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Just bought a 2015 SL400 Black/Black over the weekend (well, I bought it about a month ago...Carvana just delivered it finally). Love the car, been lurking around here and another forum until it got here. I'm no stranger to car forums and have been active in R107 SL and Porsche 911 groups in the past. This is our second SL, our first was a 1979 Silver/Red 450SL that we loved, but decided to sell when we moved to Illinois from Oregon. Actually, the family has a little history with SLs...my Grand-Uncle had a new black 1955 Gullwing while stationed in Germany...our new one I suppose is the spiritual successor. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you all and learning more about the car and what it can do. It's pretty loaded and so far is ticking all of the boxes. Even the wife loves it. Apologize for the parking lot pics...will get better ones once I clean her up a bit!
Congrats and welcome.... You have good taste in cars and picking the color for them.....
Originally Posted by JHop
Hi all,
Just bought a 2015 SL400 Black/Black over the weekend (well, I bought it about a month ago...Carvana just delivered it finally). Love the car, been lurking around here and another forum until it got here. I'm no stranger to car forums and have been active in R107 SL and Porsche 911 groups in the past. This is our second SL, our first was a 1979 Silver/Red 450SL that we loved, but decided to sell when we moved to Illinois from Oregon. Actually, the family has a little history with SLs...my Grand-Uncle had a new black 1955 Gullwing while stationed in Germany...our new one I suppose is the spiritual successor. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you all and learning more about the car and what it can do. It's pretty loaded and so far is ticking all of the boxes. Even the wife loves it. Apologize for the parking lot pics...will get better ones once I clean her up a bit!
Welcome to the forum! I have learned quite a bit from lurking here...just added Apple Carplay last weekend. It's a great resource for trouble shooting your SL should the need arise. We tend to skew a little older but are generally well-mannered and well-behaved and only occasionally do things some off the rails. As for the car, sounds like you know what you're getting and I expect you're going to enjoy it to the hilt. Cheers!
Well, I came form a long line of various 911s and other German cars and can turn a wrench, so I find these forums invaluable, as with these cars as they age I figure whatever has gone wrong someone knows something! Anyway, I'm 51, so not exactly a spring chicken, but blessed with "experience". Hope to meet more of you, especially out here in Chicagoland...if there are any mechanics, meet-ups, great twisty roads and whatever else around the area, let me know...I'm northwest of the city.
I think we all just have very good taste! Thanks for the welcome Jetta and Dawg! I've been following your posts and appreciate your input! Not sure if I will ever do the CarPlay mod (I really just listen to SiriusXM anyway).
I think we all just have very good taste! Thanks for the welcome Jetta and Dawg! I've been following your posts and appreciate your input! Not sure if I will ever do the CarPlay mod (I really just listen to SiriusXM anyway).
Do it!! Once you get past the anxiety of tearing apart your center console the install is fairly straightforward and results are well worth the time, effort and money.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by JHop
……….This is our second SL, our first was a 1979 Silver/Red 450SL that we loved, but decided to sell when we moved to Illinois from Oregon…………….
Wow! A ‘79 with RED interior! A very rare car, at least in the USA!
Welcome to the forum. Wishing you many thousands of safe happy miles in your new SL.
welcome to the forum!! I for one am curious about your Carvana experience as I'm in the market for one more Benz and I'm having a hard time sitting out this insane used car market. I bought my black SL400 in 2019 and paid $38,000, so about 60% off list at not quite 4 years old. I recently briefly toyed with the idea of trading up to a post-facelift model and found 2017s, now about 5 years old, selling in the mid to high $70K range.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by eddieo45
welcome to the forum!! I for one am curious about your Carvana experience as I'm in the market for one more Benz and I'm having a hard time sitting out this insane used car market. I bought my black SL400 in 2019 and paid $38,000, so about 60% off list at not quite 4 years old. I recently briefly toyed with the idea of trading up to a post-facelift model and found 2017s, now about 5 years old, selling in the mid to high $70K range.
Curious, but why the trade-up? What does the 2017 offer that you don't have? A badge that says "SL450", CarPlay, a slightly more powerful engine, and a different front end? The facelift front end does not appeal to me, but that is personal taste. Those other items can be added to your car for less than $1200.
Curious, but why the trade-up? What does the 2017 offer that you don't have? A badge that says "SL450", CarPlay, a slightly more powerful engine, and a different front end? The facelift front end does not appeal to me, but that is personal taste. Those other items can be added to your car for less than $1200.
lol, JR, I do like the FL front end, A-shaped grille v. V-shaped. I originally liked the single fin diamond grille but now I think I would swap in a Panamericana/GT-R. I’m hoping I’ll be satisfied to black out the silver on my current grille, maybe add CarPlay.
