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Driven S class for years, and my for fun 2 seater has always been a Corvette. Thinking about trading into a 550 and so far have only looked online and have not yet driven one Question is, are there any significant changes MY 2016 to 2019, or maybe a have to option on one year that wasn't available on another? I tried searching to see if this has already been discussed, and if so, sorry I missed it, point me, and I'll be happy to ready and research myself.
Yes there was a refresh in styling along with transmission and I believe some engine tweaks in 2017. If you look at pre 17 vs. 17 you will see the difference.
The site below contains .pdf file color brochures for all model years of the 231. Just select Mercedes Benz first at the top of the home age, and select the SL Class to see all the SL Class brochures published during the 231 model run. These brochures should be useful in helping you understand the changes that occurred on the 231 from year-to-year.
Sold 06 CLS500. SL550 09. SL550 2013. Own C6 Corvette heavily customized garage queen 2005.
Originally Posted by bob55
The site below contains .pdf file color brochures for all model years of the 231. Just select Mercedes Benz first at the top of the home age, and select the SL Class to see all the SL Class brochures published during the 231 model run. These brochures should be useful in helping you understand the changes that occurred on the 231 from year-to-year.
Driven S class for years, and my for fun 2 seater has always been a Corvette. Thinking about trading into a 550 and so far have only looked online and have not yet driven one Question is, are there any significant changes MY 2016 to 2019, or maybe a have to option on one year that wasn't available on another? I tried searching to see if this has already been discussed, and if so, sorry I missed it, point me, and I'll be happy to ready and research myself.
Thanks in Advance
I think the most material differences between the 2016 prior and 2017 to present can be summarized by three very material updates beyond the exterior :
in 2017, the SL added Apple Car Play / Android
In 2017, SL 450/550 added the new MB 9-speed automatic transmission
In 2017, ABC (perhaps one of the most talked about and potentially polarizing discussions points throughout the forum) became an even more expensive and even more rare option, and included a new “curve” feature.
Sure there are other changes both of a cosmetic and technical standpoint - but having cross shopped a lot of SLs, I found these options to be the most likely to influence decisions.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by PAPA PA
.................In 2017, ABC (perhaps one of the most talked about and potentially polarizing discussions points throughout the forum) became an even more expensive and even more rare option, and included a new “curve” feature.
Is that right? I was under the assumption that the ABC option was right around $4K, from 2013 on. I paid $4,090.00 for it on my 2019. I was also under the assumption that it was a rarely ordered option since 2013 and that the percentage of cars optioned with ABC, at least in the US, remained fairly consistent throughout the R231 model run. Does anyone here have actual numbers? It would be interesting to see them.
ABC was $4,090 option from 2013 on. Active Curve was a no additional cost feature added to ABC from 2017 on.
I stand corrected! I thought the price went up in 2017 to accommodate the additional Curve function.
As for build numbers, my anecdotal experience was that I noted more available 2013-2016 SLs on the market with ABC than I saw 2017+ with ABC (still very few). But perhaps that is more a function of the non ABC cars being immediately more available on lease returns from 2017 up.
I still feel Apple car play and the 9 speed are the most significant changes, beyond the cosmetic and mild technical changes. The newer turbo six also sounds better to my ear now than the prior exhaust! But that is all just opinion and conjecture!
To further simplify things for the OP, the refresh in 2017 did include the above-mentioned changes. However, from then on there have been no changes...that is, a 2017 is exactly the same as the final 2020.
Here we are approaching the end of CY 2020, and M-B still has the SL listed on its website, complete with the configurator. What's up with that? They quit building these things months ago. Do they just not maintain the site, or what?
Last edited by Dr. Manhattan; Jan 1, 2021 at 06:03 PM.
Because there are still a number of 2020 (2019 was not the final MY, 2020 is) SLs still in inventory (mostly in CA and FL) even though they've stop making them. My dealer still has 4 in inventory, built from 11/19 to 3/20.
Many of us current SL owners came over from Corvettes and most of us are happy we did for the quality and comfort of the SL. My 16 SL400 has so much better quality than my 11 C6 and I am loving it. I don't even miss the 437 HP that I could never find a place to use safely.
