power and looks.
Good luck with your 600. Hopefully the electrical gremlins will not visit you.