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
Originally Posted by eddieo45
lol, JR, I do like the FL front end, A-shaped grille v. V-shaped. I originally liked the single fin diamond grille but now I think I would swap in a Panamericana/GT-R. I’m hoping I’ll be satisfied to black out the silver on my current grille, maybe add CarPlay.
Gloss black or flat black on the grill? You already have black chrome around the side windows, so gloss black on the grill might be nice. Also, I think OE Tuning is still running their summer sale for our cars. Right now I think they are offering the SL400 tune for $800 total which includes the handheld OBD loader and will bump the hp to 394. That's about ½ price. Normally, that setup would run you about $1500.
Gloss black or flat black on the grill? You already have black chrome around the side windows, so gloss black on the grill might be nice. Also, I think OE Tuning is still running their summer sale for our cars. Right now I think they are offering the SL400 tune for $800 total which includes the handheld OBD loader and will bump the hp to 394.
gloss for sure; don’t need more power, I’m in no hurry!
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by JettaRed
Curious, but why the trade-up? What does the 2017 offer that you don't have? A badge that says "SL450", CarPlay, a slightly more powerful engine, and a different front end? The facelift front end does not appeal to me, but that is personal taste. Those other items can be added to your car for less than $1200.
Well, the 9-speed transmission is a big improvement and coupled with the larger V6, it really is a superior power train. But to me, the biggest reason to trade up to a newer model, is to keep things as new and fresh as possible. It is unfortunate but these modern cars with all the tech stuffed into them do not age gracefully. In addition, for myself, I much prefer the face lift body as well.
Well, the 9-speed transmission is a big improvement and coupled with the larger V6, it really is a superior power train. But to me, the biggest reason to trade up to a newer model, is to keep things as new and fresh as possible. It is unfortunate but these modern cars with all the tech stuffed into them do not age gracefully. In addition, for myself, I much prefer the face lift body as well.
Stream is right about the 9-speed. Plus his car reminds me that white was my first choice before this sexy black and red vixen seduced me!
2015 SL400 (M276 Turbo), 2014 C350 Sport (M276 NA), 2004 SL500 (M113), 2004 Audi TT225 (BEA)
No argument about the 9-speed. However, the engines are the same; the SL450 does not have a larger V6. The V6 in the SL450 is still 3.0 liters; it's just factory tuned to add 30+ more hp. As for aging gracefully, my 18 year old SL500 only started to show "issues" in its last year of my ownership -- gas tank baffle came loose, ABC started acting up, stuff like that.
I guess I tend to be a little more frugal. I personally couldn't justify spending mid to high $70,000 if my current car is operating perfectly. My reason for trading my 2004 SL500 for a 2015 SL400 was because in those 11 years, there was stuff I wanted. Also the SL500 was becoming problematic and I didn't want to put possibly $10,000+ into the car.
However, it ain't my money and I have no place telling anyone how to spend their money. We have way too much of that nonsense going on right now.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
To me, the retractable hardtop is a marvel of innovation and engineering. It takes all the negatives out of owning a convertible. The R231’s took top down comfort to a new level and with the retractable hardtop, the car became near perfect for me. Since I have no desire to have a convertible without a retractable hardtop, that leaves only the Ferrari Portofino, if I want a new open air cruiser, as I don’t care for the new Corvette or the Porsche Targa. Not really thrilled with the Ferrari either. So, I plan on my 2019 SL450 being my last convertible. I figured I might as well get as close to exactly what I want, if it’s going to be my last hurrah! Isn’t that a pretty car?
Last edited by Streamliner; Jun 4, 2022 at 09:42 PM.
I had no real issues with Carvana…I bought a car from them last December and it was completely painless and quick. This second purchase was a trade in and was also easy…however in the middle of the transaction Illinois cracked down on them for some registration shenanigans and my delivery was delayed by about a month as they got their act together. Car is great and as advertised…I would use them again, but YMMV as with all of these internet dealers.
Welcome! My wife and I are loving our SL. It's our first Mercedes after many BMWs and one Corvette. My wife loves to ride in the SL. She detested my C7 Corvette.
Just bought a 2015 SL400 Black/Black over the weekend (well, I bought it about a month ago...Carvana just delivered it finally). Love the car, been lurking around here and another forum until it got here. I'm no stranger to car forums and have been active in R107 SL and Porsche 911 groups in the past. This is our second SL, our first was a 1979 Silver/Red 450SL that we loved, but decided to sell when we moved to Illinois from Oregon. Actually, the family has a little history with SLs...my Grand-Uncle had a new black 1955 Gullwing while stationed in Germany...our new one I suppose is the spiritual successor. Anyway, looking forward to meeting you all and learning more about the car and what it can do. It's pretty loaded and so far is ticking all of the boxes. Even the wife loves it. Apologize for the parking lot pics...will get better ones once I clean her up a bit!
Cheers,
John
Hey John! Welcome! Nice SL! If ever you need some mods; Feel free to reach us!
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