Many of us current SL owners came over from Corvettes and most of us are happy we did for the quality and comfort of the SL. My 16 SL400 has so much better quality than my 11 C6 and I am loving it. I don't even miss the 437 HP that I could never find a place to use safely.
Ditto! Although I do greatly appreciate the power of my SL63, it was everything else that brought me over and hooked me. The bipolar nature of the AMG power plant is just icing on the SL cake!
Many of us current SL owners came over from Corvettes and most of us are happy we did for the quality and comfort of the SL. My 16 SL400 has so much better quality than my 11 C6 and I am loving it. I don't even miss the 437 HP that I could never find a place to use safely.
I kept my 2014 Corvette after buying a 2019 SL550. I don't drive the Corvette much anymore, and I probably should sell it, but it's still a great car with only 14K miles on it, and I just don't have the heart to sell it.
Lots of great info - Thanks . One question though. None of my MB have had ABC, how does it affect just everyday driving/ride? Is it any smoother/rougher then the standard suspension? BTW Bill Julyan is that the Brownstone interior in your C7 or just the lighting?
We bought a 2017 just because of the changes. I think we could feel and see the difference. We decided on a 2017 or newer because of some changes. I do not live and breathe the SL so I don't remember what all the difference was at the time we were shopping, but we decided we wanted 2017 or newer and we shopped and looked at a lot of SLs for quite a while before buying.
This will probably raise some eyebrows here too.... But we drove the 550 and the 450 both models quite a bit and drove quite a few in Florida when we wintered down there and shopped. I don't know why, but we actually liked the 450 better. The interior is exactly the same. I think the engine is actually the only difference but I could be wrong.... But if I found a 450 I liked, I would highly recommend looking at it. We are very happy with our 450 and it is plenty responsive, plenty fast, and plenty quick off the line. I know Corvettes and Jeeps.....SLs - not as much, to be truthful. But just drive some 450s before you cross it off the list. I am probably just imagining it, but seat of the pants feeling of the 450 and its nimbleness we liked.
We bought a 2017 just because of the changes. I think we could feel and see the difference. We decided on a 2017 or newer because of some changes. I do not live and breathe the SL so I don't remember what all the difference was at the time we were shopping, but we decided we wanted 2017 or newer and we shopped and looked at a lot of SLs for quite a while before buying.
This will probably raise some eyebrows here too.... But we drove the 550 and the 450 both models quite a bit and drove quite a few in Florida when we wintered down there and shopped. I don't know why, but we actually liked the 450 better. The interior is exactly the same. I think the engine is actually the only difference but I could be wrong.... But if I found a 450 I liked, I would highly recommend looking at it. We are very happy with our 450 and it is plenty responsive, plenty fast, and plenty quick off the line. I know Corvettes and Jeeps.....SLs - not as much, to be truthful. But just drive some 450s before you cross it off the list. I am probably just imagining it, but seat of the pants feeling of the 450 and its nimbleness we liked.
I had crossed the SL400 off of my list thinking the 450 was a great improvement, but found a 400 in the right color and price and certified as well so decided to buy. Looking at 0 to 60 time and all, the difference does not seem all that great and am very satisfied with the SL400. I know it is a matter of taste, but I prefer the look of the preface lifted SL too.
I agree on the pre-facelift cars. The "bling" on the front end of the facelift cars does not appeal to me. I had planned to upgrade to a newer model when my CPO extension is about to expire but I think we will just keep the 2015. We are not putting may miles on it and so far it has been trouble free. We have a great dealer in our town that has an excellent service department. Time will tell.
I agree. If I already had a 2015 that I owned and knew, there is no way we would change.
We just liked the front end a little better with the curves and headlights that looked better to us.
Probably a big reason we decided to only look at 2017 and newer was the brilliant blue color. My wife saw a new one on the showroom floor with white interior and it absolutely floored her. I never saw her have a reaction like that to a car. It was a hard job to get her to leave without buying it. From that day on, we patiently looked and drove and shopped them, but I pretty much knew that a blue and white SL was in our future.....
