SL/R231: Old one gone - New one in!
07-09-2013, 08:58 PM
#1
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Old one gone - New one in!
Well, it wasn't really old (3 months), but after its premature demise, the replacement has finally arrived 
I had the old one lowered via H&R sport springs, so that is lost but the new one has ABC and I can't believe just how much better it rides. Just like our SL600, only better. Nicely improved cornering and the speed dependent lowering is more continuous.
Plus I won't scrape the bumper on our steep office driveway anymore
I may still throw a lowering module on it, but would only make it look better when standing. The car is a good 3/4" inch lower than the old one, so maybe I'll just have it lowered via Star Diagnostic. We'll see...
We opted for the porcelain/black napa leather combo with black ash instead of the berry due to availability, but I really wanted that interior combo since I saw it in an SLS roadster. It's very elegant in person with the piping; the pictures don't do it justicel
I still prefer the iridium silver the most on SL's; very classic, easy to stay clean and the lines of the car show off nicely. Was contemplating the matte silver but am not sure how much of a fad matte paint really is. Definitely more delicate than the glossy one...
The car has all options beside the B&O, including the soft close doors which are much slower to close than the S-Class or 7 series, but that's due to allow for closing the gap on the front/rear side window. Nice feature but unnecessary.
We transferred the SL65 wheels onto the new car and are ready for some top down time!
This time we didn't have the front bumper drilled for the license plates. That just looks much better. Since the cops love to hand out tickets for missing front license plates, I am thinking of getting a snap-on offset mount.
Now I am waiting for new Passport Max detector to arrive. Anyway, here are a few pics, old one first.
I had the old one lowered via H&R sport springs, so that is lost but the new one has ABC and I can't believe just how much better it rides. Just like our SL600, only better. Nicely improved cornering and the speed dependent lowering is more continuous.
Plus I won't scrape the bumper on our steep office driveway anymore
I may still throw a lowering module on it, but would only make it look better when standing. The car is a good 3/4" inch lower than the old one, so maybe I'll just have it lowered via Star Diagnostic. We'll see...
We opted for the porcelain/black napa leather combo with black ash instead of the berry due to availability, but I really wanted that interior combo since I saw it in an SLS roadster. It's very elegant in person with the piping; the pictures don't do it justicel
I still prefer the iridium silver the most on SL's; very classic, easy to stay clean and the lines of the car show off nicely. Was contemplating the matte silver but am not sure how much of a fad matte paint really is. Definitely more delicate than the glossy one...
The car has all options beside the B&O, including the soft close doors which are much slower to close than the S-Class or 7 series, but that's due to allow for closing the gap on the front/rear side window. Nice feature but unnecessary.
We transferred the SL65 wheels onto the new car and are ready for some top down time!
This time we didn't have the front bumper drilled for the license plates. That just looks much better. Since the cops love to hand out tickets for missing front license plates, I am thinking of getting a snap-on offset mount.
Now I am waiting for new Passport Max detector to arrive. Anyway, here are a few pics, old one first.
07-10-2013, 04:20 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
I am happy for you , I didn't expect it would arrive so quick 
Great news, happy driving
Great news, happy driving
07-10-2013, 07:41 AM
#4
Super Member
niiiiice!!!! well done, mate. love the two-toned interiour. however, i think you should have waited for the 2014 ,,, i heard from the dealer that they are coming equipped now with a standard set of galoshes! just taking the mickey. enjoy it! safely. you still have three months of top down (four months with airscarf!) driving bliss. cheers.
07-10-2013, 12:28 PM
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2022 AMG SL63
Your take on the ABC is the same as mine. And as far as sport mode vs. comfort...I almost always have it set on sport - only rarely change it for a known long stretch of bad road - but I find that if I forget to move it back to sport, I'll be going around an off ramp and notice that the car isn't as stuck, seems a tiny bit floaty, etc. Immediately I'll look down and notice that I'd forgotten to switch it back to sport. Additionally I like being able to raise and lower the body...helps me occasionally get out of a bad angled driveway without scraping. It's sort of like putting it in "wading boots mode" for a minute...and then put it back where it belongs!
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07-15-2013, 02:07 AM
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AMG GTC Roadster, E63s Ed.1, M8 Comp. Coupe
Thanks for the nice replies!!
I have given the car the first hand wash and detail as dealers tend to do a lousy prep and the car is just beautiful. The interior is just so elegant and I prefer it over the berry and I am starting to get used to the front end.
The ABC stays totally flat in sport yet swallows speed bumps almost completely. Much softer than the ABC in our old R230 SL600 yet just as good on the body roll.
I still hope that MB redesigns the headlamps just a little bit over the next couple of years, but overall the car is definitely a looker. Now the R230 really looks like a classic!
Btw. We checked the whole inventory for the country and only a handful of cars matched my criteria. Waiting for a '14 wasn't in the cards or worth for that matter and we had the shipped from another dealer a 1000 miles away. Build date was mid-May 2013.
I have given the car the first hand wash and detail as dealers tend to do a lousy prep and the car is just beautiful. The interior is just so elegant and I prefer it over the berry and I am starting to get used to the front end.
The ABC stays totally flat in sport yet swallows speed bumps almost completely. Much softer than the ABC in our old R230 SL600 yet just as good on the body roll.
I still hope that MB redesigns the headlamps just a little bit over the next couple of years, but overall the car is definitely a looker. Now the R230 really looks like a classic!
Btw. We checked the whole inventory for the country and only a handful of cars matched my criteria. Waiting for a '14 wasn't in the cards or worth for that matter and we had the shipped from another dealer a 1000 miles away. Build date was mid-May 2013.
Last edited by Wolfman; 07-15-2013 at 02:12 AM.
07-18-2013, 06:40 PM
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Mercedes SL 550
glad you got your new one-I too have a driveway that loves ABC.
I have cemented two rubber bottle stoppers on the back of my plate as we only need to show one when parked on the street. Enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Ted
I have cemented two rubber bottle stoppers on the back of my plate as we only need to show one when parked on the street. Enjoy yours as much as I do mine.
Ted
