SL/R231: R230 to R230 comments
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
R230 to R230 comments
I decided to go from my 2005 R230 SL500 to a 2016 SL550 (CPO). I absolutely love my R230, but the difference between that and the R231 was night and day. Getting the new one on Tuesday.
Very excited on a variety of levels.
I would love to here the comments from others who have gone from previous SL versions to the R231
Very excited on a variety of levels.
I would love to here the comments from others who have gone from previous SL versions to the R231
#2
The R230 felt more "solid" and heavier. The R231 feels a whole lot different, and it just has more of everything. The best way to put it is that I really love my R231, but I still miss my R230. Two very great cars.
#3
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Does your new car have ABC? I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I had it for 12 years and sold it with 22,000 miles on it. One of my all time favorite cars, and I have had many.
I replaced it with a CPO 2013 SL550. The car had only 11,000 miles and was in near new condition. Everything about the new car was better than on my 2004, with the following exceptions:
1. The 2003 to 2012 R230 SL’s in the USA, all came with Active Body Control or “ABC” as standard equipment. My 2004 rode like a dream. With the introduction of the R231 SL’s in 2013, all non-AMG cars imported into the USA, had ABC as a $4,000.00+ option. So, the vast majority of 2013 to 2020, non-AMG SL’s do not have ABC, including my 2013. Being someone who truly values ride quality, I was unable to keep the car, as I was so disappointed in the ride.
2. The audio system in my 2004 was just wonderful. The audio systems in the R231’s is not nearly as good and I personally, find it to be incredibly sub-standard for a $100K+ luxury car.
Good luck with your new car!
I replaced it with a CPO 2013 SL550. The car had only 11,000 miles and was in near new condition. Everything about the new car was better than on my 2004, with the following exceptions:
1. The 2003 to 2012 R230 SL’s in the USA, all came with Active Body Control or “ABC” as standard equipment. My 2004 rode like a dream. With the introduction of the R231 SL’s in 2013, all non-AMG cars imported into the USA, had ABC as a $4,000.00+ option. So, the vast majority of 2013 to 2020, non-AMG SL’s do not have ABC, including my 2013. Being someone who truly values ride quality, I was unable to keep the car, as I was so disappointed in the ride.
2. The audio system in my 2004 was just wonderful. The audio systems in the R231’s is not nearly as good and I personally, find it to be incredibly sub-standard for a $100K+ luxury car.
Good luck with your new car!
#4
Does your new car have ABC? I had a 2004 SL500 that I ordered new. I had it for 12 years and sold it with 22,000 miles on it. One of my all time favorite cars, and I have had many.
I replaced it with a CPO 2013 SL550. The car had only 11,000 miles and was in near new condition. Everything about the new car was better than on my 2004, with the following exceptions:
1. The 2003 to 2012 R230 SL’s in the USA, all came with Active Body Control or “ABC” as standard equipment. My 2004 rode like a dream. With the introduction of the R231 SL’s in 2013, all non-AMG cars imported into the USA, had ABC as a $4,000.00+ option. So, the vast majority of 2013 to 2020, non-AMG SL’s do not have ABC, including my 2013. Being someone who truly values ride quality, I was unable to keep the car, as I was so disappointed in the ride.
2. The audio system in my 2004 was just wonderful. The audio systems in the R231’s is not nearly as good and I personally, find it to be incredibly sub-standard for a $100K+ luxury car.
Good luck with your new car!
I replaced it with a CPO 2013 SL550. The car had only 11,000 miles and was in near new condition. Everything about the new car was better than on my 2004, with the following exceptions:
1. The 2003 to 2012 R230 SL’s in the USA, all came with Active Body Control or “ABC” as standard equipment. My 2004 rode like a dream. With the introduction of the R231 SL’s in 2013, all non-AMG cars imported into the USA, had ABC as a $4,000.00+ option. So, the vast majority of 2013 to 2020, non-AMG SL’s do not have ABC, including my 2013. Being someone who truly values ride quality, I was unable to keep the car, as I was so disappointed in the ride.
2. The audio system in my 2004 was just wonderful. The audio systems in the R231’s is not nearly as good and I personally, find it to be incredibly sub-standard for a $100K+ luxury car.
Good luck with your new car!
#5
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I do not have ABC on the R231. I did not notice much of difference in the audio.
The R231 feels a lot more modern but I am sure I will miss the R230
The R231 feels a lot more modern but I am sure I will miss the R230
#6
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#7
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1986 560SL, 2017 E300, 2018 Sl550, 2020 E350
Streamliner (note I got it right this time
)
You are correct noting the speakers are OK...as you know problem is no signal to the rear speakers.
My solution (as discussed earlier) has made the audio system what it should be.....now I love EVERYTHING about the car.
With all the other things you have done to your new car you should really do what I have and you will be more than pleased.
Steve
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
You are correct noting the speakers are OK...as you know problem is no signal to the rear speakers.
My solution (as discussed earlier) has made the audio system what it should be.....now I love EVERYTHING about the car.
With all the other things you have done to your new car you should really do what I have and you will be more than pleased.
Steve
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#8
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2020 S560 Sedan, 2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, '24 BMW I7 on order...
Streamliner (note I got it right this time
)
You are correct noting the speakers are OK...as you know problem is no signal to the rear speakers.
My solution (as discussed earlier) has made the audio system what it should be.....now I love EVERYTHING about the car.
With all the other things you have done to your new car you should really do what I have and you will be more than pleased.
Steve
![Smilie](https://mbworld.org/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
You are correct noting the speakers are OK...as you know problem is no signal to the rear speakers.
My solution (as discussed earlier) has made the audio system what it should be.....now I love EVERYTHING about the car.
With all the other things you have done to your new car you should really do what I have and you will be more than pleased.
Steve
#9
I've gotten in contact with many audio shops and even the more high-end one refuse to do such work on the car, despite it being simple. I guess they are scared of the possible liabilities they'd face from installation error.
#10
Member
I have spoken to Rick Reus on the phone for 30 minutes, and received a quote for 3 levels of upgrade. Rick is quite friendly and will speak with you just about as long as you want. The cost is several times higher than installing an Alpine amp, but less than the B&O factory option, and takes about 6 hours. They install a second amp (350W), a subwoofer in the trunk, replace the door tweeters, install passive and active crossovers, and a few other things I don’t pretend to understand. Reportedly, when finished there is no indication in the cabin that any work has been done, and the equipment can even be removed and re-installed in your next car.
i’ll be visiting his shop soon to talk more, look at the shop, and listen to whatever demo setups they have there. If I go ahead with the upgrade I’ll post again later.
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This is one of those cases where the R231 does everything better than the R230, especially with the engine you had. The V8TT is such a better engine. The R230 was great in its time but the weight reduction while being more rigid made the R231 a better convertible from the get-go.
Streamliner pointed out ABC which became an option and as such, a rarer one.
The only thing that is rarely mentioned is that the R231 has a touch more wind buffeting than the R230 due to their cabin/side window/windscreen design.
Streamliner pointed out ABC which became an option and as such, a rarer one.
The only thing that is rarely mentioned is that the R231 has a touch more wind buffeting than the R230 due to their cabin/side window/windscreen design.
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