One point I was trying to make earlier to the original poster was to not JUST look at the 550.... Look at the 400 and 450 as well....just test drive both. We had a few instances in Florida to test drive a 550 against a 400 or 450 back to back... We bought the 450. The 550 was a good drive, but we really liked the 450 a lot.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
To me, the SL with ABC drives and rides quite differently than an SL without it. And, to me, the difference is noticed all the time, but especially on neighborhood streets. It is so much more “buttoned down,” without being stiff, harsh or uncomfortable. To me, the difference is day and night, but I know that many others disagree. Frankly, I enjoyed driving my 2003 50th Anniversary Corvette convertible with Magnetic Ride Control more than the 2013 SL550 I had that did not have ABC.
I also strongly agree that the SL450 is a much nicer driving car than the 550. Before ordering my 2019, I drove both models back to back, several times, on different occasions, because I could not believe that I liked the V6 model so much more than the V8. The lighter weight over the front wheels is very noticeable and really sort of intoxicating. It gives the car a nimbleness that I found lacking in the V8 model. The fact that virtually everything is exactly the same between the SL450 and the 550, except the engine, and there is a $20,000.00 price difference, is absolutely amazing to me. That said, I found the driving dynamics to be so much better in the 450, that I would not have chosen the V8, even if there had been no price difference at all.
Streamliner...
That is the EXACT thing we noticed as well but I did not do as good of a job as you describing the feeling. I never knew why, but I always suspected the weight or the POSITION of the weight from the 450 to the 550.
I have owned a couple of fast boats. Just moving the weight around in the boat from one place to another would make a huge difference. At first, I thought it was maybe tires or tire pressure, but it was a difference we noticed every time. I finally thought it must be the weight and the location. Maybe it has something to do with balance. The original poster stated he was looking at moving to a 550 and my reply was meant to just recommend driving both models before deciding.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Panama
Streamliner...
That is the EXACT thing we noticed as well but I did not do as good of a job as you describing the feeling. I never knew why, but I always suspected the weight or the POSITION of the weight from the 450 to the 550.
I have owned a couple of fast boats. Just moving the weight around in the boat from one place to another would make a huge difference. At first, I thought it was maybe tires or tire pressure, but it was a difference we noticed every time. I finally thought it must be the weight and the location. Maybe it has something to do with balance. The original poster stated he was looking at moving to a 550 and my reply was meant to just recommend driving both models before deciding.
Yes and THEN there is the performance of the V6! I don’t drive fast or even “quick” anymore. I got that out of my system many years ago. These days, I love cruising with the top down, without any hint of drama. That said, after my self imposed 1,000 mile break-in period, I took my SL450 out to a deserted stretch and tromped on it from a standing start.. OH MY! I was absolutely blown away at the performance of the little V6 that I gave my car the name of “Mighty Mouse.” Unless one is an absolute torque junky, these V6 SL’s are simply amazing screamers and offer more power than I will ever want or need. I actually got a little carried away and rebadged my car SL45MM. I get a lot of double takes from other SL drivers.
I think the most material differences between the 2016 prior and 2017 to present can be summarized by three very material updates beyond the exterior :
in 2017, the SL added Apple Car Play / Android
In 2017, SL 450/550 added the new MB 9-speed automatic transmission
In 2017, ABC (perhaps one of the most talked about and potentially polarizing discussions points throughout the forum) became an even more expensive and even more rare option, and included a new “curve” feature.
Sure there are other changes both of a cosmetic and technical standpoint - but having cross shopped a lot of SLs, I found these options to be the most likely to influence decisions.
Good luck with the search!
Im a newbie as well, having recently purchased a 2015 SL400. I love the car and enjoy taking it out on trips with the top down. To make the experience better I’ve been considering adding a retrofit CarPlay box from roadtop
but I’m not sure what problems I might create so I was curious why the software on the COMAND couldn’t be updated for this? When I look at the part number for the COMAND unit on MBs website it’s the same component for MY 2014-2019 so it doesn’t sound like a hardware issue. I’m guessing it might be a coding issue or some other component that prevents it from being upgraded? I would really appreciate insights or recommendations forum members might have.
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